When Does Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 Come Out? Is It Renewed?
“The Biggest Stories in Wrestling’s Darkest Secrets.”
Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 13-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around August 2027.
IMDb
8.7/10
Seasons
7
Episodes
69
Diagnostics
- Network
- Viceland
- Genres
- Documentary
- First aired
- 2019-04-10
- Last aired
- 2025-05-27
- Runtime
- 44 min
- Rated
- TV-MA
Awards 1 win & 9 nominations total
Predictive Logic Analysis
Dark Side of the Ring has maintained audience traction across its seven-season run. The IMDb rating of 8.7 is exceptional for a documentary series and reflects consistent viewer satisfaction. Season 6 averaged 7.4 per episode, only a marginal dip from Season 5's 7.5, with ratings holding flat throughout the season. That stability suggests the audience did not fragment or lose interest mid-season. The show has accumulated a win and nine award nominations, positioning it as a credible and recognized documentary in its niche.
The metadata strongly suggests a greenlit Season 8. A next-episode date of July 7, 2026, is not a rumor or speculation but a scheduled air date visible on TMDB. Broadcasters and streamers do not publish future air dates for shows that have not been officially ordered. Combined with TMDB's "Returning Series" status and the fact that Season 7 concluded only 14 months ago, the show is either already in post-production or nearly there. ViceTV, while a smaller cable outlet, has sustained this documentary franchise consistently since 2019, suggesting it generates enough return on investment to continue.
Search interest remains at 100 (maximum), and Wikipedia pageviews are rising, both indicating audience interest has not waned post-Season 7. Trakt active watchers sit at over 9,000 with steady momentum. These are not blockbuster numbers but they are solid for a niche documentary. The lack of a formal trade announcement is unusual but not disqualifying; documentary renewals sometimes remain unannounced until production is further along.
What is Dark Side of the Ring about?
Dark Side of the Ring peels back the curtain on professional wrestling's most scandalous, tragic, and infamous moments, offering viewers a window into the hidden realities behind the spectacle. Rather than celebrating wrestling's theatrical heroics, the series excavates the real-life devastation, criminality, and cover-ups that have shadowed the industry for decades. Each episode functions as a true crime investigation into a singular event or figure—from mysterious deaths and corporate corruption to sexual abuse and organized crime connections. For both casual wrestling fans curious about what really happened and true crime enthusiasts drawn to stories of institutional failure, the show delivers compulsively watchable narratives grounded in genuine tragedy.
What distinguishes Dark Side from typical wrestling documentaries is its cinematic, unflinching approach to storytelling. Creators Jason Eisener and Evan Husney employ moody cinematography, archival footage, and candid interviews with wrestlers, family members, and insiders to build narratives that prioritize investigative rigor over nostalgia. The tone is somber and respectful toward victims while maintaining a critical eye toward the industry's enabling structures. The series doesn't exploit its subject matter for sensationalism; instead, it treats wrestling's darkest episodes with the gravity of serious documentary journalism. This aesthetic discipline has allowed the show to transcend its niche audience and reach viewers with no particular affection for professional wrestling.
The series has earned substantial critical acclaim and developed a devoted following since its 2019 premiere on Viceland. With an impressive 8.7 IMDb rating, Dark Side has become one of the most respected documentary franchises in recent memory, praised for its investigative depth and narrative sophistication. Wrestling communities have embraced it as essential viewing, while mainstream audiences have discovered it as compelling true crime material. The show's seven-season run and sixty-episode catalog demonstrate sustained audience engagement and creative momentum.
Dark Side of the Ring occupies a unique cultural position as both a definitive wrestling documentary and a broader exploration of institutional complicity and human tragedy. It has fundamentally shaped how contemporary audiences understand professional wrestling's history, making it impossible for fans to consume the industry's legacy without reckoning with the stories it uncovers. The show's influence extends beyond wrestling enthusiast circles, establishing itself as a significant entry point for viewers seeking serious documentary journalism about hidden corners of American popular culture.
Created by Jason Eisener, Evan Husney
Themes
Is Dark Side of the Ring renewed or cancelled?
