Kayfabe Is Dead, Says Returning WWE Legend

Kayfabe has been one of the things protecting the professional wrestling business for years.

However, a WWE Hall of Famer believes that kayfabe is dead, as they cited the existence of Netflix docuseries Unreal as an example.

While professional wrestling has existed for decades, it featured storylines and rivalries that needed to be protected. However, by the time the 1980s hit, many people understood that the fights were scripted.

This was confirmed by then-WWF boss Vince McMahon when he appeared in front of the New Jersey State Senate in February 1989, which was trying to convert the promotion into one regulated by the government instead of a private entity.

The state athletic commission reasoned that if the promotion was overseen by a government authority, it could get all the wrestlers licensed, ensure they passed medical tests, and ascertain that ambulances were stationed at live shows.

Also, there could be penalties if these regulations were not met by WWE. While these points made logical sense, they required heavy capital investment.

To avoid losing control over his business as well as expenditure, Vince McMahon revealed that professional wrestling was not a legitimate sport but was scripted.

Kayfabe Is Dead, Says WWE Star Brie Bella

WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella was one of the guests on Logan Paul’s IMPAULSIVE podcast with her sister Nikki Bella.

During their conversation, Paul asked his guests if they felt kayfabe was dead. Brie claimed that she did while stating that WWE Unreal was contributing towards exposing the business.

Brie: I do. I mean, the only reason why I say…I mean, when you see, like, you watch Unreal. We see how matches are getting put together, and you see all the way into the business, you know, the room.

Paul: You’re not a fan of that?

Brie: No, I mean, I don’t care. This is what I feel is that there’s an audience who loves it, and then there’s an audience who hates it. At the end of the day, we’re never gonna please everyone. So, I think I like to it. I get interested to see what’s said in those rooms and how it goes down. But it doesn’t feel like…that means kayfabe’s dead. [28:17 onwards]