Tag: netflix

Liv Morgan on WWE return: ‘Everyone’s just going to have to watch me’

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

WWE fans haven’t seen Liv Morgan on their screens since June, but she made an appearance at Netflix’s Stranger Things 5 premiere on Thursday night. 

Morgan suffered a shoulder dislocation in a match against Kairi Sane on a June 16 episode of Monday Night Raw. She said little about when she might return, telling Tudum only “I think that everyone’s just going to have to watch me.” She did, however, recently share a video from the night of her injury, when her shoulder was put back into place. 

Most of Morgan’s discussion at the event was focused on the fifth season of Netflix’s science fiction show. When asked which WWE superstar could defeat a Demogorgon, Morgan named her Judgment Day comrade Dominik Mysterio. “He’s the WWE Intercontinental Champion and the AAA Mega Champion,” she said, “he can kind of do anything.”

Morgan also said she’d like to team with Eleven, the psychically-powered hero of Stranger Things. “Every single time Eleven gets knocked down, she comes back stronger and more powerful than ever.” Morgan said. “She’d be the best tag team partner because I wouldn’t have to lift a finger. She would do everything for me.”

Daily Update: Mercedes Mone, Evil Uno, WWE-Netflix

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*The most detailed look at the UFC deal with Paramount, and all the doors that had to be opened to put it together, UFC getting out of PPV, how TKO boxing fights, trying to make this work economically, the loss to ESPN and the loss of ESPN exposure for UFC, analysts, stock market reaction and how much Vince McMahon and Dwayne Johnson made on this deal.
*A look at the next  AEW, NXT and WWE major shows between now and the end of the month.  The lineups, the business, the stories and more.
*Full G-1 Climax reports, the booking, the best matches, the worst matches and more
*The most detailed look at the strange case involving  Karrion Kross
*Amateur wrestling Hall of Famer Greg Wojciechowski, who later was a  world champion with Dick the Bruiser’s Indiana promotion, the grandstand challenge to Hulk Hogan, the boycotted Olympics and more.
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling television shows this past week as well as UFC, competition, placings and more.
*A look at CMLL and the popularity of wrestling in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
*Arena Mexico coverage for this week.
*TripleMania notes
*Five Star Grand Prix notes
*Notes on two different Hulk Hogan documentaries
*What the documentaries didn’t cover
*Robbie Ellis, the art dealer turned independent wrestler
*Longest match in history
*More career highlights of Gerry Morrow
*The most detailed look at TNA, its agreement with WWE, why WWE may want outside ownership of the company and another attempt to break its attendance record
*New AEW signings
*Lots of injury updates
*Taz talks about Bret Hart’s view  of wrestling
*WWE library
*Latest WWE cut
*New movies WWE talent is in
*Leading YouTube numbers

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • Gabe Spitzer, Netflix’s VP of Sports, told The Wrap that Netflix is “thrilled” with how WWE has performed on the platform:
    • We’re thrilled with the performance of WWE programming as a whole. From the start in January to now, it’s just been everything we could hope for and more, and a really great partnership.
  • Spitzer noted that viewers who watch Raw are watching a wide variety of other Netflix programming:
    • It’s bringing in kids, men, women, everyone. So it’s not like they’re just watching WWE and turning and watching standup comedy. It’s everything from a ‘Bridgerton’ to ‘Squid Game’ to standup. It’s pretty family-friendly overall.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Roxanne Perez named the wrestlers she’s used as inspiration for her heel persona:
    • Eddie Guerrero is probably my top one that I always watch, and just his mannerisms and the way he wrestled, and even in his entrance. It’s like he’s not doing much, but he is with his face. And so him for sure. CM Punk, he was one of my favorite heels growing up. AJ Lee, Alexa Bliss’ Goddess era, so many but I think those are like my top inspos.
  • Kevin Owens reacted to Naomi’s pregnancy announcement:
    • I have high hopes that with Naomi and Gigantic Jim (the nicest Bloodline member despite being so misguided) as his parents, the child will turn out to be a decent human being UNLIKE HIS UNCLES AND THE CHILDREN OF HIS VARIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS’ FORMER TAG TEAM PARTNERS!!!
  • Ron Killings celebrated his “The White Album” reaching the number 10 spot on Billboard’s country charts.
  • Bubba Ray Dudley was the guest on a new edition of Six Feet Under with The Undertaker & Michelle McCool.
  • On her YouTube channel, Asuka posted a promo discussing her history with IYO SKY.
  • Bronson Reed was a guest on The Fan Morning Show in Indianapolis.
  • Good Karma Wrestling interviewed Maxxine Dupri.
  • Logan Paul and his wife Nina Agdal discussed their wedding on a new episode of Impaulsive.

