snuffbox

Bret didn't hold the belt until Summerslam of the next year, other than the one day reign and Shawn's reign ended in November. Bret was WWF in one of the three lowest buyrates in WWF history, IYH 6. For the others, Its Time and International Incident, Sycho Sid & Shawn Michaels were the champions respectively. As far as ratings go. In the last two months of Bret's title reign and the first month of Shawn's in 1996, RAW drew an average of 3.2 with a low of 2.8 and a high of 4.7. During Shawn's last three months as champion, RAW drew an average of 2.21 with a high of 2.6 and a low of 1.8 (for the Oct 14 RAW, the lowest in the history of the show). With a business that is usually (and in this case was) built largely around the champion of the promotion, that is not a good sign. The highest rating during Shawn's last three months as champion was lower than the lowest during the spring and the average was a full point lower. In terms of PPVs, IYH 6 in February drew a 0.77 for Bret Hart/Diesel. Shawn's last non-Big 5 PPV main event was Mind Games in September which drew a 0.48. In addition, Summerslam, traditionally the second biggest PPV of the year, built around Shawn Michaels drew only a 0.58, less than what Bret drew in February for a non-Big 5. It wasn't all WCW either. Their PPVs those same months drew a 0.63 (Superbrawl, pre-NWO), 0.62 (Hog Wild, Hogan's big title win after the heel turn), and 0.65 (Fall Brawl, WCW vs. NWO WarGames). WCW actually didn't get a big buyrate until the 0.95 it got at Starrcade 1995, opposite Sid's It's Time. The NWO didn't really start paying off until after Shawn lost the belt. So basically, a WWF that revolved around Shawn Michaels as champion, were losing viewers not to WCW, but to somewhere outside the wrestling industry. That is not a good drawing champion. I'm going into the realm of speculation here, but based on what happens afterwards the man who probably should have led the WWF in 1996 was the Undertaker. As champion in 1997 he started sloooowwwwllly turning things around at a time when the NWO angle was really starting to pay dividends for WCW. He got the belt at a time where the WWF name was in the sewer and had helped (along with the Hart Foundation) to bring the buyrates back up to a 0.57 for his title defence against Austin at A Cold Day in Hell and an incredible for 1997 0.80 at Summerslam, one year after Shawn drew the worst buyrate in the history of the show. That Summerslam main evented by Bret Hart & Undertaker actually beat Wrestlemania that year, which shows you how bad business was when he got the belt. His drawing power at his peak was greatly underappreciated. He wasn't Steve Austin, but things were looking up after the WWF was quite close to bankruptcy for the previous two years. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Great post...thanks for writing that. I never actually checked that much info out and had never given Undertaker enough credit in helping the WWF at that time.

You just violated the Patriot Act.

Stoughton? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The 'other one'...Viola. Stoughton was worse, and still the entire state struggles for some relief money. There are homes, businesses and nearly every tree gone in Viola. Some uninsured and most with holes in their policies that dont cover vehicle or yard damage. But, FEMA etc feel it is more important to get a nice trail of paperwork going and take a couple weeks before even visting the people in town.

A couple weeks ago my tiny town in Wisconsin was smashed by a tornado...the townspeople have cleaned up, but FEMA appears to be completely impotent. When disasters come the people need the help RIGHT AWAY, not after a few months of paperwork. And dont respond with 'logistics people...it takes time to figure out what to do'. This is not the first natural disaster in America. The leaders in this country should know damn well by now what to do to save peoples lives immediately.

Ray Mercer killed him.

Arn Anderson should get a dvd.

You seriously need to calm down. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Dude, we have people looting children's hospitals. With guns. While the children are STILL INSIDE. Sorry. If you are such a person, and you're caught in the act - as far as I'm concerned, you pretty much forfeit life. Maybe that's what it's going to take - a few of these animals dead before they get it through their heads that maybe they should just cut the bullshit. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But what if theyre Peter Jennings' kids?

You seriously need to calm down.

Fats Domino has been missing since Monday... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168122,00.html

I wouldnt mind a rematch with Shawn...

The 1998 one was alright...with a very important main event.

Can I watch a greased up Maria?

Erik Morales/Marco Antonio Barrera/Jose Castillo/Diego Corralles > UFC Pink Eye > Vince McMahon

I dont think 'Come from the Water' was released as a single....I think Mister Love was their other biggest hit.

Hogan-Andre as a whole was by the biggest....there was both the huge WM3 match, and the 30 million that saw the SNME match. The amount of people who mustve seen at least a little of those two matches must be incredible...

I plan to buy it in the next couple weeks...and hope to see the Chicago show in early October.

Group - "Three very different bands that had hits during the 1990s alt-rock epoch"

Toad The Wet Sprocket had hits with 'AllI Want', 'Walk on the Ocean', and 'Something's Always Wrong'. They were playing a harmonized, often acoustic, take on alternative rock (or, "the Hotie & Blowfish genre") from about '87 on. Alot closer to CSNY than Hootie....

Did Kanye perform?

Only one Hollywood Blondes match in here?

That's cool. The only bands that approach the 'hate' level for me would be like Godsmack, Puddle of Mudd etc for the blatant disrespectful copying of AiC, Nirvana etc. And Limp Bizkit for the 'Behind Blue Eyes' butchering and the new guitarist search bullshit. And, I like (and hugely respect) John Coltrane. I was making a reference to how some people try to disparage bands like Zeppelin etc to sound 'underground credible' or something.

This doesnt seem to be at my local walmarts or bestbuy...

Hate is a pretty strong word. Bands such as Nirvana and Tool have obvious talent and (in their time anyway) serious commitment to the creation of new art. Its cool if you dont personally enjoy these bands...but to 'hate' them (especially vocally) is no more than a shout for sophomoric attention. It is retarded. I hate John Coltrane.

The Undertaker is one of my favorite wrestlers and it was worth the money. I know alot of you will hate this but I think they should have shown his Wrestlemania match with Sid because it was historical. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Or, better yet, they could package Xanax with the set...

^ With a passion. Both bands. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thats too bad. Retarded is the new black...