10 Things We Learned From WWE 24: Empowered

2. Gorilla Gathering

Natalia Beth Phoenix
WWE

Never not the biggest treat of every '24' special, the multiple glimpses quite literally behind WWE's curtain always offer a wealth of curiosities to pore over that aren't even always the focus of the documentary.

In this particular episode, the sheer number of women on screen made sure of it. Offering an intriguing look into perhaps how every Rumble might look backstage, nearly all of the women emerge early to to watch the entire battle royal from the spot.

Charlotte's warm well wish to the entire crew was heartening, as too were the gasps of shock and awe from those that stuck around to watch some of the contest's most gripping moments.

As well as catching rare snatches of Bayley's desperate sadness, there were genuinely sweet moments of unity and support between longstanding colleagues and friends, as well as a stunning moment of exhilaration shared between debutant Ronda Rousey and smiling-face-of-management Triple H as she strode backstage following heir shocking showdown.

These, as much as the stories being told, are the reasons to watch '24' specials. It only boggles the mind further to think of what those endless camera lenses dotted around must catch that end up on the cutting room floor.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for 10 years. Alongside the production of daily written, audio and video content covering WWE and AEW, he also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot on the UK's wrestling podcast charts with over 10,000 episodes and 70,000,000 total downloads. He also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House!, Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast, and has guested on long-running Sunderland AFC podcast Wise Men Say. With WhatCulture, he has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. He has also been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana, 411Mania and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in music and culture magazines The Crack, Pilot as well as Sunderland AFC's premiere fanzine A Love Supreme. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it every other Saturday at the Stadium Of Light, and at Cribs gigs nationwide.