Latest news with #WWEUnreal
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former World Champion Blasts WWE Over His Release
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Recently released WWE superstar Braun Strowman is not holding back his feelings about his departure from the company. In a new social media post, the former Universal Champion called his release a "stupid business decision." The comment came in response to a fan who questioned why WWE continues to use Strowman's image in promotional materials despite him no longer being employed by the company. Strowman, Adam Scherr, became a free agent on August 1st. WWE's "Stupid Business Decision" A fan on X pointed out that Strowman was featured heavily in highlight packages for SummerSlam and in the new Netflix docuseries, WWE Unreal. The fan tagged Triple H and asked why Strowman was cut if his likeness is still being used so prominently. Strowman fired back with a blunt and direct response. "Casue someone made a stupid business decision!!!!" he wrote. Casue someone made a stupid business decision!!!! — The Monster of all Monsters (@Adamscherr99) August 3, 2025 Reports have indicated that WWE's decision to release Strowman in May 2025 came down to financials. The company reportedly believed his contract was worth more than the value they were getting in return based on his recent usage. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More A Monster Among Men Braun Strowman was one of WWE's biggest homegrown stars of the last decade. After debuting as the monstrous "Black Sheep" of The Wyatt Family, he broke out on his own as a dominant and surprisingly popular babyface. His "Get These Hands" catchphrase became a hit with the audience, and his incredible feats of strength made him a must-see attraction. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match His career peaked at WrestleMania 36, where he defeated Goldberg to win the Universal Championship. He was a consistent main event player for years. A Tale of Two WWE Releases This is the second time Strowman has been released by WWE. His first release in 2021 was a major shock to the wrestling world. He was brought back by the new creative regime in 2022, but his second run never reached the same main event heights as his first. This history of being a top star who was let go twice is likely the source of his current frustration. Since becoming a free agent, he has been very vocal, recently posting in support of Karrion Kross and criticizing WWE's backstage culture. As one of the biggest free agents in the world, the wrestling industry will be watching to see where "The Monster Among Men" lands next. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
What Ekta Kapoor could learn from the longest running soap opera: It has more stars than Hum Saath Saath Hai, a bigger budget than Dharma
I mean, you could call it a marketing ploy, an injustice to the idea of 'sports entertainment', and something completely against the very grain of what the company stands for. But WWE Unreal is a product of a company realising it's not 1975 anymore. People aren't just interested in Sholay, but in how it was made, and they don't just want a peek; they want the whole nine yards, and for all its 'faults', WWE's new documentary series Unreal gives the people exactly what they want. For almost 75 years, WWE has been at the peak of the sports entertainment world. Born as Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the company changed its name to WWF (World Wrestling Federation) in the early 1960s. The idea was simple: think of any soap opera on television; it has a protagonist, maybe 2, and a wide and varied supporting cast that get their time under the spotlight one by one. You have episodes coming out weekly, twice a month or monthly, and you have several different seasons. Now scale that same idea to 110%, with around 30-50 characters going through 10-15 storylines twice a week. Just like TV shows have Christmas specials, or Diwali specials for that matter, WWE has big pay-per-view events such as Summerslam, TLC, Royal Rumble, and their Super Bowl season finale, Wrestlemania. The season goes on the entire year (imagine Salman Khan taking his jacket off in Big Boss for 365 days), and the gruelling part of the business comes to light when you realise that the new season begins the very next day of the season finale. No breaks, no time-outs. It doesn't matter if you got thrown out of the ring by a 7-foot-tall man last night, or the script required you to get hit by a steel chair right on your head. When Monday Night Raw starts right after Wrestlemania, you show up. This ever-evolving process of travelling the entire country (sometimes the world for foreign events), putting your body through enormous amounts of pain and suffering, while showing your face during every press tour, merch signing, and interview, is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and it proves that wrestling isn't fake; it's rehearsed beauty. ALSO READ: 'Well done': Indian father-son duo recreates The Undertaker's iconic entrance at home, WWE star reacts From the get-go, you notice that the documentary isn't trying to give a history lesson (like Mr McMahon); they throw you right into the mix of things, and the biggest employees, like John Cena, CM Punk and Rhea Ripley, give the fans insight into what their position is in the company right now. The off-camera persona of these stars isn't exactly the polar opposite of their actual personalities. The in-ring characters they are playing are products of a hidden and trodden part of themselves, something Rhea talks about and says, 'I like to say that it is the side of me that would get arrested in everyday