Black Saturday And The Rise Of Vince McMahon (Dark Side of the Ring Finale Review) 

If DSOTR returns for a season six, what topics would YOU like to see covered? 🤔

Vince whining about WCW “stealing” his talent by signing them to big contract is hilarious. He did the same thing to the old territories. What a hypocrite.

So poetic how Ollie lived just long enough to see Vince go down in flames I bet he had the biggest joy in years getting to see that

Curtain Call May ‘96 at MSG would be a hell of an episode.

The Black Saturday story convinces me even more that Vince McMahon is an evil genius. Wrestlemania was Vince's plan B after this happened. That's nuts!

That person that Brisco was talking about breaking the legs was Animal from the Road Warriors

Crazy how black Saturday started with Vince and ole in 1984 and it ended with both of them Vince gone from wwe and ole passing away it comes full circle.

Jim Barnett sounds like he should have his own Dark Side of the Ring episode covering him. The Ring Boy Scandal is an obvious one, but the big glaring problem is a lot of the people involved are now dead. One that Solomonster has suggested before is Larry Sweeney, could also give Vice a chance to explore the indies again like how they did with Nick Gage. Ashley Massaro's story is a sad one that much like various others puts the Dark in Dark Side of the Ring. Art Barr is another person I could see them covering given how influential he was, his success wrestling in Mexico which included a very successful tag team with Eddie Gurrero, and his multiple run ins with the law when it comes to women to put it lightly. Rikidozon could be a topic they can cover if they want to venture outside of the US for more stories to cover. Heard Kurt Angle and Scott Hall were going to be topics for this season, maybe if they can try and cover them for next season. They could possibly be the season's opening and closing episodes like Brian Pillman and Chris Benoit. And just as a pallet cleanser I like for them to cover World Wrestling All-Stars. The seemingly never-ending bad news for TNA which caused it to become Impact to GFW to Impact again, with Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett and Billy Corgan all fighting to be the company's owner before Anthem bought them outright.

I would say the dark part about this episode. Was the fact that it did kill the wrestling industry. The promoters were set in their ways & would not adapt until it was too late for them.

Finally, Jim Barnett gets some recognition. Jim is such an overlooked powerhouse and key to WWE success early on. His story needs to be told. Oh my boy!!

I actually learned a fair bit from this clip. Keep up the good work, Jason.

$3000 a month on phone bills back then wasn't hard to come by - in that era the Ma Bells were making a fortune charging for domestic long distance - anything overseas would be considered astronomical. When you called NaNa for her birthday, you kept it short and sweet.

My idea for DSOTR: Mike Awesome

The territory system was doomed as soon as cable TV became popular. Vince had the foresight to realize this before the other promoters. Don't get it twisted: all of the promoters would have done what Vince did if they had the chance, Vince was just the first to go through with it and put a definite plan into action. The man should NOT be admired, but the way Vince was able to essentially take over an entire industry and medium of entertainment is pretty incredible, or fascinating at the very least

If there is a Dark Side season 6, I'd like to see an episode on Jeff Hardy, going through all the problems and scandles he's been involved in. I love The Hardy's to death, but Jeff's story was made for Dark Side. Maybe an episode on the entire 2020 pandemic could work. I don't know if it's too soon or too late for that, but maybe. I'd love an episode about Jim Corrnette, since we can get both his side, and other sides to all the stories about him. All the bridges he's burnt and all the grudges he refuses to let go of. A lot of people have said Teddy Hart would make a great episode, or maybe also the speaking out thing that happened in 2020 as well. Velveteen Dream and all the shit he got into. The rise and fall of Velveteen Dream could work. Again I dont' know if it's too soon for that one, but if they were willing.

No matter how you feel about Vince McMahon...he changed the wrestling business..for better and worse...And you can't erase that history!... But growing up in Atlanta Georgia..me and my father watched GWC regularly and went to some shows at the omni and civic center...Folks down south didn't care for WWF back then at all!..compared to GWC, Mid Atlantic or any NWA promotions.

This episode told the story of how Vince McMahon almost killed professional wrestling and turn the WWE- sports entertainment into a multi-billion dollar corporate conglomerate that it is today

You covered the gamut of possible episodes-Daffney and Buck Zumholfe would be good episodes. Also, Del Wilkes

Thank you Solomonster for the Botox joke! I'm thinking of Lindsay Nagel from The Simpsons saying, "this is for the tears would be if I could cry but I can't botched Botox." 😆

Curt Hennig and Davey Boy Smith would be top tier Dark Side of the Ring topics imo. And yes, I know A&E already did a biography episode on Davey Boy this year.

For season six, Wrestlers Court is a topic that would make a very interesting DSotR episode since the producers would have DOZENS of wrestlers they could interview (Undertaker is a must) & so many different stories they could all tell.

