Week in Wrestling #7 - September 10, 2015
Wrestling News From the week of
September 4 - September 10, 2015
September 4 - September 10, 2015
Night of Champions
The Night of Champions card has Rollins vs. Sting for the WWE title and Rollins vs. Cena for the U.S. title. It also appears that Ryback will face Kevin Owens for the IC title, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose & Mystery partner (who may be Randy Orton unless the angle where the Wyatts took out Orton is to give him time off) vs. The New Wyatt Family and two more title matches will be pending results from the 9/14 Raw in Memphis.
Next week’s Raw has Nikki Bella vs. Charlotte for the Divas title with the winner defending in Houston. They also have a tag team title match with The New Day defending against the Prime Time Players. The winner of that match depends it in Houston against the Dudleys.
RAW is going against regular season opener for NFL Monday Night Football, which has historically eroded about 10 percent from WWE ratings. With both Raw and Smackdown doing record lows this past week, and both against college football, not pro football, this wasn’t a good early sign.
The other programs currently pushed on TV continue Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev, Big Show vs. Cesaro, perhaps in a three-way with Miz, and The Ascension & Stardust vs. The Lucha Dragons & Neville.
The Night of Champions card has Rollins vs. Sting for the WWE title and Rollins vs. Cena for the U.S. title. It also appears that Ryback will face Kevin Owens for the IC title, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose & Mystery partner (who may be Randy Orton unless the angle where the Wyatts took out Orton is to give him time off) vs. The New Wyatt Family and two more title matches will be pending results from the 9/14 Raw in Memphis.
Next week’s Raw has Nikki Bella vs. Charlotte for the Divas title with the winner defending in Houston. They also have a tag team title match with The New Day defending against the Prime Time Players. The winner of that match depends it in Houston against the Dudleys.
RAW is going against regular season opener for NFL Monday Night Football, which has historically eroded about 10 percent from WWE ratings. With both Raw and Smackdown doing record lows this past week, and both against college football, not pro football, this wasn’t a good early sign.
The other programs currently pushed on TV continue Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev, Big Show vs. Cesaro, perhaps in a three-way with Miz, and The Ascension & Stardust vs. The Lucha Dragons & Neville.
Lana Injured
Lana suffered the broken wrist on 9/6, while training in the ring. If she was training, they were either setting up a physical spot for Raw the next day or getting ready for a mixed tag or series of mixed tag matches.
Dr. Christopher Amann said on the WWE web site that he expects that she would undergo surgery, which would keep her out of physical action in the ring for four months.
Lana suffered the broken wrist on 9/6, while training in the ring. If she was training, they were either setting up a physical spot for Raw the next day or getting ready for a mixed tag or series of mixed tag matches.
Dr. Christopher Amann said on the WWE web site that he expects that she would undergo surgery, which would keep her out of physical action in the ring for four months.
WWE Ratings
Football destroyed Raw and Smackdown numbers, both reaching new modern era low marks.
A combination of Labor Day, and a strong Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech college football game, saw Raw fall to 3.37 million viewers. With the exception of shows that were on July 4th, or Christmas or New Year’s Eve, it drew the lowest audience since late 1997. Raw’s previous low was 3.43 million viewers on December 3, 2012.
Smackdown on 9/3 set its all-time low on Syfy with the exception of the July 4, 2014 episode, doing a 1.42 rating and 1.98 million viewers (1.49 viewers per home), which was 11th place for the night on cable.
The culprit in this case was the beginning of the College Football season. ESPN ran North Carolina vs. South Carolina (3.60 million viewers) and Texas Christian vs. Minnesota (2.62 million viewers) head-to-head, while FS 1 had Michigan vs. Utah (2.87 million viewers).
Total Divas on 9/1 did 1,020,000 viewers, up 11 percent from the prior week.
Football destroyed Raw and Smackdown numbers, both reaching new modern era low marks.
