Documentaries and docuseries are frequently debated for their honesty in depicting real-life events. Documentaries have always tended to favor one side over another regardless of the materials they present. One of the latest documentaries forPeacockis no different. Still, in only three episodes, it attempts to present a complex and layered true-crime story that incriminates a professional wrestler, while highlighting the toxic culture that often surrounds the sport.
ThePeacockdocumentary,Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats.introduces the challenging history filmmaker Frederick Kroetsch formed with professional wrestler, Teddy Hart, over the course of a decade. Along the way, Kroetsch found himself in the midst of a number of Hart’s legal battles,including the sudden disappearanceof his student-turned-girlfriend, Samantha Fiddler in 2016. Kroetsch’s documented time with Hart exposes the dark reality of the athletic world’s treatment of women and how often society may ignore the cries for help.
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There are several layers toDangerous Breed. Most can be summed up in one of three tiers: Kroetsch’s decade-long journey attempting to bring a reality series to air, Hart’s legal troubles often spurred by his romantic relationships, and the missing person’s case of Samantha Fiddler. Following the premiere of theDangerous Breeddocumentary, much of the focus has remained on Hart. His fall from grace despite his relation to professional wrestling royalty including Brettand Owen Harthas taken the internet by storm. Hart’s outlandish and often aggressive behavior may have lent itself well to the reality show styling of the early 2000s, but like many shows from that era, have been exposed for the issues they present. Kroetsch’s advocacy to use his filmmaking abilities to heed positive change is commendable throughout the documentary, as he reflects on his own blind spots during the 2000s because of his own ambitions.
Dangerous Breed’ssecond episodeintroduces the heart of the docuseries.It is in “Part 2: The Nine Lives of Teddy Hart” that viewers are officially introduced to Fiddler through Kroetsch’s footage beginning on June 14, 2025. It is Fiddler’s disappearance that sparks a number of important questions about the regard for women’s safety both in and outside the wrestling industry.Dangerous Breedensures that it identifies Fiddler as a daughter, sister, and mother, aside from her budding careeras a professional wrestler.The series introduces Fiddler’s sister and childhood friend who recount memories of Fiddler prior to her aspirations of becoming a professional wrestler and what she reported throughout her training.
By the timeDangerous Breedintroduces Fiddler, a number of other women have drawn attention to the manner in which Hart has treated them. Kroetsch’s first pitch of a Hart-centered reality show introduced Fay and Michelle,who were both in relationshipswith Hart. Both women soon brought charges of illegal confinement and sexual assault against him, though their charges were eventually dismissed by the court. Kroetsch’s footage was unable to document the claims of these women, but it does demonstrate the verbal outbursts Hart frequently had, including one with Machiko, a former student turned partner. Kroetsch’s footage also interviews people who spent time with Hart and Fiddler, who recounts stepping between a physical domestic dispute between them.
Dangerous Breedmust place some of its spotlight on Hart,as the documentary has little basiswithout him. However, the documentary isn’t meant to place attention on Hart or help him expand his brand. Instead, the documentary is meant to highlight the disappearance of Fiddler, the role her involvement with Hart may have played in her disappearance, and Hart’s frequent mistreatment of women. In its final episode,Dangerous Breedidentifies the Speaking Out movement, partly spurred in the honor of Fiddler, as women and athletes began to speak out against unfair treatment and horrendous experiences they endured in an effort “to make a name for themselves.” Unfortunately, the stories of Fiddler, Machiko, Fay, and Michelle, are not uncommon. Even with someone like Kroetsch documenting the everyday life of Hart and these women, it was not enough tostop the abuse they suffered,or achieve justice on their behalf.
Hart’s pattern of converting students he trains into romantic partners occurs a few times throughoutDangerous Breed. Kroetsch and several women remark on Hart’s ability to take advantage of people and manipulate them into best serving him. When that no longer appears feasible,Dangerous Breeddoes not shy away from its belief that Hart discards one individual and moves on to the next. His contradictions caught on tape continue to raise questions of when Hart is telling the truth and when he may be hiding more than he wishes to be known. This question is what makes Hart’s presence in the documentary so important. If repeat offenses continue to be made by an individual, when does it become the responsibility of the court and those around them to hold them responsible for their actions before someone else is hurt? In a time whenwomen continue to speak outagainst violence and their abusers, this question is most timely and well worth consideration.
Over six years later, Fiddler’s case remains unsolved. Her sister’s attempts in early 2017 to filea missing person’s reportwere met with little success with such little evidence to go on. Today, the case remains open as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances of Fiddler’s disappearance, and hopes to bring answers to her family. They encourage anyone with information about Fiddler to contact them at (800) 226-1140.
To learn more about Samantha Fiddler’s case and the women featured in the documentary,Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats.is now streaming on Peacock.
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