Jeff Jarrett is finally opening up about Dark Side of the Ring’s massive TNA Wrestling story— and according to him, the series was never supposed to be this big in the first place.
While speaking on the My World podcast, Jarrett revealed that Vice TV’s upcoming three-part TNA-focused story originally started as just a single episode before growing into one of the most ambitious projects the series has ever attempted.
“You know what? Obviously, there’s Vice and Evan Husney and the entire Dark Side of the Ring crew—producers—and just my man Stu, who has done countless interviews on the road season after season.”
Jarrett then explained that the scope of the project kept expanding as production continued. According to Jarrett, some of the reaction to the three-part concept has already been mixed because many fans associate Dark Side of the Ring with tragedy and disaster stories.
“Conrad, I just know peripherally that it started as one episode, and who knows—it went from one episode, one hour, to two, to three. Maybe a part of the blind spot is that a lot of folks are like, ‘Now why is there three episodes?’ Maybe a little negative—there’s lots of positive—but also just kind of the feedback.”
Jarrett admitted he initially had reservations himself because of Dark Side of the Ring’s reputation for telling stories that rarely end happily.
“And then I had to kind of take a step back and really look at it. I think this is the seventh season. That being said, when they reached out—Conrad, you know bits and pieces of it—and Dark Side of the Ring, for the most part, the endings aren’t all that—help me out—don’t turn out, I guess you could say, positive.”
After co-host Conrad Thompson joked that the series typically does not feature “happy endings,” Jarrett explained why he eventually decided participating was worth it.
“Happy endings. Okay, so happy—maybe that’s the right word. I was going to use positive. But when they approached me, I had to think through it. And then I’m thinking, my God, what a freaking opportunity.”
Jarrett then revealed he viewed the project as a chance to finally tell the complete story of TNA Wrestling’s rise, struggles, and survival.
“Because there have been some highs and lows of not just my career, but TNA’s career as well. What a unique set of circumstances.”
He also praised co-creator Evan Husney for pushing the project forward despite concerns about how TNA’s story would be received. Jarrett then explained why he believes the TNA story stands apart from many previous Dark Side episodes
“And kudos to them—if you really drill it right down to it, Evan Husney just kind of having—I’ll call it the vision—and not well received by some folks, maybe internal and external to the business. But for me to get the opportunity to be a part of a story that, by the grace of God, has an unbelievable happy ending—the alternative is death, because there are quite a few episodes that end in real tragedy.”
The comments come shortly after Variety confirmed that Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 premieres July 7 on Vice TV and will feature the three-part TNA and Jeff Jarrett story as its biggest centerpiece.
Bottom line: what started as one Dark Side of the Ring episode somehow expanded into a three-part TNA saga — and Jeff Jarrett believes the reason is simple: unlike many stories featured on the series, this one actually survived.
Do you think TNA Wrestling deserves a full three-part Dark Side of the Ring story, or should the series have focused on more traditional wrestling controversies instead? Leave your thoughts and feedback below.
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