WWE’s CM Punk and Rhea Ripley Reveal How Storylines Really Come to Be
The WWE is pulling back the ropes on what really goes on before their superstars step in the ring.
With wrestlers like CM Punk and Rhea Ripley appearing on Netflix’s WWE: Unreal, premiering July 29, “What fans will learn from this is the seed of an idea and the genesis of how it goes from headquarters in Connecticut to on the road,” CM explained to E! News in an exclusive interview.
In the five-part docuseries, narrated by WWE legend and Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, viewers will watch as the pros wrestle with a new idea for Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown, said CM, and “see how that all germinates and develops.”
While the storylines and the choreography for each star are predetermined by the writers in sometimes tense closed-door meetings before they enter the ring, Rhea said the most exciting part for her is expecting the unexpected.
“Things can change on the fly,” she told E!. “They happen all the time, which then leads to the people in the ring having to do something else—live on television—no help, no nothing.”
Which is why their superstars need to be stone cold.
“Things do go wrong,” noted Rhea. “So you’re always stressed going out there, but you try not to think about those things.”
Unique Nicole/Getty Images for Netflix
And WWE fans know all too well that part of that includes very real injuries. Rhea was forced to vacate the Women’s World Championship in April 2024 after suffering a shoulder injury during a scuffle with Liv Morgan. Six months later, while appearing on NXT, the WWE star suffered a fractured right orbital socket, with both injuries requiring time away from the ring.
“Being on the sideline is one of the worst experiences that I could think of,” Rhea admitted, “because you’re watching everyone else at work, your family, have fun, and go out there and do your dream, and it’s just like you just want to get back. The itch is just there.”
In addition to following the drama inside the ring, the Netflix documentary also highlights the emotional moments that happen off-camera, including John Cena’s final season with the WWE as he prepares to retire after two-plus decades as a franchise staple.
“John Cena, I’ve affectionately referred to as my wrestling soul mate,” CM said of their decade-long friendship. Having left the WWE in 2014 due to creative disagreements, only to make a grand return in 2023, “There’s a part of me that regrets stepping out, because what more we could have done,” CM admitted. “But it makes it so much sweeter that I’m back now, and I was able to come in here and work with him one last time.”
Netflix
He’s gearing up for the annual SummerSlam 2025, taking place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium August 2 and 3. And while this year’s event will feature cameos by Jelly Roll and Cardi B, he’d like it like that if some other famous faces stepped in the ring.
“I think somewhere down the line we’ve got to do some form of a six-man tag with myself, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jon Hamm,” CM said with a laugh. “So we can do the switch behind the referee’s back, and you can’t tell who’s in the ring and who isn’t. Except I have tattoos. But we’ll ignore that. We’ll use our creative liberty.”
WWE: Unreal premieres July 29 on Netflix. For more shows debuting this year, keep reading…
Comedy Central/Paramount
Digman! (Comedy Central) – July 23
The half-hour animated series is set in a world where archaeologists are massive celebrities and the coolest people on the planet, with Andy Samberg providing the voice of the protagonist, Rip Digman.
Apple TV+
Acapulco (Apple TV+) – July 23
In season four, present-day Máximo (Eugenio Derbez) works tirelessly to restore Las Colinas to its former glory before the grand reopening. In 1986, when a competitor claims the number one spot in the annual ranking of Acapulco’s “Best Hotels,” young Máximo (Enrique Arrizon) will do whatever it takes to get back on top and secure Las Colinas’s future.
Hulu/Disney
Washington Black (Hulu) – July 23
Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, Washington Black follows the 19th-century odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny. When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love. As he navigates uncharted lands and impossible odds, Wash finds the courage to imagine a future beyond the confines of the society he was born into.
Netflix
Hitmakers (Netflix) – July 24
Behind every hit song is the person who wrote it. In the new docu-series, we follow twelve of the industry’s best songwriters and producers as they come together at real high-stakes writing camps to create hits for today’s biggest stars like John Legend, Shaboozey and Lisa of Blackpink. With tensions high and time short, viewers get a front-row seat to the creative chaos, emotional stakes, and personal breakthroughs. This isn’t just about writing music…it’s the journey to becoming a Hitmaker.
