JustJoe2k5

I kind of fear WWE will react this way and rush the Hart Foundation onto RAW in the hopes that the name would increase ratings. They need a little while longer to season in OVW before they're ready. Perhaps they could create an additional title, make the lower-card a little more meaningful.

We need more Funaki.

It probably dropped when people realized Jeff Hardy wouldn't be on the show.

Since we've already had the 2.5 rating confirmed (although it wouldn't shock me if this was just a huge glitch, and it's really supposed to be 3.5 instead), I post this only because of the part in bold. Holy shit, sometimes I forget just how stacked those Nitro shows used to be at times! If there was any chance it was a glitch, I think WWE would've already done everything in it's power to find the problem and announce it. That is a pretty stacked WCW show.

That reminds me, how did WWE avoid the wrath of PETA when they had Big Bossman feed Al Snow his own dog? Did they ever explain that it really wasn't the dog?

You really think that would work? I'd hate to see that happen. How would they do it? Would they have the indestructable Cena have a faux injure and drop the title? I have no idea, but I wouldn't like to see it, I think they just need to mix things up a bit, make things unexpected. I'd really like to see a return of the King of the Ring or something similar, maybes used to highlight the new talent coming up, that would make me watch again. They need some type of shake-up. I don't think this downward trend can be fixed by a one-time appearance by Steve Austin or The Rock. New challengers need to be made, the return of the King of the Ring would be one possible avenue for this. Perhaps you fill the Royal Rumble with new and young talent, instead of the same old contenders and the same old winner. People clearly don't like the current crop of stars that main event RAW every week.

Yearly, or one time? It may have been one time, but it certainly seemed like they "wanted to change the direction of the company" numerous times between '99 and '01.

The second ever episode of Monday Night Raw had the same rating as this week's show, the third ever episode had a higher rating than this week's show. That's sad.

I remember when it seemed that WCW had a yearly "restart" of the promotion where they would take a week off, strip everyone of the belts, and start over. In this case, that may not be too bad of an idea for WWE.

It had been 3.4 the past three weeks, 3.7 the week before that, and 3.8 the week before that. The Benoit tragedy really had little effect on the ratings.

He'll be happy to take a stab at improving things... It'll take a major overhaul to turn things around. Anyone heard how his match against 2 Cold Scorpio this past weekend went?

Again, Jeff Hardy = Ratings. Maybe it proves Carlito kills the audience, they put him in the mainevent and well..... Or maybe it proves no one wants to see old mofos like Slaughter and Lawler wrestle. I'm reminded of what Eddie Guerrero said on the nWo DVD, "you could look at WCW's show and you wouldn't know what month it was because every show was the same". WWE really hasn't shaken their product up since the initial brand split and draft.

Again, Jeff Hardy = Ratings.

Quick look, the last time RAW was in the 2s was Christmas night in 2006. July 4, 2005 it was a 2.6 December 20, 2004 it was a 2.7 December 31, 2001 it was a 2.4 December 15, 1997 it was a 2.7 That's it, from late 1997 forward it was consistently in the 3s and above with the exception of the dates listed. When you consider this past Monday wasn't a holiday, this isn't a nice sign for WWE.

That's terrible. Did they ever even drop into the 2s throughout that horrible year of 2003? Wonder what they'll try and blame? All I can say is that Jeff Hardy = Ratings.

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/200409...addin_45457.jpg I suppose that will be his gimmick when he eventually returns to lead the invasion?

Randy Orton would like to trash your hotel room and then remind you that he has a title match at SummerSlam.

Eleven days ago, collapsed lung at the hands of Hotstuff Hernandez.

He may have, like someone mentioned earlier, missed the show to attend a benefit show for "Krazy K" Kirby Mack. The injury just happened, which would explain why his absence came out of nowhere. "Krazy K" was essentially his one and only apprentice and he has a tight connection to him, so he would probably miss RAW to support him.

Who knows if he was even in his right mind after that first fall. It could've been Mean Jimmy Jack Tomkins or Wolverine that finished that match.

Happened upon WCW Worldwide late in '97 and saw Sting demolish the New World Order. First memory of the WWF was a Livewire or Superstars recap of Shawn Michaels faking Undertaker's entrance.

Hope he doesn't have a movie in the works.

You should listen to them once in a while. They've praised Nancy Grace a fair bit recently, over the improvements she's made in her understanding of the whole mess. Yeah, I've heard them do that but haven't the slightest idea what the hell they are referring to. She still has facts wrong, comes off like an idiot (ie "Like you can die from sleep apnea") and the show is a trainwreck. Maybe they are complimentary because they are on her producer's call list? Or they are just concerned, along with other expert analysts like Chyna, about being bumped all last week. That's it. I heard the July 15th show and they still bashed Nancy Grace and her coverage. When you consider that she hasn't had a show about the Benoit situation since around that time, there isn't alot there to change their opinion. I just think they realized that if any new details were released, Nancy Grace would offer another opportunity for publicity. You never saw Wrestling Observer Live mentioned on national television before the Benoit incident and you probably won't hear it mentioned on national television anymore after this ordeal is put to rest.

Let's see, Jeff Hardy nearly breaks his neck in a match on RAW against Mr. Kennedy and the next week Bobby Lashley tears his rotator cuff on RAW in a match against Mr. Kennedy. I really hope we don't have to wait too long before Triple H gets in the ring with Kennedy.

He was also surprisingly complimentary towards WWE for someone who is meant to have this fierce anti-WWE bias. It was a very good piece, which I think a lot of people should read. It was a really good read. I've loved a lot of Meltzer's coverage throughout this whole Benoit ordeal. I also don't believe he has an anti-WWE bias but rather this story blowing up makes his life is a lot more interesting, his profile and readership higher. I don't necessarily think he wants to bring down Vince but he'd have the time of his life covering it while it happened. Yes, I'm sure Meltzer LOVES IT when his friends & acquaintances die. As does Vince McMahon I'm sure. Points kind of get lost on you, don't they? Where did I even suggest that Meltzer loved having friends and acquaintances die? It's not like he makes money with tribute newsletters and career retrospectives. Oh wait. Bad point. I would also have to wonder how many of these dead wrestlers that Dave Meltzer knew personally? Maybe he can hand write a list the next time he or Alvarez are on Nancy Grace? I also like the way he and Alvarez take every opportunity to bash Nancy Grace's coverage of the situation, yet they jump at every opportunity to be featured on her show.