life. It's all the sides that I don't like to show in my actual life.' For the longest time, WWE superstars were supposed to carry their characters with them everywhere they went, whether it was random guest spots at SNL, fan interactions, or talk shows. I mean, Ted DiBiase (Million Dollar Man), who was a heel, once offered a kid from the audience $500 if he managed to dribble a basketball 10 times. Just as the 6-year-old kid got to dribble number 9, he kicked the ball. He would have loved actors like Irrfan Khan, because that is true dedication to your role. This loyalty to one's in-ring persona slowly changed, and wrestlers started to act like normal human beings during interviews. Now Unreal has completely broken 'kayfabe' (the story that is being portrayed on the screen); you see superstars hugging and congratulating each other minutes after beating each other to an inch from death. You see the spots (positions or moves you are supposed to carry out in the ring) being planned, stories being meticulously broken down before being green-lit, and you see how all segments, matches, and camera angles are part of an orchestra, and the CCO, Triple H, is the conductor. Sure, the German Philharmonic doesn't necessarily break tables and chairs (even though a true classical music fan might be moved to), but watching Hunter (Triple-H) dictate every move, every shot, and every decision tells you exactly the amount of skill it requires to perform live in front of a packed-out stadium. Mind you, WWE fans are some of the most cynical people on the planet, so if a punch doesn't connect properly, or a signature move gets botched, they will notice it, and they will create a Reddit thread about it. ALSO READ: Hulk Hogan secretly battled blood cancer before his death; official cause of death confirmed as acute myocardial infarction: Report The documentary then explains one of the most important aspects of WWE as a company, the Gorilla Position, named after a very famous wrestler from the yesteryears, Gorilla Monsoon. This is the room which serves as the backstage and kind of a PCR throughout the show. The explanation given in the documentary is less technical and more philosophical, as it gives the fans an insight into the room that controls the fate of the show and all the superstars in it. Netflix bends the 'drive to survive' format just the right amount while focusing on the psyche of everyone involved with the production of the show. You see a massive team of employees create this huge spectacle, only to tear it down at the end of the show. It works like the modern-day circus, and instead of animals being tortured, you see grown-ups jump through literal fire, metal and concrete, which justifies the exorbitant amount of money they make (it really does), and the huge pay cheque is just one of the similarities between Bollywood and WWE. Tell me if any of this seems similar: the current champion (top guy) is the son of one of the legends of the game, one of the greatest female talents of this generation is the daughter of another veteran, and the greatest wrestler of this generation is a complete outsider. I get that this could be anyone else, but Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan having similar career stories as Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair and John Cena is just something too fun to not mention. As Unreal tells the story of some other outsiders trying to make a name for themselves and nepo-kids trying to find relevance, they move on to breaking down the most important story that came from WWE this year. Cena announced last year that 2025 was going to be his final year with the company, a decision that sank hearts across the world. The company and Cena both agreed on a farewell tour, during which Cena would face some marquee superstars with whom he has feuded during his illustrious career. This was a great plan, but everyone wondered whether, during the tour, Cena was going to become the 'never seen 17' time world champion or not. They had to make sure Cena wins the championship without making his run to the title too predictable. Here is where Unreal shines the most; in the hands of arguably WWE's greatest star, the documentary suddenly shifts into a new gear and tells the story of one of the greatest heel turns of all time. Whoever edited the Royal Rumble footage for this documentary deserves a raise, and a very big one. The camera focuses on key eliminations throughout the match, but the footage cuts in such a way that you feel like it was all happening at once. In one frame Cena could be eliminating someone in the left corner, while in the next frame he could be fighting for his survival near the top-right turnbuckle. It was cohesive, it was quick and it was the most efficient way of portraying WWE's most chaotic event. The heel turn of John Cena seems so much more impressive when you realise that Hunter and The Rock decided to keep the news from everyone, including the ring announcers and commentators. You can't let information like Darth Vader being Luke Skywalker's father out or leak the fact that Nandini's son, who was kidnapped in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, was actually being raised by Parvati from Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki (Ekta Kapoor had a multiverse before the MCU). The shock on every kid's face was genuine, and the commentator Michael Cole truly felt helpless for a few moments, as he saw the kid who grew into a superstar right in front of his eyes go against everything he stood for. While Unreal doesn't get all of it right, it makes a valid attempt at being honest with the audience. The superstars are stripped of their characters, entrance music and costumes; it's just them, laying it bare for the world to judge the legitimacy of this job. As you get to the last episode, you can't help but feel a bit tired. You are hit with so much information that you just want to take a break. At that point you truly realise the relentless nature of this business, as the director shows Hunter with the script of Monday Night Raw just as Wrestlemania 41 ends. It's an orchestra, it's a circus, it's a performance, it's a spectacle, and Unreal does its best to show what all goes on behind the curtain and why the show must go on.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Rock & Brian Gewirtz Pitched Cody Rhodes Dropping The WWE Title Before WrestleMania 41
