Future Dark Side Of The Ring Episode Ideas - Part 1

Following the season finale of the exceptional Dark Side Of The Ring’s second season, we here at The Signature Spot are most certainly excited for the third season that will continue to deep dive into wrestling’s seedier, and sometimes, horrific past. Now that the show has covered both the Chris Benoit and Owen Hart tragedies, many may think there isn’t much to uncover still, but any wrestling aficionado knows that while they may have covered the most high profile controversies, there is so much more to dive into. We have compiled a list with brief descriptions of what we would love to see on Dark Side Of The Ring’s future seasons.

The Candyman That Almost Killed The WWF - Dr. Zahorian and the Steroid Trial

If you’ve watched WWF/WWE long enough, there’s a good chance you’ve heard one of the McMahon family members mention Vince beating the US Government, and that all stems from the biggest wrestling controversy of the early 90s. Dr. George Zahorian was a mark doctor who was sometimes referred to as the Candyman in pro wrestling circles fulfilling steroids and other prescriptions to wrestlers freely during the time. This would lead to a federal investigation that threatened to take down both the WWF and Vince McMahon himself, with the legendary rumour being that when Jerry Jarrett was brought into the WWF during the time he was only there to run the ship if Vince ended up in prison. This could easily be the show’s second story to cover two episodes a la the Chris Benoit tragedy, as there is so much to glean from the story. Rumour is the producers are already planning an episode regarding this so we can only hope they get to do it.

Star Crossed Lovers – Tammy Lynn Sytch and Chris Candido

Many hardcore wrestling fans consider Chris Candido to be one of the most underrated talents ever, but more common fans are more familiar with him simply due to his complicated relationship with Tammy Lynn Sytch aka Sunny. The stories behind the curtain during their WWF run alone could fill an entire episode, but an episode covering their ascent and time together through Smoky Mountain Wrestling all the way until Candido’s tragic death during his run in TNA would be phenomenal, and the amount of material they could get with Sunny’s troubles since that time could fill a textbook. Despite all of their problems, of which there were many, Sytch and Candido were an incredibly talented duo that helped bring in a new era of wrestling to the masses.

The Lost Potential – The Magnum TA Story

Arguably one of the biggest blows to Jim Crockett Promotions and their ascent during the 1980s was the horrific accident involving Magnum TA. One of the biggest rising stars at the time, and a man set to eventually dethrone The Nature Boy Ric Flair for the NWA Heavyweight Championship, Terry Allen was involved in a car wreck on October 14th, 1986 that ended his promising career and left him paralyzed on his right side for months. Given his natural charisma, intense look and in-ring style, Magnum TA could have become one of the biggest stars in the history of the business but it was tragically not to be. Given that Nikita Koloff has been involved in the Road Warriors episode in season two, it would be fascinating to hear his side of becoming the man to replace Magnum as Dusty Rhodes’ partner and his doomed face turn. And of course, despite several shoot interviews, many hardcore wrestling fans can never get enough of Terry Allen and how he views the business now, especially with his stepdaughter currently being the World Heavyweight Champion in Impact Wrestling. 

Betrayed And Broken – The Tragic Death Of Joanie ‘Chyna’ Laurer

When Joanie Laurer first entered the WWF at the insistence of Shawn Michaels and Triple H, she was nothing more than an imposing female bodybuilder. Over time, however, she would become one of the WWF’s biggest stars due to her unique look and charisma. Having entered into a long-term relationship with Triple H, she stood by his side as they both rose to the top of the card. Breaking barriers along the way, Chyna would become the first female entrant in the Royal Rumble and the King Of The Ring tournament, and was even considered to become the WWF Heavyweight Champion at one point but would end up settling on becoming the first female Intercontinental Champion. But when Triple H became romantically involved with his on-screen wife, and daughter of the boss, Stephanie McMahon, the walls would come crashing down.

This would lead to her exodus from the WWF and years of drug abuse before entering into the world of adult pornographic entertainment. Sadly, as it seemed Laurer was finally getting her life back together and on the right track, she would pass away in 2016. After spending years ignoring her contributions to the world of wrestling, WWE would posthumously enter her into the WWE Hall of Fame with her D-Generation X compatriots and acknowledge her existence. 

A Legendary Collision – The Time WCW Ran A Show In North Korea

Given that North Korea has become mythical in so many ways, most of them bad, the idea of them running a wrestling show promoted by an American company seems implausible. But in 1995, WCW ran Collision In Korea, a special PPV, that besides being one of the only big WCW shows not available on the WWE Network, has become legendary for a number of reasons. Anyone who has heard Scott Norton’s infamous phone story (and it should be noted that Norton has appeared on Dark Side Of The Ring on the Road Warriors episode) or the 83 Weeks podcast with Eric Bischoff knows that this show was not without its hiccups. A deep dive into such a divisive show could certainly be a cause for hardcore wrestling fans to get more information on an almost forgotten show.

Read Part Two with even more potential ideas for another season of Dark Side Of The Ring!