So any of our readers know we've both been sick as dogs most of this week - but I wanted to take the time to comment on a few things generally - we didn't get to do an audio show this weekend but we will try to do a short one tomorrow night after Raw, which is set to be stacked. Meanwhile though, a few quick hits:
- Raw was strong this week as John Cena did really well in his promo with the Rock - although I think demonstrating his professionalism by NOT having been at the Daytona 500 was something they should have played with. Their unscripted promos, as well as Jericho and Punk's, really stripped wrestling back down to the bare bones of how good talented people can be if just allowed to go for it.
- That said - Raw's 3.1 rating was dismal considering it was the Rock's return and thereby the REAL start of his and Cena's Wrestlemania build. I'm assuming the Daytona 500 hurt the ratings given its delay from the day before - it would have been a competitor anyway, and then in light of a major fire on the track, I'm guessing it took some eyes away from the wrestling programming.
- Smackdown was also not a bad show featuring the return of Randy Orton to face Daniel Bryan, as well as a strong match between Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler. The build to Wrestlemania wasn't as strong as it could have been - I feel this General Manager feud is distracting, both from Wrestlemania, and the potential greatness of a Daniel Bryan-CM Punk feud which is playing second banana to a mediocre story featuring non-wrestlers - but we still have a few weeks. Only a couple for Smackdown though so hopefully they get in gear going forward.
- Speaking of the GM story - Teddy Long and John Laurenaitis will be switching the shows they run this week, with TL going to Raw and JL going to Smackdown - like I said, I'm not so sure this is great timing for a non-wrestler story with no real payoff, unless it's leading to a Team Long vs. Team Laurenaitis match at Mania ...
- And this week's Raw should be strong as Undertaker, Triple H, Rock and Shawn Michaels are all expected on-air. Let's see what THAT does for the ratings!
- Jeff Hardy missed TNA tapings this week due to food poisoning, officially. Here's hoping that's the case!
- Happy Anniversary to Ring of Honor, which turns 10 this week. They are celebrating as I type with an online pay-per-view at the storied Hammerstein Ballroom - the original home of WWE's Monday Night Raw, and the two WWECW "One Night Stand" pay-per-views.
- RIP Doug Fournas, a former WCW and WWE wrestler who died this weekend after a several-year struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Our thoughts and condolences go to his family at this time.
0 comments:
Post a Comment