Since its debut in February 2014, the WWE Network has uploaded over 7,000 hours of content available for its subscribers. It would take a fan nearly 292 days to watch every single program, not including breaks to sleep, eat, or go to the bathroom. The Network boasts nearly every single Pay Per View (PPV) in WWE, ECW, and WCW history, replays old of Raw and Smackdown episodes, NXT, 205 Live, and so much more.
WWE has over 300 hours of original content, which are shows curated just for the Network and usually aired solely on the streaming service. It's difficult for WWE to expect their fans to watch all 300 hours of content--that would take up time that fans typically aren't willing to devote to a TV program.
Here are the best original programs on the WWE Network.
5. Ride Along
Ride Along documents sets of 2 or 3 WWE superstars as they travel from city to city, from live shows to TV episodes. While it's obviously not 100% authentic as the superstars are aware that there are cameras and they aren't allowed to curse or do much that isn't PG, they still get to recall memories from past tours, training, or other fun times in their lives. They also play games, call other superstars, and make stops. It gives fans a sneak peek into who each wrestler is as a person, and also reminds fans how hard and often WWE superstars work.
4. Tough Enough
Tough Enough technically isn't WWE Network original content as it was aired onMTV and USA, but since all episodes of the show are on the Network and WWE had after-shows strictly on the Network, it can be considered original WWE programming and falls under original content. Tough enough documents 10-15 regular people as they undergo training to become a professional wrestler, with the winner of the competition receiving a contract with WWE. This show gives insight into what it takes to be a WWE superstar, and makes the viewer realize that being a wrestler is a lot harder than it looks. Plus, fans get to see superstars like The Miz, John Morrison, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and Velveteen Dream before they were stars.
3. Breaking Ground
Breaking Ground gave fans a preview of the hard work of select NXT superstars as they learned what it takes to become a WWE superstar. It depicts current WWE superstars Bayley, Nia Jax, Baron Corbin, Alexa Bliss, Apollo Crews, Carmella, Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze and more as they rise up to the top ranks of NXT. Breaking Ground follows the hiring and release of several superstars, and some of the struggles the come with training, injury, and weekly programming. The program is a bit similar to Tough Enough, as both show the struggles in becoming a pro wrestler, but Breaking Ground gets into the every day life of an up-and-comer.
2. 24
24 documents a 24-hour period in a wrestler's career, usually before, during, and/or after a major event in their life. The show allows fans to go behind the scenes for numerous historic moments over the past several years, such as Daniel Bryan's retirement, the Women's Evolution, Finn Balor's Universal Championship reign and injury, and much more. WWE releases these a few times a year, and it gives fans a look at some of the hardest and happiest times in a superstar's career.
1. Chronicle
In just half an hour, Chronicle depicts several crucial months in a superstar's life. While showing real and raw moments as a superstar struggles with their career, personal life, injuries, or any other hardships they may have gone through, Chronicle still maintains pieces of the superstar's persona, not breaking kayfabe while allowing fans to gain a new appreciation for that superstar as a person and a character. Fans can follow Paige through her year after her neck injury and battles with drugs, alcohol and cyberbullying, Dean Ambrose through his injury and turn on Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns through his cancer remission.
This post was originally written on Katie's Digital Journalism Blog.