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WWE Enters ‘Transparency Era’ With The New Netflix Series ‘WWE: Unreal’

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By Abraham Gonzalez | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 9:27 PM ET

The WWE has officially stepped into the “Transparency Era” with the release of the Netflix series WWE: Unreal. The docuseries was one of the most anticipated due to the WWE “pulling back the curtain” for the first time, which had been considered taboo since wrestling’s inception. Although many expected this to be a good thing, the outcry on social media has been a different story, but is it really necessary, or are fans just upset that now more people are exposed to the minutia of it all?

Triple H Knows What It Takes To Evolve

Before the release of WWE: Unreal, fans, wrestlers, and bookers from the independent circuit were voicing their opinions on how this could be good and/or bad for the wrestling business as a whole. When the WWE transitioned from a Northeast territory to a nationwide organization, the goal was to broaden its audience beyond just hardcore wrestling fans. Vince McMahon, being a visionary (Vince McMahon the person; separate topic), was able to turn Hulk Hogan into an American icon, and all of a sudden, people worldwide were interested in wrestling.

After McMahon took the company to new heights, he would eventually fall to some legal issues, but not before selling the company to TKO Group Holdings. Once that was done and McMahon was forced out due to his legal matters, Paul ‘Triple H” Levesque moved into the “shot caller” position of Chief Content Officer. Once Triple H had his way, the WWE began to move differently. Some of the things that would never fly during the McMahon error, such as advertisement all over the ring, thirst trap pictures and videos from the women of WWE on social media, etc., were now being allowed. Even references by commentary on wrestlers who had a back story at other promotions were permitted in special circumstances.

All of these things are now good in the Triple H era, as he knows that it will make the WWE a product that is more “now” than ever. It also lures influencers, athletes, actors, and others to want to be part of the product. This approach attracts a larger audience, making the WWE bigger than it was in previous years.

So, when the docuseries was announced, it felt like Triple H was acknowledging the transparency era by putting out a product that has never been done before, while satisfying the content-thirsty fans and people in general.

WWE: Unreal Was Meant For The Casuals

When thinking about the current ticket pricing for WWE events and PLEs (Premium Live Events), it’s priced for some hardcore fans but primarily geared towards casual fans with disposable incomes. That’s the cue for fans to understand that TKO knows they have the hardcore audience and now want to go after the casual one. So when I see and read the public outcry to this docuseries from hardcore fans, wrestlers, and media alike, it makes me scratch my head because this isn’t for them.

The docuseries hits all of the top wrestlers in the company (Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte, and others) and their journeys both in and out of the ring. The docuseries humanizes these larger-than-life characters, which is great to see, as fans of all ages need to know that they are human beings just like us. Whether it was Rhea Ripley’s battle with anxiety before her matches or Jey Uso going through the challenges of being the “top guy”, that type of realism is something you can’t make up, and it connects with not only the hardcores but casual fans as well.

Some tidbits, like the planning in “seasons” as Triple H mentioned, were interesting, along with how their ecosystem works. The rest of the docuseries exposes things that hardcore fans already knew, so to them, it wasn’t anything new. But again, the docuseries wasn’t for them. For the casual fans watching this on Netflix, their mind will be blown, and it will influence them to watch a show or attend one.

Will The WWE Have To Do Anything Different on WWE: Unreal Season 2?

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This WWE: Unreal is unlikely to have multiple seasons past Season 2 unless the storylines are substantial enough to support them. Season 1 concluded with WrestleMania, and it’s assumed that Season 2 will cover the last six months of John Cena’s in-ring career, including Survivor Series at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, and the planned Riyadh Season show at the end of the year.

With the rest of the year likely to be filled with intriguing storylines, Season 2 will also be highly anticipated. The WWE aims to continue targeting the casual audience, particularly as their deal with Peacock is set to expire in 2026, and the possibility of returning to PPV is now in the background, thanks to the recent partnership with Fandango.

In the end, if you are outraged by WWE: Unreal, don’t be, as it wasn’t for you, so just enjoy the show.

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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