Although I lost my interest in pro wrestling as I got older, I still have some fond memories of watching it with my pops growing up. He would often say it was some of the best family entertainment on television. lol... although that certainly can't be said today.
I've watched just about all of the Dark Side of the Ring episodes on the Vice channel. Interestingly enough, the episode about Jimmy Snuka's girlfriend being found dead in his hotel room back in 1983 (many of whom feel that he beat her to death) happened at a local hotel/Inn about 20 minutes from where I live. Although Snuka wasn't criminally charged at the time, 32 years later the case was reopened and Snuka was formally charged and arrested for the murder of Nancy Argentino back in '83. In 2017, the judge overseeing the trial dismissed the case against Snuka, claiming he was mentally unfit to stand trial. He had a myriad of serious health problems and died from stomach cancer shortly thereafter.
But one of the more compelling Dark Side stories aired last night, detailing the final days of Owen Hart's life before the tragic accident occurred in Kansas City during one of their live PPV events aired on television. Although I'd long stopped watching pro wrestling before then, he was obviously a big name in the sport and when the news broke about the gory details of his death, falling from the rafters of the coliseum where he was performing, it instantly became viral.
Listening to Jim Cornette and Jim Ross talk about it certainly brought into question Vince McMahon's lack of sensitivity and integrity with the matches continuing to go on that evening after Owen's death. Per Jim Cornette: "What does it say about a guy, who is falling to his death, screaming "look out below!" to alert the referee underneath him so that he too wasn't badly injured?"
Owen's wife (paraphrased): "Obviously the event should've been canceled immediately, because there was a potential crime seen that the police could've investigated. But it went on, even with Owen's blood still fresh on the wrestling ring mat."
She's still not completely convinced that it was an accident, and at the very least there was reason to pursue charges for criminal neglect. But it never went to trial, as a settlement was reached back in 2013 for an undisclosed amount when it became apparent that McMahon simply had more than enough money and influence to drag the case out to a stalemate.
Below is some of the archived footage of stunned announcers Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross realizing that Owen's death fall was real and not part of the act.