Wishlist: Last Dance Wrestling Docs

“The Last Dance” documentary miniseries about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ championship run is already being hailed as one of the best documentaries that ESPN and Netflix have ever produced.

Of course, without granting a film crew unprecedented access for the whole season, it wouldn’t be possible. Before the premiere of the first episode, Michael Jordan said, “I’m worried that people will think I’m an asshole.” That honesty and all-encompassing view is what makes it so great.

As good as the “365” and “24” documentaries on the WWE Network are, you’re never getting the full story because it’s a WWE production. In the back of your mind, you have to remember Vince McMahon and Co. control the narrative. Remember when Triple H refused to be presented as weak in Raw Vs SmackDown video game commercials? Unless wrestlers have unreleased footage in their closet, the closest we get to raw, in-depth analysis are from Conrad Thompson’s podcasts with industry members.

The podcasts are fun, but imagine a “Last Dance” wrestling-style documentary series on these six topics.

WCCW 1990

The Rise and Fall of World Class Championship Wrestling would be a unique program if it had more time to dive into the highs and lows of one of the hottest territories in the country. As the promotion winds down in its final year, you would be able to see what was once it’s biggest shows were now its smallest. It would be intriguing to see what the locker room moral was when they go to an empty Texas Stadium. Fritz Von Erich selling to Jerry Jarrett would be a fascinating story, and Jerry is still alive to tell it.

AWA 1989

Yeah, WWE also put out a DVD about the American Wrestling Association, but more footage has come out since then, especially of the company’s final years. There are so many fascinating stories: Jerry Lawler being stripped of the AWA World Title, but refusing to give it back and promoting himself in territories as the unified World Heavyweight Champion; SuperClash IV; Eric Bischoff’s rise in the company; and best of all, the Team Challenge Series!

TNA 2009

Although Impact Wrestling is somehow still in operation, 2009 was the end of an era for TNA. It was a year before Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff joined the company. Jeff Jarrett was ousted from power, while Vince Russo was doing anything in his power to make sure his ideas went unfiltered. Direct insight into what the company was like during this time from management to producers to talent would be scintillating. On this “Last Dance” wrestling doc, I’d like to see the construction of Shark Boy’s fishbowl.

ECW 2000

The most lucrative year the company ever experienced was also its last full year. TNN wasn’t completely behind ECW, not promoting the show or giving the company a good time slot. In Demand withheld $2.8 million and Acclaim Entertainment withheld video game royalties. The shows were packed, but the walls were crumbling. This is the year that broke Paul Heyman – during the final months of ECW, Tommy Dreamer ran the show because the mad scientist stopped showing up.

WCW 2000

There wasn’t a boring day from January to December. The world title changed hands 25 times and the company lost millions upon millions of dollars. Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn walked out. Imagine Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff’s faces when they heard Vince Russo’s promo at Bash at the Beach. We’ve only heard stories about the town hall meeting and the now infamous meeting between Mike Graham and Chris Benoit. There’s so much to cover, and there’s a good chance WWE has the footage.

CM Punk 2013-2014

Here’s a “Last Dance” wrestling topic that WWE will never cover. It all began with the end of CM Punk’s 434-day reign. He lost the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble to The Rock, failed to end The Streak at WrestleMania and succumbed to Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Maybe we could just play his infamous podcast with Colt Cabana over whatever backstage footage WWE has.