Trying to get non-wrestling fans to watch literally anything wrestling-related is a difficult task. The word “wrestling” itself will often evoke eye-rolls, groans, or people just walking out of the room. Trust me, I know this 30 years of experience.
However, I believe Viceland has found the one wrestling-related program that literally anyone — hardcore fan or staunch hater alike — can get behind, Dark Side of the Ring.
Airing on Wednesday nights, Dark Side of the Ring, is a fascinating docuseries that investigates some of the biggest mysteries, and tragedies to ever befall professional wrestling.
The storytelling is not unlike what you’ve seen in shows like Making a Murderer, The Case Against Adnan Syed, The Jinx, or Abducted in Plain Sight cultural phenomenons, or why we have countless channels dedicated to true crime series. There’s re-enactments, testimony from people intimately involved in the subject matter, and expert analysis from journalists, and insiders. Yes, we even have the ominous music and narration.
In fact, outside of its setting, there’s very little you have to know about pro wrestling in order to appreciate the series. Everything you need to know is clearly summarized by the narrator with ample context given to you succinctly by those being interviewed. And yes, the context is absolutely needed in order to drive home the true spirit of this series.
This series, while, set in the world of professional wrestling, is about people. It’s about real life people, and these (at times horrific) things that happened and how they and their loved ones have managed to live through it. Episodes about the famed Montreal Screw Job are definitely more inside ball, and are frankly the weakest links of the series. This isn’t to say they’re bad, they’re actually quite good, but they don’t have this universal, emotional wallop that episodes about the death of Bruiser Brody, and the tragedies that befell the Von Erich family.
For example, as a wrestling fan of 30+ years, I’ve seen multiple Von Erich documentaries, but none of them had the resonance of Dark Side of the Ring’s. And that’s because it took a new angle — it examined the current life of Kevin Von Erich, the lone surviving member of the famed wrestling family. It’s his heartache and heartbreak, his honesty, and his story that hit you harder than any of the facts presented. While it’s an episode filled with tragedy, it’s also one filled with hope and redemption. These themes are themes literally anyone can get caught up in.
Wrestling fans, however, should not feel turned off by the series’ universal appeal. You never feel like you’re watching an Idiot’s Guide to Professional Wrestling. Having the likes of Jim Cornette, Dave Meltzer, Mick Foley, and Dutch Mantell along with wrestling personalities involved in the subject matter speaking during the episode gives it legitimacy. And yes, you may have strong opinions about Cornette or Meltzer, or Vince Russo who shows up in an episode — but the people behind Dark Side of the Ring know how to get the best out of these men.
Truly, if you want to watch a fantastic docuseries that is not only a fascinating watch, but one that you can connect with emotionally — you need to watch Dark Side of the Ring.
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