Other Wrestling

  • Ahead of the WWE-ESPN PLE deal beginning next month, ESPN has removed the AEW-dedicated news section from its website.
  • In her interview with TV Insider, Mercedes Mone praised Tony Khan as the best boss she’s ever worked for:
    • Tony Khan is the best boss I’ve had in my whole life. I love working with him. I love working for him. It has been so positive just to be around him. He brings such an energy that I’ve never experienced from a boss before. I don’t know, he makes you so happy even before you go out to the ring. He is just so energetic and passionate about wrestling. I love wrestling, and he does. So, it’s the best working with someone who loves it just as much as you do.
  • Dustin Rhodes agreed that Khan is the best boss he’s ever had, saying it “isn’t even close.”
  • TV Insider asked Mone about her relationship with boyfriend The Beast Mortos:
    • First of all, that mask he has is really, really hot. Two, he is a lawyer so I can sue you at any time I want. Three, it’s awesome to have someone that understands what you do. Wrestling is extremely, extremely hard, and nobody gets it but wrestlers. Just to have someone who loves it and understands it as much as I do, it’s the best feeling to have a partner like that.
  • Mone named British wrestler Kanji as an under-the-radar talent who people should be watching:
    • Yes! From Rev Pro, I’m obsessed and love Kanji. I think she is so talented and brings something to the ring I haven’t really seen women do. She definitely reminds me of a female Zack Sabre Jr. in that she is so technical. She has such a drive and passion for this. If I could choose someone to sign here [in AEW], she would be my number one pick.
  • Evil Uno will debut for DDT Pro Wrestling at the promotion’s show in Tokyo on September 28.
  • Brian Cage was interviewed by the Hitting the Turnbuckle podcast.
  • Full video of Slammiversary 2025 – along with TNA’s Fade to Black documentary on the event – has been uploaded to TNA’s YouTube channel for free.
  • Responding to comments Dana White made about wanting indie wrestlers in Power Slap, Joey Janela said he turned down an offer from the organization:
    • Nothing against anyone doing the powerslap deal props to you but they hit me up and asked me if I wanted to do it, & I said f*ck no. 
    • Was the money good yes, was the money good enough to give someone a free shot at jaw, The Embarrassment & CTE deluxe? F*ck no, I’ll take the $50 to launch myself off a ladder through the thumbtack table any day of the week..
  • While teasing a new tequila partnership that he’s going to be involved with, Adam Scherr (Braun Strowman) gave an update on his wrestling status and what’s next for him:
    • It’s been an absolute amazing ride – not saying that I’m not going to get back in the ring and whip somebody’s ass, because we all know I can. But it’s an opportunity for me to try some new stuff, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to rekindling relationships with family and friends that I’ve missed out on and things that, you know, you just don’t get to do while you’re on the road because it’s so busy.
  • The Lapsed Fan podcast began a new series examining the life of Hulk Hogan.

‘WWE Unreal’ finishes in Netflix Top Ten

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: Netflix

One of the big talking points of the wrestling world last week — WWE Unreal — hit the Netflix Top Ten worldwide for the last seven days according to new data released Monday by Netflix.

The five-episode docuseries giving fans a look backstage at the various creative happenings in WWE finished ninth in the world overall, just behind the July 28th episode of WWE Raw.

The show overall finished with 2.3 million global viewers and 10.7 million global views on a runtime of four hours and 41 minutes. It dropped in full at 3 AM Eastern on Tuesday, July 29th.

It also finished in the top 10 in eight countries including the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.

Unlike new Raw episodes that fall out of the Top Ten after a week, it remains to be seen if the show can hold its staying power given there is less WWE programming to take in this week vs. last week which saw two nights of SummerSlam on top of the regular shows.

As of now, a second season of Unreal has yet to be announced.

Dave Meltzer has his thoughts on the numbers.

VIDEO: Triple H reveals details on John Cena’s heel turn on ‘WWE Unreal’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new clip from WWE Unreal reveals details on how John Cena’s heel turn came about.

