Dark Side of the Ring

Exploring the darkest stories from the golden age of professional wrestling and trying to find the truth at the intersection of fantasy and reality.
Mick Foley: Hell in a Cell
S6 E1

From the first fall off the cage to the impact he still feels today, Mick Foley relives a wrestling match, "Hell in a Cell '98," moment by moment.

Ludvig Borga: Hellraiser From Helsinki
S6 E2

A Finnish wrestling bad guy turned real-life racist politician, Tony Halme's time in the WWF as Ludvig Borga is only the start of his chaotic and destructive life.

Big Van Vader
S6 E3

With an iconic look and skills few of his size could match, Big Van Vader stands out as a wrestling monster but controlling his anger becomes a bigger battle in and out of the ring.

Tony Atlas: Too Much, Too Soon
S6 E4

With the physique of an Adonis and endless charisma, Tony Atlas makes his mark as one of wrestling's first Black stars; but racism, addiction and ego keeps Mr. USA from the top.

The Original '"Superstar": Billy Graham
S6 E5

Often imitated, never duplicated, Billy Graham breaks the mold for what a wrestler could be but steroid abuse and battles with the McMahons keeps Graham from the spotlight.

'Hot Stuff' Eddie Gilbert
S6 E6

Skilled as a performer in the ring and as a booker, who created storylines behind the scenes; 'Hot Stuff' Eddie Gilbert was a ticking timebomb of talent and self-destruction.

Truth, Lies and Billy Jack Haynes
S6 E7

An 80s wrestling star, Billy Jack Haynes' life of violence and mystery leads to his current situation; behind bars and charged with the second degree murder of his wife.

Blood, Fire and the Original Sheik
S6 E8

The Sheik's family and those who who survived his hardcore bloodbaths reveal his career, which spanned fifty years.

The Scream Queen: Daffney
S6 E9

With her piercing scream, Shannon Spruill becomes a cult star as Daffney in the squared circle; outside the ring, Daffney fights a much more punishing battle with bipolar disorder.

The Ballad of 'Earthquake' John Tenta
S5 E1

John Tenta couldn't be further from the monstrous Earthquake character WWF fans loved to hate; as his career faded, a health battle threatened to take him from the family he loved.

Terry Gordy: Final Flight of the Freebird
S5 E3

Already a wrestling star as a teenager, Terry Gordy's time with the renowned Fabulous Freebirds made him a living legend until an accidental overdose robbed him of everything.

Saving Face: The Brutus Beefcake Story
S5 E4

Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake's path in the wrestling world was defined by his decades-long friendship with Hulk Hogan and a horrifying accident that almost took his life.

The Life and Legends of Harley Race
S5 E5

Harley Race achieved near mythical status for wrestling fans as the ultimate tough guy, but behind closed doors his life was haunted by violence and unimaginable personal tragedy.

Chris Colt: Welcome to my Nightmare
S5 E6

The wildest wrestler never to break through, Chris Colt's life took him from LSD trips in the ring to the world of porn, but his self-destructive ways kept him from becoming a star.

Chris Adams: The Gentleman and the Demon
S5 E7

'Gentleman' Chris Adams had the charm, prowess and instinct to become a wrestling sensation, but a violent relationship with alcohol led to a tragic end at the hands of a friend.

Sensational Sherri
S5 E8

An icon of the 80s and 90s as the 'Sensational' manager of top wrestling stars, Sherri Martel left her family behind to pursue her dreams in the ring.

Enter Sandman: Legacy of a Hardcore Icon
S5 E9

A legend of hardcore wrestling, The Sandman made his mark in ECW as the ultimate beer-chugging dirtbag--but lines are blurred when his real family is brought into the ring.

Black Saturday: The Rise of Vince
S5 E10

The launch of Vince McMahon's absolute takeover of the professional wrestling industry changes wrestling forever.

Chris and Tammy
S4 E1

The teenage romance of wrestling prodigy Chris Candido and Tammy Sunny Sytch, his love-to-hate manager, gets torn apart by infidelity, addiction and mutual self-destruction.

