Dave Meltzer Comments on WWE Using AI, Says WWE Experimented With AI for Creating Storylines Months Ago

As previously reported, WWE COO Mark Shapiro drew a great deal of attention with regard to his comments about WWE using AI for analytics related to WWE storylines. Shapiro indicated that Nick Khan and WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque use AI to understand what’s resonating with the WWE Universe and where. Dave Meltzer commented on the matter of WWE using AI during today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer stated, “Months ago, I reported about this, and what it was; they had tried to use AI to do storylines and write the show. I mean, obviously, they have writers and everything, but it was an experiment to see what would happen, and the ideas were just totally a disaster.” He continued, “There were things that were not viable, could not work. They have not figured out a way to make it work. Obviously, they’re going to keep trying.”

Meltzer speculated on how WWE will implement AI if they use it for storylines at some point. He added, “They’re going to continue to do it. Right now, it’s not like people are going, ‘Oh! The Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton story must’ve been all botched up by AI!’ It’s like, whatever stories are there, they’re going to tweak it. If they use it, they’re going to tweak it to make it viable in their minds.”

Bryan Alvarez & Dave Meltzer Discuss How WWE Utilizes AI

Meltzer further elaborated that if the match structure doesn’t work, it wouldn’t be AI that’s at fault, but the agents who put the match together. He stated, “AI will never be the final thing. It would be a way to get ideas, and they are using it in booking. They are using it, apparently, for information–”

When Bryan Alvarez interjected that they’re using it for “analytics” and “for what’s working where,” and “what are the fans into,” Meltzer responded, “Yeah, but how does that work?” Alvarez later replied that WWE’s utilization of AI is “a modern way to use analytics.”

Meltzer went on to say that years ago, WWE was very into analytics under the George Barrios regime, believing “analytics were going to be the next big thing. However, WWE “eventually gutted the department,” concluding that WWE was spending so much money on analytics that “didn’t do them any good.”

Additionally, Meltzer shared his opinion that using AI for wrestling is “bad” because “it doesn’t know the real and the fake,” and “it’s not even that thorough.” He also noted that WWE doesn’t need AI when they can simply look at their own merchandise sales and quarter-hour ratings.

In addition to Shapiro’s comments, WWE faced heavy backlash on social media for airing a vignette on this week’s NXT TV recapping the Zaria and Sol Ruca feud that appeared to use AI-generated content. Fans specifically critiqued the video’s unnatural textures, awkward facial details, and weird transitions. Also, the image of Sol Ruca in the video didn’t even resemble the real-life WWE Superstar.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.