A combination of Labor Day, and a strong Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech college football game, saw Raw fall to 3.37 million viewers. With the exception of shows that were on July 4th, or Christmas or New Year’s Eve, it drew the lowest audience since late 1997. Raw’s previous low was 3.43 million viewers on December 3, 2012.
Smackdown on 9/3 set its all-time low on Syfy with the exception of the July 4, 2014 episode, doing a 1.42 rating and 1.98 million viewers (1.49 viewers per home), which was 11th place for the night on cable.
The culprit in this case was the beginning of the College Football season. ESPN ran North Carolina vs. South Carolina (3.60 million viewers) and Texas Christian vs. Minnesota (2.62 million viewers) head-to-head, while FS 1 had Michigan vs. Utah (2.87 million viewers).
Total Divas on 9/1 did 1,020,000 viewers, up 11 percent from the prior week.
Rousey out for WrestleMania
Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania this year. Rousey took a movie gig that will have her filming in Indonesia in March and April, so she said it’s not happening. She has said it before but was pretty direct about it this week
Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania this year. Rousey took a movie gig that will have her filming in Indonesia in March and April, so she said it’s not happening. She has said it before but was pretty direct about it this week
Bischoff
Eric Bischoff, who recently conducted interviews with WWE for new WWE Network history pieces on the Monday Night Wars, is under consideration for a future Stone Cold podcast. Bischoff over the year has been very outspoken that the WWE’s version of the Monday Night Wars is largely a fantasy, and for the most part, he’s correct
Eric Bischoff, who recently conducted interviews with WWE for new WWE Network history pieces on the Monday Night Wars, is under consideration for a future Stone Cold podcast. Bischoff over the year has been very outspoken that the WWE’s version of the Monday Night Wars is largely a fantasy, and for the most part, he’s correct
Divas Brawl in Baltimore
TMZ reported on an incident when Fox and Paige were having drinks on 9/6 at Supano’s Prime Steak house late that night after Fox worked in Salisbury, MD (Paige had the weekend off). A woman came in and started harassing the two of them and started taking photos. This led to Margaritas being thrown and a fight started and all three were thrown out of the restaurant. Thank Goodness this isn’t the 80s with feuding enemies out for drinks together in public and getting into trouble and it makes the media that they were hanging out together. They’d be fired.
TMZ reported on an incident when Fox and Paige were having drinks on 9/6 at Supano’s Prime Steak house late that night after Fox worked in Salisbury, MD (Paige had the weekend off). A woman came in and started harassing the two of them and started taking photos. This led to Margaritas being thrown and a fight started and all three were thrown out of the restaurant. Thank Goodness this isn’t the 80s with feuding enemies out for drinks together in public and getting into trouble and it makes the media that they were hanging out together. They’d be fired.
State of TNA
The Discovery Channel had sent an internal memo to employees in May stating that they would be dropping TNA Wrestling as soon as they were contractually able, which was the end of September.
That is now only three weeks away, and neither TNA, Discovery, nor Destination America have stated anything about the future of the show. It is possible the sides are still in negotiations, because Discovery’s problems with TNA were not ratings related, although they would have liked higher ratings and the numbers have declined with the move to Wednesday, but with the cost of the programming.
It is conceivable TNA could maintain the exposure taking a lesser money deal, and while that wouldn’t be said publicly, the fact nobody has said they are renewed nor have new dates been announced for tapings indicates that if there is such a deal in talks, it is not complete at this point. The fact that Discovery en Espanol has stopped airing Impact already, and that deals that Discovery brokered overseas for TNA have also ended in recent weeks can’t be considered a good sign.
None of the talent knows anything, although there is the ray of hope of the fact they are booking house shows for Halloween week and it makes no sense to run shows if there is no television.
TNA has television taped through the end of the month and no announced dates for any future television tapings. They do have 11 remaining house shows on the schedule, with domestic events listed through 11/1 and three U.K. dates at the end of January.