In the clip for the upcoming Netflix show that premieres on July 29, Triple H broke down details on how Cena’s attack on Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber earlier this year became a reality. He said there were five people who had to know about the turn: Cena, Rhodes, The Rock, Travis Scott, and WWE President Nick Khan. The first call would be to Khan, who was on board. The Rock was contacted next.

“I hit him with what if…hear me out on this. And he just listened,” Triple H recalled. “And every now and then through the conversation he would go ‘Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.’ I wasn’t sure if he was giving me the ‘mm-hmm, get to the end so I can tell you how much I hate this’ or…right? And I got to the end and it was like, ‘Wow, man, I gotta tell you, I think that’s genius.’ And he immediately started riffing thoughts and ideas, right?”

Next to be contacted was Travis Scott, who approved of the angle, then Cody Rhodes, who was also on board. Then came time to contact John Cena. After Triple H asked him to give him his gut feeling, Cena said that he liked the idea a lot.

“When I hung up the phone with him, within a minute, minute in a half, I’ve gotten like three different texts from him of thoughts, ideas, and so I’m like ‘Right, he’s engaged,’” Triple H said.

Triple H then explained it became a coordinated effort, wanting to make sure to keep things tight and that nobody gets the information that isn’t on the phone call. 

Cena laid out Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber back in February, setting the stage for their match at WrestleMania 41, which saw Cena defeat Rhodes to win the WWE Championship. The two will meet in a rematch at SummerSlam next weekend in a street fight.

Report: Netflix working on Hulk Hogan docuseries since 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A Netflix docuseries focused on Hulk Hogan has reportedly been in the works since 2024.

On Thursday, Hogan — the most famous pro wrestling star in U.S. history — passed away of cardiac arrest at 71 years old. Hollywood insider Matthew Belloni wrote about Hogan’s passing for Puck News and shared that WWE, Hogan, and Netflix had been working together on a docuseries. More than 20 hours of new interviews with Hogan were filmed for the project.

Belloni wrote in his newsletter:

The Hulkster died mid-documentary: Hulk Hogan, who died today at 71, will be remembered for mainstreaming pro wrestling and bringing down Gawker. He also left behind an unfinished docuseries on his life that Netflix has quietly been working on since last year, per sources. Director Bryan Storkel and producer Connor Schell’s Words + Pictures have been collaborating with WWE and Hogan on the multipart series, which will include more than 20 hours of new interviews with Hogan that were shot before his passing. There’s no release date yet.

Netflix is the broadcast home of WWE Raw in the United States and carries a wider array of WWE programming in international markets. The partnership between the two companies officially kicked off with Raw making its Netflix debut on January 6, which ended up being the last appearance Hogan ever made for WWE.

While this project does not have a premiere date yet, a new docuseries titled “WWE: Untold” will debut on Netflix on July 29. It aims to give viewers an inside look at WWE creative and some of the company’s stars.

WOL: Tom Lawlor’s hip, G-1 tournament, NXT TV report!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including Tom’s upcoming hip replacement surgery, the latest on the G-1 tournament, the NXT TV report from Tuesday, all the news and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Netflix VP of sports says WWE is ‘everything we could have hoped for and more’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Gabe Spitzer, vice president of sports at Netflix. says his company is happy with how WWE has performed on the streaming service so far.

On Tuesday, Netflix released information regarding viewership on the platform for the first half of 2025, which is also the first six months WWE programming has been available on Netflix.

“It’s everything we could have hoped for and more,” said Spitzer to Variety. “We knew going in that we’re not going to change WWE. It was more, how can we add to it in small ways, and that’s what we’ve seen so far.” 

“[WWE’s] distribution has been pretty fragmented up to this point, and the hope was ‘Let’s combine the power of what you guys do with the power of what we do with our global distribution, and get our marketing teams together … and try to lift this,” Spitzer added.

Triple H was also quoted in the Variety artilce published on Wednesday.

“Netflix has been amazing, in every sense of the word. They are phenomenal partners,” Triple H said. “And we can’t say enough about WWE fans. They’ve shown up in full force, as passionate and engaged as ever.”

Dave Meltzer published a premium article for subscribers yesterday looking at the WWE on Netflix viewership for the first half of 2025. He noted there are several differences in how viewership is calculated on Netflix versus how Nielson’s handles television ratings, such as the inclusion of viewership that takes place more than seven days after the original airing. Users on Netflix skipping through commercials or watching commercial free also factor into the calculations. The article also looks at international streaming numbers for SmackDown, NXT, and WWE PLEs in addition to Raw.