Shattered: The Magnum T.A. Story
S4 E2

Wrestling heartthrob Terry "Magnum T.A." Allen was destined for worldwide stardom, but one rainy night altered his career and the future of wrestling forever.

Breaking the Cycle: The Graham Dynasty
S4 E3

Florida became a wrestling mecca for decades under patriarch Eddie Graham and his son Mike, but a series of shocking and unrelenting tragedies threatened to eclipse their legacy.

What Happened to Doink the Clown?
S4 E4

Matt Borne, the man behind Doink the Clown, lived a life of unhinged violence and substance abuse until his shocking death left his family questioning if it really was an accident.

The Junkyard Dog
S4 E5

One of the first Black megastars in wrestling, the Junkyard Dog's journey to the top of the business is marked by addiction and unrealized potential.

The Tragic Fall of Adrian Adonis
S4 E6

Real-life street fighter turned flamboyant wrestling heel Adrian Adonis' life was cut short in a horrific accident that has been shrouded in mystery for the past 30 years.

Abdullah the Butcher: Legacy of Blood
S4 E7

Infamous for his in-ring bloodbaths, Abdullah the Butcher was a money-making phenomenon; after 50 years of pushing boundaries, one cut cost him everything.

Bash at the Beach 2000
S4 E9

At the end of the 1990s, WCW's greatest battles played out backstage between scheming executives and writers, until one off-script rant against Hulk Hogan changed everything.

The World According to Marty Jannetty
S4 E10

Known for their raw athleticism and sex appeal, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty's run as The Rockers was eclipsed by Marty's excess, drug abuse, and possible murder.

Brian Pillman Part One
S3 E1

Brian Pillman quickly became infamous with a groundbreaking performance that made fact and fiction blur and led to his destruction.

Brian Pillman Part Two
S3 E2

After enduring a horrific car wreck, Brian Pillman masks his injuries while pushing his body to the edge; his untimely death leaves his young family struggling to cope.

The Ultra-Violence of Nick Gage
S3 E3

Nick Gage is the self-proclaimed king of deathmatch wrestling, but his road to the top is marked with a six-year prison sentence for armed robbery and personal tragedies.

Collision in Korea
S3 E4

In one of the most bizarre acts of political theatre ever conceived, professional wrestlers who were deployed to North Korea faced a terrifying ordeal that had them fighting for their lives.

Becoming Warrior
S3 E5

The Ultimate Warrior was a divisive force in and outside of the ring; his first wife reveals how an aspiring chiropractor morphed himself into wrestling's most polarizing figure.

In the Shadow of Grizzly Smith
S3 E6

Having survived familial abuse at the hands of their father and the mysterious abduction of their sister, Jake The Snake and his siblings struggle to reconcile with their past.

The Dynamite Kid
S3 E7

The Dynamite Kid earned worldwide fame with a riveting, self-sacrificing style, but violent confrontations outside the ring would destroy his family, his body and his legacy.

The Plane Ride From Hell
S3 E8

A private 757 flight descends into a nightmare as intoxicated wrestlers clash with their flight crew, erupting into one of wrestling's most infamous scandals.

The Double Life of Chris Kanyon
S3 E9

In a culture that celebrates machismo and negative gay stereotypes, wrestling innovator Chris Kanyon keeps his own sexuality a closely guarded secret for decades.

Blood & Wire: Onita's FMW
S3 E10

After Japan's Atsushi Onita creates FMW and its spectacular matches featuring explosions and gratuitous gore, his handpicked successor takes his own life while drowning in debt.

The Many Faces of Luna Vachon
S3 E12

A striking villain in the ring, Luna Vachon becomes a groundbreaking physical performer who battles mental illness and addiction while seeking to champion women's wrestling.

Extreme & Obscene: Rob Black's XPW
S3 E13

XPW merges Rob Black's passions for hardcore porn and deathmatch wrestling, but his empire implodes after he wages a war with federal authorities.

The Steroid Trials
S3 E14

In the mid '90s, wrestling is rocked by accusations of rampant steroid abuse; with star witness Hulk Hogan, prosecutors set out to prove that Vince McMahon is the one responsible.

