I'm Not Feeling Survivor Series

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Logically, audience share should go down over time as the size of the total PPV capable audience goes up, but the dip you pointed out cannot be explained away like that since the numbers for all the surrounding years had much higher numbers.

 

In short, your premise that HBK and Deisle didn't draw is correct.

 

That's what I meant. If it was because of the PPV audience increasing that caused the Diesel/HBK numbers to dip, then they should have been similar afterwards, but they weren't. They went back up again after Shawn lost the title.

[haVoc 0]

WWE.com has backstage photo's posted online.

 

This little "preview" was up as well...

 

Backstage Buss at Survivor Series

By Steve Rubin

November 27, 2005

 

Batista is not the only “Animal” in Motown tonight. Detroit Tigers’ Dmitri Young and his entourage have been spotted in The Joe Louis Arena. Rumor has it that Young chartered a plane specifically to be in the front row tonight at Survivor Series. Since his arrival, Dmitri and his crew have been meeting some of the RAW and SmackDown Superstars backstage.

 

As I was walking the halls backstage earlier, I office I noticed the door to Eric Bischoff’s office was closed. I found this intriguing, as the GM normally has an open-door policy in the hours leading up to show time. As I got closer, I heard voices inside the office. Because this was so out of the ordinary, I stayed close to the office, hoping to find out some news. I thought maybe Bischoff was meeting with his production crew before the show, or maybe giving Team RAW a motivational speech. Neither one of these scenarios was the case, however. As the door opened, Kurt Angle and Daivari walked out with huge smiles on their faces. They both shook hands with the General Manager, then walked back to their locker room with very confident looks on their faces.

[Hawk 34 0]

Sorry to divert the thread back to the original discussion but I have to agree that tonight’s show is completely devoid of any interesting purpose to watch, much less order the show.

 

What is on the line for the main event? Nothing at all. Bragging rights don’t exist because Raw is still the #1 show regardless of tonights result. Why are we supposed to be interested in this?

 

The supposed specialty of a Raw vs. Smackdown match that has become all too common these days and has completely blurred the lines of any resemblance to an actual brand separation. The match itself suffers because on Team Raw, you have one credible performer in Shawn Michaels and 4 virtual dead-weights against Team Smackdown that provides some boost from Mysterio and JBL (to an certain degree). A match involving the likes of Chris Masters, Carlito, Lashley, TBS, Kane and Undertaker (maybe) doesn’t offer much hope in expecting a quality piece of work here. However they could easily cover it up with smart booking but that’s a faint wish. You can almost assure that HBK factors into the end of the match because he’ll be carrying his team.

 

The rest of the card offers very little. In fact, 2 of the matches have been done to death. Angle Vs Cena and Booker T Vs Chris Benoit. You can usually feel confident that those matches won’t be horrible but what’s special about it when you seen it over 20 times in the last year and in the case of Booker & Benoit over 200 times in the last half decade.

 

Triple H and Ric Flair will offer another match desperate to recapture the spirit of 1980’s NWA but actually fails to achieve it. Blood and drama can be guaranteed but in the end it’s the same old match.

 

The other two offerings are a joke and a rushed match with little intrigue.

 

The shortage of matches and the fact two of them shouldn’t by any means go beyond 10 minutes will suggest that match times will be long, which could be a positive or a negative.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Nothing was on the line for Team WWF Vs Team WCW/ECW at Invasion (which was really three WWF guys and 2 WCW guys) and you all bought that.

[Fökai 0]

From the Torch:

 

-- Although many are looking forward to Chris Benoit vs. Booker T as one of the better matches on the card, the best of seven series prevents its outcome from having too much storyline impact.

 

And people pay for this?

[naiwf 0]

Nothing was on the line for Team WWF Vs Team WCW/ECW at Invasion (which was really three WWF guys and 2 WCW guys) and you all bought that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Let's see, the Invasion was something we never thought we'd see. RAW vs SD has been happening on every show for the last couple of weeks, and with rare exception doesn't offer anything we haven't seen before. The main drawing card was Eddie vs HBK, but obviously that's not happening, so what's your point exactly?