Working toward renewal
Next episode air date of July 7, 2026 is publicly listed on TMDB
TMDB status listed as Returning Series
IMDb rating of 8.7 reflects strong and consistent audience reception
Season 6 episode ratings flat at 7.4, showing no mid-season audience collapse
Search interest at peak (100/100) and Wikipedia pageviews rising post-Season 7
ViceTV has renewed the show consistently across seven seasons since 2019
9,336 Trakt active watchers with steady momentum
Working against it
No formal trade-publication renewal announcement or cancellation rumor
Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 Release Date
Season 8 is scheduled to premiere on July 7, 2026, which is 14 months after Season 7's May 2025 finale. This production timeline is consistent with the show's past release cadence. Documentary series typically require 12 to 18 months between seasons for research, interviews, editing, and post-production. The confirmed July 2026 date suggests the show is either in active post-production now or in final production phases. Unless production has stalled (which there is no evidence of), episodes should arrive on schedule.
Best & worst episodes
Dark Side of the Ring seasons
Season 12019 · 6 ep
- 1. The Match Made in Heaven2019-04-10 · ★ 7.7
- 2. The Montreal Screwjob2019-04-17 · ★ 8.0
- 3. The Killing of Bruiser Brody2019-04-24 · ★ 8.0
- 4. The Last of the Von Erichs2019-05-01 · ★ 7.8
- 5. The Mysterious Death of Gorgeous Gino2019-05-08 · ★ 7.5
- 6. The Fabulous Moolah2019-05-15 · ★ 7.4
Season 22020 · 10 ep
- 1. Benoit Part One2020-03-24 · ★ 8.2
- 2. Benoit Part Two2020-03-24 · ★ 8.4
- 3. The Life and Crimes of New Jack2020-03-31 · ★ 7.6
- 4. The Brawl For All2020-04-07 · ★ 7.7
- 5. Jimmy Snuka and the Death of Nancy Argentino2020-04-14 · ★ 7.4
- 6. The Assassination of Dino Bravo2020-04-21 · ★ 7.5
- 7. David Schultz & the Slap Heard Round the World2020-04-28 · ★ 7.7
- 8. Cocaine & Cowboy Boots: The Herb Abrams Story2020-05-05 · ★ 7.4
- 9. The Last Ride of the Road Warriors2020-05-12 · ★ 7.7
- 10. The Final Days of Owen Hart2020-05-19 · ★ 8.3
Season 32021 · 14 ep
- 1. Brian Pillman Part One2021-05-06 · ★ 7.8
- 2. Brian Pillman Part Two2021-05-06 · ★ 7.9
- 3. The Ultra-Violence of Nick Gage2021-05-13 · ★ 7.3
- 4. Collision in Korea2021-05-20 · ★ 7.8
- 5. Becoming Warrior2021-05-27 · ★ 7.7
- 6. In The Shadow of Grizzly Smith2021-06-03 · ★ 8.2
- 7. The Dynamite Kid2021-06-10 · ★ 7.7
- 8. The Plane Ride From Hell2021-09-16 · ★ 7.6
- 9. The Double Life of Chris Kanyon2021-09-23 · ★ 7.7
- 10. Blood & Wire: Onita's FMW2021-09-30 · ★ 7.7
- 11. Bikers, Bombs & Bedlam: Johnny K92021-10-07 · ★ 7.4
- 12. The Many Faces of Luna Vachon2021-10-14 · ★ 7.6
- 13. Extreme & Obscene: Rob Black's XPW2021-10-21 · ★ 7.4
- 14. The Steroid Trials2021-10-28 · ★ 7.4
Season 42023 · 10 ep
- 1. Chris and Tammy2023-05-30 · ★ 7.6
- 2. Shattered: The Magnum T.A. Story2023-06-06 · ★ 7.4
- 3. Breaking the Cycle: The Graham Dynasty2023-06-13 · ★ 7.2
- 4. What Happened to Doink the Clown?2023-06-20 · ★ 7.5
- 5. The Junkyard Dog2023-06-27 · ★ 7.4
- 6. The Tragic Fall of Adrian Adonis2023-07-11 · ★ 7.4
- 7. Abdullah the Butcher: Legacy of Blood2023-07-18 · ★ 7.5
- 8. Bam Bam Bigelow: The Beast from the East2023-07-25 · ★ 7.7
- 9. Bash at the Beach 20002023-08-01 · ★ 7.3
- 10. The World According to Marty Jannetty2023-08-08 · ★ 7.3
Season 52024 · 10 ep
- 1. The Ballad of 'Earthquake' John Tenta2024-03-05 · ★ 7.8
- 2. Buff and the Bagwells2024-03-12 · ★ 7.5
- 3. Terry Gordy: Final Flight of the Freebird2024-03-19 · ★ 7.7
- 4. Saving Face: The Brutus Beefcake Story2024-03-26 · ★ 7.4
