INSIDE THIS ISSUE Horoscopes....................................................... 2 Now Streaming................................................. 2 Puzzles............................................................. 4
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Timberlake and Kunis are ‘Friends With Benefits’
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‘Chief’ among men: historical Polynesian epic
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Animal Kingdom in Crisis: Galante leads new docuseries ‘Animals on Drugs’
TV Schedules..................................................... 5 Top 10.............................................................. 6 Home Video...................................................... 7 Comics..............................................................8
July 26 – August 01, 2025
Drafting the rumble: ‘WWE: Unreal’ reveals the wrestling writers’ room BY DANA SIMPSON The question is all too familiar to pro wrestling fans who’ve heard it a thousand times before: “You know it’s scripted, right?” Yes, of course, we know that the choreographed fight opera is not a documentary, and no, that doesn’t make it less real. The existence of the writers’ rooms behind the drama of televised wrestling federations such as World Wrestling Entertainment is news to no one, but viewers are about to get an exclusive peek behind the curtain to see just how the action is crafted. “WWE: Unreal,” a new five-episode docuseries premiering Tuesday, July 29, on Netflix, delves into the behind-the-scenes machinations of WWE events. Dive into a side of the wrestling world previously kept under wraps as WWE superstars work with writers and other team members to develop their storylines and matches. WWE churns out so much entertainment — books, podcasts, live broadcasts and streaming events — from their massive organization that just tracking continuity, not to mention generating new and exciting stories, is a significant undertaking. Co-ordinating all of the moving parts is serious business, and
Netflix promises that “the drama is just as intense offstage as it is under the spotlight.” The official teaser trailer for the upcoming series prominently features current WWE chief content officer and former wrestler Paul Levesque, better known by his ring name Triple H, who has been onscreen talent for the organization for more than 30 years. “Seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is a calculated, co-ordinated production. It’s time. We’re going to lift the curtain,” Levesque says in voice-over while a montage of candid clips of board meetings, wrestler warm-ups, choreography sessions, early mornings and late nights flash in the teaser. The matches either come together or fall apart during rehearsals over playback screens, test shots catching whatever needs more work as the big story for 2025 is moulded. “WWE: Unreal” is directed by Chris Weaver (“Peyton’s Places”) with Erik Powers (“Hard Knocks: Training Camp”) serving as the showrunner. Peyton Manning (“Quarterback”), Jamie Horowitz (“Starting 5”), Ross Ketover (“Receiver”), Keith Cossrow (“They Call It Late Night With Jason Kelce”), Ken Rod-
gers (“30 for 30”), Jessica Boddy (“Fire Country”), Lee Fitting (“WWE Raw”), Ben Houser (“Biography: WWE Legends”) and Marc Pomarico (“Andy Kaufman Is Me,” 2025) executive produce the series. The series is just a part of WWE’s ever-growing partnership with Netflix. In January, the organization’s flagship series, “WWE Raw,” was broadcast live from the streamer for the first time, with Netflix claiming that 2.6 million households tuned in to the inaugural event. A staggering $5 billion, 10-year deal made Netflix the exclusive home for WWE through 2035. The popularity of pro wrestling is evergreen. Fans come out in droves to major events such as live tapings of “WWE Raw” or “WWE Smackdown” when they stop in town, but most people who tune in to slick TV productions are also likely to be found supporting their local wrestling promotion’s community center-hosted events. Wrestling fans find all angles of the sport interesting, and there is really no better place than Netflix to produce a winning sports docuseries. Don’t miss the new five-part docuseries “WWE: Unreal” when it premieres Tuesday, July 29, on Netflix.
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