The Wrestling Thread Is At Home Until Further Notice - - Part 141

[sweetre15]

I'm loving how Smackdown's ratings are steadily growing despite the fact that Cena, Orton, and HHH dont frequent this brand. It might be a testament to the leash being let off of Ryan Ward due to HHH now being head of creative. The ratings are starting to grow with guys like Sheamus, Bryan, and even Rhodes in show closing matches as opposed to the matches being filled with top guys like Cena, Orton, Punk etc.

It's a good sign for the younger talent that get to shine on Smackdown if ya ask me.

http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_76108.shtml

WWE Smackdown on Friday, January 31 scored a 2.18 rating, up slightly from a 2.15 rating last week and 2.11 rating the week before.

The post-Royal Rumble edition of Smackdown hit the highest point in over one year. This dates back to a 2.20 rating in January 2013. It was the second-highest rating in two years dating back to the same 2.18 rating in January 2012.

Smackdown drew an audience of 3.027 million viewers, which was nearly identical to an audience of 3.029 million viewers last week.

It was the first time that back-to-back Smackdowns topped three million viewers in two years dating back to February 2012 when The Rock's boat raised the water level.

- On cable TV Friday night, Smackdown ranked #3 in overall viewers, #7 in males 18-34, and #5 in males 18-49 on an apparently competitive night.

The week-to-week demographic ratings were nearly identical to last week. The only significant change was a one-tenth decline in the adult 18-49 demo.

 

[Slushy]

People keep suggesting a Sheamus/Taker match but I can't see it. Too big of a step down from HBK/HHH/Punk. Promos and storyline would be dull, to me it would just screams WE LIKE SHEAMUS, LOOK HES A BIG DEAL, SEE!

And I say that as a fan of the guy.

So what? Undertaker needs to stick to working with new guys. People are begging for a Sheamus heel turn and the match would be good. That's all that matters. Besides, Reigns isn't ready yet.

 

[venom892]

Thing is the audience has been conditioned to expect Taker wrestling people of only his statue or at least close. After a string of Manias including Batista, Edge, HBK,HHH and Punk, there are only three possible fresh opponents for Taker at WM. Lesnar, Cena or Sting.

 

[Kaleb]

There is said to be a strange feeling going into this week's WWE TV tapings, specifically backstage at RAW in Omaha this afternoon. For those wondering, CM Punk is not there and nobody knows yet if Punk and Vince McMahon have spoken lately or what's going to happen next. As noted, several wrestlers have reached out to Punk via phone calls or text messages but they have not heard back.

- Also from backstage at RAW today, there is no update on John Cena's status after he was pulled from Sunday's WWE live event due to an eye injury but there is major concern within WWE that WrestleMania XXX is already "falling off the rails" in regards to top talents.

Its kinda concerning that Punk hasn't responded to anyone.

 

[venom892]

I read an earlier report that he's only spoken to his "inner circle." I'm sure AJ knows what's up as well as a few other talents or agents.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Mick Foley is going to try to speak to him this week.

 

[Pink Ranger]

This kind of reminds me of the Trojan War. Vince is King Agamemnon, CM Punk is Achilles sulking in his tent and Batista is Ajax.

 

[PyroChamber]

I read an earlier report that he's only spoken to his "inner circle." I'm sure AJ knows what's up as well as a few other talents or agents.

I'm sure Heyman probably knows as well.

 

[Soapy]

I have no evidence whatsoever to back this up, but I really do believe this is part of some grand plan by Punk. Not in the sense that it's a work, I just think there's more to it than, "I feel tired and kind of beat up, so I'm going to leave forever. Bye." I don't doubt that has a great deal to do with it, and I'm also not doubting that he's upset with how certain things have been going within the company. More importantly however, I don't doubt that Punk is very sharp very shrewd and that this was a calculated maneuver. To what end? Who knows? But I think he's playing a very deep game.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

The timing of all of this is quite amazing. It's been building up for some time and to pull the trigger on the eve of the Network launch and 30 Anniversary of the biggest show of the year seems like something that was "planned."

