Yeah both guys have some value with Hogan being good for promoting and Bischoff for help with booking but the roster hates how neither guy wants to push Russo to be better.

Originally Hogan wanted Russo fired before going to TNA but somehow Russo kept his job either because Hogan dropped the demand or a vote ended up saving his job.

My predictions for tonight's Monday Night Raw.

Going out on a limb there, Dave?

Superstars? Awesome

OH MY GAWD

Impact? Superstars?

He's wasn't under a broadcast contract for awhile he was just a regular WWE employee. I guess that has changed now.

Ladies and Gentleman, the current X Division Champion The Brian Kendrick!

Was totally expecting some Hardy-esq druggie pic.

ok the new guy at work looks JUST like Christian. Whoa.

Ask him how his balls are.

450 is featured in a question on Outhink the Fink.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ExtremeECWv1

A LOT of ECW footage there including full shows and DVD/VHS releases.

Rock's Breakfast

<a href="http://www.whosay.com/DwayneJohnson/photos/48067" title="Dwayne Johnson's photo Breakfast of Champions - buffalo and egg whites (AM pie is optional)."><img src="http://media.whosay.com/48067/48067_la.jpg" alt="Dwayne Johnson's photo Breakfast of Champions - buffalo and egg whites (AM pie is optional)." width="644" height="481" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.whosay.com/DwayneJohnson/photos/48067">Dwayne Johnson on WhoSay</a>

vs.

Punk's Breakfast

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg739/sca...=640&ysize=640

WTF is that? lol

Omelette with plenty of eggs?

From PWInsider:

Take it for what you will but on his Twitter account, Sean Waltman is saying that HHH really has taken over for Vince McMahon as the person now in charge of WWE. He said that he had gotten a text earlier in the day from HHH that made sense after he saw the end of Raw. Yes, he is saying it is a shoot. Given that WWE is publicly held company, if that is the case it will come out.

Glad you could join the party.

He said there is a pancake in there somewhere. I just think it's heaven/diabetes on a plate.

Hey Fellas, Haven't been on here in two days. Mainly because I just watched Money in the Bank and RAW today.

Sup, Team Rodney?

Well that explains why you weren't on the PPV or Raw.

No Xero, he was roaming the mean streets of Greenwich, Connecticut looking for some fights.

was he using his lessons in thuganomics?

Basically.

Things I learned from RAW last night:

1) A firing angle with Cena will never work.
2) Getting fired by Triple H isn't as exciting as I had hoped (no pedigree :()
3) Cena is soo entrenched in WWE marketing that it is impossible for him to take any time off even if its just a week.

I wouldn't be surprised if the WWE panicked again at the thought of not having Cena for a few weeks like they did twice last year. The first was him getting "fired" by the Nexus and most of the crowd left before the show was over. The other time being the WWE offering refunds when it was assumed Cena was hurt and wouldn't show up at shows.

And now for some Animated gifs and pics

Those guys are pretty serious about taking baths.

Raw Ratings are dissappointing.. What's your solution?
 

In the past year or so, we've seen WWE go outside of their comfort level and do a few things that us IWC would call legit.

Nexus Angle - Bringing back factions is a dream of ours.
Rocks Return - Headlining Raw after Wrestlemania/imposing dream match vs Cena.
CM Punk - Creating a legit Rebel is bringing back the Austin/Sting days.

Unfortunately...

This week’s edition of WWE RAW drew a 3.2 cable rating, with 4,800,300 viewers. Although the number is up from last week, it is obviously a disappointment as they had the MITB PPV the night before and also featured a major angle that has been ongoing for weeks.

The 7/16 edition of AM RAW did a 0.67 (0.7) cable rating, with 821,000 viewers.


What can WWE do to increase viewership to Attitude Era numbers?

