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MCNEILL'S TAKE
McNEILL's "Who's Hot, Who's Not" for Week of 6/18: Styles, Cena, Sonjay, Hulk Jun 18, 2008 - 5:41:47 PM
Time for our weekly look at the smashes, thrashes and hits of the pro wrestling business, right before we get caught in the draft.
WHO'S HOT?
Ring of Honor: This past week, ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky announced two shows in Tokyo during September, a talent exchange with the AAA promotion in Mexico, and the company's Montreal debut in November. Not a bad week from a public relations standpoint.
John Cena: In the cutthroat world of WWE politics, don't think it's escaping anyone's notice that the first hour of Raw (anchored by John Cena's match with Umaga) did a better ratings numbner than the second hour of Raw (anchored by Triple H's match against Chris Jericho.) Granted, the overrun of Raw probably meant more
A.J. Styles: The Prince of Phenomenal delivered on Impact in a main event match that actually drew more viewers than the TNA Knockouts. Styles was also one of the anchors of TNA's successful British tour this weekend, and will play a huge part in this week's episode. So far, the Styles vs. Angle feud that we were teased with a couple years ago has been a success in the ring. Plus, it's helped distract attention from the Karen Angle segments.
Charlie Haas: The multi-time tag team champion may not be a favorite of WWE owner Vince McMahon, but he's received more exposure on the past two episodes of Raw than he has in the rest of 2008.
WHO'S NOT?
"Guru" Sonjay Dutt: So, we devoted far too much television time over the past several months to the love triangle featuring Jay Lethal, So Cal Val and Sonjay Dutt. For weeks, everybody who reads this website had guessed that Dutt would interfere in the big Slammiversary wedding. Dutt makes his first appearance following the pay-per-view and wrestles Consequences Creed, and the match is a ratings bomb, even more so than usual on TNA Impact. Not good.
Hulk Hogan: Granted, nobody involved in the Hogan-Graziano mess is going to come out of this looking well, but the Hulkster's appearance on Larry King Live really took its toll on the bearded big man, especially when he threw in some whopping mistatements in the course of the interview. His family members are regulars are "Showbiz Tonight", and not in a good way. Throw in the fact that the "Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grill" was recalled from the market due to safety concerns, and it's hard to imagine a worse seven days for the ex-champ.
C.M. Punk & John Morrison: A combination of a taped episode of ECW and the NBA Finals led to last night's ECW television show drawing a whopping 1.0 rating. Granted, this might also have to do with last night's main event being the 327th Punk vs. Morrison match to air on the SciFi channel, but it doesn't bode well for future ECW ratings.
Mikey Mondo: Mikey has disappeared from the WWE developmental roster. He is yet another victim of the mysterious "Tampa Triangle" which has thus far claimed three developmental wrestlers, two recreational vehicles, and Chris Simms.
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