Discovery Channel/Warner Bros.
Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse (Discovery Channel) – July 27
For the first time ever, 12 battle-tested survivalists take on a scorched, apocalyptic wasteland where they must scavenge ruins to survive in the all-new series. In locations long abandoned by humans, the survivalists face the franchise’s toughest challenge yet as they endure extreme heat and drought as well as unpredictable lions, elephants, black mambas and more without food, water and clothing. Four teams are dropped into forgotten corners of South Africa – spanning a ghost town, a vehicle junkyard, a cemetery, and even a mine shaft – where they must scavenge the wreckage for resources. In a franchise-first, survivalists will not be extracted but must escape this wasteland and find their way back to civilization at the end of the challenge. All the while, they must also battle relentless threats from apex predators, endure punishing heat and navigate constant dangers from rusted metal and broken glass.
Discovery Channel/Warner Bros.
In the Eye of the Storm (Discovery Channel) – July 27
Anchored by groundbreaking crowdsourced first-person storytelling and footage, In the Eye of the Storm chronicles the second-by-second stories of recent severe weather disasters through the eyes of ordinary people who survived them and managed to capture it on camera. From this year’s devasting wildfires in Los Angeles to twin twisters in Iowa that proved to be the most powerful ever recorded and apocalyptic flooding in Appalachia that swept entire towns off the map, each episode reveals the chaos and terrifying impact of natural disasters as they occurred in real time during the most destructive year for storms in modern history.
Hulu/Disney
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball (Hulu) – July 28
Welcome back to Elmore, where the laws of reality are a joke, and family life is anything but ordinary. Whether he’s battling an evil fast-food empire, facing off against a sentient AI in love with his mom, or trying to stop Banana Joe from wearing pants—Gumball Watterson drags his brother Darwin, sister Anais, and the rest of the town of Elmore along for the ride. With even wilder stories, bigger twists, and surreal humor, the show is so amazing that they had to rename it!
Discovery Channel/Warner Bros.
Animals on Drugs (Discovery Channel) – July 28
Around the world, wild animals are getting dangerously high – and it’s not by accident. From drunk bears to meth-addled gators and Pablo Escobar’s “cocaine hippos,” human vices are wreaking havoc on the animal kingdom. In this all-new three-part series, wildlife biologist and adventurer Forrest Galante dives into the bizarre and shocking world of animals under the influence, combining boots-on-the-ground investigation and cutting-edge science to track these creatures, uncover how they got hooked, what it means for their ecosystems and how we can help them recover before it’s too late.
Discovery Channel/Warner Bros.
Mud Madness (Discovery Channel) – July 29
An all-new season of this adrenaline-fueled series follows the off-road subculture of extreme UTV and ATV mud racing – where the machines are big, but the personalities are even bigger. As the top 10 best drivers in the country go head-to-head for the first ever MUD CUP, the series explores the rivalries, alliances and personal stakes that fuel the sport. From backwoods garages to rowdy race day showdowns across Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Alabama, Mud Madness captures the heart, grit and chaos of a tight-knit community where reputations are built in the mud – and broken just as fast
Hulu/Sony Pictures
Dope Girls (Hulu) – July 29
In the aftermath of WWI, London is changing as returning soldiers from the front find a society changed by a newly empowered generation of women. In Soho’s emerging underground club scene, women begin to seize opportunities, both legal and illegal, and shape the nightlife industry.
Telemundo/NBCUniversal
Top Chef VIP (Telemundo) – July 29
Telemundo’s Top Chef VIP welcomes ten new personalities to its most intense season yet. With the addition of these celebrities, the lineup of 20 contestants entering the most demanding kitchen on Spanish-language television is now complete. Hosted by Carmen Villalobos, the new season will put these personalities to the test with cooking competitions airing every weeknight and Sundays, each episode packed with unexpected twists. A panel of demanding professional chefs – soon to be announced – will serve as judges, all with one goal: to crown the season’s champion with the coveted Top Chef VIP title and the $200,000 cash prize at the end of the competition.