“Netflix released a listing of viewing of all of its major shows over the first six months of the year, which gives new insights of viewership of the PPV/PLE  events, Smackdown and NXT numbers as well viewership of Raw episodes after seven days,” Meltzer’s post begins.

The full article is available here.

Netflix reveals premiere date for ‘WWE: Unreal’ docuseries

Posted on by Joseph Currier

We now know when Netflix’s “WWE: Unreal” behind-the-scenes docuseries will be premiering.

The streaming service promoted its slate of new programming for July today, announcing that “WWE: Unreal” will make its debut on Tuesday, July 29. Season one will consist of five episodes with each being 50 minutes long.

“For the first time ever, step into the WWE writer’s room and outside the ring with your favorite WWE Superstars, where the drama is just as intense offstage as it is under the spotlight,” Netflix’s description for the show says.

The series is produced by WWE, Skydance Sports, NFL Films, and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. The NFL legend Manning is listed as one of the executive producers for “WWE: Unreal” along with Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, and Marc Pomarico.

“WWE: Unreal” has been in development since WWE entered into its partnership with Netflix, which became the broadcast home of Raw at the start of 2025. Netflix also carries a wider array of WWE programming in international markets outside of the United States.

An official teaser trailer for “WWE: Unreal” was released back in April:

Director chosen for upcoming Netflix Ronda Rousey biopic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A movie about Ronda Rousey’s life is moving forward at Netflix with a director now attached to the project.

Deadline reported today that Augustine Frizzell will direct the biopic, which is based on Rousey’s two memoirs “My Fight/Your Fight” and “Our Fight.” The script for the movie was written by Rousey herself after spending time working as an intern in the story department for agency William Morris Endeavor (WME).

“When it came to finding a director, everyone involved wanted a woman to help tell Rousey’s story. After meeting several candidates, Frizzell came in and blew everyone away with her take for the film,” Deadline wrote. “A fan of Rousey long before she began directing TV episodes and feature films, sources say Frizzell had read both memoirs before she got the call to meet on it and knew right away this job needed to be hers. Not only is Frizzell a fan, but in her spare time she trains in Muay Thai and is well-versed in the world in which the former UFC champion came up.”

Frizzell’s past work includes directing the films “Never Goin’ Back” and “The Last Letter from Your Lover,” the latter of which was a Netflix movie. She’s also set to direct multiple episodes of the upcoming Netflix series “The Boroughs.”

Frizzell also directed the pilot episode of the popular HBO series “Euphoria.”

Rousey’s respective memoirs were released in 2015 and 2024 and documented her life growing up through her stardom in judo, UFC, and WWE. She has not fought in MMA since 2016 or wrestled since 2023, recently opening up about the help she’s getting for neurological issues she’s experienced as a result of concussions she suffered in her fighting career.

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In addition to writing the script for this movie, Rousey has penned a graphic novel called “Expecting the Unexpected” that will be published this October. There is no release date for the Netflix movie yet.

Netflix developing wrestling-themed drama series ‘Tuesday Night Titans’

Posted on by Ian Carey

It’s not the Tuesday Night Titans you might be familiar with.

Deadline is reporting that Netflix is in the early stages of developing a new drama series set in the world of professional wrestling. The show is being created by former WWE writer Michael Notarile, who worked on the company’s creative team from 2013 to 2015. Notarile has also written for The Resident and, more recently, The Cleaning Lady.

Director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked) is attached as an executive producer.

A description of the series reads:

“Set in the spectacle-driven world of professional wrestling, Tuesday Night Titans follows a tenacious writer who risks her career in the big leagues to recruit her estranged childhood best friend – a ‘jobber’ wrestler on the indies – to join the same behemoth company they idolized in their youth. Their destinies become entangled as they battle personal demons, ruthless colleagues, and their complicated history in an industry where “kayfabe” – wrestling’s staged reality – isn’t confined to the ring, but bleeds into every aspect of their lives.”

Despite sharing its name with the WWE talk show that aired from 1984 to 1986, the Netflix series is unaffiliated with the original Tuesday Night Titans.

There have also been efforts to bring back the wrestling-themed series Heels for a third season on Netflix. The show was canceled by Starz in 2023, but the first two seasons have since been licensed to Netflix, leading to speculation it could return.

