CALDWELL'S TAKE
CORNER CUBE TUESDAY: Looking at the Raw rating, ECW preview, Impact
Dec 11, 2007 - 6:50:18 PM |
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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist
Updated throughout the day, Torch columnist James Caldwell's weekday blog focuses on hot topic current events and issues from around wrestling.
Updated Tuesday, December 11
6:50 p.m. I was pleasantly surprised to see the 4.4 rating in the usual timeslot for last night's Raw, as I predicted a 3.8 rating for those final two hours. The number shouldn't be surprising, though. WWE delivered an entertaining and memorable show that caught a big audience with its large net. There was a little bit of everything for everyone.
For newer fans, maybe it was the first time seeing legendary clips of Kurt Angle spraying the milk truck or DX invading WCW. For older fans, it was a nice trip down memory lane to remind them of why they sat through moments like Mae Young giving birth to a hand to see the classic Rock vs. Austin confrontations.
WWE was certainly helped by going up against a non-competitive Monday Night Football game that was pretty much over during the third hour of Raw. Now, the key is how much momentum they can carry over to next week without the nostalgia and party atmosphere.
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5:15 p.m. Tonight on ECW, it's Batista vs. Elijah Burke in a non-title match. Batista hasn't been on ECW since the very early days of ECW on Sci-Fi when they taped TV in smaller venues to create a more intimate crowd setting. In August 2006, Batista faced Big Show at the Hammerstein Ballroom and he was booed out of the building. So, Batista should fare much better at the same venue where Smackdown is taped tonight.
Also tonight on ECW, it's Kelly Kelly vs. Victoria & Leyla in a handicap match. Smart move to get the more experienced Victoria in the middle of this to help out Kelly.
- There was an Impact taping last night in Orlando, but we haven't received a report on the show. The last taping of 2007 is tonight in Orlando, so if you attend tonight or attended last night's taping, please send in a report!
- The Black Anthem website has an in-depth look at WWE's overseas tour for the Tribute to the Troops show. Lots of details on the trip. We're just missing Rita Cosby.
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2:45 p.m. Batista has an interview with the U.K. Sun where he comments on fellow WWE superstars, including Melina. He said: "It started out completely innocently, but I just fell in love with her. It’s been on and off for a long time and I still love her death. But I can’t see us getting married. I still don't think I'm over my ex-wife."
He said Randy Orton has found himself as a person and a wrestler. "He was lost for a while," Batista said. It's encouraging to hear that Orton is getting his personal affairs in check after really struggling the previous three years.
Batista's most critical remarks came for Great Khali. Regarding Khali's World Hvt. title reign, Batista said, "I didn't think he deserved the world championship. I don’t want to say it made me sick to my stomach to see the title in his hands, but it really did make me sick to my stomach."
I'll make the argument that, like Khali, the only reason why Batista became champion was because of his size. He has a certain big-man charisma that certainly helps and he was hand-picked by Triple H, but if he were 6'1" and 200 pounds with the self-admitted weak wrestling skills he had when he first came to WWE, I doubt he would have even sniffed title gold.
The full U.K. Sun interview can be downloaded at the link above.
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9:35 a.m. Time to snap back to reality and I'll play the role of Debbie Downer today. So, now that the big Raw party is over, everyone's had a few (too many) drinks on the house, and everyone picked up another payday to spend...um...in a prudent manner, WWE has some business at hand. Namely, they have that PPV on Sunday. Ya know, the one where Randy Orton beats Chris Jericho, Triple H beats Jeff Hardy, and they set up Orton vs. Hunter V.105 at the Rumble.
But, after that, Raw will have to go back to developing the underneath storylines to boost up the top of the card. Which means devoting time to the tag division, Intercontinental division, and figuring out a way to keep viewers when Hogan, Austin, and Foley aren't on the show. Fortunately, they have a good crop of main eventers - the best line-up probably this year considering all of the injuries in 2007.
However, fans are going to look at the wrestlers like Michaels, Hunter, and Flair a little different now. They seemed to be tied more to the past on Raw last night than doing anything really special in the present going to the future. Another DX reunion. An Evolution reunion. Marty Jannetty returning for a main event in Shawn Michaels's place.
To the average viewer tuning in for the nostalgia show, it certainly didn't seem like the big stars of today who were big stars of yesterday are actually doing anything important right now. It certainly sent mixed signals on trying to a sell a PPV on Sunday. WWE will have to change that message on next week's Raw before going into the holiday programming leading to 2008.
