Report Highlights WWE: Unreal “Red Flag”

Certain sections of WWE: Unreal might not be as real as initially thought.

From the moment that WWE: Unreal premiered on Netflix, fans have been trying to work out just how authentic the series really is.

The new documentary promises to give fans an insight into the company like never before. But as the entire premise of pro wrestling is an illusion, long-time fans have been a little skeptical about what they’re seeing.

According to a report from Fightful, those within WWE were “very pleased” with the series. But the same report also noted that a scene where the women’s locker room empties to cheer Charlotte Flair’s Royal Rumble win was created for the cameras, although talent weren’t told it was specifically for Netflix.

However, despite speculation online, the infamous SmackDown segment between Flair and Tiffany Stratton had nothing to do with the series.

Report Critical Of WWE: Unreal Production

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez broke down his thoughts on the series, and it’s fair to say he had some major issues with how life in WWE was presented.

He began by dismissing comments from the documentary’s director, Chris Weaver, who had previously stated that it would show an “authentic” look at everyone involved, and that wrestlers wouldn’t be in character. Alvarez said that it was laughable that someone like CM Punk would show what he’s like away from the industry.

“Brother, don’t be a mark. God, are you freaking kidding me? 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?

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.”

With regard to an early scene where a whiteboard is shown with what’s supposed to be an early WrestleMania card, Alvarez said that he was told that it was essentially planted for the cameras.

“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. In other words, very, very skeptical that this was actually the full planned lineup for WrestleMania.”

He added that the fact Asuka’s name appeared on the list should have been a red flag to those watching. Asuka wouldn’t return to action until two months after WrestleMania 41.

“One of the things that was pointed out was, you know, this alleged WrestleMania lineup, I mean, Asuka’s name is on it. 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.”

Alvarez added that while he found the show entertainning, what’s presented on-screen shouldn’t be blindly viewed as fact. He did however reserve praise for the profiles of Superstars such as Rhea Ripley.

H/t to WrestlingNews.Co