“Dark Side of the Ring”: Season 2 / Z-View

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Dark Side of the Ring: Season 2 (2020)

Created by:  Evan Husney, Jason Eisener

Director:  Jason Eisener

Stars: Chris Jericho, Jim Ross, Dean Malenko, Vickie Guerrero, James E. Cornette, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Steve Austin, Vince Russo, Bruce Prichard, Sam Fatu, Don Muraco, Jimmy Hart, David Schultz, John Stossel, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, B. Brian Blair, Joe Laurinaitis, Paul Ellering, Nikita Koloff and Dave Meltzer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Each episode of Dark Side of the Ring profiles a professional wrestler or event that has become infamous among professional wrestling insiders.  Interviews with those who were there, archival footage and reenactments are used in each episode.

  • Ep. 1:  Benoit – Part One.  Chris Benoit was a wrestling superstar.  At the top of his game, Benoit had it all.  A beautiful wife and wonderful 7-year-old-son, plus everything that fame and fortune could buy.  From the outside life looked great.  Then over a period of three days, Chris Benoit murdered his wife, his son and himself.

 

  • Ep. 2: Benoit – Part Two.  What caused Benoit to go off the rails?  Steroids?  Taking so many head shots in pro wrestling?  Those close to the tragedy speak for the first time.

 

  • Ep. 3: The Life and Crimes of New Jack. Jerome Young aka New Jack was a wrestler known for his extreme antics in and out of the ring.  Some of New Jack’s stunts resulted in real life charges.  In one match he incorrectly “bladed” an opponent severing two of the man’s artery’s.  His opponent survived after 50 stitches. New Jack was charged with aggravated assault.  In another match New Jack tasered an opponent then threw him him from a 40′ scaffold.  His opponent missed the tables that were to break his fall and instead landed on the top rope.  New Jack said he meant to do that.  There are several other incidents… like the time he stabbed an opponent with a real knife.

 

  • Ep. 4: The Brawl for All. In 1998, Tough Man Competitions and the UFC were gaining in popularity.  The WWE had legitimate roughnecks working for them.  Problem was most were mid-card wrestlers.  So someone came up with the idea to have real fights.  Contestants would wear boxing gloves and fight in three one minute rounds.  Fans hated it.  Several wrestlers were hurt.  And it was hard to promote – why weren’t the top level superstars competing?

 

  • Ep. 5: Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino.  Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka was a pro wrestling superstar.  Sadly, Snuka may have committed murder — and got away with it.  On May 10, 1983, Snuka called for an ambulance. His mistress, Nancy Argentino, was severely injured. She later died from traumatic brain injuries. Autopsy findings revealed more than two dozen cuts and bruises on her head, ear, chin, arms, hands, back, buttocks, legs, and feet. The Forensic pathologist said the case should be investigated as a homicide. Snuka had previously been arrested for beating Miss Argentino.  No charges were filed.  Then 32 years later, Snuka was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for Argentino’s death.  Yet, Snuka never stood trial.

 

  • Ep. 6: The Assassination of Dino Bravo.  Dino Bravo was a popular pro wrestler in Canada before branching out to other organizations.  Bravo always did well in the ring during his twenty-two year career.  But outside the ring, things went south.  At the age of 44, Bravo was found dead from eleven gunshots to the head and torso.  His murderer(s) were never caught.

 

  • Ep. 7: David Schultz: The Slap Heard Round the World.  These days everyone knows that pro wrestling is sports entertainment.  For decades that wasn’t the case.  Wrestlers and promoters went out of their way to make sure that professional wrestling was thought of as “real”.  On December 28, 1984, 20/20 reporter John Stossel was backstage at a Madison Square Garden event.  Stossel approached David “Dr. D” Schultz with the cameras rolling and started an interview.  Stossel told Schultz he thought wrestling was fake.  Schultz responded by slapping Stossel hard in the head. When Stossel got up, visibly shaken, Schultz gave him another slap which again knocked him down.  Stossel sued.  Schultz was fired.  Schultz said that he hit Stossel at the direction of Vince McMahon. This is the story of those slaps and the aftermath.

 

  • Ep. 8: Cocaine & Cowboy Boots: The Herb Abrams Story. Herb Abrams called himself Mr. Electricity.  Abrams had a plan to build a wrestling organization that would rival the WWE.  He even got a million dollars to produce a weekly wrestling show.  Sadly things went south.  Before Abrams died police found him in his New York City office nude, covered in baby oil, and destroying his office furniture with a baseball bat.

 

  • Ep. 9: The Last Ride of the Road Warriors.  The Road Warriors were one of the most popular tag teams of their generation.  Legitimate tough guys, they were popular with fans everywhere.  At the top of their game, things started to unravel.  Alcohol and substance abuse by one would bring both down.

 

  • EP. 10: The Final Days of Owen Hart.  Owen Hart came from the Hart Wrestling Dynasty.  Stu Hart was Owen’s father and Bret Hart, his brother.  On May 23rd 1999, Owen was to make a dramatic and comedic entrance to the ring.  He was to be lowered from the rafters.  Then Owen would dangle a few feet above the ring as if he couldn’t get released.  Sadly, the stunt went wrong.  Owen was released from the harness while still eighty feet in the air.  He fell to his death.  Owen’s widow and others discuss the mistakes made.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dark Side of the Ring is must-see viewing for fans of professional wrestling.  Even if you think you know the stories covered, new information and insights are presented.

Dark Side of the Ring: Season 2 (2020) rates 5 of 5 stars