If The Rock and Brian Gewirtz had their way, the road to WWE WrestleMania 41 would have looked very differently. The highly anticipated documentary series WWE: Unreal released today on Netflix. Giving fans unprecedented access to the behind-the-scenes workings of the company. While discussing the WrestleMania 41 match between Cody Rhodes and John Cena, Brian Gewirtz detailed the original plans for Elimination Chamber that he and The Rock wanted to see happen, which would have seen Kevin Owens defeating Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber. 'The prospect of babyface John and babyface Cody felt a little dry to us,' Brian Gewirtz said. 'But just looking at it from the outside, like, let's throw some controlled chaos into this. So myself and Rock, we got together and we pitched something that was two-fold. 'I had the idea of Cody needing to be Rock's champion. We had that as the hook, then we proposed Elimination Chamber. Cody turning down The Final Boss, and that was going to lead to the Final Boss making an impromptu title match right then and there, that resulted in Kevin Owens, who had been in a storyline with Cody during that time, leaving with the championship. 'Kevin Owens winning the title wasn't the end goal. The takeaway was whatever it is we do needs to be seismic. That's the big question: what is Cody going to say? What is he gonna do? How are you going to pay this off at Chamber?' Obviously, WWE went a different way, and Owens eventually needed to be written off television following Elimination Chamber due to a serious neck injury. However, in a different world, it would have been very interesting to see how this would have played out. READ MORE: John Cena Comments On Potentially Having One Final Match With The Rock What do you make of Brian Gewirtz's comments? Do you think this idea is better than the direction WWE ended up going in? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section post The Rock & Brian Gewirtz Pitched Cody Rhodes Dropping The WWE Title Before WrestleMania 41 appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Daily Mirror
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix's WWE Unreal shows scenes never aired before including move banned for decade
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.
Newsweek
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
CM Punk Calls Out The Undertaker For Surprising Reason
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. CM Punk is known for speaking his mind, and in a new interview, he took a playful jab at the legendary mystique of The Undertaker. The former WWE Champion joked that the real reason "The Deadman" protected his character for so long was simply because he was "lazy." Speaking with Sports Illustrated to promote the upcoming WWE Unreal docuseries on Netflix, Punk discussed the evolution of "kayfabe" and the loss of mystique in modern professional wrestling. "The Undertaker Was Just Lazy" When asked if he missed the old-school aura that once surrounded performers like The Undertaker, Punk offered a sharp and witty response. He joked that The Undertaker's famous dedication to his character was just a convenient way to avoid doing media interviews. "Do I wish I didn't have to do interviews? The Undertaker was just lazy," Punk said. "That's the only reason he did that. He got away with not doing this. That's why he did it. It wasn't because he was really dead. I said it." Protecting The Phenom Punk's joke, while delivered tongue-in-cheek, references one of the most respected feats in wrestling history. For nearly 30 years, Mark Calaway, the man who portrayed The Undertaker, meticulously protected his character's mystique. He rarely did out-of-character interviews and avoided public appearances, all in an effort to maintain the illusion that "The Deadman" was a real, supernatural force. This dedication to the business is what made his character so iconic and believable for an entire generation of fans. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. WWE/Getty Images This old-school approach stands in stark contrast to the modern era of wrestling, a point Punk reflected on more seriously. The Modern Era Of Transparency Punk admitted that as a veteran with an old-school mentality, he is often "wildly uneasy" about the new level of transparency in the business. He noted that with social media and behind-the-scenes docuseries, the curtain has been pulled back more than ever before. "Do I wish there was more mystique? You know, it is what you make it," he said. "I will still protect this business. That's why I'm kind of wildly uneasy about a lot of this stuff. But I also take it as it comes, you know?" He concluded that while he can't change the new landscape, he can adapt to it. He now sees the increased access as a new tool he can use to create his own kind of magic in the ring. "One little old CM Punk standing against the current on this isn't going to change anything," he stated. "I might as well go with the flow on it."
