WWE Uncooked didn’t simply pull as much as Brooklyn’s Barclays Heart on Monday night time (August 4)—they introduced the block with them. What appeared like a wrestling occasion on the floor rapidly morphed right into a cultural mash-up that solely Netflix may engineer: Hip-Hop royalty and sports activities leisure beneath one energized, loopy roof.
Methodology Man strolled in like he owned the world. This was no act of conceitedness on his aspect. No, it was merely the quiet, highly effective presence he wields. Havoc of Mobb Deep introduced that Queensbridge cool and was very low key. Joe Budden merely noticed as he appeared to familiarize himself with this unusual, new world. Dave East leaned into the spectacle. Famend bassist and musical director Adam Blackstone and different cultural connectors gathered close to the ground seats for what felt like an unannounced rap night time at Uncooked. I used to be ringside representing AllHipHop. Once I was knowledgeable that I used to be ringside, I didn’t absolutely grasp what this meant. I’ve been ringside for boxing matches, however this was very totally different.
Historically, Hip-Hop and wrestling haven’t at all times shared the identical stage. Netflix is altering that in a whole lot of methods. The corporate, which started streaming WWE Uncooked in 2025 beneath a billion-dollar deal, appears decided to convey the worlds collectively. The streaming large is actively inviting influencers, artists and cultural figures to attend WWE occasions. However they aren’t simply observing…they’re experiencing. For a lot of of them, this was their first time this near the squared circle, and the reactions are priceless.
One rapper’s face lit up like a baby watching fireworks when a wrestler received slapped throughout the chest proper in entrance of him. One particular person mentioned, “I assumed this was faux! However that spit was actual” as a wrestler was seemingly struck within the face. Another person gasped watching sweat actually fly off a wrestler’s physique from the influence. The close-up perspective destroys that age-old fantasy. You see the welts, purple marks and exhaustion. Certain, it’s leisure, however this isn’t faux. It was extremely enjoyable and utterly totally different than the in-lounge expertise.
Vogue, as at all times, added its personal aptitude. A couple of onlooker was caught off guard by a few of the outfits, prompting a couple of crowd-worthy pause moments that drew hearty laughs. Nonetheless, it was refreshing to see artists sit back, snort and simply be themselves. There have been no entourages, no true mic moments— simply wrestling and good vibes.
Then there was the bodega. All people loves the bodega.
Netflix’s advocates perceive the soul of New York Metropolis. Solely an organization with deep, deep pockets and good cultural consultants may do the now-infamous “Netflix Bodega.” Consider a VIP suite reworked right into a nook retailer, however curated. We’re speaking air freshener, paper towels, Drano, chips, drinks, deodorant—you identify it. They even had baggage prepared for friends to “store.” Issues have been orderly this time. The primary spherical, at Madison Sq. Backyard, was mayhem. Barclays was extra refined however nonetheless hilarious and completely NYC.
I didn’t witness Methodology Man, Havoc or Joe Budden taking part (chuckle). Final time round, loads of rappers joined within the free-for-all. Watching well-known names casually snag a field of cereal or a bottle of Daybreak…you actually can’t recreate that second.
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Shout out to the the influencers, media figures and die-hard wrestling heads like Shaheem Reid, who was getting autographs on an genuine WWE Belt. Jawn Murray, the acclaimed producer, and singer Skye Washington helped me stand up to hurry on all the brand new names and mores of this model of this WWE. There’s one thing refreshing about watching grown males geek out over the Undertaker’s aura or a perfectly-timed frog splash.
What Netflix is constructing right here is each synergy and technique. Hip-Hop has liked wrestling for a very long time. Many people grew up on Andre The Large, The Rock, Ric Aptitude, Stone Chilly Steve Austin, King Kong Bundy, Junkyard Canine, Tony Atlas, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and so many extra.
As WWE leaps into streaming, rap and so-called city tradition will assist them make this digital maneuver a cultural pivot as nicely. Wrestling isn’t only for youngsters or center America anymore. It by no means was. It’s for everyone. And final night time, it was actually for Brooklyn.
The ring has by no means felt so acquainted.
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