Benoit Part One
S2 E1

In 2007, wrestling superstar Chris Benoit murders his wife and 7-year-old son, then ends his own life; those closest to the tragedy never speak openly until now.

Benoit Part Two
S2 E2

The conclusion to wrestling's darkest hour, including startling revelations about the troubled mind of Chris Benoit before he killed his wife and son, and then took his own life.

The Life and Crimes of New Jack
S2 E3

One of the most feared and controversial wrestlers of all time, New Jack's career reads like a criminal rap sheet; revealing the man behind the monster and his hardcore legacy.

The Brawl for All
S2 E4

Known as the worst idea in the history of professional wrestling, a legitimate boxing tournament leads to career-ending injuries and has audiences begging for the final bell.

Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino
S2 E5

Investigating the mysterious story of Jimmy Snuka, whose girlfriend Nancy Argentino died in their motel room in 1983, and revealing her family's 30-year struggle for justice.

The Assassination of Dino Bravo
S2 E6

Family and friends of Dino Bravo relive his descent from Montreal's favorite wrestling son to mob enforcer, and the deadly consequences that followed.

David Schultz & the Slap Heard Round the World
S2 E7

The cautionary tale of David Schultz, set to become a superstar until his violent run-in with "20/20" reporter John Stossel saw him exiled from the business he'd sworn to protect.

Cocaine & Cowboy Boots: The Herb Abrams Story
S2 E8

One man's fanatical attempt to build a wrestling empire to rival Vince McMahon's goes tragically haywire as his ego and cocaine addiction kills his dream -- and him along with it.

The Last Ride of the Road Warriors
S2 E9

The inside story of how wrestling's ultimate tag-team partnership is undone when one half of the powerhouse duo slides into alcohol and substance abuse.

The Final Days of Owen Hart
S2 E10

Reliving the final day of Owen Hart. In 1999, Owen Hart fell 80 feet to his death in a stunt that went tragically wrong. His widow Martha reveals the mistakes that took his life.

Confidential: Cocaine & Cowboy Boots - The Herb Abrams Story
S2 E16

Evan and Jason dive deep into every debaucherous and drug-fueled twist and turn of failed wrestling promoter Herb Abrams, with bonus remembrances from Mick Foley and Lance Storm.

Confidential: The Montreal Screwjob
S2 E211

Evan and Jason unpack every aspect of the infamous incident known as the Montreal Screwjob; featuring bonus interviews with former WWE referee Mike Chioda and Brett Hart's ex-wife, Julie Hart.

Confidential: The Killing of Bruiser Brody
S2 E212

Evan and Jason expound on the making of the "Dark Side of the Ring" pilot and unpack the events of Bruiser Brody's brutal murder with a new perspective from Savio Vega.

Confidential: The Final Days of Owen Hart
S2 E217

Evan and Jason celebrate the life of Owen Hart, with new context surrounding his shocking death; featuring bonus tributes and interviews with Mick Foley, D-Lo Brown and The Blue Meanie.

Confidential: The Last Ride of the Road Warriors
S2 E218

Evan and Jason discuss the colorful careers of Animal and Hawk; bonus outtakes from a never-aired legends roundtable with five of Hawk's wrestling peers.

The Match Made in Heaven
S1 E1

Art collides with real life when the mythical love story between wrestling icons Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth explodes beyond the ring with tragic consequences.

The Montreal Screwjob
S1 E2

In one of wrestling's most infamous off-script moments, wrestler Bret Hart is stripped of his championship title through a backstage plot of betrayal that forever changes the sport.

The Killing of Bruiser Brody
S1 E3

Wrestlers discuss the tragic evening in 1988 when they witnessed a locker room confrontation that resulted in the death of legendary wrestler Bruiser Brody.

Confidential: The Life and Crimes of New Jack
S1 E5

Evan & Jason provide new details on some of the most shocking incidents in New Jack's career, featuring an interview with ECW legend Tommy Dreamer.

The Fabulous Moolah
S1 E6

The legacy of wrestling's biggest female star, The Fabulous Moolah, is re-examined after controversial allegations surface following her 2007 death.