Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 Premiere Date and Episode Details Revealed
The acclaimed wrestling docuseries Dark Side of the Ring is returning for its seventh season, promising its most ambitious storytelling to date. The new season will center its premiere on a deep dive into the history of TNA Wrestling and the complex journey of its founder, Jeff Jarrett.
According to reports from Variety, the season officially begins airing on Vice TV on Tuesday, July 7, at 9 p.m. ET. To kick off the summer return, Vice TV will air two back-to-back episodes on the premiere night, with subsequent documentaries premiering weekly thereafter.
The TNA Trilogy: A Story of Resilience and Redemption
The centerpiece of the season’s launch is a three-part exploration of TNA Wrestling. Rather than a standard corporate history, this arc focuses on the foundational years of the promotion through the lens of Jeff Jarrett’s personal struggles and eventual redemption.
The narrative will touch upon the raw, human elements of Jarrett’s life, including his battle with addiction and the devastating loss of his first wife, Jill, in 2007. Co-creators and executive producers Evan Husney and Jason Eisener emphasized that this approach allows the series to explore the “highs, struggles, and lasting impact” of the company’s early era.
“Each season, we try to challenge ourselves to go deeper, and season seven is our most ambitious yet,” said Husney, and Eisener. “That’s especially true with our three-part exploration of TNA Wrestling, where Jeff Jarrett’s journey of redemption and resilience gives us a unique lens… It’s a perfect example of how compelling and ultimately human these stories really are.”
Season 7 Episode Guide: Announced Topics
Beyond the TNA trilogy, the seventh season will profile a diverse array of figures and infamous moments from the professional wrestling world. The announced episodes include:
- TNA Wrestling and Jeff Jarrett: A comprehensive three-part event.
- Paul Orndorff: An exploration of the legendary wrestler’s career and life.
- Ray “The Big Boss Man” Traylor: A look at the man behind one of wrestling’s most iconic characters.
- Missy Hyatt: A profile of the influential manager.
- Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher: A deep dive into the 2005 IWA-MS indie match and the genuine personal animosity between the two competitors.
- Zach Gowen: The story of the inspiring one-legged wrestler.
- The Renegade (Rick Wilson): A look at the exotic dancer who had a brief tenure as an Ultimate Warrior knockoff.
The Impact of the ‘Dark Side’ Franchise
Since its debut in 2019, Dark Side of the Ring has evolved into the most successful program in the history of Vice TV. Its success has paved the way for various “Dark Side” spinoffs focusing on pop culture and football, cementing the brand as a leader in gritty, investigative sports storytelling.
Vice TV president Pete Gaffney notes that the series succeeds by stripping away the theatricality of the sport to reveal the actual costs of the industry.
“Dark Side of the Ring is one of our strongest franchises that speaks to our audience with its gritty exposition of the real emotional and physical costs behind professional wrestling,” Gaffney stated. “Wrestling is one of America’s most influential pop culture phenomenons, and this series further explores the blurred lines between wrestling’s spectacle and reality.”
- Premiere Date: Tuesday, July 7, at 9 p.m. ET on Vice TV.
- Launch Format: Two back-to-back episodes on night one, followed by weekly releases.
- Lead Story: A three-part series on TNA Wrestling and Jeff Jarrett.
- Diverse Subjects: Episodes covering Paul Orndorff, Big Boss Man, Missy Hyatt, Zach Gowen, and others.
As the series continues to uncover the “truths behind the stories fans thought they knew,” Season 7 is positioned to be the most emotionally resonant and expansive chapter of the franchise yet.