Darkside Of The Ring Season 4 WishList

 

Dark Side Of The Ring has been a very informative, detailed, at times sad and depressing look at the world of wrestling. On the same token it also is must-see TV  for any pro wrestling fan, and it has spawned a franchise for Vice (Dark Side Of Football, Dark Side Of The 90's). It's recently been revealed that season 4 will cover Bam Bam Bigelow, Mike Awesome, and Abdullah The Butcher.

The first season was 6 episodes long, while season 2 was 10, and season 3 went all the way to 14 episodes. I'm sure the three wrestlers aren't the only subjects that will be covered. So I thought about who else will be a good topic. Here are a few wrestlers I would like to see covered in the next season.

 

Nicole Bass

Quite frankly Nicole Bass was a anomaly of her time, when it was all about T & A, she stood out. A former bodybuilder who found some fame with her frequent appearances on The Howard Stern show. She debuted in ECW in 1998 aligning with Justin Credible and his stable, few months later she was in the WWF. Debuting as Sable's bodyguard at Wrestlemania XV in 1999, she was out of the organization by the beginning of the summer.

Later filing a lawsuit against the fed for sexual harassment, accusing The Brooklyn Brawler Steve Lombardi of sexually assaulting her the case was eventually dismissed. She then began to have health problems such as pancreatitis. Then came minor law troubles, domestic violence dispute with her ex-husband, shoplifting, even a night in jail for biting a police officer trying to break up a fight.

Nicole Bass passed away in 2017 at the young age of 52 due to a heart attack. Her story and struggles later in life likely due to falling out the limelight and other influences deserves to be told. 

Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch

What a fall from grace these two endured. Chris Candido's in-ring work is highly underrated in my opinion, not sure if it's because he was wrestling for ECW when he showed just how talented he was, or it's his issues with Tammy Lynn Sytch (Sunny). Who by the way during the mid- 90's was the most downloaded women on the internet.

It's often debated who was the true diva her or Sable. None of that matters has the two had drug and behavorial problems that they couldn't kick. Candido died at the young age of 33 from Pneumonia. Sytch has had countless legal issues stemming from drunk driving cases, robbery, assault, and an unfortunate car accident couple years ago that claimed the life of a man.

Hopefully Sunny is able to pull it all together for the better, but this story is prime material for how dangerous the world of wrestling could get.

Curt Henning

One of my favorite wrestlers Mr. Perfect Curt Henning. A master ring technician and seller, if you ask me he's one of the top 3 sellers ever up there with The Nature Boy and HBK. His career began in the AWA and he joined the WWF in the mid-80's under the Mr. Perfect moniker. Where he could accomplish anything highlighted in his vignettes. He enjoyed success primarily as the intercontinental champion, check out his match against Bret Hart at Summerslam '91 if you've never seen it.

He sustained a back injury in the early 90's that slowed down his in ring career and nearly derailed it. He took some time off to recover becoming a color commentator, before leaving to join WCW. He experienced a brief resurgence as a member of the nWo and then bounced around in different angles until WCW dissolved. He rejoined the WWF in early 2002, but was let go after having a role in the plane ride from hell.

He passed away a year later at the young age of 44. The official cause of death was ruled a cocaine overdose, his father the legendary Larry Henning has alluded before that painkillers and steroids played a role as well. Henning never struck me as a drug user/abuser but he was in the business during a wild time of the 80's. His story is very tragic and one that should be told about how those you never expect succumb to those demons as well.

Sean O'Haire

To me Sean O'Haire is a prime example of so much untapped potential. At 6'6 when he debuted in WCW and was able to bounce around the guy like guys half his size then perform a flawless swanton bomb I was hooked. He opened the door for guys like Crimson, Dominic Dijavok, and Damien Priest. Unfortunately WCW didn't really know what to do with him as they were on a downward spiral as a company, he joined WWF as part of The Alliance was a background player more than a impact player during that angle.

I thought he was going to have a chance to shine when his devil's advocate gimmick debuted in 2003, unfortunately he then fell to the background as Roddy Piper's muscle in his feud against Hulk Hogan/Mr. America. He was released from WWE in 2004, wrestled in New Japan  then tried his hand in the kickboxing and MMA fields.

O'Haire life then hit some bumps as he went through a divorce. Had some run-in's with the law and he seemed to disappear from the limelight. Until September 9, 2014 when he was found dead by suicide in his bedroom by his father at the age of 43. It was later revealed he went through years of depression and substance abuse issues. Such a raw talent that was untapped and largely forgotten once he left the wrestling bubble, his story should be told.

Axl Rotten

An ECW original he wrestled for the organization from 1993 to 1999. He was known more for his hardcore style, ability to taking an insane amount of punishment in the ring, and his trusty chair he always kept by his side. Likely due to the year's of bruising punishment he took in the ring, he had a heavy substance abuse issue. Which led to his untimely death in 2016 at 44 years old. He was found in a McDonald's bathroom near the hotel he was staying at in Linthicum, MD of a heroin overdose. 

It was later revealed he suffered from CTE likely due to year's of taking chair shots to the head. His estate was part of a lawsuit filed against the WWE alleging that the WWE hid the traumatic brain injuries of wrestlers over the years. Rotten had a long history of drug addiction battles, evident by this news article in his hometown (and mine) Baltimore. Another story that need's to be told due to the tragic ending of a promising career and a warning to other's the dangers of the fast lane drug heavy lifestyle many wrestlers of previous years lived.

Test 

Test debuted during the attitude era as a on-screen bodyguard for Motley Crue in 1998 during an appearance on Raw. He joined The Corporation a few weeks later in his official debut assisting The Rock in a match. His most famous angle was when he was in a "relationship" with Stephanie McMahon and was due to marry her before Triple H "ruined" their wedding. Test enjoyed moderate success in the WWF/E in the following years, winning several championships but never rising above a mid-card status.

He was suspended in 2007 for violating the WWE Wellness Policy and subsequently released a few weeks later. He made one appearance in TNA, and then spent some time overseas before retiring. On March 13, 2009 Test was found dead in his apartment. The official cause of death was ruled an overdose of Oxycodone, a notorious painkiller medication. It was later revealed he suffered from CTE and had been to rehab quite a few times. 

Test is another talent that one wouldn't have suspected fell victim to substance abuse. In that lifestyle of constantly on the road and frequent punishment, it is quite easy to. How that exactly happened to Test is worthy of a story.