The OTTB Wrestling News thread

[m. inferno]

WWE has updated their Key Performance Indicators with the preliminary buyrate information for SummerSlam. According to the company, the preliminary buyrate is 301,000 buys, almost 50,000 below the 2010 buyrate. The estimated buyrate is 174,000 in North America and 127,000 from International markets.

By comparison, the show drew 350,00 buys in 2010 and 369,000 buys in 2009.

Partial Source: Pwinsider

 

[m. inferno]

As noted before, the September 20th episode of WWE’s RAW Supershow did a 3.01 cable rating with 4.32 million viewers against lots of competition like Monday Night Football, Charlie Sheen's roast, Dancing with the Stars, Two and a Half Men and more.

The opening segment with CM Punk, Triple H and John Laurinaitis opened to a 3.46 rating but the eight-man match with Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, Sheamus and Justin Gabriel taking on Christian, Wade Barrett, David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty lost 1,046,000 viewers. With 23% of the viewers tuning out during this match, this was the biggest segment decrease in a long time.

John Morrison vs. Alberto Del Rio and the segment with Hugh Jackman, Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero gained 524,000 viewers while the impromptu match with Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara lost 187,000 viewers. The segment with Mark Henry, Jerry Lawler and Mark Henry gained 262,000 viewers back, which is below average for that time slot.

Eve Torres and Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix and Natalya with Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder, and the appearance by Hugh Jackman, lost 239,000 viewers. Jack Swagger’s promo video and segment with Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero, plus the backstage segment with CM Punk and John Cena lost 357,000 viewers.

The main event of Cena and Punk vs. The Miz and R-Truth gained 172,000 viewers for a 2.86 rating, which is way below average for a RAW main event. The overrun this week with Triple H firing The Miz and R-Truth gained 670,000 viewers to a 3.32 rating.

 

[m. inferno]

-- The September 23 episode of WWE SmackDown! scored a 2.3 cable rating, a sharp increase from 1.78 (1.8) the week before.

SmackDown! fell just shy of the 2.31 Syfy record set on February 25, which took place days after Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's return to WWE.

Friday's program outdrew last month's live special, which garnered a 2.2 cable rating. Viewership was identical as both episodes averaged 3.2 million viewers.

 

[Copper]

The rock = ratings

survivor series is gonna do numbers

 

[m. inferno]

Brad Bonesteel sent this in: I live in Denver and they are running promo's during Raw for the World Tour coming to Denver on Oct 7th. The promos are advertising a double world title defense, with Alberto Del Rio defending against CM Punk, and then the winner defending against John Cena later that night. Given that this is after the three way at Hell in the Cell, might be a spoiler regarding the title match result at the PPV.

 

[m. inferno]

Vince McMahon was in a much better mood at RAW last night.

-- The idea last night at RAW was that it was supposed to be a mystery on who lowered the cage at the end of the show.

 

[m. inferno]

Here is the synopsis and complete listing for the Stone Cold - The Bottom Line on Wrestling's Most Popular Superstar DVD set…

DOCUMENTARY CHAPTERS:

WWE Signature

Open

Football and Wrestling

Rookie of the Year

From Hollywood California

A Platform

Fang McFrost

Main Event Momentum

1% Tough, 99% Lucky

Raising Hell

Tyson & Austin

Austin Era Has Begun

Cultural Phenomenon

Stooges

The Boss

Rattlesnake vs. Brahma Bull

Difficult Decisions

Return to Mania

Stone Cold Comedy

Really? I'm not coming!

One More Round

The Law of Monday Night RAW

The Show Never Ends

New Horizons

Somewhere Down In Texas

DISC 1 SPECIAL FEATURES

Autograph

Hair Club

The Rattlesnake

Tangled

Punked

The Stunner

Bleed For Me

DISC 2 EXTRAS

An Introduction From "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

USWA – May 1990

Stunning Steve Austin vs. Gentleman Chris Adams

WCW Saturday Night – July 30, 1994

Stunning Steve Austin & Ric Flair vs. Sting & Ricky Steamboat

King of the Ring – June 23, 1996

King of the Ring Final

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Jake The Snake Roberts

WrestleMania 13 – March 23, 1997

Submission Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart

W/ Alternate Commentary By: Steve Austin & Jim Ross

In Your House: D-Generation X – Dec. 7, 1997

Intercontinental Championship Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Rocky Maivia

WrestleMania 14 – March 29, 1998

WWE Championship Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels

W/ Alternate Commentary By: Steve Austin & Jim Ross

DISC 3 EXTRAS

Over the Edge – May 31, 1998

No Disqualification, Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWE Championship