One I saw that should be touched was the WWE diva search

I appreciate your coverage of DSotR. As a person who started watching wrestling in 2010, took a break from 2012-2015, and starting watching again in 2016, I don't have a lot of first-hand knowledge of the people or events covered by the show. While DSotR does teach me a lot about these subjects, you do an excellent job providing supplementary information and context that the show doesn't mention.

Ole probably smiled when he heard the News about Vince

Funny how Jim Barnett was Vince before Vince. Including apparently being a sexual predator as well.

Every time you look Vince McMahon in the eye, he steals a minute of your life and adds it to his own.

I think an Art Barr episode would be interesting

They could do whole season with Ric Flair

I know its not dark dark but would like to hear the wrestlers, former employees and loyalists side of the mass clear out around 93

Not to mention the Bruno vs. Vince accusations; Big Van Vader; Rob Feinstein; the Speak Up movement; Missy Hyatt; Abismo Negro; Chicara; and Bobby Shane and the 1975 plane crash.

season 6 ideas of dsotr Hotstuff Eddie Gilbert, Grandmaster Sexy Brian Chistopher, Dusty Rhodes, Heroes of Wrestling, Yokozuna, the downfall of Jcp, Ric Flair, Ashley Masserano

They want their WRASSLIN’!! 😂

this was a great and very informative episode of dark side of the ring jim cornette is always awesome in the series i didn't even know about black Saturday until years later can't wait to what topics are going to be discussed for season 6.

I heard that DSOTR was planning on an episode on Mike Awesome but his widow put that idea to an end according to RVD.

"Vince McMahon wanted to be the Walt Disney of Wrestling." Jim Cornette described it perfectly. To his credit, WWE is the Disney of the Wrestling Business. Both the good & the bad.

Not nearly as bad but CM Punk’s departure back in 2014 to now would be a pretty substantial episode.

Good work as always. How about Dixie Carter and the strange story of TNA? Or La Dama el Silencio, aka Juana Barraza, the luchadora serial killer?

Greatjob on this story,report solomonster!!!

Not that this could be a DSOTR episode but I've always wanted to see a documentary on the time when it was The Hart Foundation vs the Americans. The whole Canada vs Usa angle was just awesome and could never be replicated. Bret a face and Austin a heel in Canada. Austin a face and Bret a heel in the Usa. Two countries going at it was a special time in wrestling.

The most intriguing thing to me is all the backstory leading up to this eventual day in wrestling infamy about Barnette basically avoiding jail so that he could turn his back on anyone he chose yet ends up in the ironic position of WWF high executive.

I think a Crash Holly episode would be pretty good.

I’d love to see an episode on Muhammad Hassan and his short but hot run.

Thankyou Solo i learned a lot from this! Cheers!

I've been saving my snacks just for this episode where solomonster comments on this dark side of the Ring episode😊

They should do an episode called Brown Side of the Ring about when Sid shit his pants during the WM13 main event.

An episode about Buzz Sawyer would be interesting.

2 Episodes on the Rise & Fall of Hulk Hogan

Excellent video

Here is one idea for Dark side of the ring. They can do episode on Kevin Nash tearing his quad.

Of all the possible topics Vice can cover on DSOTR season 6, Hana Kimura would be one of my top choices (the other would be Vince's downfall). Hana was truly talented and had she not taken her own life thanks in part to piece of sh*t so called fans not only would she have held the red belt several times in Stardom, she probably would be thriving in AEW or WWE right now. Talk about gone way too soon

We ABSOLUTELY need to see a Dark Side of The Ring on Muhammad Hassan!

@TheSolomonster If there is a season 6 of DSOTR, why not do stories such as: 1) the PLAN B wrestling tape in KNOXVILLE (1979); 2) Sid Vicious and Arn Anderson’s Horrific Scissors Incident (1993 in WCW); 3) YOSHIKO VS. ACT SHOOT INCIDENT - STARDOM (FEBRUARY 22 2015) or the 1975 wrestling plane crash with RICFLAIR on this plane. perhaps those stories would

Like 500! Love ya! Been a fan since the WM30 Round table! This review is great ! 😊

Ok season has to do one of the Knoxville 5 & Plan B. I gotta hear from Ron Garvin and Bob Orton Jr themselves on why they were let of it. I’ve heard that Bob Roop talk about it and not sure of Boris Malenko or Ron Wright have said anything. Like what were they trying to accomplish by exposing the business cause they were disgruntled with the Fullers

For those that weren’t aware at the time leading up to Black Saturday Georgia championship wrestling at this time was mainly promoting the stars from mid Atlantic. That’s how mid Atlantic was the biggest territory in the south. Because really that’s all Georgia championship wrestling was doing was just using the same guys.

If they can get Fumi Saito and some of the foreigners who were there at the time(Kris Wolf,Heidi Lovelace and Hudson Envy). I would like to see one on the "Ghastly Match" from STARDOM. Act Yasukawa vs Yoshiko

Solomonster, do you have any clue what TK's issue with Hikaru Shida is?