Updated Monday, December 10
4:25 p.m. From the Cube inbox - Torch VIP member Joe Crowe asks...
When I heard tonight’s Raw 15-year anniversary would have stars from the past, some questions arose: How many "stars of the past" aren’t in TNA? Or dead? If these "stars from the past" are able to perform to some degree on Raw tonight, why can’t they have regular jobs in WWE? That’s rhetorical; I know why. The WWE has no further use for them, for political reasons, or the stars have "personal demons." But still, it would do an '80s and '90s wrestling fan good to see some of their old favorites contribute meaningfully again.
JC: I don't know how much "performance" we're going to get from old stars being brought back for the show, as most of them are not in peak physical condition. But, I believe a good handful of the older stars can still contribute. WWE already has plenty of older wrestlers contributing off camera - Mike Rotunda, Arn Anderson, and Ricky Steamboat are backstage agents/producers. Dusty Rhodes and Michael Hayes are on writing staff. Would it be nice to see more appearances like Michael Hayes confronting MVP to deliver great TV? It sure would be.
But, there aren't too many older stars who aren't currently on staff with WWE or in TNA who are capable of delivering the entertainment value expected on WWE TV. Tonight could be considered an informal try-out to see what everyone can contribute. Who's in good shape? Who can talk? Who has a good attitude? Who can share nuggets of information with younger stars and be on the road 200 days per year as an agent? A lot of it depends on schedule, stamina, and a willingness to work with younger talent from a completely new generation of wrestling stars.
Have a question you'd like to see answered in the Cube? Send an email to Caldwell's inbox for future consideration.
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1:35 p.m. Here's a rather interesting business development for WWE. A gossip website Jossip has a story on a WWE seeking an editor for a new WWE magazine aimed at children.
The job description reads, in part: "WWE is seeking someone to be a part of a magazine launch, sister magazine to flagship WWE ... Candidate should have a strong knowledge of children based subject material. Wrestling knowledge is also a plus. ... Requirements: 4-6 years experience as a magazine editor at a children’s publication and/or have worked for other various children’s related media."
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11:45 a.m. Midway Games released a new trailer for the first TNA video game, set for release in the spring of 2008. The new trailer opens with real-life footage normally reserved for PPV video packages, then showcases various signature moves from A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christian Cage in the video game. It shows some additional arenas beside the Impact Zone that matches can be contested in. Gamershell.com streaming video link.
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11:10 a.m. WWE Raw's 15-year anniversary show tonight is getting considerable buzz on mainstream news outlets today, especially in TV listings. The announcement of the two-year cable TV deal with USA Network was timed perfectly late last week, as every major entertainment news outlet has reported on the deal and plugged the show tonight.
WWE was also helped by the writer's strike talks breaking down over the weekend. Doing a quick Google search for WWE, many newspapers are reporting details of the talks breaking down, and segueing that to WWE having original content tonight with the anniversary show.
The regular two hours of Raw should do a very strong rating against a weak Monday Night Football game, and be helped by broadcast television airing re-runs or holiday specials without original content available. The first hour at 8 p.m. EST will drag down the overall three-hour rating, but I'm predicting an average of 3.8 for the second and third hours in the normal timeslot.
- WWE Smackdown from Friday night was a strong show with two very strong confrontations on the mic. Teddy Long was terrific matching Edge sentence for sentence in the opening segment. He appears to be very refreshed and eager to be in his authoritative role after being off TV for several months. Again, it provided more evidence that any TV wrestling personality needs a break from time-to-time to recharge and come back with more energy.
MVP and Michael Hayes had the promo exchange of the year for Smackdown. MVP has really grown into a legitimate star the last four months, beginning with the Matt Hardy program. Hayes played a very strong protagonist, but did so in a way that put the spotlight on MVP, not himself.
Of course, the PSA messages of "Don't Do Drugs, kids!" or "drugs were only done in the '80s, but everyone is squeaky clean now!" were almost laughable, despite there being a good message in the World Class story on drug prevention.
But, outside of that, I haven't seen a better ten minutes of TV on Smackdown in some time. Besides plugging the DVD, they effectively built up Matt Hardy's return to chase down MVP, and they built up Rey's challenge to MVP for the U.S. Title without Rey having to talk on the mic. This seemed to be a one-time deal for Hayes, but I think he could be a very strong character as a part-time manager/adviser. We don't need the return of Dok Hendrix, though.
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