CM Punk has given his thoughts on the upcoming WWE: Unreal Netflix docuseries, which is set to premiere later in the month.
Although the upcoming behind-the-scenes docuseries is yet to air at the time of writing, the concept has already divided wrestling fans. Advertised as a never-before-seen look at the inner workings of the biggest pro wrestling company in the world, some are happy to see the process given that everyone knows the product is pre-determined, while others believe that it is a step too far and potentially unnecessary.
A massive fan of old school wrestling and with a more veteran mindset, Punk was asked about the upcoming show while appearing on ESPN Radio alongside Rhea Ripley. Punk first admitted that he is probably not the best guy to promote the show as he is one to still protect the business:
“I’m probably the wrong guy to put on this show to try to talk it up,” Punk said. “It’s not that I’m so much against it, it’s that my entire existence in my profession, professional wrestling, you’re taught and you’re brought up and if you’re old school, you protect the business. It’s always been that way.”
“I feel like since the 20s or 30s, everybody knew wrestling was predetermined. They talk about how they didn’t know and they talk about how in the 80s, we just kind of blew it wide open and now everybody’s exposing the business and this and that. I think if you’re living under a rock, you don’t know, but most people do know.“
CM Punk Recalls Cameras Being Backstage For WWE Unreal
Later in the interview, Punk spoke about cameras being in areas he was not used to, adding that there is the potential for a blooper reel given the amount of content:
“I was never sure when they were filming, what they were filming, who’s mic’d up. You could probably make a really good blooper reel of me looking directly down the lens of the camera going, what are you doing? Get out, don’t film this.”
Ripley added that she is keeping an open mind on the project, but agreed that the cameras being backstage was odd:
“I feel like WWE is always trying new things and bits and pieces to make it different and make it grow, and this is just one of the next steps. Do I think that everything should be shown? No. I haven’t seen it yet so I’m very intrigued to see.“
“It was really strange having the camera crew around as well because you’re so used to all of this being so top secret and hidden and you didn’t know how to really react to things sometimes, like some of the questions. It was just wild to me, but at the same time, it is a growing business.”
WWE Unreal will premiere on Netflix on July 29.
H/t to F4WOnline for the use of transcriptions.
Featured image: WWE
