Not everyone has embraced WWE’s Unreal docuseries, but Tiffany Stratton believes much of the criticism surrounding the show simply doesn’t add up.
Since premiering on Netflix, Unreal has divided wrestling fans. Some believe the series pulls back the curtain a little too far by revealing WWE’s creative process, while others have praised the behind-the-scenes access. But according to Stratton, many of the loudest critics are still watching every episode.
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, the reigning WWE star didn’t hold back.
Like you said, the people that are crying about it online are the people that are also sitting down and watching it, so it doesn’t really check out. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.
Stratton went on to explain why she’s such a fan of the series. She believes Unreal gives viewers a perspective they rarely get to see, showing just how much happens behind the scenes before WWE programming ever reaches television. From last-minute changes to adapting on the fly, she says the documentary highlights the unpredictable nature of life as a WWE Superstar.
Yeah, I really enjoy it. I like Unreal. I think it gives fans a different perspective on everything that kind of goes on, and it kind of gives them a new respect for the business because I don’t think people understand how much truly goes on behind the scenes and how much you do kind of have to go with the flow or go off the cuff and, you know, stuff like that.
She also believes the show’s biggest long-term impact may be attracting a brand-new audience. With Unreal streaming on Netflix, Stratton feels people who have never watched professional wrestling before may discover the series, connect with the personalities featured in it, and eventually become WWE fans themselves.
I feel like having it be on Netflix and having it say Unreal and having WWE Superstars on it, I just feel like it draws a different kind of fan or a different kind of person that maybe isn’t a wrestling fan into it, and then they can watch it and hopefully become a wrestling fan from that.
Whether fans love the concept or believe it reveals too much, Unreal continues to generate plenty of discussion. And if Tiffany Stratton is right, even the critics may be helping make the series a success simply by tuning in.
Do you agree with Tiffany Stratton, or do you think Unreal reveals too much about how WWE operates? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
