Ratings, Cold Matches, HBK's Last Match, Sting

Written by Richard Gray on Nov 19, 2008 - 11:04:52 AM

Every week Raw averages ratings between 2.9 and 3.1 with some weeks better than others, You always seem pretty critical of the ratings, where do you think the numbers should be and why do you think these numbers are not acceptable?

Raw should always do at least a 3.0 rating. The criticism stems from the ratings drop off in comparison to years past. For example, Raw this time last year drew a 3.5 cable rating while Monday's show only did a 2.9 cable rating. The trend is troubling when you look at the overall picture. Every year the ratings seem to go lower and lower, as this time in 2006 Raw was drawing ratings closer to 4.0 and even over 4.0 in 2005, so to see the rating fall below 3.0 on a go-home show is upsetting.

In one of JR's most recent blogs he talks about "cold" wrestling matches taking away from the spectacle of a show. What is a cold match?

I think that Jim Ross was referring to the lack of crowd reactions, calling the crowd cold. When a wrestling crowd is very into an event we refer to them as a hot crowd. A hot crowd really helps a wrestling event as a hot crowd can make a mediocre match entertaining. When the crowd is dead, the action in the ring is harder to enjoy when watching on television.

When it came time for Ric Flair to hang up the boots, he had his last match with an established veteran and top rank performer in Shawn Michaels. Well we all know that HBK himself probably isn't going to wrestle much longer, so my question is, who do you think Shawn Michaels would want to have his last match with? Do you think he'd also go with a veteran; someone he knows can carry a match with him? Triple H comes to mind considering the history they have both inside and outside the ring. Or perhaps would he want to put over an up and coming star (like a Ted DiBiase perhaps) to push them to the next level?

This may be extremely premature as I have not heard anything about Shawn Michaels retiring anytime soon; however, I think that Shawn would want to work with Hunter for his final match. WWE could create one heck of a program, teasing dissension within the DX stable, and have it conclude at WrestleMania with Shawn Michael vs. Triple H. That almost gives me chills just to type, it'll be fun when/if it happens but I think that Shawn still has some good years left.

I have always been a Sting fan, but I don't really care for TNA. Why can't Sting and WWE work something out so he can finish his career there? I would love to see Sting vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

It all comes down to schedule. Sting doesn't want to work the hectic road schedule as he didn't do it in WCW and certainly hasn't done it in TNA, and at this point in his career I do not see him going to WWE to work that type of schedule. Vince McMahon isn't going to let someone off by just letting them work some TVs and PPVs; it's all or nothing in his company.

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