Over the years there’s been a lot of debate regarding what qualifies as professional wrestling, and what qualifies as sports entertainment. WWE has long pushed the idea that they are a sports entertainment company, and it sounds like they are doubling down on that mentality nowadays.
Recently Michael Cole talked about Raw’s big jump to Netflix on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, and he stated that Netflix wanted the red brand because Netflix understands that storytelling comes first in WWE.
“That’s why Netflix wanted us. Netflix understands we are a storytelling entity first. We’re not professional wrestling anymore, we haven’t been for many years. We’re an entertainment product. We need stories so our fans can emotionally invest in our characters. Why do they hate Logan Paul? Because he’s a cocky p***k, right? As a character.”
“We’re an entertainment product. It’s the emotional connection, whether you’re a bad guy or good guy. It’s one of the reasons we’re on Netflix now. I tell people all the time, I’ve never pretended in 28 years to be a professional wrestling announcer. I’m not. I’m a narrator, I’m a storytelling, I’m a pitch man, I’m a play-by-play announcer, somewhat. I embellish stories, I create characters. I’m a jack of all trades.”
H/T Fightful