Dark Side of the Ring Season 2 Wish List
These are the stories that Vice should investigate.
Dark Side of the Ring season 2 has been announced!
As wrestling fans, we have become accustomed to a lot of lackluster documentaries based on the art we love. Scandalous sound bites, highly biased opinions, poor production quality and ill-informed filmmakers have made it tough and a lot of times embarrassing to learn about the history of the genre. That was until 2019 when Vice came onto the scene with their monumental documentary series Dark Side of the Ring.
For those who have not watched (and I highly recommend you do), Dark Side of the Ring investigated six different bleak incidents within the industry. While nearly all the subjects were covered in previous documentaries, Vice’s series gave a fresh (and most importantly, honest) outlook on each story. You could tell the crew really loved pro wrestling and invested all their time in getting the best product they could for not only us viewers, but also the people involved in the projects. All the episodes were gripping and enlightened me to a lot of aspects of the industry I knew nothing about. Or rather aspects I had been incorrectly told about previously and correctly informed of through this landmark series.
Thankfully, Vice will be airing Dark Side of the Ring season 2 starting March 24. The topics have been revealed and they’re just as scandalous as last season’s. Before the news broke, I compiled a wish list of stories I wanted covered on Dark Side of the Ring season 2.
Dick Murdoch and the KKK
It is well known that racism has been a hot topic throughout the history of professional wrestling. The segregation of ethnic minorities and branding of national stereotypes has been going on since the sport began, and sadly, is still going on to this day in some respects. Several talents have become notorious for their racist and fascist reputations in the industry, leading them to become loathed figures in the modern day.
Arguably the most racist wrestler outside of the squared circle was Dusty Rhodes’ old tag team partner Dick Murdoch. A tough Texan, Murdoch was a feared competitor inside the ring, and outside the ring, was allegedly a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Due to the touchy subject matter of this documentary, it would have to be dealt with a lot of care. But it is a story that really needs to be investigated and documented.
The British Bulldogs vs. The Fabulous Rougeaus
If asked to compile a list of the greatest tag team feuds, I expect very few people would choose The British Bulldogs vs. The Fabulous Rougeaus. Granted, inside the ring, the two teams didn’t really do anything very special or have a very historic feud. However, outside of the ring, the two teams were well-known for their hatred of one another and their violent and vicious backstage brawls – the most infamous of these involved a fist full of quarters and the loss of a man’s dentures. While this documentary could be very one-sided (due to both the Bulldogs having passed away), it would still be a revealing insight into the glory days of tag team wrestling and the behind-the-scenes WWE scene in the 1980s.
The Finger Poke of Doom
Here in 2019 we are just ushering in a new pro wrestling war between several companies who all have TV deals. Just over two decades ago, there were only two companies vying to be the top dog: WWE and WCW battled on Monday nights from 1995 to 2001, and in the process, produced many memorable moments that still bring fans back to their childhood.
What happened in January 1999 was not one of those moments. The most infamous incident in WCW history took place when Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan screwed over 40,000 fans in the Georgia Dome with the now mythologized “Finger Poke of Doom.” Hogan poked Nash with his finger, causing the giant to collapse like he’d been shot and then pinned before they both embraced and laughed at the fans. The curtain was ripped down and kayfabe was assassinated right in front of our eyes. Of course, it led to the destruction of World Championship Wrestling.
The Finger Poke of Doom has been covered several times in many different forms by numerous people, but the team at Vice could really dissect the incident, telling the whole tale from start to finish.
Jimmy Snuka and the murder of Nancy Argentino
Before Hulk Hogan ruled the WWF in the 1980s, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka was the biggest star in New York. Part of some of the most important matches and feuds in the company’s history, as well as having unparalleled charisma, Jimmy Snuka was set to rule the world.
Yet, in 1983, Jimmy Snuka’s world was turned upside down when he was investigated in relation to the suspicious death of his then-girlfriend Nancy Argentino. The coroner’s report stated that the 23-year-old woman died of traumatic brain injuries consistent with a moving head striking a stationary object. Autopsy findings showed that Argentino suffered more than two dozen cuts and bruises. Both the forensic pathologist and coroner argued that the case should be investigated as a homicide until proven otherwise.
Charges weren’t pressed, but the case was left open. In 1985, Argentino’s parents won a $500,000 default judgment against Snuka in U.S. District Court, but it appears that Snuka never paid, claiming he didn’t have the money. Thirty years after Argentino’s death, The Morning Call exposed a never-before-seen autopsy report that led to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin reviewing the still-open case. In 2015, Snuka was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Snuka plead not guilty and in January 2017, the charges were dismissed after he was deemed not mentally fit to stand trial. Diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2015, Snuka died 12 days after the charges were dismissed.
WWE has kept the case under wraps, never portraying Snuka as anything other than a hall of famer.
Black Saturday
Many people believe that WWE vs. WCW started in the 1990s, hitting its peak at the start of the Monday Night War. Wrestling historians know the war actually began years before in 1984, when the WWF took over the time slot of Georgia Championship Wrestling, trying to bring some New York glamour to the Southern wrasslin’ territories on TBS. The repercussions of the Black Saturday debacle can be seen as the catalyst for Vince McMahon’s world domination in the years to come.
The Final Days of Chris Benoit
It is the most obvious story that has yet to be told as part of the Dark Side of the Ring series. The final days of Chris Benoit are both intriguing and frightening. There have been numerous writings and accounts told of the terrible weekend when he murdered his wife Nancy and son Daniel before committing suicide. It is an extremely touchy subject and one which would be very difficult to film, but for Benoit’s fans, former colleagues and family, the project could shed light on what caused the terrible events in 2007. As evidenced by the first season of Dark Side of the Ring, the crew would treat the project with the respect and dignity it deserves in an effort to help everyone heal.
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