So is wrestling taking a turn for the better?
 

Just watched Raw and I have to say it was a damn good show. Even TNA is getting pretty good IMO. Maybe things will be good from here on out for a while.

Yes and no. I think it's going to get more "enjoyable", but I doubt there will be any rating changes, and they'll ultimately revert back in a few months.

A good episode of RAW, an internet darling wins the Title, and suddenly we're on the verge of a new golden era. :roll:

I would certainly hope so, but I think it's too early to tell.

It's looking like wrestling is starting to not be ass, but WWE has been letting us down more or less since 2001 (Although 2001 to 2004 had some great moments). I have a feeling TNA will never be great. They'll occasionally do something great, but they'll probably never do a lot of great things consistently in a row.

(Although 2001 to 2004 had some great moments).

The WWE had a few more great moments in 05/06 - IMO, it is only 07 onwards that it just became embarrassing (which is indicated by the ratings going down dramatically in 07/08). For example, when Edge and Cena were having their feud at the beginning of 06 the ratings for Raw were in the low to med 4s each week (the 'dirt sheet' ratings, not the Kane Knight/NMR ratings).

Edit: Now that I've looked at them, from Jan 9, 06 to Aug 21, 06, almost every week the ratings were in the 4s, and in January the ratings were 4.5 for three consecutive weeks.

It seems like the crowds have been getting better for awhile now, which is always a good sign.

He did say for the better, not that it is the beginning of the next golden era. I agree with him. Anyway, even if we were in a golden era with RAW scoring 5.0 or higher weekly, I doubt the IWC would be responding significantly better than it does now. In fact I remember quite a bit of whining about Austin and Rock in 2000 and 2001...

The WWE seems to be getting more and more desperate. The ratings are down, buyrates are down, and shows are getting booted off networks. Vince has found himself forced into a small corner, and that has caused him to try some intriguing concepts. He's actually trying to make SmackDown! something, he's put the World Heavyweight Title on an internet darling, etc.

As soon as the product gets back to a zone where the ratings are stable, I'd expect to see Randy Orton winning the title again, and John Cena back to being the invincible top face.

2008 has been vastly better than anything since Wrestlemania 21 minus Smackdown in early 2006 and early 2007 with the Taker, Batista, Cena and HBK main-event scene.

It got off to a very shaky start with John Cena winning the 2008 Royal Rumble, though. Let's see how the year closes.

I thought it was a cool surprise. It was worth it since Orton retaining at Wrestlemania was the best way to go and that would have made an HHH win inferior because the Cena win had the OMFG moment surrounding it. I dunno, maybe I am just a little too optimistic but I think the WWE is looking pretty good right now.

I personally wasn't shocked at all by Cena returning. Plus, when he did, it was kind of an "ah *sigh*, I wonder who's going to win now?" moment.

happens every 3 months

After only 8 posts I'm willing to let The Franchise join 'The Optimists'

Welcome sir!

Yes it is.