Viceland’s ‘The Wrestlers’ Goes Beyond The WWE To Explore The Heart of Pro Wrestling

There’s certainly no shortage of entertaining wrestling documentaries on the WWE Network, but Viceland is quietly becoming a top destination for exceptional professional wrestling content. Last month, the network debuted Dark Side of the Ring, a compelling six-episode docuseries that explores a number of pro wrestling’s most notorious backstage controversies. The series was well-received (it currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and proved to be an entertaining watch for both wrestling fans and outsiders (“hey, yo”) alike. Later tonight, the network proves the success of Dark Side of the Ring was no fluke with the debut of their newest docuseries The Wrestlers.

Premiering tonight at 10:01 on Viceland, the ten-episode docuseries shines a light on a variety of fascinating, bizarre wrestling subcultures with which most fans are unfamiliar. Hosted by musician/wrestling fan Damian Abraham, tonight’s episode focuses on Gabe Sapolsky, a veteran wrestling promoter who founded Evolve Wrestling.

Evolve is known for showcasing emerging indie superstars, a claim rooted in fact as opposed to your typical pro wrestling bombast. If NXT is the future of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live, Evolve is a snapshot of NXT’s tomorrow. Evolve’s alumni page is a who’s who of current WWE favorites, and tonight’s episode features appearances from Drew Galloway (former and current WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre) and NXT sensation Matt Riddle.

Almost everything related to pro wrestling is rooted in the apocryphal, but The Wrestlers is refreshingly sincere. Sapolsky allows cameras to capture the fascinating behind-the-scenes machinations that go into crafting a successful show. Abraham’s obvious love of wresting and infectious curiosity help to crystallize the traditionally inscrutable world of pro wrestling, and the indomitable heart and persistence of the wrestlers profiled — specifically Austin Theory, Darby Allin, Fred Yehi, and Ethan Page — will inspire you to go directly to StubHub to purchase tickets for a local indie wresting show.

I’ve only seen tonight’s premiere, but future installments concentrate on pro wrestling’s global popularity, with episodes centering on Japan’s thriving pro wrestling scene, the global rise of women’s wrestling, death match culture, and even voodoo wrestling in the Congo.

I enjoy the WWE as much as the next guy, but there’s so much more to professional wrestling than Vince McMahon’s monolithic empire. Viceland’s The Wrestlers will remind you why you fell in love with this insane, unparalleled sport in the first place.

The Wrestlers premieres tonight (Wednesday, May 22nd) at 10:01 p.m. on Viceland.

Where to stream The Wrestlers