Bully Ray: Protecting Wrestling’s Storytelling Still Matters

One big thing: Bully Ray believes wrestlers should protect their characters and the business more

On “Busted Open Radio,” Bully Ray emphasized the importance of maintaining kayfabe in professional wrestling, using Rhea Ripley’s recent WWE return as an example.

Key points:

• Bully Ray prefers wrestlers to protect their characters and the business more than they currently do.
• He expressed concern about wrestlers sharing personal life details that could impact storyline immersion.
• The former champion referenced Ripley’s recent marriage to Buddy Matthews as potentially conflicting with her on-screen storyline with Dominik Mysterio.

Why it matters:

As wrestling continues to evolve, balancing authenticity with storytelling remains crucial for maintaining audience engagement and the overall quality of the product.

By the numbers:

• Professional wrestling has been described as a “soap opera for men” for decades.
• The industry has seen a significant shift in kayfabe practices over the past 10 years.

What they’re saying:

Bully Ray quoted wrestling legend Johnny Valentine: “I can’t make you believe that pro wrestling is real, but I can make you believe that I’m real.”

The big picture:

As social media and reality TV blur the lines between performers’ personal and professional lives, wrestling faces unique challenges in preserving its storytelling magic while adapting to modern audience expectations.

Do you think wrestlers should maintain kayfabe more strictly, or is the current balance between realism and storytelling appropriate? Share your thoughts in the comments below.