Either way, the company has to greatly reduce costs and the two highest paid performers are believed to be Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy.
The Discovery Channel had sent an internal memo to employees in May stating that they would be dropping TNA Wrestling as soon as they were contractually able, which was the end of September.
That is now only three weeks away, and neither TNA, Discovery, nor Destination America have stated anything about the future of the show. It is possible the sides are still in negotiations, because Discovery’s problems with TNA were not ratings related, although they would have liked higher ratings and the numbers have declined with the move to Wednesday, but with the cost of the programming.
It is conceivable TNA could maintain the exposure taking a lesser money deal, and while that wouldn’t be said publicly, the fact nobody has said they are renewed nor have new dates been announced for tapings indicates that if there is such a deal in talks, it is not complete at this point. The fact that Discovery en Espanol has stopped airing Impact already, and that deals that Discovery brokered overseas for TNA have also ended in recent weeks can’t be considered a good sign.
None of the talent knows anything, although there is the ray of hope of the fact they are booking house shows for Halloween week and it makes no sense to run shows if there is no television.
TNA has television taped through the end of the month and no announced dates for any future television tapings. They do have 11 remaining house shows on the schedule, with domestic events listed through 11/1 and three U.K. dates at the end of January.
Either way, the company has to greatly reduce costs and the two highest paid performers are believed to be Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy.
Kurt Angle
Angle, 46, said on 9/8 during an appearance on Mark Madden’s Pittsburgh radio talk show that he would not be signing a new deal with TNA when his contract expires in January.
Angle, in the past, had said that this was probably going to be his last year in wrestling. When he talked with Madden, he stopped short of using the retirement word, but did say he would be stepping away from wrestling when his current deal expires. He said he was not going to attempt to make a deal with WWE as he did last year. Angle has for years tried to transition from wrestling to acting.
WWE has not had interest in Angle since he left the company in 2006, as Vince McMahon had stated that under no circumstances can he afford to put the company at risk in the event a celebrated Olympic gold medalist died while under contract. Angle has had admitted issues with pain killers, but there have been no reports of erratic behavior from Angle of late. His body has admittedly been broken down and he’s had two knee operations that have kept him out of action over the past year plus.
Angle said he was nearly 100 percent right now after surgery to remove a tumor in his neck a few months back. He said he would be appearing at Bound for Glory on 10/4 in Concord, NC, but he doesn’t know of anything else he’s doing as of right now.
Angle, 46, said on 9/8 during an appearance on Mark Madden’s Pittsburgh radio talk show that he would not be signing a new deal with TNA when his contract expires in January.
Angle, in the past, had said that this was probably going to be his last year in wrestling. When he talked with Madden, he stopped short of using the retirement word, but did say he would be stepping away from wrestling when his current deal expires. He said he was not going to attempt to make a deal with WWE as he did last year. Angle has for years tried to transition from wrestling to acting.
WWE has not had interest in Angle since he left the company in 2006, as Vince McMahon had stated that under no circumstances can he afford to put the company at risk in the event a celebrated Olympic gold medalist died while under contract. Angle has had admitted issues with pain killers, but there have been no reports of erratic behavior from Angle of late. His body has admittedly been broken down and he’s had two knee operations that have kept him out of action over the past year plus.
Angle said he was nearly 100 percent right now after surgery to remove a tumor in his neck a few months back. He said he would be appearing at Bound for Glory on 10/4 in Concord, NC, but he doesn’t know of anything else he’s doing as of right now.
Jeff Hardy
WWE has started talking about Hardy, previously not encouraged. The Hardys were mentioned in specific on Raw during a segment where Edge & Christian and The Dudleys were backstage. While that could have been just storytelling, given that the three teams are linked from their TLC and ladder matches.
You could argue a discussion between the two teams there not including a mention of the Hardys would feel awkward, but it’s not like that has stopped WWE in the past. Another sign is WWE asking fans to tweet if they are interested in seeing Jeff Hardy back and one person within the company noted to us there are a lot of mentions of him going around right now.
