The revolutionary platform for wrestling entertainment has defied all forms of logic to actually succeed as a stand-alone product, and the system continues to grow with more and more countries being able to enjoy watching both new and old events.
But the pay-per-views, Raws, SmackDowns and NXTs aren’t the only great things about the Network. With so much original programming, we are treated to hours of new content, allowing fans far and wide to see different aspects of what goes on behind the scenes at WWE.
Some are better than others, but when they get it right they truly do knock it out of the park.
What makes the better shows great is that it’s all completely fresh. Apart from the odd DVD release, we don’t see some of the superstars in these kinds of environments, and it’s no coincidence that all five entrants on this list show the superstars in a way that you could have never imagined previously.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the five best original shows on the WWE Network - excluding NXT.
#5 WWE Countdown
Back when they still produced episodes of WWE Countdown, they were great. They ran down some fascinating top 10s that, whilst you may have seen elsewhere, felt completely different because you just wouldn’t have expected WWE to rank them like that.
It was refreshing to see a number of WWE personalities talking like fans as opposed to being in character, and gives an interesting insight into their mindsets.
Also read: Ranking the last 5 WrestleMania main events from worst to best
Plus, there was an actual anticipation there. Viewers genuinely wanted to know what was voted as being “the best” in a certain category, and it creates a friendly debate among friends that you’d usually be having outside of the WWE bubble.
It’s a simple enough idea, but it was executed well to the point that fans were genuinely upset when it was seemingly replaced by The WWE List which just didn’t have the same feel to it.
Onto a show focused solely on a small group of performers.
#4 Ride Along
Whoever thought up the idea of WWE Ride Along was a clever man or woman, because it seems as if the superstars tend to forget they’re being filmed throughout the duration of the journey.
You get to see how different friendship groups interact, what they get up to on the road as well as hearing fun stories that you usually wouldn’t have heard anywhere else.
The partnerships are almost always fun and it also helps you to appreciate the miles that these superstars put in week in and week out in order to entertain the WWE Universe.
Whether it’s from Boston to Philadelphia or two small towns in the middle of Texas, the laughter and sense of friendship never stops between the superstars involved. It’s nice, and it’s genuinely refreshing to see.
From something a tad strenuous to the place where it all begins.
#3 Breaking Ground
If WWE just did series after series of Breaking Ground and forgot all about the Tough Enough reboot, we aren’t sure if anyone would bat an eyelid.
The fascinating mini series shows a number of NXT talent in the Performance Center who are all looking to break into superstardom, but they soon realise just how much hard work will be involved if they want to get there.
From Bayley and Baron Corbin to Aliyah and Tino Sabbatelli, the difference in quality ranges throughout the cast and it’s interesting to see what these people are like behind the scenes.
Plus, the WrestleMania 32 episode, in particular, provides a delightful insight into what it’s like when NXT roster members find out that they’re being called up to the main roster. This is just all round brilliance from start to finish.
We move from a lot of hard work to two people sitting down and having a chat.
#2 Stone Cold Podcast
If you haven’t seen the Stone Cold Podcast, then you need to check it out. Austin’s live interviews with people such as Ric Flair, HBK, Big Show and several others have been making the headlines for well over two years now.
At the beginning, it was seen as a way to get answers out of Vince and Triple H regarding CM Punk, but now it’s involved into so much more than that.
No matter who is sat across from the Texas Rattlesnake, there is always an interesting conversation to be had, with a couple awkward moments thrown in there from the likes of Dean Ambrose and Paul Heyman.
No matter how you feel about the people you’re watching, you get to hear stories and get answers to questions you never even knew existed. Trust us, this is worth a watch.
The final entrant really is the deserved winner of this category.
#1 WWE 24
The production values, the emotion, the behind the scenes footage, the passion, the attention to detail - everything about WWE 24 is magnificent. Every episode lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, with every single one being as unique as the last.
The topics are all very different from Seth Rollins’ road to recovery to the gritty details behind WrestleMania 30.
Honestly, it’s even better than it sounds. WWE take us on a journey that leaves the audience encapsulated in the story being told, and the best part is that they only come around every so often.
They’re great to watch when you just feel like having something on in the background, and a lot of them sum up everything we love about professional wrestling. Just top notch stuff.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
0 votes