- 5. The Life and Legends of Harley Race2024-04-02 · ★ 7.6
- 6. Chris Colt: Welcome to My Nightmare2024-04-09 · ★ 7.1
- 7. Chris Adams: The Gentleman and the Demon2024-04-16 · ★ 7.2
- 8. Sensational Sherri2024-04-23 · ★ 7.7
- 9. Enter Sandman: Legacy of a Hardcore Icon2024-04-30 · ★ 7.5
- 10. Black Saturday: The Rise of Vince2024-05-07 · ★ 7.6
Season 62025 · 10 ep
- 1. Mick Foley: Hell in a Cell2025-03-25 · ★ 8.0
- 2. Ludvig Borga: Hellraiser from Helsinki2025-04-01 · ★ 7.3
- 3. Big Van Vader2025-04-08 · ★ 7.7
- 4. Tony Atlas: Too Much, Too Soon2025-04-15 · ★ 7.2
- 5. The Original "Superstar": Billy Graham2025-04-22 · ★ 7.1
- 6. “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert2025-04-29 · ★ 7.1
- 7. Truth, Lies and Billy Jack Haynes2025-05-06 · ★ 6.9
- 8. Blood, Fire and the Original Sheik2025-05-13 · ★ 7.3
- 9. The Scream Queen: Daffney2025-05-20 · ★ 7.6
- 10. Becoming Muhammad Hassan2025-05-27 · ★ 7.7
Season 72026 · 9 ep
- 1. Jeff Jarrett/TNA Wrestling Part One2026-07-07
- 2. Jeff Jarrett/TNA Wrestling Part Two2026-07-07
- 3. Jeff Jarrett/TNA Wrestling Part Three2026-07-14
- 4. Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher2026-07-21
- 5. The Big Bossman2026-07-28
- 6. Renegade Rick Wilson2026-08-04
- 7. Paul Orndorff2026-08-11
- 8. Missy Hyatt2026-08-18
- 9. Zach Gowen2026-08-25
Dark Side of the Ring trailer
Where to watch Dark Side of the Ring
Philostream
Vice TV stream
Spectrum On Demandstream
Amazon Videobuy
Apple TV Storebuy
Google Play Moviesbuy
Fandango At HomebuyAI Verdict
Dark Side of the Ring shows strong internal signals of renewal despite the absence of explicit trade-publication confirmation. Season 7 aired as recently as May 2025, TMDB lists it as a returning series, and a next-episode date of July 2026 is publicly available, strongly suggesting Season 8 is either in production or greenlit. The show sustains high audience ratings, maintained search interest at peak levels, and steady Trakt viewership.
Live signals
9.3K watching on Traktsteady
Interest rising
Verdict updated 2 weeks ago
Updated 2026-07-31 · AI-generated analysis
How we predict →Our verdicts have proved right for 136 of 192 decided shows →Dark Side of the Ring latest news
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Frequently asked
- When does Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 come out?
- Dark Side of the Ring Season 7 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 13-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around August 2027.
- Is Dark Side of the Ring renewed or cancelled?
- Dark Side of the Ring shows strong internal signals of renewal despite the absence of explicit trade-publication confirmation. Season 7 aired as recently as May 2025, TMDB lists it as a returning series, and a next-episode date of July 2026 is publicly available, strongly suggesting Season 8 is either in production or greenlit. The show sustains high audience ratings, maintained search interest at peak levels, and steady Trakt viewership.
- How many seasons of Dark Side of the Ring are there?
- Dark Side of the Ring has aired 7 seasons so far.
- How many episodes of Dark Side of the Ring are there?
- There are 69 episodes of Dark Side of the Ring across 7 seasons.
- Who created Dark Side of the Ring?
- Dark Side of the Ring was created by Jason Eisener and Evan Husney.
- Where can I watch Dark Side of the Ring?
- Dark Side of the Ring is available to stream on Philo, Vice TV , Spectrum On Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and Fandango At Home.
- What is Dark Side of the Ring's IMDb rating?
- Dark Side of the Ring holds an IMDb rating of 8.7/10 from 4,371 votes.