WWE has started talking about Hardy, previously not encouraged. The Hardys were mentioned in specific on Raw during a segment where Edge & Christian and The Dudleys were backstage. While that could have been just storytelling, given that the three teams are linked from their TLC and ladder matches.
You could argue a discussion between the two teams there not including a mention of the Hardys would feel awkward, but it’s not like that has stopped WWE in the past. Another sign is WWE asking fans to tweet if they are interested in seeing Jeff Hardy back and one person within the company noted to us there are a lot of mentions of him going around right now.
Bret Hart cheap shot on Hogan
Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart had some words over the past week. Hart was heavily critical of Hogan for the racist comments that he made, and said that Hogan was probably glad that Roddy Piper died to draw attention away from him. Hogan on Twitter wrote, “The words about Roddy Piper’s death were out of line. I’m praying for you, Bret Hart, only love my brother.”
There’s no question that Piper’s death took a lot of the spotlight off the Hogan racial remarks story, but I can’t imagine Hogan would be happy Piper passed away when he did, and for Hart to suggest something so disgusting and low, shows just the type of human being he is. Pathetic.
Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart had some words over the past week. Hart was heavily critical of Hogan for the racist comments that he made, and said that Hogan was probably glad that Roddy Piper died to draw attention away from him. Hogan on Twitter wrote, “The words about Roddy Piper’s death were out of line. I’m praying for you, Bret Hart, only love my brother.”
There’s no question that Piper’s death took a lot of the spotlight off the Hogan racial remarks story, but I can’t imagine Hogan would be happy Piper passed away when he did, and for Hart to suggest something so disgusting and low, shows just the type of human being he is. Pathetic.
Global Force Wrestling Update
Jeff Jarrett went to the U.K. recently to negotiate a television deal there. The word we’ve got is that he’s closer to finalizing a deal there than anywhere else, although there are multiple negotiations underway. As noted before, there are always negotiations in TV and until a deal is closed, it’s not there.
Right now, after canceling the late September shows in Texas, the last ballpark shows that were on the schedule. While some public reasons have been said, including Jeff Jarrett having to go back to the U.K. that week for meetings, the real reason is a combination of weak advances and that WWE and NXT are running the same markets the prior weekend. The idea was to quietly postpone the shows, but one fan complained about not being able to get his ticket money back after discovering the show was canceled, wanting refunds from GFW, but it was the local teams that were promoting the shows and selling the tickets and they would be in charge of refunding the money.
But that ended up getting the cancellations a lot more attention. GFW only has the 10/23 tapings in Las Vegas and the two sold shows in the U.K. built around Nick Aldis left on its schedule. At that point, like with TNA and Lucha Underground, everything going forward depends on the ability to get and the nature of a paying television deal
Jeff Jarrett went to the U.K. recently to negotiate a television deal there. The word we’ve got is that he’s closer to finalizing a deal there than anywhere else, although there are multiple negotiations underway. As noted before, there are always negotiations in TV and until a deal is closed, it’s not there.
Right now, after canceling the late September shows in Texas, the last ballpark shows that were on the schedule. While some public reasons have been said, including Jeff Jarrett having to go back to the U.K. that week for meetings, the real reason is a combination of weak advances and that WWE and NXT are running the same markets the prior weekend. The idea was to quietly postpone the shows, but one fan complained about not being able to get his ticket money back after discovering the show was canceled, wanting refunds from GFW, but it was the local teams that were promoting the shows and selling the tickets and they would be in charge of refunding the money.
But that ended up getting the cancellations a lot more attention. GFW only has the 10/23 tapings in Las Vegas and the two sold shows in the U.K. built around Nick Aldis left on its schedule. At that point, like with TNA and Lucha Underground, everything going forward depends on the ability to get and the nature of a paying television deal