WWE RAW Introduced Hip-Hop To Brooklyn Ring & Netflix Turned It Into Cultural Second

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 below one energized, loopy roof.

Technique Man strolled in like he owned the world. This was no act of vanity 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. After 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 all the time shared the identical stage. Netflix is altering that in numerous methods. The corporate, which started streaming WWE Uncooked in 2025 below a billion-dollar deal, appears decided to carry the worlds collectively. The streaming big 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 individual 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 affect. The close-up perspective destroys that age-old delusion. You see the welts, purple marks and exhaustion. Positive, it’s leisure, however this isn’t faux. It was extremely enjoyable and utterly totally different than the in-lounge expertise.

Trend, as all the time, added its personal aptitude. A couple of onlooker was caught off guard by a number of the outfits, prompting just a few crowd-worthy pause moments that drew hearty laughs. Nonetheless, it was refreshing to see artists chill, chortle and simply be themselves. There have been no entourages, no true mic moments— simply wrestling and good vibes.

Then there was the bodega. Everyone 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 remodeled right into a nook retailer, however curated. We’re speaking air freshener, paper towels, Drano, chips, drinks, deodorant—you identify it. They even had luggage prepared for visitors to “store.” Issues had 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 Technique 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 rise 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 cherished wrestling for a very long time. Many people grew up on Andre The Big, 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 properly. Wrestling isn’t only for children or center America anymore. It by no means was. It’s for everyone. And final night time, it was definitely for Brooklyn.

The ring has by no means felt so acquainted.