'CAMP WWE' IS STRANGE, RAUNCHY, ANIMATED FEVER DREAM - COMPLETE REVIEW OF FIRST EPISODE

Note: THE FOLLOWING WILL FEATURE SPOILERS FROM THE DEBUT EPISODE OF "CAMP WWE"

"Camp WWE", the new R-rated animated series from Seth Green's Stoopid Buddy Studios (Robot Chicken), is a weird series, even for an twisted animated series where WWE stars are children away at a summer camp run by a fanatical Vince McMahon who, based on the episode provided for advance screening, is obsessed with making sure the camp stays open so he can make money. I wasn't exactly sure what to make of the series and I'm not sure I have processed it. Sort of like Tommy Wiseau's "The Room", I think you really need to see this one for yourself because you might like it, you might love it, but really, you sort of need to experience it, because it's this oddball version of WWE.

The first episode deals with McMahon (voicing himself and obviously loving every second of it, his voice acting, especially for the more explicit lines, is pretty damn great) and his head counselors, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon (who reminded me, of all people, of Major Frank Burns and Hot Lips on M*A*S*H) realizing that young, whiny John Cena has a bout of home sicknesses and just wants go go home to see his parents. This sort of thing usually spreads to other campers and it could put the camp out of business, so McMahon orders his counselors, including the aforementioned and the uber-horny Ric Flair (voicing himself with zest)to fix Cena. The animated Flair is a highlight of the episode, ready to hump anything that moves; a grizzly bear ends up on the wrong end of this a few times over the course of the 22 minute episode.

As one might surmise, this all goes wrong as Flair is more interested in grinding away and McMahon's attempt at showing a propaganda film to show Cena he wants to stay makes Cena want to leave to "save his parents" from how terribly dangerous home is.

Finally Triple H, desperate to keep the camp open so he can hide outside Stephanie's window and watch her lick popsicles (I kid you not) and perhaps even more desperate to kiss up to Vince McMahon, tells the entire camp that they can't go home because all of their parents have been killed. Naturally, all of the children freak out, except the Undertaker, who is sort of happy about this development and leads a funeral service, only upset that there wasn't "way more death."

All of this leads to Cena trying to escape so McMahon unleashes one of his secret weapons - he drops the Hell in A Cell over the entire camp. When Cena proceeds with his attempts at escape, McMahon then hunts Cena with knives and a crossbow through the woods as he rides a giraffe. Yes, a giraffe. In the end, McMahon has an admission to make, because well, he's an adult forcing his own fears and trauma on today's campers.

As you might imagine, this is an absolutely insane 22 minutes.

If you grew up in the 1980s and missed the days of Ric Flair flashing everything in sight in his robe, well, you are in luck. If you miss the Attitude Era, this series comes off like a love letter to that era's twisted insanity. If you ever wanted to see Vince McMahon verbally shoot down Triple H, who badly just wants to be accepted, you are really in luck. If you ever wanted to see Steve Austin as a crazed prankster (more of this please) who ends up setting fire to the camp and the WWE stars as sort of a R-rated twisted tribute to "The Peanuts" well, "Camp WWE" is certainly the show for you.

The highlight of the pilot episode to me are some of the one-liners that are tossed out that sort of poke WWE and it's personalities in the eye. One of the best scenes is where Triple H, trying to man up Cena, tells him that he should only cry at the end of "E.T." and then begins quoting "The Godfather" before breaking down in tears, leading to Stephanie trying to justify why Triple H is a good boyfriend to Cena, although really to herself.

In another scene, Flair asks Cena, "Why the long face...and why the long shorts?" Towards the end of the episode, Vince McMahon complains that his legs have failed him and they will pay for that - those are the lines and the moments that stand out, because they play into the narratives that online fans use to knock the company and those inside it. McMahon knocking Triple H's attempts at ingratiating himself to McMahon and HHH's response of "Yes, master." were tremendous. "Camp WWE" would be wise to take a tact from the phenomenal "Edge and Christian Series" on the WWE Network and use "Camp WWE" as a continued way to skewer WWE itself.

Viewers watching will also have a fun game of "Where's Waldo" as different WWE personalities, in animated form, pop up on the series. The regular cast will feature The Bellas, R-Truth, Big Show, Steve Austin, The Rock and others while Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns briefly appear in scenes this week. Sadly, no sign of Daniel Bryan.

None of the younger versions of WWE performers are voiced by the talents themselves. It appears that will be left for the older counselors such as Flair, Slaughter and Jake Roberts, who is slated for a future episode. Triple H will soon also appear as well, playing his own father "Quadruple H."

Overall, the series is something of an fever dream that I suspect some fans will like because it features McMahon cursing endlessly and is obviously designed to appeal to the same Attitude Era audience that initially fell in love with Comedy Central's "South Park" when that series debuted 20 years ago.

"Camp WWE" obviously derives a lot of it's inspiration from Trey Parker and Matt Stone's classic series. Instead of the crazy denizens of the town, we have all sorts of crazy counselors (Sgt. Slaughter - looking like Kowalski from "The Ren & Stimpy Show"- is literally ready to well, slaughter the campers, which I smirked at; Flair is a hornball one second, an emotional wreck the next). Instead of the town, we have a camp where the adults are obviously the idiots and the children are stuck maneuvering their way through this strange place they find themselves in. The animation, by design, is meant to look rough around the edges as well.

What it fails to bring over from the "South Park" motif, at least with the first episode, however, is that the Comedy Central series evolved beyond Eric Cartman proclaiming "Why is today all about things coming in and out of my ass?" in that series' pilot and became more subversive as a satirical voice on pop culture, United States politics and the world at general losing the thread over different stories and tragedies. The crappy animation and the characters were to trick people into being forced to think. I don't know if that's what WWE will be going for here, since the lure is seeing these twisted, animated versions of their own personalities.

So, where and how "Camp WWE" evolves over time remains to be seen. It took "South Park" years to find it's voice. You can't expect "Camp WWE" to do so with just one pilot episode. I'm curious to see if the series evolves, and how it does, over the course of this first season. Based on the nature of the WWE Network, the series is already likely a lock for renewal and it's also a lock that the sublime ridiculousness of the concept itself will certainly please those already subscribing to the Network....except parents who aren't paying close enough attention.

Get your marshmellows and steel chairs - Camp WWE is in session, folks!

"Camp WWE" will debut this Sunday evening on the WWE Network's via their Video on Demand service.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!