Push TNA to be a better competitor? Get Shane to take over TNA? I want some whacky, crazy ideas, I'm sure I'll hear the same old rhetoric about tag teams and Cena turning heel, but please feel free to pretend your a writer in the WWE and prove yourself useful.

Step one-collect underpants
Step two-
Step three- Profit!

Fire creative and hire you.

No seriously though. If I wanted to improve ratings, I'd hire people to write that have a vested interest in the product. Someone who's been a fan all their life and who knows the talent's back story will always come up with something better than a soap opera writer who's never watched.

The rating was higher than last week's? What's the problem then?

Well, with your assumption, Heyman should come into WWE as Hogan and Co went to TNA.

I'd say that competition creates cash, as soon as TNA gets on the road and returns to Monday Nights, the better for wrestling in general, but more importantly, better for WWE.

If my memory serves me correctly, the ratings were in the 6.0-7.8 range when WWE was previously on USA, and they haven't reached anywhere near that level since returning to USA Network.

After pulling off such a wonderful angle and using many resources including the Rock, many are left wondering how they can be on top like they once were. I'm looking for your input and ideas on such a path that could be rewritten and rephased.

Fire creative

Hire Noid

It's going to take a while to convince people that they can be consistent again. At least the ratings moved in the right direction. I don't think there's a need for a massive overhaul or anything. They just have to keep putting out quality stuff and things may change over time.

This is true, albeit slightly lower than they wanted coming off of MitB.

I agree with the bold part of your statement, but I do not want to see TNA on Monday nights anytime soon. Heyman will probably never be in WWE again, and would be better for TNA anyway. I say for competition's sake TNA needs to get rid of Hogan and co., who aren't doing anything for the ratings anyway, and let Paul run the show. Create a viable alternative for people to wrestle, and for viewers.

I thought you just said that having fans their whole lives, run the show.

If memory serves me correctly, there is no better fan then Hogan and Bischoff and company.

They made it work in WCW, I think if given the time, they can make it work in TNA.

I went to a TNA Show last year in FL, and I got this huge WCW vibe from my teenage years, but I was SO unimpressed by the size of the arena.

It was cool seeing old superstars like Jimmy Hart and such, especially, introducing me to younger superstars currently representing TNA, but it was uncool waiting in line for 9 hours to be stuffed into a high school type gym.

I don't think that has to do with the Writing, that has to do with the marketing, and the resources.

I'm also sick of people thinking that Paul Heyman is the only person that can write good wrestling.

If the ratings is higher this week than last week, there isn't a problem. Only way it becomes a problem is if next week is lower which means WWE already has people loosing interest in what could be a huge storyline.

It could also mean people are not caring about having a new champion this quickly or Cena not being fired even though that was a huge stipulation in the ppv match.

Punk could still keep some interest as long as he keeps up his random WWE title tour with each week having the title in a new location but RAW can't just ignore his actions like they did yesterday or show him on a live feed to the audience one week.

Last week's was a 2.9. Against the All Star game

3.2 is the typical Raw average. Basically, nothing changed from the norm

Atleast we can blame the poor ratings on Triple Doofus :y:

Just for the record I never said only Paul Heyman could write good wrestling.

I also never said a 'fan' per say. What I meant was look at the shit Noid posts on the regular. Some of it is great, some of it flops, but you can tell every time he posts it that he truly cares about the industry as a whole. As opposed to Hogan who is a fan of himself, and Bischoff, who is also a fan of Hogan. the nWo was the biggest thing in pro wrestling, but sticking with it way too long brought WCW down. Immortal is sticking with the nWo angle WAY too long.

For the record, I never said that tjmidnight420 said that.

Raw's ratings since Juneish:

May 30 - 3.07
June 6 - 3.21
June 13 - 3.06
June 20 - 3.09
June 27 - 3.13
July 4 - 2.4
July 11 - 2.9
July 18 - 3.2

A lot of what Noid posts is pure crap, really. No offense, Noid.

