D-Von Dudley Says WWE Unreal Hurts the Business by Exposing Too Much

D-Von Dudley made it very clear he isn’t holding back when it comes to WWE Unreal—the Hall of Famer says the show goes too far in exposing the business.

Speaking on the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast on January 31, 2026, D-Von broke down exactly why he feels the show could hurt the business he’s devoted his life to. When asked about his overall reaction to WWE Unreal, D-Von made it clear that his biggest issue lies with the behind-the-scenes exposure the show provides:

“I’m not upset about it… I just wish the show didn’t let out the secrets. I wish it didn’t unveil what goes on behind the scenes and how we do it.”

To explain his point, he drew a comparison to legendary illusionist David Copperfield, explaining that knowing how the magic is done ruins the illusion:

“He puts a tiger in the middle of the stage, puts a curtain around that tiger… lifts the curtain up, and the tiger’s gone. It’s like, okay, fascinating. Love it. But I don’t want to know how it’s done. I’m intrigued by the tiger being gone… I’d like to know, but I don’t want to be told.”

Despite his criticisms, D-Von didn’t deny the show’s entertainment value. In fact, he praised its quality. He then made it clear that Unreal has great potential as an educational tool—just not for the general public.

“It’s good TV. I’m not going to lie about that. I watched half of it. It’s very interesting, very intriguing, very good TV. I just wish it didn’t give the fans insight into what we’re doing. It’s great for learning within the business. I would love it if you put a lot of these young indie guys in a room and held class… I just don’t believe in exposing it to the people.”

Some have accused D-Von of playing favorites or “kissing ass” when defending WWE, but he shut that down directly. He also called out critics who don’t understand the reality of protecting one’s livelihood:

“I don’t hate WWE. Hell, they’re still my bread and butter. I don’t hate them, nor am I going to kiss their ass. Am I supposed to bite the hand that feeds me because you want me to say something negative about the company or someone who works there? No, I’m not going to do that. When that paycheck stops coming in, are those people going to pay your bills? If I called you and said, ‘Hey, can you lend me 0 to pay my light bill?’ you’re not going to give it to me.”

Finally, D-Von made it known that he’s not the only one in the industry with this perspective—he’s just one of the few saying it out loud:

“There are a lot of old-school wrestlers who feel the same way—they’re just not saying anything.”

With WWE Unreal Season 3 set for Summer 2026, D-Von’s words echo the concerns of those who believe wrestling should still protect its mystique and not just expose everything.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.