CM Punk has weighed in on the upcoming WWE: Unreal series set to premiere on Netflix later this month, offering a candid perspective on the docuseries that has already sparked buzz for its behind-the-scenes access to WWE.
âThe Best in the Worldâ appeared on Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle on ESPN Radio on Wednesday to discuss the show, which debuts on July 29 and has drawn attention due to how much it reportedly pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of WWE.
âIâm probably the wrong guy to put on this show to try to talk it up,â Punk admitted. âItâs not that Iâm so much against it, itâs that my entire existence in my profession, professional wrestling, youâre taught and youâre brought up and if youâre old school, you protect the business. Itâs always been that way.â
Punk went on to reflect on how long the public has known that wrestling is predetermined, while also drawing a line between exposing the business and storytelling within it.
âI feel like since the 20s or 30s, everybody knew wrestling was predetermined. They talk about how they didnât know and they talk about how in the 80s, we just kind of blew it wide open and now everybodyâs exposing the business and this and that. I think if youâre living under a rock, you donât know, but most people do know.â
He then compared WWE: Unreal to Hard Knocks, the long-running NFL docuseries that gives fans an inside look at training camps and team dynamics.
âYouâre in the room, youâre seeing the special teams, youâre seeing the Xs and the Os, and youâre seeing the relationships between the coaches and the players and their families and all that, and thatâs sort of what weâre doing. Weâre following suit in a way. Itâs just really strange, for me, at least, because Iâve always been taught you protect the business.â
Later in the interview, Punk offered a humorous take on the challenges of navigating the constant filming backstage for the series.
âI was never sure when they were filming, what they were filming, whoâs micâd 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, donât film this.â
WWE: Unreal hits Netflix on July 29, 2025.
From the boardroom to the bell⊠and everything in between. New trailer for #WWEUnreal drops July 15. @netflix pic.twitter.com/9TEPdNtOfU
â Triple H (@TripleH) July 9, 2025
This will be the WWE like you’ve never seen before.
WWE: Unreal trailer drops July 15. pic.twitter.com/4123VCrmDy
â Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 9, 2025