It will take time to build the product back up... People who have given up on it are not just going to come racing back. What did they expect? A 5.0 after a few weeks of good wrestling?

Exactly.

The only major dips were on Independence Day and against the All-Star game? I think they're doing fine. Nothing to bring back Shane McMahon about.

Needs more Anonymous GM

Basically my point. Nothing good, nothing bad. Just business as usual.

Was he/she/it on Raw last night?

Also, is that taking into account DVRs?

I think I saw the podium, but there was no business from it. When Vince is on the scene, it's irrelevant.

That makes sense though. Could you imagine if that would have gone down on Smackdown?

VINCE: John Cena...YOU'RE FI--

*YOU KNOW IT'S THE MACK MILITANT...*

TEDDY: Hold up there, Playa! This is MY show! Holla holla holla!

VINCE: :|

I think that to panic at this juncture over the lack of a major ratings spike in lieu of the Punk/Cena/McMahon angle is jumping the gun a little bit. Rome wasn't built in a day - even when Austin/McMahon started off, we didn't see an immediate jump in the ratings - it was a gradual climb upwards as the WWF showed their fans that they could consistently put on an entertaining and worthwhile product, week-in and week-out, which featured interesting characters like Stone Cold, Vince McMahon, The Rock, DX, Mankind and others.

I think that the WWE brain-trust should focus less on the ratings and more on the reviews they've been getting over the past few weeks. This much praise has not been heaped upon the WWE in a very long time - maybe not since Nexus, possibly before that. What they are doing is working, and if they continue to put on interesting, intriguing and entertaining segments/matches every single week, then word of mouth will cause a gradual increase in ratings.

But like I said, no one can expect a sudden spike in the ratings. The WWE's casual fans have been programmed to believe that RAW is about John Cena, Randy Orton and whatever lame ass they're feuding against at the time - it's not like the attitude era when fans were programmed to believe that RAW could be anything - that anything could happen and that shit could hit the fan at any moment. The past few weeks with Punk have brought that feeling back, but for the actual ratings to pick up, that feeling has to become the overall attitude of the WWE and it's flagship program, RAW.

less wrestling, more "entertainment"

Are you talking about Hot Lesbian Action?

I think they are gonna start to downplay the Anonymous GM, and HHH will have more of an on air role.

...Bring CM Punk.

I thought it would be over for good once Austin ran it over with his four wheeler, but it was back next week with no mention of the incident.

I'm not sure there's anything that can be done to get the ratings back to Attitude era ratings (5's, 6's, 7's) on a consistent level. As much as I would love to see the attitude era writing and interest return, I've come to view the attitude era as more of an anomaly than anything.

It was the perfect storm with guys like Rock, Austin, Foley, HHH, stables like, DX, the Corporation, the Ministry, etc., along with the emergence of realistic storylines and the hardcore style from ECW and the competition and emergence of WCW, NWO and a heel Hogan, etc.

I don't think we'll likely ever see anything like that again in most of our lifetimes anyway. The world and the business has changed too much, along with the advents of the internet and social media, it's just not likely to happen. We've seen practically everything done time and time again, real screw jobs, worked screw jobs, kidnappings, weddings, running people over, exploding limos, etc.

Unless someone comes along and drastically changes the business, like Heyman's idea of bringing in legit UFC fighters or something, I just don't see anything ever bringing back those Attitude era ratings again anytime soon. Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen? Not likely IMO. Would I love to see it? Absolutely!

Just keep doing what they're doing and the ratings should start slowly picking up. There's no one week solution. They're on a good path.

Why are there threads about everything on the home page now?

Anyway I don't really see anything to be concerned about. A 3.2 on Monday primetime is a great number for network television.

New creative for better writing, get rid if the pg shit and for god's sake stop watering down wrestling itself. I know it's a safety thing but there are people who are capable of that style.

Maybe because this is a wrestling discussion forum and the front page usually covers wrestling news?