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Dude Love

SummerSlam – Aug. 30, 1998

WWE Championship Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker

Raw – March 22, 1999

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Big Show

WrestleMania XV – March 28, 1999

No Disqualification Match for the WWE Championship

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Rock

WrestleMania X-7 – April 1, 2001

No Disqualification Match for the WWE Championship

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Rock

W/ Alternate Commentary By: Steve Austin & Jim Ross

DISC 4 MOMENT EXTRAS

WCW Saturday Night – June 5, 1993

A Flare for the Old

Hardcore TV – Oct. 10, 1995

"A Bunch of Violent Crap"

Hardcore TV – Oct. 31, 1995

Monday Nyquil

Hardcore TV – Dec. 19, 1995

"Flat Out Disgusted"

In Your House: Mind Games – Sept. 22, 1996

"My Exact Opinion of Bret Hart"

Livewire – Oct. 19, 1996

"Stone Cold" on Livewire

Raw – Nov. 4, 1996

Home Invasion

Slammy Awards Show – March 21, 1997

1996 New Sensation Award

Slammy Awards Show – March 21, 1997

Freedom of Speech Award

Raw – April 21, 1997

Ambulance Attack

Raw – Sept. 22, 1997

The World's Most Famous Stunner

Raw – Jan. 19, 1998

Tyson and Austin!

Raw – March 30, 1998

The Easy Way or the Hard Way

Raw – Sept. 28, 1998

Zamboni 3:16

Raw – Oct. 5, 1998

Paging Dr. Austin

Raw – Oct. 12, 1998

McMahon's Cement Corvette

DISC 4 MOMENT EXTRAS

Raw – October 19, 1998

Bang 3:16

Raw – March 22, 1999

"Stone Cold" Beer Truck

Raw – April 19, 1999

The Funeral of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Survivor Series – Nov. 19, 2000

Austin's Revenge

SmackDown – March 22, 2001

Jim Ross Interviews Steve Austin and The Rock

SmackDown – July 5, 2001

Gift Giving Mood

SmackDown – July 12, 2001

Mr. McMahon's Alliance Woes

SmackDown – July 19, 2001

The Old "Stone Cold"

Raw – Jan. 14, 2002

Whataburger

SmackDown – June 7, 2003

The Highlight Reel

Blu-ray Exclusives

"Stone Cold" Answers Your Twitter Questions

The Sportatorium

The T-Shirt

The Broken Skull Ranch

Blu-ray Exclusive Matches

No Mercy – May 16, 1999

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker vs. Triple H

Raw – Oct. 8, 2001

WWE Championship Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle

No Mercy – Oct. 21, 2001

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam

WrestleMania XIX – March 30, 2003

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Rock

Blu-ray Exclusive Moments

WCW Saturday Night – May 15, 1993

A Flair for the Gold

Superstars – Nov. 17, 1996

The Biggest Draw in the World

Superstars – March 23, 1997

The Foundation of the WWE

Raw – Aug. 18, 1997

You Want a Pear? You Want an Apple?

Raw – March 17, 2003

Post-Raw: "Stone Cold" Has Some Words with The Rock

WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – April 4, 2009

Vince McMahon Inducts "Stone Cold" Steve Austin into the Hall of Fame

WrestleMania 25 – April 5, 2009

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin Salutes Texas

 

[m. inferno]

Ashley Rigby, TNA's Director of Marketing, was released from the company today. More soon.

 

[m. inferno]

This week's 9/26 edition of WWE Monday night RAW drew a 2.98 (3.0) cable rating, with 4,150,000 viewers. The show did identical hours of 2.98 (3.0). Monday night's NFL game (Dallas-Washington) did a 12.34 cable rating, with 17,104,000 viewers. That is big for ESPN.

-- -- After meeting with a doctor earlier today, it appears as though Rey Mysterio will be needing a second surgery on his knee to reinforce his PCL. That likely means he'll be out even longer. We hope to have more shortly.

 

[VIBE]

Rey just might be done for good....

 

[m. inferno]

Rey Mysterio did have another knee surgery in order to reinforce his PCL. Mysterio already had knee surgery in August, which was supposed to keep him out 6-9 months. Mysterio tweeted the following earlier this morning before the surgery: Getting ready 4 surgery # 2.....should b knocked out in about 30mn! Talk to all of you when I wake up!1 luv 619

At this time, there is no word on how much longer Mysterio will be out of action.

