Professional wrestling has always traded in larger-than-life characters, but behind the spotlight there are stories that never made it to the highlight reel. Dark Side of the Ring strips back the mythology to examine the tragedies, scandals, and unsolved mysteries that have haunted the sport for decades. Season 5 continues that tradition with 10 new episodes spotlighting wrestlers like Earthquake John Tenta, Terry Gordy, and Harley Race. The question for fans is simple: where can you watch it, and what exactly does this season cover?

The season premiered March 5, 2024 on Vice TV with all 10 episodes airing throughout 2024. Viewers in the US can stream Season 5 on Philo, Vice TV, Hulu, and free with a library card on Hoopla, with episodes available for purchase on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home.

Premiere Date: March 5, 2024 ·
Episode Count: 10 ·
Network: Vice TV ·
Streaming: Prime Video

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

The key facts table below summarizes the essential details about Dark Side of the Ring Season 5, drawing from multiple entertainment guides and official network announcements.

Field Value
Premiere Date March 5, 2024
Episodes 10
Network Vice TV
Streaming Platform Prime Video
Episode Runtime 60 min

Dark side of the ring season 5 release date

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 premiered on March 5, 2024, marking Vice TV’s return with another slate of wrestling’s untold stories. The network confirmed the date through its official announcement, with 10 all-new episodes spanning the full 2024 season.

Premiere episode details

The season opener, titled “The Ballad of ‘Earthquake’ John Tenta,” aired on March 5, 2024. John Tenta was a WWF wrestler best known for his “Earthquake” persona, who tragically died in 2010 after a battle with cancer — a story the series explores through interviews with those who knew him.

Full season schedule

Episode 2 followed on March 12, 2024, continuing the season’s run through Vice TV’s weekly schedule. Detailed air dates for episodes 4 through 10 have not been officially confirmed by Vice TV as of the most recent source data.

Bottom line: Vice TV confirmed the March 5, 2024 premiere date for Season 5 with 10 episodes — a straightforward rollout, but exact dates for the back half of the season remain officially unconfirmed.

Dark side of the ring season 5 episodes

The season covers 10 distinct stories spanning decades of wrestling history. From the controversial Chris Adams incident to the tragic death of Sensational Sherri, each episode excavates events that shaped the industry.

S5.E1: The Ballad of ‘Earthquake’ John Tenta

S05E01 focuses on John Tenta, who gained fame in the WWF during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The episode examines his personal struggles and the circumstances surrounding his premature death at age 42.

The catch

Fans searching for IMDb ratings should note that Season 5 Episode 1 holds a 7.7/10 rating — solid for a documentary episode, though fan ratings for wrestling content tend to cluster around approval rather than critical rigor.

S5.E2: Buff and The Bagwells

The second episode shifts focus to the Bagwell family, exploring the legacy of Buff Bagwell within professional wrestling. The episode traces his career arc and the industry factors that shaped his time in WCW and beyond.

Other episodes overview

Season 5 also includes episodes dedicated to Terry Gordy, Harley Race, Chris Colt, Sandman, and Black Saturday — each covering different controversies or tragedies. Episode 3 reportedly focuses on Terry Gordy and his time with the Fabulous Freebirds, with an overdose described as ending his career prematurely.

Dark side of the ring season 5 watch online

For US viewers, multiple legal streaming options exist for Season 5. The show is available through several platforms, with some offering free viewing for library card holders.

Prime Video availability

Season 5 streams on Prime Video, making it accessible to Amazon Prime subscribers without additional cost. This represents the most convenient option for viewers already in the Prime ecosystem.

Vice TV streaming

The official Vice TV website hosts Season 5 content for authenticated users. Additionally, the show is available on Philo, Hulu, and Spectrum On Demand, covering most major cable and streaming bundle subscribers.

The upshot

Hoopla Digital offers Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 entirely free — but only for users with a participating library card. For cord-cutters without Prime, this represents the only cost-free legal option in the US market.

Dark side of the ring season 5 netflix

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 is not currently available on Netflix. The series has never aired on Netflix as a streaming home — it remains a Vice TV production with exclusive streaming rights held by Prime Video and other platforms.

International viewers in Australia can access Season 5 through local streaming and rental options listed on regional platforms, though specific provider names vary by market.

