Wrestling journalist Bryan Alvarez has shared his detailed thoughts on the first episode of the new Netflix docuseries, “WWE: Unreal,” praising the show’s personality profiles while also expressing significant skepticism about the authenticity of many of its “behind-the-scenes” moments. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Alvarez broke down his review, pointing to specific scenes that he believes were staged for the cameras.
The conversation with his co-host, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, began with a discussion about the show’s core premise: pulling back the curtain on the WWE creative process. Alvarez immediately questioned the level of reality being presented, particularly when it comes to the veteran performers.
“Brother, Don’t Be a Mark”
Alvarez referenced a quote from the show’s director, Chris Weaver, who stated his impression was that they were “getting the authentic side of these people.” The director explained that the wrestlers would ask if they should be in character, and the production crew would tell them, “No, this is NFL Films for the Netflix show.” Alvarez was not buying it.
“Brother, don’t be a mark. God, are you freaking kidding me?” Alvarez began. “Okay, maybe with some of the younger wrestlers, like a Rhea Ripley, okay, maybe with some of the younger wrestlers when they were told, ‘you know, just be real’… maybe some of the younger wrestlers were more real. But are you kidding me? You’re telling me, ‘Hey, Phil, be the real Phil Brooks here, you know, don’t be CM Punk.’ You think that guy? Are you kidding me?”
He continued, “Anybody who broke into this business, God, what would you say before, like, maybe 2010? I don’t believe for one second anybody that broke into this business before 2010, if you tell them, ‘be the real you’ when the cameras are on, there is no chance. No, not a single chance whatsoever.”
The WrestleMania Whiteboard
Alvarez pointed to a specific scene that he was told was likely a work: a shot of a whiteboard backstage that allegedly revealed the planned lineup for WrestleMania. “I was sort of told, ‘Brother, don’t be a mark.’ Like, you’re seeing on that show what they want you to see for this story that they are telling,” he said. “In other words, very, very skeptical that this was actually the full planned lineup for WrestleMania.”
He provided a specific example that was pointed out to him as a “red flag.” “One of the things that was pointed out was, you know, this alleged WrestleMania lineup, I mean, Asuka’s name is on it,” Alvarez explained. “And we were like, ‘nobody was making plans for Asuka in January.’ They didn’t know when she was going to be back. They didn’t know how long she was going to be gone. Her name on there is a red flag.”
He concluded that the entire show, while entertaining, should be viewed through a critical lens. “If you watch the show, I mean, it was very clear, like, one way or the other, you saw what they wanted you to see in every single moment on that show,” he stated.
The “Real” Moments and High Praise for Rhea Ripley
Despite his skepticism, Alvarez did praise the series for its personality profiles and the moments he felt were genuinely authentic. He particularly enjoyed the segments focused on Rhea Ripley. “I thought they did a great job with Rhea, you know, in her house, and talking about, ‘Man, before they hit my music, I’m just a mess. I’m just a wreck,'” he said (quoting Rhea). “And they have footage of her backstage, and she looks like just out of her mind, but then, man, they hit that music and she’s on. And I liked the personality profiles.”
He also pointed to the segment featuring producer Chris Park (Abyss) as “the most real person on the show.” He described the scene where Park was “petrified” as he relayed time cues to CM Punk and Seth Rollins during their match. “He’s like, ‘I’m sorry, Bruce, I’m sorry.’ Like, they’re cutting out the Anaconda Vice. He’s thinking he’s gonna get fired on the spot,” Alvarez recounted. “That was, like, a real moment that was, like, kind of sad to watch.”
Overall, Alvarez said he “liked the first episode” and found it enjoyable, but urged fans to watch it with a healthy dose of skepticism. “If you want a little bit of inside information… I mean, there is some authenticity on the show. But it’s sometimes few and far between,” he concluded.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit F4WOnline.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