MTV/Paramount Networks
The Challenge: Vets and New Threats (MTV) – July 30
In The Challenge: Vets and New Threats, a new era begins, and the game has never been more unpredictable.
For 40 seasons, generations of battle-hardened Veterans have fought relentlessly for the ultimate prize: the title of Challenge Champion. This season, fresh faces and new threats have entered the arena with one goal: upend the old order and take it all. The Vets, driven by legacy and pride, will need to adapt fast. Their established hierarchy is crumbling, and leaning on past alliances, and experience is no longer reliable—it’s about navigating the ever-shifting landscape of alliances, betrayals, and unknown threats. To win, Veterans and New Threats will be forced to work together, unless they’re forced to turn on each other. Nothing is guaranteed.
Netflix
Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes (Netflix) – July 30
One of the greatest manhunts in New York City history comes to life in this gripping three-part series. Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes takes viewers inside the NYPD’s desperate race to catch the infamous .44-caliber killer—and into the disturbing mind of David Berkowitz himself. Newly unearthed recordings offer rare insight into his twisted psyche, revealing what was going through his mind as he unleashed a reign of terror in the late 1970s. Alongside firsthand accounts from cops, journalists, and survivors, the series unpacks how fear spread through the streets, fueled by cryptic letters, a frenzied press, and a killer who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once. From Emmy-winning and Academy Award nominated director Joe Berlinger, this chilling new chapter of Conversations with a Killer delves into one of the most infamous cases in American history.
Peacock/NBCUniversal
Twisted Metal (Peacock) – July 31
Following the revelations in the season one finale, John and Quiet find themselves entering the deadly Twisted Metal tournament, a sinister demolition derby hosted by a mysterious man known as Calypso. As they try to survive an onslaught of dangerous new foes and familiar faces alike, including the murderous clown Sweet Tooth, things get complicated for John when he reunites with his long-lost sister, the vigilante Dollface.
Netflix
Leanne (Netflix) – July 31
Leanne’s life takes an unexpected turn when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. Starting over when you’re a grandmother and in menopause isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but with the help of her family she will navigate this new chapter with grace, dignity and jello salad.
Disney
Project Runway (Freeform) – July 31
The fashion design competition moves to Freeform for season 21 this July.
Netflix
Perfect Match (Netflix) – Aug. 1
Perfect Match brings together the most famously single stars of Netflix’s unscripted series to a tropical paradise in an attempt to find love. For the first time in the series history, singles from the Netflix Reality Universe will be joined by icons from Bachelor Nation, Love Island, and other fan-favorite shows. As they compete to form relationships, the most compatible couples will play matchmaker, breaking up other couples and sending them on dates with brand-new singles they’ll invite to the house. Will they create better matches, or will they create chaos? In this over-the-top journey of strategy and dating hosted by Nick Lachey, only one couple will be crowned the Perfect Match.
Prime Video/Amazon Studios
Built In Birmingham: Brady & the Blues (Prime Video) – Aug. 1
The five-part docuseries tells the authentic tale of a club accustomed to sporting heartbreak, who are rebuilt to win, with American football legend Tom Brady laying out their new mission statement: “We’re trying to make this a world-class team.” Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues follows that journey, as a new ownership group suffer relegation and multiple managerial changes en route to a record-breaking season, which delivered automatic promotion to the EFL Sky Bet Championship.
Discovery Channel/Warner Bros.
Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel) – Aug. 1
When fishermen discover monster red king crab in the far west, a gold rush-style race ignites among the Dutch Harbor fleet. To claim their share of the billion-dollar bounty, captains and crews must brave unforgiving 50-foot seas to reach abandoned Adak Island, venturing farther west than anyone has dared in over 30 years and beyond the bounds of rescue. Navigating through unfamiliar territory to secure the lucrative haul, the crews face extreme conditions and major ship malfunctions that put them in serious life-threatening situations, leaving the fleet at the mercy of the tumultuous western Bering Sea.
