Every Episode From Dark Side Of The Ring Season 4, Ranked

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• Since it debuted, Dark Side of the Ring has been a must-see show whether you are a fan of professional wrestling or not. It has gone in-depth on many of the biggest stories in the world of professional wrestling and some of those that many might not be familiar with. They are not scared to tackle any subject, and that was no different with Season 4. It saw the stories of people such as Bam Bam Bigelow, Adrian Adonis, Junkyard Dog, and more. It also addresses the infamous WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 pay per view. Below are the rankings for this season.

Highlights

• Dive deeper into the unsung heroes and villains of wrestling history with a true-to-fandom feel.
• Captivating storytelling around iconic wrestlers such as Chris Candido, Tammy Sytch, and Magnum T.A.
• Season highlights include an unsettling episode with Abdullah The Butcher and the controversial WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 incident.

Now that the fourth season of Dark Side of The Ring is over, fans can look back at another successful chapter that covered another collection of some of the most bizarre, shocking, and outrageous tales from wrestling history. Overall, it was a great return to form for the series that just included one of its most popular seasons yet, and the momentum has been rolling along as they covered some key moments and shone a light on some of the lesser-known talents with this season.

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It felt like a more grounded take now that there was a lack of explosive episodes and instead, an emphasis on the said unsung heroism or villainry that lies beneath the surface. This is why the episodes feel like they have a more true-to-fandom feel to them where it continues to steer away from the surface-level coverage of professional wrestling usually done by most documentarians, outside of a few of the great exceptions.

UPDATE: 2024/02/26 11:30 EST BY BENJAMIN VIEIRA

Since it debuted, Dark Side of the Ring has been a must-see show whether you are a fan of professional wrestling or not. It has gone in-depth on many of the biggest stories in the world of professional wrestling and some of those that many might not be familiar with. They are not scared to tackle any subject, and that was no different with Season 4. It saw the stories of people such as Bam Bam Bigelow, Adrian Adonis, Junkyard Dog, and more. It also addresses the infamous WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 pay per view. Below are the rankings for this season.

10 "The Junkyard Dog"

Episode 5 - June 27, 2023

• The episode was flatter than most.
• It delved into his family life.
• Did not address why he did not succeed in WWE.

JYD is a perfect example of dramatic fodder for Dark Side of the Ring to cover. Unfortunately, this episode felt a bit flat in terms of showing the true stature of his presence as a performer before joining WWE and seemed to gloss over some of his importance to the locker room. While some of the more obvious takeaways from his run in WWE can be seen at a glance, the show is typically great at unearthing hidden details or unspoken truths about the situation. Outside of his family life and overall popularity, there was not much else to be said. The program was entertaining but it did not get to the heart of why he never truly made it in WWE.

9 "What Happened To Doink The Clown?"

Episode 4 - June 20, 2023

• Portrayed by Matt Borne.
• Staple of WWE's New Generation Era.
• Episode was generally underwhelming.

The original iteration of Doink is highly regarded as a gimmick of the times that was made to fail but succeeded due to an impressive person behind the persona. Matt Borne made a concept that seemed ridiculous play out like a compelling story and is regarded as a staple of WWE's transition to the New Generation Era. Whereas the show normally uncovers a few extra secrets or turns over some newly found evidence or accounts, there was slim to the story here that has not been covered. The power of the budget and passion of the people who work on the show seemed to be a bit low, as this episode was underwhelming throughout. It also served as a rare example of the show’s subject being more interesting than the actual show itself.

8 "Chris And Tammy"

Episode 1 - May 30, 2023

• Polarizing story of their personal issues.
• Discusses Sunny's downfall in her personal life.
• Candido's potential to be major star examined.

Opening the season, this episode about Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch is a polarizing tale of a series of promising careers going up in smoke because of personal issues. It touches base with all of the classic aspects of Dark Side, with comments from several people that revolved around their lives. Candido’s prominence as a potential star was clear, but the once-beautiful Sunny ended up getting the spotlight and quickly got entangled in a life of both confusing and irresponsible choices that eventually led to their downfall. While it doesn't come across with the hard-hitting storytelling that the best moments of the show have, it definitely has this underlying tone of sleaze that perfectly encapsulates the feel of the story.

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7 "Shattered: The Magnum T.A. Story"

Episode 2 - June 6, 2023

• Magnum T.A. was a prominent wrestler in NWA-based promotions.
• He retired due to a car accident.
• Effective episode in telling his story.

Magnum T.A. was as classic as an episode can be when it comes to the tragic injury-struck star who retired too soon due to a car accident. It might not feel like a story that has as many winding roads and twisted perspectives with different points of view, but it was effective in showing how sudden and serious life can hit a person. However, with all aspects considered, it's a miracle that Magnum is still alive, and sometimes the true loss is one of opportunity. The show did a great job at highlighting what his career could've been, and how in just a flash it can all be gone. It gave the episode a much broader sense of existentialism through the lens of professional wrestling, something that is present in a lot of the best episodes.

