Ep 5. This Was The XFL

This Was The XFL is an episode from season 4 of the award-winning sports documentary series, 30 For 30. This particular episode covers the short-lived professional football league, the XFL, and its impact on the world of sports.

The XFL, which was founded in 2001, was a joint venture between the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) and NBC. Its founders, Vince McMahon and Dick Ebersol, saw an opportunity to create a new type of football league that would be more edgy, aggressive and entertaining than the NFL.

The episode explores the various ways that the XFL set out to differentiate itself from the established football league, from the use of skycams and microphones on the field, to the introduction of cheerleaders who were encouraged to show more skin.

However, despite its efforts to be different, the XFL was ultimately unsuccessful. Ratings declined sharply after a promising start, and the league was plagued by problems such as poor management, low-quality play, and a lack of star players.

This Was The XFL features interviews with some of the key players and figures involved in the XFL's brief history. Viewers hear from former NFL quarterback and XFL player Tommy Maddox, former XFL announcer Jesse Ventura, and others who were intimately involved with the league.

The episode also delves into the cultural impact of the XFL, examining the way that it both reflected and contributed to American society's growing obsession with reality television and other forms of cheap entertainment.

Throughout the episode, viewers gain insight into the complex and often bizarre world of the XFL, from the league's over-the-top promotional campaigns to the unusual personalities of its founders. While the league may have been a commercial failure, its legacy lives on in the world of sports and beyond, and This Was The XFL provides a captivating look at one of the most fascinating experiments in the history of football.