WWE shouldn’t panic
The 2.5 rating for Monday’s Raw was quite a shock, and while WWE should be concerned, I don’t think the company needs to go into panic mode.
For one thing, the rating – which was the lowest non-holiday number for Raw since October 27, 1997, according to pwinsider.com – might be an anomaly. Raw’s ratings had dipped since the Chris Benoit double murder-suicide and all the steroids talk and negative publicity that followed, but they seemed to have leveled off, as the show did a 3.4 each of the past three weeks. It’s incomprehensible how Raw could drop nearly a full point this week for no apparent reason.
It will be very interesting to see how next week’s show fares. If the rating isn’t back up over 3, then WWE definitely has a serious problem. But even if that is the case, I still don’t think WWE should panic and start hotshotting.
Instead, the company should try to ride it out and just focus on telling compelling stories that resonate with the audience. That’s what will lure viewers back and keep them watching.
Comments
I hate to say I told you so!!! Raw has been unwatchable for months. Not 1 single wrestler or storyline that you need to see each week. If a 27 year wrestling fan like myself can't watch what the heck is going to happen to the fringe fan?? Looks like we just found out! Bottom line is WWE has shoved J Cena down the throats of people who for months have told them we don't want to see him as a main eventer. But Vince's arrogance combined with his clueless flotation device daughter has left them in the ratings crapper. Combine that with no talents like Lashley and Batista and lame pushes for Orton and Snitsky and it's absolutely time to panic. They STILL have not adequately replaced Austin,Rock,Jericho,Lesnar and Goldberg which shows the people in charge are dumber than the O's front office.
Posted by: eric | August 2, 2007 11:23 AM