WWE: Unreal Discussion

[LaGoosh]

On 7/30/2025 at 6:16 AM, air_raid said:

I think it’s because nowadays Hunter subscribes to the “different to Vince is better” theory that Eric Bischoff has extolled hundreds of times recounting the story of his war to be top dog (which he’d end up losing), so as a consequence means he needs to be nice guy boss, I wanna be your buddy boss (man Bing). So they’re playing up to that and sucking up to the chiefs desire for everyone to be a big happy family. 

That's understandable but also 1) isn't hugely exciting television and most importantly 2) makes all the wrestlers look like complete melts. Personally I find it hard to respect or find the characters believable as tough super hero wrestlers when there's all this footage of them backstage as anxious messes who are crying and profusely thanking that prick Triple H every 5 minutes.

I saw a Dean Ambrose at the height of The Shield podcast where the host said "the level of success you're having must feel unbelievable" and Ambrose replied "not really, I feel like I deserve it and it's where I belong". I'd much rather see more of that confident attitude than seeing CM Punk (of all people) sobbing in Triple H's arms because he gave him a Wrestlemania main event (sort of) participation trophy.

One of my favourite moments was Michael Hayes saying he gets his wrestling ideas directly from God. Yeah, I'm sure the Almighty is fantasy booking Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins heel turns from up above. Fucking hell.

The part I found most interesting was when it showed the matches being produced from Gorilla. Whenever I have watched modern WWE I have found the matches themselves to be a massive turn off. Solid work done in the most soulless way possible, going from moment to moment with no connective tissue or emotional thorough line. So it was pretty fascinating to see exactly why the matches feel like that - they are so heavily produced and micromanaged from backstage it's basically impossible for a match to feel like it's own living breathing thing in the moment. The wrestlers are going through the motions as they are meticulously planned beforehand and managed as they are happening. 

Edited July 31, 2025 by LaGoosh

[Chico Torres]

1 hour ago, LaGoosh said:

The part I found most interesting was when it showed the matches being produced from Gorilla. Whenever I have watched modern WWE I have found the matches themselves to be a massive turn off. Solid work done in the most soulless way possible, going from moment to moment with no connective tissue or emotional thorough line. So it was pretty fascinating to see exactly why the matches feel like that - they are so heavily produced and micromanaged from backstage it's basically impossible for a match to feel like it's own living breathing thing in the moment. The wrestlers are going through the motions as they are meticulously planned beforehand and managed as they are happening. 

Very much this, especially seeing the extent and granularity to which they are programming these empty drones to act out their lifeless matches. Guaranteed within 5 years they will make the move to AI-generated wrestlers, why continue to use independent contractors who may risk becoming sentient and asking for health insurance and pensions and unions.

[DavidB6937]

I'm completely the opposite. I have more respect for these people who (a) are following their dreams and (b) not afraid to be themselves and admit to the anxieties and pressures of the situation. Same with when I've watched stuff like Drive To Survive for the F1 racers.

It's so easy to forget that all of these people - sports professionals, actors, musicians etc - are human too. And seeing them go through all this shit and still walk through those curtains and perform at the top level? That takes some real guts and drive.

I get the angle that perhaps some viewers don't WANT to see the human side of things, which probably means a show like this is something that shouldn't be watched, but to lose respect for someone because they're crying or they're grateful for an opportunity or they have a decent relationship with their boss? Nah, that's a pretty toxic approach to how people should behave in general. They're not melts for dealing with their emotions.

Again, in a weird comparison way, watching drivers and their team celebrate getting points or even a podium spot in Drive To Survive is an emotional experience because they all work so fucking hard at it. It's their dream to be out there in those cars and even if they don't win the race, success comes in many different ways. So for anyone to suggest that main eventing one night of WrestleMania isn't enough for Punk to be as emotional as he is.. well, that's up to him isn't it? If he feels like he's achieved his dream in that moment, who are we to even suggest otherwise? Let the guy be happy. Even if him and HHH have found a level of respect and the ability to work together, what's really so bad about that? Good for them. Why hold on to shit just because everyone else thinks you should.

 

[tiger_rick]

Vince Russo was ahead of his time, bro.

[The Gaffer]

3 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

That's understandable but also 1) isn't hugely exciting television and most importantly 2) makes all the wrestlers look like complete melts. Personally I find it hard to respect or find the characters believable as tough super hero wrestlers when there's all this footage of them backstage as anxious messes who are crying and profusely thanking that prick Triple H every 5 minutes.

I agree with the rest of it, but this is verging on Undertaker's "They're all on their Gameboys these days" shtick. 

[SuperBacon]

It's a decent watch. Personally I found John Cena talking about how much he loved wrestling and the fact that he "physically can't do it anymore" quite upsetting. I got a bit emotional seeing that.

The rest is exactly what you'd expect from a WWE/Netflix show.