 

[Karelia]

I wouldn't mind seeing Undertaker vs John Cena actually... AS LONG AS CENA LOSES!

 

[Kaleb]

I have no evidence whatsoever to back this up, but I really do believe this is part of some grand plan by Punk. Not in the sense that it's a work, I just think there's more to it than, "I feel tired and kind of beat up, so I'm going to leave forever. Bye." I don't doubt that has a great deal to do with it, and I'm also not doubting that he's upset with how certain things have been going within the company. More importantly however, I don't doubt that Punk is very sharp very shrewd and that this was a calculated maneuver. To what end? Who knows? But I think he's playing a very deep game.

You could be right, this kinda reminds me of how Punk planned the whole Summer of Punk angle in ROH , knowing full well that the news of him signing with WWE would be leaked to the media, so he basically thought why not go with it.

 

[Slushy]

I wouldn't mind seeing Undertaker vs John Cena actually... AS LONG AS CENA LOSES!

But Cena winning would be just too much fun. t:

 

[Dr. Evil]

According to PWInsider.com, there is said to be a very strange feeling heading into tonight's Raw tapings from Omaha, and of course as of this afternoon CM Punk is not backstage for the show. Everyone seems to be in the dark as far as Punk is concerned as no one knows whether or not Vince McMahon has talked to Punk, and wrestlers who have tried to reach Punk via texts and phone calls have not been able to get ahold of him.

There is also no update regarding John Cena's injury status since he was pulled from the WWE live event last night, and there is major WrestleMania 30 concern with regards to top talent on the show, as the card is being described as already "falling off the rails."

 

[TheNextNolan22]

It seemed to be pretty much "falling off the rails" for a while now.

 

[H.U.S.T.L.E.]

It seemed to be pretty much "falling off the rails" for a while now.

Yep, and they only have themselves to blame for the most part. Instead of following through on the pushes of up-and-comers, they rehash the same few through the main event & oh look, people who haven't been interesting characters in years are in line for the top positions for Mania season. Here's looking at you HHH, Batista, Orton, Cena...

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Funny how some people in the IWC are complaining about fans "hijacking" shows. If they have a problem with that, they could just watch Superstar....I mean Smackdown. They don't have to worry about fan participation there.

 

[NDX]

But Cena winning would be just too much fun. t:

It would be so much fun watching the IWC blow up like that.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Yep, and they only have themselves to blame for the most part. Instead of following through on the pushes of up-and-comers, they rehash the same few through the main event & oh look, people who haven't been interesting characters in years are in line for the top positions for Mania season. Here's looking at you HHH, Batista, Orton, Cena...

Pretty much this.

 

[DarkSentinel]

Yep, and they only have themselves to blame for the most part. Instead of following through on the pushes of up-and-comers, they rehash the same few through the main event & oh look, people who haven't been interesting characters in years are in line for the top positions for Mania season. Here's looking at you HHH, Batista, Orton, Cena...

Pretty much this.

 

[SpideyFan866]

I'm torn on whether I should watch Raw tonight.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Winners of WWE's Superstars for Sandy Relief Auction got the VIP treatment at the WWE live event in Miami. They got to meet several WWE Superstars backstage and one kid got to run to the ring with John Cena, as seen in the photo below.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

I'm torn on whether I should watch Raw tonight.

Watch it just for the potential disaster.

 

[DarkSentinel]

Winners of WWE's Superstars for Sandy Relief Auction got the VIP treatment at the WWE live event in Miami. They got to meet several WWE Superstars backstage and one kid got to run to the ring with John Cena, as seen in the photo below.

 

[NDX]

I'm gonna watch half of it and try to catch up on it after I get back from overnight tonight. At least I didn't have to go to the afterschool job thanks to snow. Maybe tomorrow it will be closed aga- nah. Lucky it was closed today (not like I was going in anyway with this weather).

I need a laugh.