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/mult...jim-norton.jpg

http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/a...ay_image-1.jpg

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/821...0A760B0D811297

Its Lil Jimmy Norton's birthday..made me think of this..they should get him to come on RAW..would be awesome

Solution?

We drill.

Paul Carrington can write it too.

yeah, that'd be it.

I think Mick Foley's talked about this numerous times. They were destroying WCW in the quality of shows, but the ratings didn't show for it for months. If the WWE can keep this level of quality, or better obviously, then ratings will rise in time.

Probably better, for that fact.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo...s6pso1_500.jpg

From the show "Aaron Stone", episode "Xero Control".

:cool:

It will just take them putting on solid shows for a long time really. I mean, the ratings didn't start picking up big time with Austin for at least a year after he started getting pushed to the top. They've had more buzz on the product in the last month than they have in a while. Regardless of ratings, that shows that they're doing something right. They just need to keep up the momentum.

http://www.thegreatindiankhali.com/w...y/JBL/jbl2.jpg

JBL Approved

kinda pissed right now cause of 2 fat bitches holding up signs during the entire main event os smackdown. I shouted at them to put the signs down only for them to turn around slackjawed to see who it was and raise them higher :foc:

I guess the WWE gave more weeks for this season of NXT since they haven't done the season finale or any more eliminations after going down to the final 2 and then adding Bateman into the mix.

Also weird how Bateman is suddenly a heel for no real reason except for him referencing how NXT is just a popularity contest.

You've heard of Jumping the Shark, Nuking the Fridge, and Frying the Coke?

This right here? Chilling the Championship!

they should get talent or push people that are good and get rid of cena

You really think they don't have any talent? You really think that not having Cena would fix everything? Is that really what you think?

I don't see any problem in wrestling that cannot be solved with the addition of Glacier.

I guess caffeine isn't part of his Straight Edge ban.

http://i.imgur.com/225A7.gif


God did Cena eat the living fuck out of that knee.

Watching RAW or drunk at cubs game?!? YOU make the call!

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg737/sca...640&ysize=640p


CMPunk CM Punk
“@EveMarieTorres: RT @RenerGracie: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is very simple: Either you win, or he loses.” Or she. We're trying to empower broads.

IAmJericho Chris Jericho
Hey I just stole CM Punks bike! It's purple and has a basket and a bell and a Day-Glo Abortions sticker on it.... Shhhhhhh

CMPunk CM Punk Somebody stole my bike!
6 hours ago

CMPunk CM Punk
@ @IAmJericho JERICHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
5 hours ago »

:lol:

Fuck the ratings, here's a little garbage.

Spend a lot more time developing mic skills for everyone. They have some good/decent promo guys, but good or entertaining promos can blow everything up in a moment's notice. Anyone who has the ability to say/create things that get massive pops should be focused on, and be supported with good stories and angles.

What Vince said about one man not being bigger than the WWE, whether it was just script garbage or not is entirely untrue when it comes to connecting with the audience. None of that shit matters when there's a microphone standing between who they paid to see and "them."

Restore the tag team division, I have bitched about this numerous times. It is okay in today's climate to have gimmicky classic style tag teams. This is such an untouched area in what could be improved upon. Does anyone remember Edge and Christian, The Hardies, Dudley Boys, New Age Outlaws, Headbangers, I could go on and on. They were part of "that show."

Cut out all the fat on your roster, unify the brands and give the TV time only to those who have proven themselves to be the future. Divert that money into a more serious scouting program. If you want to comb the industry for your next mega star, do it right. Don't send a guy out to win the WWE title who will only contribute to making it meaningless, and on the way down, get beat by the "jobber with a name."

Lastly, book like it makes sense. The only established "totem pole" seems to only exist near the top. Everyone just running around randomly beating each other makes it feel like there is no structure to what is going on. Back in the day there were jobbers to help get guys over without a random cluster fuck of putting each other over all the time. That's probably outdated at this point, but if you're going to start turning your "names" into jobbers they cannot come back and destroy some guy two weeks later.