[Hawk 34 0]

Nothing was on the line for Team WWF Vs Team WCW/ECW at Invasion (which was really three WWF guys and 2 WCW guys) and you all bought that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Let's see, the Invasion was something we never thought we'd see. RAW vs SD has been happening on every show for the last couple of weeks, and with rare exception doesn't offer anything we haven't seen before. The main drawing card was Eddie vs HBK, but obviously that's not happening, so what's your point exactly?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't forget that both these matches are different. Invasion was a standard 10 man tag match with historical elements while tonight's match is a traditional survivor series match with zero historical value.

[Karc 0]

The Raw vs Smackdown match was only put on the card to promote the Smackdown vs Raw 2006 game. As many have mentioned, nothing long term is really going to come from this, except for DVD sales. Expect to see a LOT of advertising for it tonight on the PPV. The Smackdown games on PS2 always sell well, and this will get the more casual fans hooked in.

 

Look at how many interpromotional matches are actually on the card. At least three. Of course, Trish vs. Melina still annoys the hell out of me, as the WWE still thinks that adding a woman to every over tag team and then burying the team while giving the woman a main event-level push is actually good for business.

 

I think the WWE pitch for new tag teams should have this stip in the contract.

 

"If, at any time, the two male members total combined weight is under 650 pounds, a female diva due for a push larger than the team shall be added to the team. At this time, the team shall also be awarded the tag team titles, not to imply that they are good or anything, but to establish that the female is the real star of the team and it is her vapid looks and suggestive acts in the ring that is the real draw."

 

As for the Invasion, it was advertised as WCW vs. WWF until the very last week. It was the one thing no one thought would happen, and they were curious as hell. Most people who bought that show didn't even know how fucked the whole thing was. They figured it out by Summerslam. We've seen Raw vs. Smackdown ever since the brand extention started 3 and a half years ago (I mean, we are on a second Raw v Smackdown game). It never meant anything then (thanks to HLA and Undertaker v. Kane, AGAIN), and it doesn't mean anything now (since they've given up on Smackdown). They trade people from one show to another on a whim.

 

Name me one wrestler who has only been on one show the entire time, from the start. Then we're getting somewhere with this.

[Guest Leelee]

Why don't they promote the XBox games. And why doesn't WWE make sure they're not complete shit.

[Guest QUP2CME]

I dont know if this has been mentioned but I reckon the reaon Daivari has been brought in is so that Angle gets more heel heat then face heat.

 

If fans were cheering HHH over Cena at house shows, then they would definately cheer Angle over Cena. With Daivari in his corner, it might deter some people. I still think though the crowd is gonna be in Angles corner tonight though

[Silence 0]

Look at how many interpromotional matches are actually on the card.  At least three.  Of course, Trish vs. Melina still annoys the hell out of me, as the WWE still thinks that adding a woman to every over tag team and then burying the team while giving the woman a main event-level push is actually good for business.

 

I think the WWE pitch for new tag teams should have this stip in the contract.

 

"If, at any time, the two male members total combined weight is under 650 pounds, a female diva due for a push larger than the team shall be added to the team.  At this time, the team shall also be awarded the tag team titles, not to imply that they are good or anything, but to establish that the female is the real star of the team and it is her vapid looks and suggestive acts in the ring that is the real draw."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Test and Albert probably weighed close to 650 lbs. and Trish was still promoted over them several years ago, so the "650 lbs." thing may not apply.

 

However, it does still suck that Nitro and Mercury don't ever have WWE Tag Team title matches on PPV's while they're the champions or get promo time like Melina does for that matter.

[Karc 0]

Why don't they promote the XBox games.  And why doesn't WWE make sure they're not complete shit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If Smackdown vs Raw 2 was an Xbox 360 game, it'd be "sponsoring" the PPV.

 

WWE always promotes their wrestling titles on the TV. Especially when they were getting ad revenue for it. As to why the Xbox game sucked, Studio Gigante sucks, period. Yukes probably didn't get the budget to make a decent port. You see, Yukes actually cares about wrestling (they did just buy New Japan). WWE making okay money on a bad game was probably good enough for all sides, I guess.

[Karc 0]

Test and Albert probably weighed close to 650 lbs. and Trish was still promoted over them several years ago, so the "650 lbs." thing may not apply.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Test was billed as 280, Albert 350, so they just missed it.

