The new Netflix docuseries ‘WWE: Unreal’ premieres on July 29.
Ahead of its debut, director Chris Weaver stated that a “major goal” of the project is to attract new viewers to the WWE product.
In an interview with Jimmy V3 on YouTube, Weaver explained the strategy. He noted that WWE has seen other sports leagues use Netflix docuseries to find new audiences. Consequently, Weaver described the ambition for ‘WWE: Unreal’ in similar terms:
They’ve seen how these behind-the-scenes follow docs series on Netflix have sort of propelled leagues and athletes and opened up to new audiences. And I think that was a major goal for them is like, hey, let’s see if we can get more people to watch this thing and expand our footprint, expand our audience, our fan base… my hope is, you know, the next fan coming in is what we’re after, you know, bringing in new fans.
Additionally, Weaver emphasized the show’s unprecedented access. NFL Films produced the series and, according to the director, the approach was not just a “peek behind the curtain,” but “pulling the curtain down.” He added that WWE permitted the camera crews to film in areas that surprised even some of its own employees.
The first season consists of five episodes, each running approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Furthermore, the show chronicles the period from January 2025 through to WrestleMania in April. The series prominently features stars like Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Rhea Ripley. It also includes appearances from Chelsea Green, Bianca Belair, The Rock, and John Cena.
Structurally, Weaver explained that the series uses Premium Live Events as “tent poles” for its storylines. This is a similar format to his work on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks.’ He also credited showrunner Eric Powers for mapping the season’s narrative arc, describing him as having an encyclopedic knowledge of wrestling.
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 1 drops on Netflix on Tuesday, July 29. As for the show’s future, Weaver is “hopeful” and “optimistic.” However, he noted that any decision on more seasons ultimately rests with Netflix, pending the show’s reception.