[LaGoosh]

2 hours ago, DavidB6937 said:

So for anyone to suggest that main eventing one night of WrestleMania isn't enough for Punk to be as emotional as he is.. well, that's up to him isn't it? If he feels like he's achieved his dream in that moment, who are we to even suggest otherwise? Let the guy be happy. Even if him and HHH have found a level of respect and the ability to work together, what's really so bad about that? Good for them. Why hold on to shit just because everyone else thinks you should.

You are absolutely 100% right. But for me personally, I just feel the curtain being pulled back so far affects my ability to lose myself in the actual shows.

[wordsfromlee]

34 minutes ago, LaGoosh said:

You are absolutely 100% right. But for me personally, I just feel the curtain being pulled back so far affects my ability to lose myself in the actual shows.

Don't watch it then. It's not like it's part of the actual show and you can't avoid seeing it.

[LaGoosh]

57 minutes ago, wordsfromlee said:

Don't watch it then. It's not like it's part of the actual show and you can't avoid seeing it.

Yeah I'm not going to, but thanks for the suggestion. I watched some of it and decided that it very much wasn't for me.

Edited July 31, 2025 by LaGoosh

[Guest]

I agree with others thoughts that it isn't really what it was marketed as, and is better for it. Charlotte's way more likeable in real life, Chelsea's attitude is great, Punk still winds me up, but it's definitely more interesting. 

I couldn't get through it though. The overarching "isn't Triple H amazing" of it all is just winding me up. When he quoted Maya Angelou at one point, my brain just fritzed out. I may go back when I've had enough deep breaths, but it may be a while.

Edited August 1, 2025 by Duke

[Snitsky's back acne]

20 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

You are absolutely 100% right. But for me personally, I just feel the curtain being pulled back so far affects my ability to lose myself in the actual shows.

The fact we talk so openly about things like wrestlers political views and allegiances shows that the curtain has already been pulled back. Growing up nobody knew or cared.

.

[tiger_rick]

11 minutes ago, Snitsky's back acne said:

The fact we talk so openly about things like wrestlers political views and allegiances shows that the curtain has already been pulled back. Growing up nobody knew or cared.

Being an old man about it, there's a difference between wrestling being more open and a company actively putting out a show on Monday with all these people hating and fighting each other and then putting on another show about what nonsense it all is and how they're all lovely people and mates.

It really is Russo bullshit 25 years on. That's not to say it's harmful. We know their business is bombproof. Wouldn't judge anyone who doesn't want to see all these people in this way.

To your point, if there'd been a show when we kids showing that Warrior was a raging homophobe, Hogan was a racist and they were shooting up together with Vince, the business wouldn't exist. Who is this for and who really wants to see it?

[SuperBacon]

44 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

Who is this for and who really wants to see it?

I have a mate who is a VERY casual fan, used to watch wrestling, doesn't anymore etc and he is really enjoying it as he's not as "clued up" as us lot (what a mark gif) and gets a lot out of it. It's interesting to see the inner workings for people who've only ever seen the surface.

I thought it was a decent watch, again, exactly what I'd expect from a highly controlled WWE/Netflix show. 

Bruce Pritchard is a massive nob though, and he doesn't even appear much!

 

[JNLister]

1 hour ago, Snitsky's back acne said:

The fact we talk so openly about things like wrestlers political views and allegiances shows that the curtain has already been pulled back. Growing up nobody knew or cared.

.

In Hogan's era, your political view in the US was largely "we should put taxes on higher earners up a bit" or "we should cut federal spending a little", rather than "do you support a regime that is deporting its own citizens to foreign prisons without trial, pardoning people who stormed the legislature and tried to kill the Vice President, removing long-establish democratic checks and balances, pulling funding from aid programs in a way that has almost certainly caused the death of thousands, tried to humiliate the leader of a democratic sovereign nation invaded by Russia, detained and deported potential tourists based on their social media posts while claiming to support free speech, used economically illiterate tariffs that could well stoke serious inflation, and attempted to take away people's birthright citizenship?" 

[air_raid]

Five episodes deep and quite enjoying it. Not so much learning anything I didn’t know before, except this Ed Koskey being a more persuasive voice than I could have imagined, but seeing more of the wrestlers being themselves is refreshing.

Very interesting that the version of whose idea was what regarding Rock’s involvement and the final outcome at Elimination Chamber being so different to the version leaked to and reported by Meltzer. Ed suggested Cody might turn, it wasn’t Rock and Gewirtz pushing for it? Prichard countered with the idea of turning Cena, as opposed to Cody and Paul telling Nick they were united in thinking Cody turning was a bad idea? The writing team landed on “Cena turns” and only then pitched first Rock and eventually Cody? Hmm. Make your own minds up, I guess.

Oh, and learning that the Demi in Demi Bennett is short for “Demiti” and it’s pronounced Dem (as in dem wans) - itty (as in titty), I did not foresee. Hooroo!