Netflix's WWE Unreal shows scenes never aired before including move banned for decade

Daily Mirror

4 days ago

Netflix docuseries reveals some of the WWE's recent secrets during a title match
New Netflix docuseries WWE Unreal has revealed scenes that were not originally aired during the original live broadcast of one its wrestling events.
‌
This included the use of a move which has been banned for a decade.
‌
A new docuseries debuting on the streamer today, titled Unreal gives fans a rare insight into what really goes on behind the scenes, to make a show for the WWE. This includes a first ever peek behind the door of the writer's room where former superstars including Paul Levesque, formerly Triple H in the ring and now Head of Content for the company make the big decisions.
‌
Previously, Levesque has explained that WWE often thinks of its storylines in seasons, with its biggest often utilised during the Road to Wrestlemania. Earlier this year, the Wrestling giant made its debut on Netflix after a bumper deal was agreed between the companies.
In the five-part series, the second episode shows just how creative they can be. This included how they portrayed the rivalry between then undisputed champion Cody Rhodes and his new rival Kevin Owens.
‌
They put together a scene between the wrestlers out of the ring and away from their own television cameras ahead of the show. Cody explains: "Triple H had this idea for Kevin to beat me up outside my tour bus off camera. We're gonna hope fans capture it and, of course, the did."
This was a trick that the creative team seemingly repeated. After a Smackdown Saturday main event in December last year, when the cameras had apparently stopped rolling for the live broadcast, the show actually kept going.
Included in this moment, was Kevin Owens, using a move that is generally banned and has been for more than a decade in the industry because of how dangerous it is - the piledriver.
‌
Bruce Prichard, WWE Executive Director explains: "The piledriver for so long was just a move that internally we had banned from using just because of the danger it does present."
Cody Rhodes adds: "Pulling out a piledriver is something that has been so taboo and not done in WWE for a decade. It was a very good call."
One reason explained in the writer's room for doing this is to keep fans talking about the show after it has finished airing on TV and leading all the way up to the next episode. It is no surprise that this was done shortly before WWE's Netflix debut and while it was still being broadcast on NBC in America.
‌
Following the conclusion of that match during Smackdown, the team had Cody Rhodes celebrating his win, with the commentary team thanking the audience for tuning in.
However, Triple H then sends word for Kevin to 'knock him on his ass and then just piledrive him'. Owens does just that, as many fans film the moment on their fans and post it on social media.
To add to the drama, Owens stands on Cody Rhodes as he is stretchered off then Triple H appears himself to confront Owens, after being the one to deliver all his instructions. Owens and Triple H then reconcile backstage and congratulate each other on their performances.