Bottom line: Netflix subscribers looking for Season 5 will need to look elsewhere. Prime Video holds the most accessible streaming rights for US viewers, while library card holders can access the series free through Hoopla.

Dark side of the ring season 5 cast

The series relies heavily on exclusive interviews with wrestlers, promoters, family members, and industry insiders who witnessed the events firsthand. Unlike scripted dramas, Dark Side of the Ring builds its narrative through firsthand accounts and archival footage.

Key interviewees

Season 5 features appearances from Chris Jericho, who appears in multiple episodes discussing his experiences with wrestlers covered in the season. The series also draws on archival footage from wrestling promotions including WWF, WCW, and independent circuits.

Narrators and experts

Vice TV’s production team works with wrestling historians and journalists to contextualize each episode’s events. The documentary format means no traditional “cast” in the acting sense — instead, the “cast” consists of the real people sharing their stories.

Timeline

The timeline below tracks the confirmed broadcast dates for Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 based on episode guides and official announcements.

Date Event
March 5, 2024 S05E01 “The Ballad of ‘Earthquake’ John Tenta” airs on Vice TV
March 12, 2024 S05E02 “Buff and The Bagwells” airs on Vice TV
2024 Full season runs on Vice TV
The trade-off

The season concluded its run in 2024, but with no official announcement about Season 6 from Vice TV, fans face a familiar uncertainty: whether the wrestling documentary well has run dry, or whether the network is simply keeping its plans under wraps.

Clarity section

Based on verified sources, here’s what we know — and what remains uncertain — about Season 5.

Confirmed

  • Premiered March 5, 2024 on Vice TV
  • 10 episodes total in Season 5
  • Available on Prime Video, Philo, Hulu
  • Free streaming via Hoopla with library card
  • S05E01 title: “The Ballad of ‘Earthquake’ John Tenta”
  • S05E02 aired March 12, 2024

Unclear

  • Exact air dates for episodes 4–10
  • Whether Season 6 is confirmed or planned
  • Full list of all 10 episode titles
  • Current streaming availability as of 2026

Quotes

“Season 5 premieres March 5th on @vicetv with 10 all-new episodes.”

— Vice TV Official (Wrestling Headlines)

“Finding Truth At The Intersection Of Fantasy And Reality In The Veiled World Of Professional Wrestling.”

— Vice TV Official Tagline (Vice TV)

“Terry Gordy’s time with the renowned Fabulous Freebirds made him a living legend until an accidental overdose robbed him of everything.”

— Season 5 Episode Description (Internet Archive)

For wrestling fans, Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 offers a familiar trade-off: compelling storytelling about real tragedies, but with the knowledge that some of the most devastating stories involve wrestlers no longer here to share their side. The series doesn’t flinch from those absences — it lets the people left behind fill the silence.

The availability picture is relatively clear for US viewers: Prime Video is the default choice, while budget-conscious fans with library access can stream free via Hoopla. The murkier question is whether Vice TV will commission another season, or whether the stories have run their course.

Related reading: Tales of the Walking Dead: Episodes, Cancellation & Status · Where to Watch Twin Peaks: Streaming in UK & Ireland

Additional sources

dailymotion.com

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 unpacks wrestling tragedies from Earthquake to Harley Race, while Season 5 streaming guide covers Vice TV premiere and Prime options.

Frequently asked questions

What network airs Dark Side of the Ring Season 5?

Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 airs on Vice TV, with the premiere date confirmed as March 5, 2024.

How many episodes are in Dark Side of the Ring Season 5?

Season 5 consists of 10 episodes, all released in 2024.

What is the rating for Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 Episode 1?

S05E01 holds a 7.7/10 rating on user review platforms — above average for documentary content in this genre.

Is Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 available on Prime Video?

Yes, Season 5 is available to stream on Prime Video for US viewers with Amazon Prime subscriptions.

What topics does Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 cover?

Season 5 covers stories including Earthquake John Tenta, the Bagwell family, Terry Gordy, Harley Race, and other wrestling controversies and tragedies.

When did Dark Side of the Ring Season 5 end?

Season 5 concluded its run in 2024 following the Vice TV broadcast schedule. No Season 6 announcement had been confirmed as of the most recent source data.

Who produces Dark Side of the Ring?

Dark Side of the Ring is a Vice TV production that explores controversies and unsolved cases in professional wrestling history.