WWE Embraces AI: A New Era of Storytelling, But Not Without Growing Pains

STAMFORD, CT – World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is venturing into a new frontier of creative development, partnering with Writer AI, an artificial intelligence platform specifically trained on WWE's vast library of content, to revolutionize its storyline creation process. This bold move signals a significant shift in how professional wrestling narratives might be crafted, embracing technology that many see as the "inevitable" future.

The driving force behind this initiative is Cyrus Kowsari, recently appointed as Senior Director of Creative Strategy. Kowsari, who brings a wealth of experience from Buzzfeed and the MMA promotion ONE, was personally introduced to the creative team by WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul "Triple H" Levesque. Levesque highlighted Kowsari's crucial role in overseeing WWE's transition to AI-driven storytelling, with a mandate to integrate AI across various creative domains, including video and graphics.

Beyond his creative duties, Kowsari is also set to serve as a liaison to the White House, a curious development that coincides with Levesque's burgeoning political responsibilities. This suggests a broader strategic vision for WWE's engagement in both the entertainment and political spheres.

While the ambition is high, the initial foray into AI-generated storylines has been met with mixed reviews. Early reports from within the company describe the AI's story ideas as "absurdly bad." One particularly notable pitch involved a storyline for Bobby Lashley, suggesting his return as a wrestler obsessed with Japanese culture. This pitch, however, revealed a critical flaw: the AI mistakenly assumed Lashley was still under contract with WWE. In reality, Bobby Lashley is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), highlighting the AI's current struggle with real-time roster awareness and industry dynamics.

Despite these early technical hiccups and the AI's struggle to grasp the nuanced, often intricate world of wrestling storytelling, insiders remain optimistic. The prevailing belief is that once these technical issues are resolved, AI could exert a significant influence over the creative direction of the world's leading wrestling promotion.

WWE is not alone in exploring AI's potential. Other wrestling promotions have also experimented with AI tools, encountering similar challenges in replicating the unique blend of athleticism, character development, and spontaneous drama that defines professional wrestling narratives. The journey to fully integrated AI storytelling appears to be a long and winding road, but one that WWE is determined to navigate.

(Based on information from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter)