Smackdown Rating

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

By Dave Scherer of pwinsider.com

 

Smackdown ended up doing a 3.0 broadcast rating, with a 5 share. That is down from last week's 3.2.

 

---------------

 

So to recap since Wrestlemania Smackdown has gone from a 3.6 to a 3.3 to a 3.2 to a 3.0 rating.

 

Although it should be noted that nobody saw T.V. last night since the second hour of the show ended up in third place.

[SinToxic 0]

felt like a 2.0 show.

[humongous2002 0]

I thought Bradshaw was a ratings draw.

[Guest drdrainoscott]

I thought Bradshaw was a ratings draw.

He is...Eddy isn't obviously.

[buffybeast 0]

Smackdown faces very stiff competition on Thursday nights. I do not watch the show; I tape it and watch it later. I'd rather watch Survivor and the Apprentice.

[Downhome 0]

It will go as low as they allow it to go.

 

While I have enjoyed watching Smackdown, I will admit that it feels like a lesser show than RAW. I hate it for whoever things the opposite, but Eddie isn't a big enough star to carry a show yet, he was just recently pushed to the main event, and when starting someone like this out hoping they become a huge draw, it isn't a good idea to feed to them a brand new character, something that is totally new to the fans (seriously, going from APA to JLB overnight is quite a shock).

 

Eddie should have faced a higher profile wrestler than JBL first thing after WrestleMania, and JBL should have slowly evolved into his current character, taking on a few lesser guys before straight up facing Eddie.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Let's see:

 

-everyone knows Bradshaw isn't going to beat Eddie

-Spike Dudley has been one of the guys SD has focused on

-the 2 main tag teams are staler than year-old bread

-no Brock

-Angle in the GM role and not wrestling (not anyone's fault, but still...)

-the brand itself is treated second-rate compared to Raw

 

It's no wonder the shows have been sub-par (and that's being generous, pre-draft I found pretty much every SD enjoyable), and the ratings are reflecting it.

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

For SmackDown! at least, the Draft Lottery hasn't been kind at all.

 

The thing that sucks is if it's a great show, I hear about it with spoilers to boot. If it sucks, I'll hear about it, and won't look forward to the show.

 

Oh, well.

[Art Sandusky 0]

If shit slips for a third week, they'll probably pull the plug on the great experiment.

 

Yup, the Eddie Guererro title reign.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

At the rate the show is going it'll be at sub 2.0 unless they get some star power over there.

 

I still am in disbelieve that their answer to losing Lesnar was to give Smackdown absolutely no one. As much as I hate Triple H, he really needed to stay on Smackdown to give it some heel power.

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

Mad Dog, you're right - Bradshaw as SmackDown!'s top heel just isn't going to cut it, and I don't think that it ever will.

[Guest Choken One]

they really need to expirement with the old raw fourmula for Smackdown

 

2 LIVE

2 TAPED

[Mole 0]

Before WM, I couldn't miss SD because the storylines were good.

 

I tried watching it last night, but I just couldn't do it. It is just SO DAMN BOOOOOOOORING.

[JoeDirt 0]

Smackdown REALLY has problems right now. And the ratings are just going to keep dropping between here and Judgment Day, because it's not like they're going to change the direction they're doing in for the next PPV.

 

Like it's been said before...that JD buyrate is going to be SCARY low.

[Brett Favre 0]

If G-Berg comes back, he has to go to Smackdown! and turn heel or something. Edge should of stayed, and the return of the STINGER! to Smackdown! would do it. With those three + Taker, Eddie, Show, Cena, Rey Rey, RVD, and Booker, you got yourself an equal to RAW. But it will never happen so just ignore me.

[justcoz 0]

Choken One, I've been wondering why they don't use that formula for both Raw and Smackdown. One week Raw should be live. The next week Smackdown should be live while Raw is taped? As long as Raw is live every week, of course, it's going to be looked at by the company as the premiere show.

 

Smackdown's problems run deep. With the loss of Benoit, Lesnar, Edge and Angle, you pretty much lost your work horses. The guys who could go the distance with Eddie Guerrerro, making his title reign seem meaningful, with some great matches.

 

I LOVE Bradshaw's character. It's believable and I think the WWE should get as much mileage as possible from Bradshaw's crossover success with Wall Street. However, like it's already been stated, you can't go from the APA to a world title contender and ratings draw. I think Bradshaw is getting big time heat in his role and he's playing it to the best of his ability but his first feud should not be against the world champion.

 

They needed to run with Booker T as Eddie's first contender instead of doing the throwaway match the first Smackdown following the draft. Hell, I'd even be in favor of giving Booker a transitional reign before putting the belt back on Eddie. I also think they should have stuck Teddy Long with him. I understand Booker can talk and be an effective heel but I miss the days of managers like Albano, Blassie and Heenan gunning for the world champion.

 

If they were serious about creating new stars, they had every opportunity with the draft lottery to move someone like Hurricane over to Smackdown. Perhaps turn him heel, let him go as "Sugar" Shane Helms and feud with John Cena and Eddie later down the line.

 

Someone like Steven Richards as well could have benefitted from the switch to Smackdown. I'd say Matt Hardy would have been the perfect heel challenger to Eddie but to move him back to Smackdown AGAIN would just look silly to most people. Whatever vendetta the company has against Matt - this would be the perfect opportunity to stick it to him. Promise him a push to the moon to go to Smackdown or he could just stay on Raw with his girlfriend and get jobbed out. See how serious he is about getting a push.

 

They could have also easily moved over and repackaged Val Venis. Moved Lance Storm, putting him with Dawn Marie, maybe even letting Storm/Morely align as Team Canada.

 

I think they would be stupid not to let RVD challenge Eddie. I think he's needed as a face however rather than turning him, unless Heyman was involved.

 

There is no reason Jamie Noble couldn't be pushed as WWE's version of AJ Styles, let him run with the Redneck Messiah character, give him mic time and he should be able to get over.

 

Tag Team division could be Dudleys, Kidman/Paul London, Akio/Sakoda and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn (end Mr. Ass)/"Big Shot" Bob Holly.

 

The CW division can stand on it's own but it wouldn't hurt to raid the indies, bring in some ROH guys who aren't contracted to TNA, give Teddy Hart a shot maybe?

 

Bottom line is, if they were smart, they'd look at Smackdown in comparison to Raw in the same way that Raw was challenged by Nitro's star power back in the day. Smackdown should be the show they are feeding new talent to and giving them an opportunity to make a name for themselves without HHH, Austin, Evolution, etc.

 

As much as I enjoy Shelton on Raw, and the HHH job, I still question if long term, they should've built him up on Smackdown.

 

LISTEN TO THE PITTSBURGH MUSIC SCENE AND MORE

[Guest Choken One]

I really wish people would get off the whole "Suger" Shane Helms gimmick...The gimmick has been done an 100 times. It was just another variation of the trite "Pretty Boy Arrogant/Cocky Heel/Face" (depending how the organzation pushed him)...

 

Yes, Matt Hardy would have been much better served on Smackdown but no difference would have been made. Sadly, Vince and Co are willing to re-create Bradshaw's idenity but couldn't care to push someone who is able to get heat by himself without resorting the IRS/Ted Dibaise/Racist routine.

 

Booker T is the one who should be getting the Main Event run, Booker has the Main event clout and drew good heat which is pretty good for a guy who has been an Face for a good 3 years and 5 years before his short heel run during the InVasion...but I guess Pushing two Minorites already is enough for Vince (eddy and Shelton) and a third can't be bothered.

 

So he gets (likely) the Undertaker job treatment.

 

RVD is someone who would REALLY add something for the company, I still hold out hope they will keep him around for a little playing the "good" guy...pandering to the crowd and being an all-around popular guy in the back but slowly show that "nice" guy act is costing him...Have a "big" tag team match teaming with Eddy against Haas and Booker...BOOM! RVD turns and introduces his mentor, PAUL HEYMAN.

 

Easy set up for a RVD/Eddy angle for the summer.

 

Won't happen though, RVD will keep being the generic face, do a meaningless and never ending series with Haas and find a new tag partner (let's say Kidman) and have a pointless tag title run...

 

Lance Storm got over once in WCW with the SAME effort they are giving Bradshaw...At least Storm could put in a good match unlike Bradshaw.

[Youth N Asia 0]

Raw just lookes like it's loaded up with main event guys, while Smackdown just seems like a bunch of upper midcards headlining the shows.

[Guest Choken One]

exactly...on raw...a good 12 people can be "main event" worthy...or at least have a character that people can relate to or be willing to follow

 

Evolution, Shawn, Benjamin, Benoit, Kane, Edge, Foley, Christian and Jericho.

 

On Smackdown?

 

Eddy. Cena. Rey. TBS

 

Yeah, they have "names" like Booker, RVD and Bradshaw...but none of them have that whole "effectivly over" feel to them.

 

Raw's storylines are SO much better as the main event scene in Raw consist of about 10 people all involved within each other(see the above list save for Jericho/X)...and make sense.

 

While Smackdown has ONE angle running really...Eddy Vs Racist Rich Guy...everyone else is just background characters.

[Youth N Asia 0]

You can throw Taker into the SD main event spot...when he shows up. And even Rey's a stretch. There are only 2 legit threats to the title, Taker and Show. Cena's not cause I doubt they'll go from face to face

[Guest Choken One]

Yes, Rey's a stretch but he's over enough that the fans would buy him as a Main eventer...same with Cena.

 

I'm not talking who'se a threat to the title...I mean who is buyable to the masses as a MAIN EVENTER.

 

Bradshaw, clearly isn't buyable...

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Only speaking for myself here, as I quit watching Smackdown. Why? Let's see...WWE has about 8-10 people in the cruiserweight division who can work, and they get shit on time after time. Strike 1.

 

The storylines are sub-par, and Eddie vs. The racist is not interesting at all. Strike 2.

 

I will not, nor ever WILL watch anything where Justin Hawk Bradshaw is the #1 Main Event Heel. I've never liked Stan Hansen Jr., and never will like him. His APA Gimmick sucked from the start, and only hid his lack of talent for so-long. He can't cut a promo worth shit that can keep the fans interested, and his gimmick of I.R.S/Ted Dibiase hybrid doesn't work for me. I hated when Tiger Ali Singh did it, and I still hate it. Strike 3, 4, 5, 6.

 

Smackdown struck out twice in my books. I can continue with whats wrong, but that would be beating the point into the ground/

[Scroby 0]

Scroby read this and he don't care, Scroby read this and he don't care, Scroby read this and he don't CAREEEEE! Now I'm going to a new discussion!

[Brett Favre 0]

Scroby read this and he don't care, Scroby read this and he don't care, Scroby read this and he don't CAREEEEE! Now I'm going to a new discussion!

If Scroby don't care, then Scroby shouldn't post.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Please, can we stop comparing Bradshaw to Stan Hansen. Hansen could actually work.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

I really wish people would get off the whole "Suger" Shane Helms gimmick...The gimmick has been done an 100 times. It was just another variation of the trite "Pretty Boy Arrogant/Cocky Heel/Face" (depending how the organzation pushed him)...

But if it works, why ignore it? The Hurricane gimmick has run it's course, moving him to SD and turning him heel would freshen him up.

 

Edge should of stayed, and the return of the STINGER! to Smackdown! would do it.

Sting? Does the average WWE fan care about Sting? And the last thing they need is to push 40+ year old guy who won't work a full house show schedule who has been out of the wrestling public eye for years.

 

As for Rey, they need to seriously think about moving him out of the CW scene and make him a permanent upper midcarder. A US Title reign at some point this year shouldn't be out of the question.

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

I really wish people would get off the whole "Suger" Shane Helms gimmick...The gimmick has been done an 100 times. It was just another variation of the trite "Pretty Boy Arrogant/Cocky Heel/Face" (depending how the organzation pushed him)...

But if it works, why ignore it? The Hurricane gimmick has run it's course, moving him to SD and turning him heel would freshen him up.

 

Edge should of stayed, and the return of the STINGER! to Smackdown! would do it.

Sting? Does the average WWE fan care about Sting? And the last thing they need is to push 40+ year old guy who won't work a full house show schedule who has been out of the wrestling public eye for years.

 

As for Rey, they need to seriously think about moving him out of the CW scene and make him a permanent upper midcarder. A US Title reign at some point this year shouldn't be out of the question.

Don't be surprised if the Hurricane is released soon.

 

In regards to Sting... Well, I just watched The Crow, and I wasn't even reminded of him.

 

I don't have a problem with Rey Mysterio as U.S. Champion, but I can't see him being moved out of the Cruiserweight division, let alone being pushed as an upper-mid carder. Rey is a Cruiserweight, and he's damn good at it.

[JJMc 0]

Smackdown just pain sucks. Really. If you were a casual fan (as I have recently become again), which would you prefer? Raw, which is live, has energy running through the building, and has seemingly more "big names" (Austin, Rock, Foley, et al.) or Smackdown, Thunder's big brother? I've been saying this for years. SD's production values suck, partly due to it being on UPN, a brodcast network, but a low powered one at that. The picture looks all grainy and overexposed. Honestly, I think that is why it seems like the inferior show, not because of the product itself.

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

Smackdown just pain sucks. Really. If you were a casual fan (as I have recently become again), which would you prefer? Raw, which is live, has energy running through the building, and has seemingly more "big names" (Austin, Rock, Foley, et al.) or Smackdown, Thunder's big brother? I've been saying this for years. SD's production values suck, partly due to it being on UPN, a brodcast network, but a low powered one at that. The picture looks all grainy and overexposed. Honestly, I think that is why it seems like the inferior show, not because of the product itself.

You're right about the feel of Raw - a live show, with much more electricity running through the building. I think that Raw's set contributes to this.

 

The main reason that SmackDown! is (or at least, was) considered the superior brand among the IWC is because of it's wrestling - it's got a Cruiserweight division, Eddy Guerrero, Kurt Angle, it had Chris Benoit, it had the 'Self-Proclaimed' "World's Greatest Tag Team", and was generally a rung or two on the ladder above Raw as far as wrestling goes, considering that Raw couldn't exactly put on spectacular matches, or, more precisely, the talent wasn't allowed, for some reason.

 

Now though, it's not exactly that Raw have gone up on that ladder, even with Chris Benoit working with mid-carders each week - but SmackDown! have gone down with the Drafting of him, the splitting up of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle not wrestling, and the departure of Brock Lesnar.

[AndrewTS 0]

SD's production values suck, partly due to it being on UPN, a brodcast network, but a low powered one at that. The picture looks all grainy and overexposed. Honestly, I think that is why it seems like the inferior show, not because of the product itself.

No.