The Influence of Reality TV on WWE: Total Divas and Beyond
Reality television is a dominating modern-day entertainment genre, whether it be from its first inception. The real drama, authentic experiences, and personalistic narration of the events have caught the eyes and ears of audiences worldwide. One of the most intriguing crossroads of reality TV and classic entertainment is professional wrestling, most notably World Wrestling Entertainment, also known as WWE. WWE, being an athletic-theatrical hybrid, introduced itself into reality TV through such shows as “Total Divas,” which affects a lot about its brand, the engagement of its fans, and the perception. This paper delves into how reality TV has impacted WWE, specifically through the case study of “Total Divas” on broad implications in the wrestling industry. The Rise of Reality TVIt became a separate genre from the end of the 20th century, and shows like “The Real World” (1992) and “Survivor” (2000) lowered the boom on the watching public. Such programs bring a viewer into the world of either an ordinary person or a celebrity, omitting the affecting storyline but possessing provocation to authenticity and understanding the people who inhabit the screen. With time, the genre became so popular that it brought to life many subgenres—the shows of competition, dating series, and the shows of celebrity lifestyle.People are still interested in reality television because it presents the human experience in a very raw and unfiltered light. It contains the drama leading to an emotional rollercoaster and making the connection with real human beings having real problems. This format proved to be a capitalistic bonanza for the networks, as many reality shows have been able to command top ratings and fetch massive advertising revenue. WWE and the World of Sports EntertainmentFor several decades now, World Wrestling Entertainment has been leading the way in sports entertainment—an entire blend of muted wrestling dictated by a Moderator combined with dramatic storytelling. WWE was founded by Vince McMahon in 1945. Since then, WWE has taken the notion of wrestling to greater heights, with its larger-than-life characters, complex and constantly evolving storylines that keep fans buzzing around the water cooler. Just company reports alone indicating upwards of 300 live events per year. WWE’s programming, including the phenomenon known as “Monday Night Raw,” the great spectacle called “SmackDown,” and. What does set WWE apart is the storytelling; it is those storylines that draw fans to the characters WWE creates. The performance thus is one trimming of athletes or, to be more specific, superstars in their given roles as both competing athletes and entertainers in scripted feuds, alliances, and personal dramas. This blending of sport and entertainment has allowed WWE to continue with a diehard base and even more mainstream recognition. The creation of “Total Divas”In 2013, the company made its way into reality television with “Total Divas” in collaboration with the E! Network. This was a behind-the-scenes story of WWE’s female performers at that time, who had the stage name of Divas. “Total Divas” afforded viewers, for the first time, a fantastic laid-out exposure to the private and professional lives of these women, their struggles, triumphs, and relationships personally and with one another in and out of the squared circle. Featuring a premise as simple as it was potentially effective—following around a bevy of WWE Divas as they juggle the rigorous life of a professional wrestler—Total Divas featured an ensemble cast primarily made up of big-time WWE stars like Nikki and Brie Bella (The Bella Twins), Natalya, and Naomi, plus relative newbies Eva Marie and JoJo. “Total Divas” promised to peel back the curtain, revealing the real personalities behind the on-screen characters, thus allowing for a more prosperous synergistic link between the on-screen characters and the audience. Impact on WWE’s Women SuperstarsIn fact, “Total Divas” played a tremendously huge role in the perception and popularity of the WWE’s female Superstars. Before the program, WWE women’s wrestling took a back seat to the men’s division, both in terms of airtime and storylines, which mainly focused on physical attractiveness rather than wrestling ability. It was “Total Divas” that shifted that narrative by showcasing the talent and dedication, along with the personal files of WWE’s female performers. The show allowed Divas to express themselves, and the fans were given a closer personal connection with various Divas. Nikki and Brie Bella were spider-pushed because of “Total Divas,” which is now allowing them to sell more merchandise toward the kids and teens demographic, as well as open opportunities to be spotted in various tabloids and magazines. If it could be said that the Bella Twins had transcended wrestling in the WWE, there wouldn’t be a lot of lies told because of how obsequious they have become and how influential they are within pop culture, where they affect and inspire the youth. “Total Divas” also featured how hard the wrestling business could be, both on one’s body and emotionally—an act of sacrifice the performers did for the fans. It showcased the structured rigors of training combined with the injuries and personal sacrifices the Divas had to make, humanizing their athletes. The perspective from backstage took the performers out of their gimmicks in some sense and aligned them back with their humanity. The Women’s EvolutionTotal Divas was part of the whole Woman’s Evolution in WWE. This push was towards fair opportunities and recognition in women’s wrestling, equivalent to that of their male counterparts. The success of the Total Divas show proved that there was, in actuality, such a vast audience interested in women’s wrestling and personal stories, thus greenlighting WWE to put more resources towards their talents.Women’s Evolution milestone included the rebranding of the Divas Division to the Women’s Division, introduction of new Championship Titles, main eventing pay-per-views by the female Superstars. These four horsewomen not only broke onto the top tier of the WWE Universe but also set its pace with delivering high expectations on their performances in the ring with quality and captivating storyline matches that men deliver in their division. The re-introduction and establishment of a revolution for the industry. It