HBO/Warner Bros. Discovery
Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO) – Aug. 1
In his second HBO special, comedian and podcaster Marc Maron offers up his nuanced perspective on our increasingly uncertain world.
Apple TV+
Stillwater (Apple TV+) – Aug. 1
Based on the bestselling Zen book series, Stillwater follows a wise panda who teaches three young siblings about the world and each other. The series centers on siblings Karl, Addy and Michael, who encounter everyday challenges – big and small – which sometimes feel insurmountable. Fortunately for these three, they have Stillwater, a wise panda, as their next-door neighbor. Through his example, stories and gentle humor, Stillwater teaches the children the concept of mindfulness, while offering them a deeper understanding of their feelings as well as tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges.
AppleTV+
Chief of War (Apple TV+) – Aug. 1
Set amidst the beautiful backdrop of the islands of Hawai’i, the epic new drama starring, executive produced and written by Jason Momoa follows warrior Ka’iana, portrayed by Momoa, as he tries to unify the islands before Western colonization in the late 18th century.
Hulu/Disney
King of the Hill (Hulu) – Aug. 4
The season 14 revival picks up several years after we last saw the Hill family – Hank and Peggy Hill are now retired and return to a changed Arlen after years of working in Saudi Arabia; and Bobby is 21 and living his best life while navigating adulthood as a chef in Dallas.
J.J. Geiger
Las Culturistas Culture Awards 2025 (Bravo) – Aug. 5
Comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, co-hosts of the popular Las Culturistas podcast, will host the fourth annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards, airing Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 9 p.m. on Bravo and next day on Peacock.
The Las Culturistas Culture Awards celebrates culture’s most iconic and consequential moments of the year. With more than 100 unique award categories, live musical performances and unexpected celebrity guests, this show brings culture’s most crucial moments to life.
Televised for the first time, the show will be taped on July 17 in Los Angeles.
Netflix
SEC Football: Any Given Saturday (Netflix) – Aug. 5
This series places viewers inside some of college football’s most storied programs in the SEC through unfiltered access to their coaches and players on and off the field: on the buses, in the locker rooms, at the barbershops, around the fire pits, running out of the tunnels, and more. We take an exclusive look at key matchups throughout the 2024 SEC season to show the passion and drama of college football’s leading conference.
Netflix
Wednesday (Netflix) – Aug. 6
Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) returns to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await. This season, Wednesday must navigate family, friends and old adversaries, propelling her into another year of delightfully dark and kooky mayhem. Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery.
Apple TV+
Platonic (Apple TV+) – Aug. 6
Season two picks up with everyone’s favorite pair of best friends (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) as they contend with new mid-life hurdles including work, weddings and partners in crises. The duo tries their best to be each other’s rock — but sometimes rocks break things.
Hulu/A+E Factual Studios
Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil (Hulu) – Aug. 7
In 1984, serial killer Ted Bundy offers to help investigator Robert Keppel catch The Green River killer, a phantom who was murdering women in Seattle, Washington – right where Bundy claimed many of his victims, ten years earlier. Keppel and Bundy’s cat and mouse game, played out up until Bundy was executed.
Exclusive elements in the form of never-before-heard audio tapes and interviews combine to make Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil the definitive deep dive into one of history’s darkest minds—seen through the steadfast gaze of the detective who refused to look away.
Starz
Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Starz) – Aug. 8
The Outlander spinoff introduces two new couples who fight against all odds to be together as their love stories unfold across time. From the battlefields of World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland, two fated love stories must defy the forces that seek to tear them apart, intersecting in surprising and unforeseen ways.
Hulu/Disney
Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa (Hulu) – Aug. 8
In his second hour-long standup special, Ralph Barbosa shares his adventures in dating, controlling his temper, working on cars, and his views on current events.
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