Earlier this month, WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque responded to a question about a seemingly real-life situation by insisting that it’s “all part of the show.”
“I love the question. You enjoying the show?” Levesque replied to a reporter who asked whether WWE superstar R-Truth had actually been notified that he was being let go by the company before making his on-screen return at the Money In The Bank event. “It’s all part of the show, man.”
Admittedly, that line is getting increasingly more difficult to define.
So much so that WWE and Netflix are teaming up with Omaha Productions for a new series, WWE: Unreal, which will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the pro wrestling giant’s creative process. And while the project was first announced in April (complete with a trailer that heavily features Levesque), we know now that the five-episode series will be making its debut on the streamer on July 29.
“For the first time ever, step into the WWE writer’s room and outside the ring with your favorite WWE Superstars, where the drama is just as intense offstage as it is under the spotlight,” a synopsis for the series reads.
While WWE has participated in and produced its own behind-the-scenes shows before, very few, if any, have emphasized the company’s creative process. Rather than merely seeing what it’s like when wrestlers aren’t in character, all indications are that the series will provide insight into why WWE made certain booking decisions over a period of time.
That will certainly provide fodder for fans, some of whom even screenshotted portions of the teaser trailer that displayed previous plans that never came to fruition. How will WWE balance making this a true Drive to Survive-type show while also protecting Levesque’s preference for keeping the company’s fans in the dark on creative matters? We’re now only a few weeks away from finding out.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.