 

[m. inferno]

There has been talk of SmackDown! Diva Aksana doing some ring announcing for WWE.

-- Expect Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne to take place at Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

 

[m. inferno]

Jim Ross was asked what he thought of referees not being mentioned on WWE TV, especially with the recent angles involving referees: “It disturbs me greatly Refs names haven’t been mentioned in a couple of years. Simple, company policy.”

-- For what it’s worth, the coat that CM Punk was wearing on commentary during RAW Monday night was actually the coat of John Laurinaitis. That’s why Punk mentioned that he got it from a bum earlier in the day.

-- Former WWE Superstar Steve Blackman turns 48 years old today.

-- WWE Superstars matches taped last night before the SmackDown! tapings in St. Louis were Brodus Clay vs. local wrestler Bryan Thomas and Daniel Bryan vs. Trent Baretta. Full spoilers are posted on the main newsboard.

-- Numerous WWE talents were interviewed for Edge’s new DVD at Monday’s RAW Supershow.

 

[m. inferno]

In an interview with WWE.com, Mason Ryan comments on his return to RAW after been sidelined since June due to injury.

"I've been training very hard, but being out through injuries is a tough thing for anyone because you obviously want to be in the ring competing," Ryan said. "Being out of action made me even more focused than I was before to come back and be a bigger, better, stronger, faster and all around better Mason Ryan."

-- A fan asked Randy Orton during his autograph signing on Monday at Slackers CD and Games in Hazelwood, Missouri if the 2012 Royal Rumble would take place in St. Louis, Missouri: he replied yes. Security personnel, however, told Orton that it was merely a "strong rumor."

 

[m. inferno]

Former WWE Diva Melina has denied an online report claiming that she was planning to involve herself in last week’s Divas Tag Team Match on RAW.

She responded on Twitter, “Ha ha! If I was going to fly ANYWHERE I’d fly to Hawaii and have fun or Vegas. Monday I was tweeting you guys and watching the Sheen Roast.

“It’s funny that rumors are still active even when out of the WWE. It’s outrageous and can be hurtful but I’m still on people’s minds.”

The report alleged that Natalya received a text message from Melina—who had a ticket to the Cleveland show—asking, “If I jump KK (Kelly Kelly), you will play ball right?”

The report adds: “Natalya presumed this was a joke, but showed it to the Divas’ liaison who after alerting WWE security then asked her to ring Melina to find out exactly what she had planned. The conversation, which Natalya put on loud-speaker with several members of the lockeroom present included a rambling and possibly under the influence Melina suggesting that attacking Kelly live on Raw would get her a job back as a Diva as “Vince loves reality angles.”

The report then claims that Melina was spotted in line for the show with a ticket, but was turned away at the door. We never reported the story here on this website

 

[m. inferno]

Hulk Hogan is still trying to sell the mansion that Hogan Knows Best was filmed in.

The appraiser's officer says the market value is $5.4 million, but back in 2006 the house was put up for sale for $25 million. The price has been dropped a few times, down to $13.9 million and then to $10.9 million.

Today's asking price is $8.87 million.

 

[m. inferno]

WWE has released James Maritato aka Little Guido/Nunzio from their referee staff. The cut happened last week. Maritato had been working as a referee.

 

[m. inferno]

When asked by a fan on Twitter if Jerry “The King” Lawler would be calling this Sunday's WWE’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, Jim Ross replied: “I think so.” He was then asked if he'd be calling the action and replied with the following: “Not at this time but things can change.”

-- WWE United States champion Dolph Ziggler took a shot at TNA on Twitter today while promoting his appearance at FCW this Friday night: “Off to tampa to make an IMPACT and SPIKE the ratings Friday night in Orlando for FCW!!! See the #HEEL LIVE

 

[m. inferno]

New WWE Diva and ring announcer Eden Stiles is now Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EdenStiles

 

[m. inferno]

WWE officials are under the impression that Rey Mysterio’s time left is limited because of the frequent injuries and surgeries. One plus to Mysterio is that even when he’s off TV dealing with injuries, his merchandise still sells good.

Rey is currently scheduled for WWE’s upcoming tour of Mexico but won’t be wrestling.

Mysterio also wrote on Twitter that his surgery went well yesterday: “Surgery went well! At home now relaxing & trying to control the pain! Thx 4 all the good thoughts & prayers..1 luv 619″

-- Regarding the October 18th episode of RAW that tapes October 16th in Mexico City, right now it won’t be a Supershow with SmackDown! stars on it because WWE has a SmackDown! show in Mexico and can’t afford for the big names to miss it for RAW.