Australian Wrestling here is still something that is talked about by older generations. You will hear the name of Mario Milano became the top star. When wrestling left Australia in the 1970's. There has not been a Wrestling show on national TV here since then. WWE, WCW & more didn't come to Australia until the early 90's on pay TV.

After watching this I'm thinking ruthless aggression actually started way before 2002 probably in the 80s when Vince was getting rid of territories. Like you said Vince McMahon was ruthless and cutthroat and he was very successful at it.

I have one idea for season 6 The Kliq and Curtain Call

afew suggestionss you say? i think the Murder of Rikidozan The Legend of Haku and all the Tales of violence that follow him around. (i dont want them to do that, because we've had enough "Eye-being-pulled-out " stoties ) Andre, and i'll put a wild card out there..the First Screwjob, Hachensmidt vs Gotch , 1919. ! unlikely they will find any eyewitnesses to interview, but it would still be really interesting! oh and i think you'll like this one Solomonster...Dick Flair!

good review

The sandman episode wasnt that dark either... I think they are runny out of ideas. They should do one on Ian Rotten and early IWA.

40 years ago ❤

The Renegade in WCW, Mohammed Hassan would be good choice's.

a insant where the old saying "if you can get over in the garden you can get over anywhere" not being true.

Rise and fall of wcw. Vader. Ken shamrock. Wcw power plant. Meng/haku. Sid justice vader fight.

why do i feel like this would make for a better Vince bio pic imo

I watched a documentary on rock Hudson at a hotel last summer on I believe hbo but I didn’t catch the name. If anybody knows let me know I believe I caught half of it as I was flipping through channels

Very nice review

Personally I think an episode about the fall of Chikara would be good. It would tie into an episode about Larry Sweeny, they could get the AEW guys who performed at that promotion to talk about the downfall which was pretty R-rated for a promotion that was supposed to be family friendly.

They should do Steve Austin and his domestic battery

I've been dying for a Muhammad Hassan episode on dsotr

ZUMHOFE, most DEFINITELY!! And 1 that isn't brought up much, at all... PITBULL #2 (Anthony Durante)!

What about a full season about Vince McMahon.

Fantastic.

Plan B would be a great season 6 DSOTR episode

Chyna

One idea I don't think I've seen thrown around is the absolute joke that was Riki Choshu's Fighting of world Japan pro wrestling. Basically a textbook on how not to run a wrestling promotion awful shows and Choshu's spending habit I would also like a fitted at I would also like a big chunk of the episode to be dedicated to Giant ochiai A world Japan trainee who died during training and Choshu basically took no responsibility for it

Vince McMahon, The Voldemort of Professional Wrestling

Weren't we supposed to get a Mike Awesome episode this year?

What about British bulldog

All hail the Vin Man

Muhammad Hassan should be a topic

Mitsuharu Misawa should be an episode

Dixie carter and tna for a similar one to this Jeff hardy and victory road Ric flair and hulk Hogan Lita edge hardy love triangle Kurt Angle his story is a sad one Wormans wrestling the diva era especially now Vince mcmahon You could literally go on and on the darkside of wrestling is beyond pitch black

Too bad the Horsemen were still a year away from forming on this date. Ole anf them should have given VKM and Monsoon a GOOD, OL' 'BEATDOWN' in the studio parking lot!!!

Some people do brilliant things. And these same people, at other times, committ horrific crimes.

What about Mike awesome

People who think the well is dry have no fucking idea how deep this stuff gets. I’m just gonna list a ton of things that I believe would make for good future seasons. Daffney's story Ring Boy Scandal Ashley Massaro's Story The Arn & Sid Scissors Incident The Gaea Girls Wrestlers Court Stories TNA's Downfall Kurt Angle's Story Buck Zumhofe Scott Hall's Story Juana Barraza Heroes of Wrestling Buzz Sawyer's Story Mike Awesome's Story Murder of Rikidōzan The 1957 MSG Riot The Ken Shamrock & Nasty Boys Incident Bullying and Veteran Hazing in WWE Ludvig Borga's Story Backyard Wrestling stories

Dark Side of the motherfucking ring (singing voice)

3 words… Billy Jack Haynes

Perry Saturn S6

Scott Hall

The ring boy scandals

Curt Henning

Not to mention, with the southern centric fanbase not liking his idea of pro wrestling, that also gave us the petty stupidity of the Sexual Predator making southern pro wrestling characters look like idiots as a way to "get back" at the southern "wrasslin" fans. But, for my idea for DSOTR Season 6, why not have the next season be Vince Mcmahan-centric? As in, ideas for episodes that heavily involve the Sexual Predator's moronic and questionable exploits (which I assume are many), and cap it off with the allegations that removed him from power?

Finger poke of doom

He was jobber in WCW, but Hardbody Harrison would be good episode.

Needless to say, Vince McMahon is and never has been a normal human being.