 

That was actually one example I was thinking of, because of Trish. The other was Hurricane and Rosie (with Stacy). Not even having a hoss on your team is safe enough, unless you have two.

 

I think I should add another stip (hey, wrestling does it every five minutes while the match is going on, why can't I)

 

"If said female diva becomes huge star with or without the aid of the tag team, said tag team as a reward will be split, fired, or both."

[Guest FromBeyondTheGrave]

Name me one wrestler who has only been on one show the entire time, from the start. Then we're getting somewhere with this.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From the first draft in 2002:

 

Raw:

 

Shawn Michaels.

Ric Flair.

Kane.

Trish Stratus.

Lita.

 

Smackdown:

 

Hardcore Holly.

Scotty 2 Hotty.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I ordered it tonight..

 

I've got a wierd feeling its going to be better than everyone's saying, but Im probably wrong...its probably just gas or something from all that food over the last couple of days.

[haVoc 0]

I can't get the live feed for Heat to work. Anyone watching?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Simon Dean vs Juventud, non title...

 

Whee.

 

I should mention im watching it on the channel the PPV comes on.

 

My net connection is too slow to watch stuff on the net.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Benoit/Booker T should have been 2 out of 3 falls tonight..

[ChrisMWaters 0]

I can't believe that Juvi was actually allowed to defeat Simon Dean.

 

I thought he was in bad was with the company.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Does anyone actually even want to see Teddy Long vs Bischoff?

[skullman80 0]

Does anyone actually even want to see Teddy Long vs Bischoff?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Nope.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

They went cheap for the Survivor Series Titantron.

 

Just a reverse version of the Raw tron.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

This match tripped getting out of the starting gate and is still on the ground..

[chaosrage 0]

1987: 7.0

1988: 2.8

1989: 3.3

1990: 3.0

1991: 2.2

1992: 1.4

1993: 0.82

1994: 0.9

1995: 0.57

1996: 0.58

1997: 0.89

1998: 1.3

1999: 1.14

2000: 1.0

2001: 1.13

2002: 0.86

2003: 0.73

2004: 0.81

 

Good ol' Diesel & HBK. Can always count on them for crappy buyrates.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't know, HBK's 1992 buyrate wasn't so bad.

[Guest Trecko]

Chatrooms? I love me some TSM Chat play-by-play....

[Guest GoJoe]

1987: 7.0

1988: 2.8

1989: 3.3

1990: 3.0

1991: 2.2

1992: 1.4

1993: 0.82

1994: 0.9

1995: 0.57

1996: 0.58

1997: 0.89

1998: 1.3

1999: 1.14

2000: 1.0

2001: 1.13

2002: 0.86

2003: 0.73

2004: 0.81

 

Good ol' Diesel & HBK. Can always count on them for crappy buyrates.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't know, HBK's 1992 buyrate wasn't so bad.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

But Macho/Perfect vs. Flair/Razor was the promoted main event.

[Karc 0]

Name me one wrestler who has only been on one show the entire time, from the start. Then we're getting somewhere with this.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From the first draft in 2002:

 

Raw:

 

Shawn Michaels.

Ric Flair.

Kane.

Trish Stratus.

Lita.

 

Smackdown:

 

Hardcore Holly.

Scotty 2 Hotty.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

All right, now, for a well-built Raw vs. Smackdown rivalry, is that really going to be much of a draw? Didn't think so.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Booker wins with Sharmell's help (holding his feet down on the ropes?) after Benoit missed the diving headbutt.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Say what you want, but I miss Triple H as Raw's main heel. Survivor Series main event last year, although not amazing, was 100x more anticipated than this crap.

[haVoc 0]

1987: 7.0

1988: 2.8

1989: 3.3

1990: 3.0

1991: 2.2

1992: 1.4

1993: 0.82

1994: 0.9

1995: 0.57

1996: 0.58

1997: 0.89

1998: 1.3

1999: 1.14

2000: 1.0

2001: 1.13

2002: 0.86

2003: 0.73

2004: 0.81

 

Good ol' Diesel & HBK. Can always count on them for crappy buyrates.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't know, HBK's 1992 buyrate wasn't so bad.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

But Macho/Perfect vs. Flair/Razor was the promoted main event.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And wasn't HBK against Bret?