“We’re trying to petition Netflix to do a third season of Heels,” CM Punk said to Deadline in April.

WBD remains ‘wildcard’ in UFC TV rights negotiations, major players revealed

Posted on by Josh Nason

The UFC TV rights negotiations are heating up with a wrestling-centric player in the mix.

Reported by John Ourand in his weekly Varsity newsletter for Puck, Ourand gave an update on the talks as TKO/UFC’s exclusive negotiating window with ESPN closed recently.

Ourand noted that at least four companies are in the mix with a split in two packages appearing to be the likeliest outcome. It could be just one if one of the big streamers wants everything for themselves, leaving the sport “underexposed” — something TKO’s Mark Shapiro has cautioned about in the past.

He said renewal talks with incumbent ESPN “appear to be the furthest along” which would include retaining content for their linear networks in addition to their new direct-to-consumer ESPN streaming service launching this year.

He stated that both Amazon Prime and Netflix are in talks with the former “most interested in UFC’s pay-per-view business.” That is currently controlled domestically by ESPN where they pay UFC for the rights to sell PPVs for whatever price they choose. Of note, Prime began offering AEW PPVs earlier this year.

Ourand then noted that AEW partner WBD (Warner Bros. Discovery) is the “wildcard in the negotiations” as they have been acquiring various sports rights to help replace the NBA which has officially departed the network as of this week. He noted they would air fights on their linear channels in addition to HBO Max, but did not mention if there is any interest in PPV — a technology they are building to offer AEW PPVs.

If they were to acquire UFC rights, it’s assumed that AEW Collision would need to move from Saturdays on TNT or potentially go head-to-head on a different WBD station which seems very unlikely. Given the company’s occasional Thursday Collision due to NBA/NHL playoff games and to avoid WWE PLEs, moving to Thursdays would appear to be the most logical for a variety of reasons.

Ourand stated his sources indicate any deal closure is still nearly two months away. UFC’s current $1.5 billion deal with ESPN signed in 2018 ends at the close of 2025.

Netflix Tudum notes: WWE stars promote ‘WWE Unreal’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

WWE stars attended Saturday’s Netflix Tadum event, promoting Raw and WWE’s upcoming reality show.

Netflix’s special promoting upcoming television and movie shows on the platform featured a segment featuring Rhea Ripley, CM Punk, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Dominik Mysterio, and The New Day. Punk took time to promote WWE’s upcoming new reality show on the platform “WWE: Unreal,” saying that their world could be stranger than “Stranger Things.”

Morgan then brought up the angle last year involving Mysterio turning on Ripley and aligning himself with Morgan. Ripley and Morgan exchanged words before Punk interjected. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods then introduced fans to the trailer for the next season of “One Piece.”

“WWE: Unreal” is set to premiere on Netflix this summer, with the most recent trailer dropping during WrestleMania weekend.

Later in the show, the trailer was introduced for “Happy Gilmore 2,” which releases on July 25. Both MJF and Becky Lynch appear in the new trailer, with MJF having a major part in the film as Gilmore’s son.

Netflix reveals trailer, new details for ‘WWE: Unreal’ docuseries

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Netflix has provided a quick first glimpse at its upcoming WWE docuseries

Sunday during the WrestleMania 41 night two broadcast, it was announced that “WWE: Unreal” is set to premiere this summer, giving fans a look at the WWE writers’ room and what goes on backstage. Netflix followed that up this morning by releasing the official trailer for the show.

“We’re going to lift the curtain,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque says in the trailer, which includes behind-the-scenes footage of him in the writers’ room and interacting backstage with Jey Uso.

The trailer also shows footage of WWE’s producers watching the 2025 Royal Rumble live as it was happening. “If they think this is awesome, they haven’t seen sh*t yet,” Michael Hayes says.

An exact premiere date has not been announced yet. Here is Netflix’s description for the show:

For the first time ever, step into the WWE writer’s room and outside the ring with your favorite WWE Superstars, where the drama is just as intense offstage as it is under the spotlight. 

Variety reports that the series will have 10 episodes with each being 50 minutes long. It’s produced by Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, and WWE. Omaha Productions (founded by NFL legend Peyton Manning) also produces Stephanie McMahon and WWE’s show “Stephanie’s Places” for ESPN+.

Netflix became the new broadcast home of WWE Raw in the United States this January, with international markets also getting a wider array of WWE programming in addition to Raw.