Randy Orton recently spoke about the new Netflix docuseries WWE Unreal, which launched last week, offering fans an inside look at WWE’s daily operations. While Orton acknowledged the show’s appeal to curious viewers, he also expressed some reservations due to his old school views on wrestling.
The WWE Unreal Series Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Action
The five-episode series WWE Unreal dives into the behind-the-scenes workings of WWE, showcasing the effort that goes into producing live wrestling programming multiple nights per week. However, the show has faced criticism within the wrestling community for revealing too much of the business’ inner workings, potentially diminishing the mystique of the sport.
Orton’s Respect for Wrestling’s Magic Clashes with Modern Transparency
On the Maggie & Perloff Show, Randy Orton addressed the tension between maintaining the “magic” of wrestling and adapting to modern fans’ desire to see the reality behind the scenes. He confessed that his old school mentality does not fully embrace the direct exposure, yet he understands why fans want to learn how WWE delivers its entertainment.
Orton explained,
“The old school in me doesn’t love it. But, I had to learn over the last few years especially, you gotta change with the times. I think there’s a large amount of fans out there that are very curious and they want to know behind the scenes and how we do what we do and make it look so effortless, two, three, four nights a week, live television. But, there’s a part of me that also misses just the magic.”
Clarity on Wrestling’s Reality and the Role of Performers
Orton acknowledged that wrestling is understood today as entertainment rather than a legitimate sporting contest, a shift from his childhood experience. He described the balance wrestlers must strike to create believable, emotional performances while keeping the audience engaged during live events.
He stated,
“When I was a kid, the number one thing that people would ask my father and kids at school would ask me, ‘Is it real? Is it real?’ Of course, everyone knows now it’s entertainment and we’re not trying to say that it’s not. But, my job is to go out there in that ring and get you to kind of suspend your belief while you’re in that arena and make you believe that what you’re seeing, that there’s real emotion behind it and I think that there is real emotion behind it in most cases. We’re like actors in that sense where you find that place and you get to that place before you go through that curtain and I know at least I do but, it’s hard and honestly, I don’t love the idea but I’m also — it’s intriguing and I think that there’s a large group of fans that are gonna love seeing what it takes to put on a WWE show.”
—Randy Orton, WWE Superstar
Why WWE Unreal Matters for Fans and the Wrestling Industry
WWE Unreal offers a new dimension for fans to appreciate the skill and dedication behind their favorite shows, even as it challenges traditional notions of wrestling mystique. Orton’s comments reflect broader feelings in the industry about balancing entertainment transparency with preserving the emotional impact of live performance. This series could shape how future WWE productions engage with their audiences and maintain interest in a competitive entertainment landscape.
As WWE continues to evolve, how wrestlers like Randy Orton reconcile old school values with new media trends could influence the company’s approach to storytelling and fan interaction going forward.