6 "Breaking The Cycle: The Graham Dynasty"

Episode 3 - June 13, 2023

• Eddie Graham is the father of Mike.
• Eddie Graham developed the "Dusty Finish."
• It showed the dark side of their personal and professional lives.

The Graham Family is one that has a series of devastating losses and dizzying highs and lows. Two of those losses are Eddie and his son Mike, who had the most impact in the Florida territory, with Eddie even being the brains behind the "Dusty Finish" that is still utilized to this day. The show did a great job at showcasing the effect of Vince McMahon's monopoly on wrestling and how it put a chokehold on the industry, which only caused their seemingly hereditary struggles with alcoholism and financial burdens that led to their dark ends.

It's a harrowing tale that gets even more ghastly as the episode goes on, but finally has the titular breaking of a cycle that entails the surviving members of the family carrying on with their lives in a strong manner. It also serves as another important reminder to any viewers who might be struggling with mental health issues or dark thoughts, proving that the journalism behind the show can help make things better.

5 "Abdullah The Butcher: Legacy Of Blood"

Episode 7 - July 18, 2023

• Abdullah The Butcher was a prominent hardcore wrestler.
• The episode features an interview with him.
• It was a standout episode of the season.

Abdullah The Butcher gets the distinction of being someone revered for his consistent hardcore style and presence as a showman but is also seen by many fans as someone who had low-brow antics. The episode stands out as setting the standard for the better episodes of the season by maintaining a clean and concise account of most of the important individuals they can get to appear, while also presenting the facts of the person. Just getting an actual interview from Abdullah was enough for it to be strikingly eerie, as it seemed to finally cross the line of kayfabe for him. Whether the viewer stands on any side of the argument about Abdullah’s accomplishments, this remains to be seen as an intriguing story.

4 "The Tragic Fall Of Adrian Adonis"

Episode 6 - July 11, 2023

• Adrian Adonis had a major impact on the business.
• It focuses on the progression of his career and how his gimmick changed.
• It delves into his personal life and how that affected his performances.

This episode about Adrian Adonis is a great example of how the show can find an iconic wrestler and highlight little-known facts that have a big impact on their careers. It focuses on the progression of his character as he went from prototypical tough guy to "Adorable" and highlights his in-ring talent that shone even in the later stages of his career. Not only did he continue to perform with his issues still plaguing his personal life, but he would be an integral member of the roster during WWE's Golden Era through his promos and rivalries with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. Tragically, Adrian Adonis is another tale similar to Magnum T.A. where there are a lot of "What if?" scenarios that fans like to imagine when talking about their careers and what could've been.

3 "Bam Bam Bigelow: The Beast From The East"

Episode 8 - July 25, 2023

• Bigelow was a huge name in WWE, ECW, and WCW.
• He was one of the greatest big men in the business.
• He main evented WrestleMania against Lawrence Taylor.

Out of all of the greatest big men in wrestling history, there are few with such a polarizing presence outside of a handful of names; and Bam Bam Bigelow is one of the best. This episode had everything from the true wild tall tales about Bigelow’s impressive athleticism from a young age and truly got over how magnificent his agility and in-ring prowess were. This was a well-paced story that covered all bases with the proper amount of care and attention to his life. It would've been satisfying to see a bit more coverage of his WrestleMania main event against Lawrence Taylor, but the creators took the bold but admirable choice to really focus on the man itself.

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2 "Bash At The Beach 2000"

Episode 9 - August 1, 2023

• Hulk Hogan delivered a shoot promo after pinning Jeff Jarrett.
• Vince Russo delivered his own promo on the show after Hogan.
• It shows the backstage politics of WCW that led to the end of the company.

A tumultuous turn of events with so many different opposing sides and accounts came from what should've been just another day at the office. The WCW event would result in a scathing shoot promo from Hulk Hogan against the head booker Vince Russo, while Eric Bischoff and him were plotting to continue their political positions in the company. When it comes to complete and utter confusion and miscommunication, this entire debacle can be seen as an example of how to disappoint everyone when a group cannot reach a decision. Otherwise, competent professionals can turn into divas and it really boils down to a series of “he-said-she-said” type scenarios, but the holes in everyone's logic and testimonies end up perfectly recapping the lack of direction by individuals that eventually helped lead to the demise of an entire company.

1 "The World According To Marty Jannetty"

Episode 10 - August 8, 2023

• The episode discusses Marty Jannetty's rise and fall in professional wrestling.
• It talks about numerous negative tales about him.
• Jannetty himself appears in the episode.

The season finale concluded with this tantalizing account of Marty Jannetty, and the story of his rise and fall in the wrestling world. It was genuinely shocking to finally see all of the incidents and different controversies that he's been involved in. From alleged murders to wildly outlandish rants on Facebook, this seemed to hit the checklist for just about every possible negative type of tale that is seen on the show.

It unapologetically showed Marty in his current condition, not straying away from the harsh reality of a fast life reaching a slow crawl. Finally, it serves as an intriguing look into how one individual can come across in so many warped ways due to their own misunderstandings or misgivings, perhaps playing the part of a cautionary tale for how even white lies can end up casting very dark shadows.