Noah Fentz

Not saying it's a problem, more like a solution [to ratings].

Agreed, but in years past, WWE saw very little loss of audience to MNF. Now, with the (IMO) less interesting shows, people are turning the channel on Raw. How long before more people follow suit? I'm not suggesting it's time to panic, but it is time to take a good look at what they're doing right/wrong. In my memory of watching wrestling (27 years), I can't remember a more lackluster WWE/F than today's product. I don't understand how can people talk about the product being the most lacklustre. As mellow said above, 2002-2003, (RAW in particular) was some of the most dreadful TV. Smackdown in 2004 was horrific. The product is fine right now. They put the belt on the guy everyone said was the top heel in the company and he's in the best feud in the company on a main event level. What more can you ask for? Am I the only one that sees that as a grasp for ratings? Punk losing the title seemed rushed to me. As far as the product being worse at other periods, sure, of course it's been worse, but one would have to think the product now, with the profits being made, should be almost, if not THE best it's ever been. There is worse than lackluster, BTW.

Agreed, but in years past, WWE saw very little loss of audience to MNF. Now, with the (IMO) less interesting shows, people are turning the channel on Raw. How long before more people follow suit? I'm not suggesting it's time to panic, but it is time to take a good look at what they're doing right/wrong. In my memory of watching wrestling (27 years), I can't remember a more lackluster WWE/F than today's product.

While I appreciate your insistence that profits are all that's important, you must keep in mind ratings play a huge part of making and perpetuating those profits. Television/cable networks pay bigger dollars based on ratings. Ratings also equate how many households you're marketing your products to. So, really, ratings are the bread and butter of those profits. As they fall, profits fall. The profits the WWE is enjoying at this very moment have been largely affected by ratings a number of months ago. The profits in the near future are determined by ratings today. Expect to see a decline of profits, at least in the US market. How are ratings abroad calculated? Anyone informed on this?

...are we talking about the same Candice Michelle who wrestled last night? Who put on by far the worst performance on this show, bar none? Are you high? Ummm...the comment was a comparison from the week before. It is obvious she's been working hard to shake the ring rust. I don't get high...anymore.

I wasn't comparing UT's last match with Flair's, I was referring to the time period that Flair was giving back to the business by losing to establish new stars. UT doesn't need to lose to established stars, he needs to work a few programs with developing stars to put them over before he retires.

Okay, here's how this is going down... 1) Batista beats JBL for the #1 spot. 2) HB K (sorry, I couldn't even get it all out) is going to beat Jericho for the title. 3) Jericho is going to cost HBK the title at the next PPV, making Batista the champ, as we all knew was inevitable. 4) The blow off will finally come at WM with HBK losing in a loser-retires match (with a lot of cheating on Jericho's part, of course) This will... A) Add heat to HBK vs. Jericho B) Give Batista a chance to get back at HBK for retiring Flair, since he has yet to do so AND a title run. Thoughts?

What did Birchill do to piss off the WWE? Jobbing to Noble was the last thing I thought I'd see him do. I really thought they were going to invest in him.

You also saw the "brutal" beating he gave Jeff as a dozen moves, but it was only about three moves shown repeatedly.

I'm beginning to think the WWE is a bit undecided on just who to target these days.

Did Batista just spinebust Beth onto Santino's head?! That must've hurt like hell!

Every time he makes a statement, it feels like they're going to commercial...

How the hell can JBL demand the number one contender's spot when his record of the last few weeks has been piss poor, dark matches included.

Wow! What a difference from just a week ago. She's obviously been working hard. I suspect she'll win the title.

Looks like this might be the beginning of Kane's last good run... Prepare yourselves for more missed spots than you can imagine in a single match...

Good match for Raw. Punk seemed to be higher impact this match. Good to see.

You know, I'd think JR would make an awesome face GM. Actually, that's a GREAT idea. Especially if he and McMahon are at odds again, in the future. I can see JR BBQ Sauce promos being hilariously snuck in by JR!

Nah, Punk's pretty over. One day you won't be blind to that, hopefully. I like him, actually, just don't feel he's WWE Title material. In fact, I'm seeing a developmental drought in the WWE, which I can't seem to figure out. Who the hell is going to fill in the void of the soon-to-be retired UT, HBK, Kane, JBL, Batista, etc? (When I say soon, I mean in a few years, BTW. There's no one developing, IMO, that can fill their absence. These things take time.) I see only Orton, Cena, and a very small handful of others headlining or upper mid-carding.

Obviously targeting the only market interested in Punk... Pretty boring ad to boot.

I'm not a fan, that's for certain. He simply isn't the type of personality that generates any interest from the fans. Not only does he deliver his announcements in the most uninteresting fashion, I think viewers already anticipate it as uninteresting, at this point. I think the most successful formula for Raw GM will always be former wrestlers or prominent figures, not former announcers that were uninteresting in the first place.

I remember watching 'Taker's first appearance and seeing the kids bawl their eyes out in fear. I remember watching the agile PHENOM, as he ascended to superstardom, every week. I was even there, in the crowd, when Ric Flair slid the chair into the ring, so he could tombstone Hogan's bald noggin on it and win the WWF Title back in '91. I haven't been impressed with 'Taker in a LONG time. His American Badass stint was the biggest killer to his persona, but he's been declining steadily pretty much since he and Kane resolved their feud. I believe he's overdue to lose at Mania, and to whom he falls isn't even important. Just like Flair did, it's time to give back to the business that made him what he is (wealthy). I'd like to see him job at WM, just to prove he still has respect for the business and hasn't lost sight of what's important. It is the responsibility of each and every worker to push the new talent as their careers' expire, so the void their retirement creates isn't as noticeable to the paying marks.

What would WWE have to do to convince him to end the streak to HHH of all people? I don't think another title run would be enough or even a bigger contract would get the job done. HHH can't win this one. He should just focus on finding ways to get to #17 before his body gives out. Just like Barry Sanders with Walter Payton...I hope HHH has enough respect for Flair to not want to break, or even tie, his record of 16.

I think cabbageboy said it best...

The most thorough listing I could find contained the following information about this... ...and it's very much in line with my recollection.