Lastly, keep mentioning TNA or hinting at competition. It is healthy.

Anyone who thinks there is nothing wrong with the product is delusional. Anyone who tells people to stop craving "attitude era" is just more willing to be pleased by something that doesn't deliver nearly as often. They announced The Rock for WM28 a year before it happened. When's the last time he wrestled again?

There's been one guy getting more of a reaction than someone who's been off just filming movies for years: CM Punk. And where's he at?

Getting popped in a cubs game while McMahon tries to cut a promo with John Cena.

I think if anything, the WWE proved with the CM Punk/Cena angle they can screw up even the hottest of angles. I mean, buzz at MITB was said to be WM like, but you'd never know it watching RAW. Just seemed like another insignifigant RAW and treated as filler. I'm beginning to wonder if WWE can come up with a "solution". They've proved time and again that they think they'll always be on top, regardless of how good or bad the product is. Well, numbers don't lie, and the fans know when no effort is used to promote your product. More time is wasted on useless entertainment than having a great match...

Also, wrestling comes on rather "late at night" for youngins. Stop the PG shit and put it on Saturdays, like superstars or something could be the PG show, with the PG guys, they could even have a PG championship.

Stone Cold. TV-14. CM Punk.

Not sure how it works over there, but in the UK, not all homes have satellite/cable, it's a luxury that a lot of people can no longer afford. Do all/most homes have access to Raw?

Also, the internet/streaming wasn't as big during the Attitude Era as it is now, has that effected viewing figures.

And lastly, as a fan, should I really care what the ratings are?

Anyone complaining about TV-PG and thinking getting rid of that, and/or John Cena, will solve their problems is delusional and an idiot. Cursing and stupid sex/dog killing storylines does not make a wrestling show better. They're doing great right now and it will just take time for the ratings to pick up

None taken.

I agree with this, and Fox's post. As said, Rome wasn't built in a day, and the WWE should stop freaking out about ratings. Hey, after all the risks they've taken in recent weeks, their rating is pretty much what is has been. So that's shown they can work without the safety net sometime. All they need to do is prove that they are a consistently entertaining program, and hope that more people become fans, and not less.

Although I'm yet to see this week's RAW, I think it would have been more beneficial for the WWE to pace out their tournament a bit more. Give the matches more time by only having the first round on the first week. Confirm that the semi-finals will be next week. Dolph Ziggler is going to look more important if he gets ten minutes to hang with Rey Mysterio instead of five, for example. There was nothing technically wrong with any of the matches the WWE put forward, but it felt like several weeks of possible developments rushed into one show.

I do like that they put off the finals to next week. Good idea, it's episodic booking. Just chill out and don't rush things, and let your entire roster shine.

I disagree slightly. They needed to do the tournament in one night from a storyline point of view so everybody could forget CM Punk ever walked out of the championship with the only thing stopping the final was Vince's ego. There may now be a slower paced tournament as HHH can throw the existing tournament out, maybe even include himself in the new one.

I'm looking forward to what happens next week anyway.

I think one of the biggest problems of the last 5-10 years has been a steady decline in concern and focus on their own product(s) (i.e., writing, wrestling, talent development, etc.) and more concern and focus being put on perception and profits (i.e., sponsors, partnerships, bad press, etc.).

During the Attitude era, they were consistently getting bad press because of their content and writing and never seemed to drop a storyline, fire a wrestler, etc., because they were more concerned about the quality and consistency of their product. They were making a good consistent product, resulting in substantial growth and profit and they didn't mind the bad press because they were concerned about putting out a quality product and beating their competition.

Think about all of the wrestlers and story lines that have been fired or punished, or hurt or dropped over the last 5-10 years because some sponsor, partner, or organization complained or simply threatened to withdraw support, leave or complain.