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Netflix’s WWE: Unreal Exposes Cena’s Secret Heel Turn, Banned Moves and Performer Risks

Launching July 29, the five-part series on Netflix stems from WWE’s $5 billion streaming deal, offering unprecedented access to its creative process.

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WWE Unreal Netflix Rhea Ripley CM Punk Triple H Cody Rhodes (2)
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Overview

  • The docuseries traces the origin of John Cena’s surprise heel turn at Elimination Chamber, showing how President Nick Khan green-lit the pitch before Triple H secured buy-in from The Rock, Travis Scott, Cody Rhodes and Cena.
  • Previously unaired footage reveals Kevin Owens executing the piledriver—a move internally banned by WWE for over a decade—during a SmackDown segment.
  • Behind-the-scenes cameras capture Cody Rhodes describing himself in “terrible” condition after a botched powerbomb onto a ladder at the Royal Rumble and document Rhea Ripley’s comeback from a serious shoulder sprain.
  • WWE: Unreal uncovers that WrestleMania 41’s original main event was slated as a one-on-one match between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, along with several other scrapped marquee bouts.
  • Under Chief Content Officer Triple H, WWE has embraced transparency in its Netflix partnership to deepen fan engagement, challenging decades-old kayfabe tradition.