The pro wrestling documentary series Dark Side of the Ring has been such a hit for Vice TV that the network has ordered two spinoff shows. News of the spinoffs entering production comes after network EVP and General Manager Morgan Hertzan had previously revealed that there were plans to expand the franchise. Along with the third season of Dark Side of the Ring in 2021, the network now reveals that next year will also see the releases of the similar shows Dark Side of the Football and Dark Side of the '90s.
"We are thrilled to expand the Dark Side franchise and take a harder look at the untold stories of two of our favorite cultural touchstones: football and '90s nostalgia," Hertzan said in a statement. "Both topics are rich with controversial characters, subjects, and events that are ripe for investigation. Dark Side of the Ring beautifully lifts the veil on the most gripping stories in wrestling, and I cannot wait for audiences to see what we uncover in our next iterations."
Produced by Jailbirds producer 44 Blue Productions, the oddly-named spinoff Dark Side of the Football will "shine a light on stories that live in the shadows of America's favorite sport. It will explore the sometimes-flawed men behind the masks; the coaches, teams, and leagues who control their fates; and the untold story behind bizarre and tragic off-the-field events - facts that often have been hidden to shield fans from discovering unsettling truths about the game they love."
Meanwhile, Dark Side of the '90s will delve into "the most captivating pop-culture moments, trends and personalities of the decade through interviews with people who studied the time period. Each episode will dissect the nostalgia, uncovering the surprising dark truths underlying the glitz, the glamour, and the headlines." America's Top Dog producer Railsplitter Pictures and Battle of the Blades producer Insight Productions will be producing this one.
Dark Side of the Ring premiered on Viceland in 2019 and was developed for television by Evan Husney and Jason Eisener. The show explores some of the darkest and most tragic real-life stories from behind the scenes of the pro wrestling business, with its freshman season touching on such topics as the murder of Bruiser Brody, the bizarre relationship between Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth, and the "Montreal Screwjob" that saw Bret Hart leave WWE in a very controversial fashion.
Because the show was an instant hit for the network, Dark Side of the Ring returned to television this year with its second season. It was also bumped up to ten episodes over just six episodes for season 1, this time including stories about the extremely violent wrestler New Jack, the mysterious death of Jimmy Snuka's ex-girlfriend, the tragic death of Owen Hart, and the murder-suicide of Chris Benoit and his family.
Season 3 of Dark Side of the Ring hasn't yet been given a premiere date, but it will be even longer with 14 total episodes. Look for the show's return along with the premieres of Dark Side of the Football and Dark Side of the '90s in 2021. This news was first reported by Deadline.