"The new format of Raw was a huge hit, with the rating jumping to a 4.3, breaking a several week spell in which they were hovering at four-year low marks. From all indications the show came across as a tremendous success"
Sorry if somebody already posted this, I didn't see it up yet. Good news I guess, people tuned in to see Bischoff's first week on the job and there was also the post PPV interest since it was a highly praised show. If they can keep things interesting like last night the ratings will stay constant and possibly rise.
Alright, I've seen a few onlinish types mention how the show was "wCw-like." And I say, yeah, it was, like when wCw was good around 96-97ish. And I think people may stay around with what they put out last night. They set up a lot of stuff for the future, some of it potentially asskicking (RVD-Benoit feud, anyone?).
"I'm bi a lot of things, but lingual's not one of them."
I liked the announce table in the "Nitro position" and Bisch joining JR & the King at one point. That did remind me of Nitro on the tail end of when it was entertaining. I certainly enjoyed what I was able to see of the show, and look forward to watching the rest of it this weekend.
Of course, I can see where some people who actually suffered for and with wCw during their slow decline aren't too happy with things.
I didn't have to suffer because CRZ did that for me :-)
Of course, that's probably the main reason we are temporarily/permanently without him so . . .
After last night, I find it hard to believe that Bischoff is nothing but an on-screen character. I said it last night and I will say it again, Raw was Nitro last night, and that...is a good thing.
January 4th 1999 - The day WCW injected itself with 10 gallons of Liquid Anthrax...AKA...The day Hogan "Defeated" Nash to win the WCW title in front of 40,000.
Bischoff is only an on-screen character, but that doesn't mean Vince & Co. couldn't look back at his old ideas for WCW. Maybe Vince has finally turned a new leaf and is willing to accept ideas that his competitors used in order to succeed. War Games anyone?
"The new format of Raw was a huge hit, with the rating jumping to a 4.3, breaking a several week spell in which they were hovering at four-year low marks. From all indications the show came across as a tremendous success"
Sorry if somebody already posted this, I didn't see it up yet. Good news I guess, people tuned in to see Bischoff's first week on the job and there was also the post PPV interest since it was a highly praised show. If they can keep things interesting like last night the ratings will stay constant and possibly rise.
(edited by Likely on 23.7.02 1732)
meltzer is a dickhead [for the lack of a better term]
The jump in ratings weren't due to the new format. it most likely was due to the announced matches; being a monday after a ppv [plus a ppv where rock takes the title]; and seeing what EazyE would do his first night "in charge"
i didn't read one note about a new set anywhere on the net...
"You can't fire a gun in a confined space! What are you tring to do, make us deaf?!" "Just get out of the chopper." "What?" "Get out of the chopper!" "The crops!?" - Jack Lemmon and James Garner, "My Fellow Americans", and the reason I say "The crops?" instead of "Huh?"
Originally posted by rikidozan meltzer is a dickhead [for the lack of a better term]
The jump in ratings weren't due to the new format. it most likely was due to the announced matches; being a monday after a ppv [plus a ppv where rock takes the title]; and seeing what EazyE would do his first night "in charge"
i didn't read one note about a new set anywhere on the net...
Yeah, due to the announced matches. Because RVD vs. Jeff Hardy is the matchup fans have been clamoring for!
I think it's due to the fact that the WWE is actually building up some interesting twists now that they've got "Invasion 2.0" underway. What was HHH going to do now that he was back with Shawn? Was DX back together? How are Brock and Rock going to start off? And what would Bisch do?
Plus, Tommy Dreamer is no longer rolling around in his own puke.
Anyway, they're starting to get people guessing and wondering what happens next. That's the critical entertainment aspect needed to keep the casual fans involved. I'll admit, I've read the Smackdown spoilers, and what I saw has me curious about what's in store for Monday's show.
Originally posted by rikidozan meltzer is a dickhead [for the lack of a better term]
The jump in ratings weren't due to the new format. it most likely was due to the announced matches; being a monday after a ppv [plus a ppv where rock takes the title]; and seeing what EazyE would do his first night "in charge"
i didn't read one note about a new set anywhere on the net...
Yeah, due to the announced matches. Because RVD vs. Jeff Hardy is the matchup fans have been clamoring for!
I think it's due to the fact that the WWE is actually building up some interesting twists now that they've got "Invasion 2.0" underway. What was HHH going to do now that he was back with Shawn? Was DX back together? How are Brock and Rock going to start off? And what would Bisch do?
Plus, Tommy Dreamer is no longer rolling around in his own puke.
Anyway, they're starting to get people guessing and wondering what happens next. That's the critical entertainment aspect needed to keep the casual fans involved. I'll admit, I've read the Smackdown spoilers, and what I saw has me curious about what's in store for Monday's show.
you summed it up better than i did, but i still think it's recockulous to say that the change in the set sent "millions" of neilsons to change the channel to raw
"You can't fire a gun in a confined space! What are you tring to do, make us deaf?!" "Just get out of the chopper." "What?" "Get out of the chopper!" "The crops!?" - Jack Lemmon and James Garner, "My Fellow Americans", and the reason I say "The crops?" instead of "Huh?"
I'm not nesessary getting the "wcw nitro" talk going on here except for the Bischoff being on screen and the announcers table move. As for the "new format" Meltzer talking about. If the new format means having bunch of fun matches like the ladder match and the mixed tag match, a great upper-midcard match with some little but effective backstage hype (Benoit/Booker), a pretty well done swerve, and mixing in a new guy with the established star in not just a inring interview but a great main event match as well, AND having no sign of Bradshaw. Then count me in on loving this "format" (lol)
I'm just really happy with the 0.5 raise. Because usually the shows that I totally LOVE hardly ever do big jumps. I'm glad what I think makes a good show went along with the ratings, for once.
I don't get it, everyone loves rats, but they don't want to drink the rats milk?
"The new format of Raw was a huge hit, with the rating jumping to a 4.3, breaking a several week spell in which they were hovering at four-year low marks. From all indications the show came across as a tremendous success"
Sorry if somebody already posted this, I didn't see it up yet. Good news I guess, people tuned in to see Bischoff's first week on the job and there was also the post PPV interest since it was a highly praised show. If they can keep things interesting like last night the ratings will stay constant and possibly rise.
(edited by Likely on 23.7.02 1732)
meltzer is a dickhead [for the lack of a better term]
The jump in ratings weren't due to the new format. it most likely was due to the announced matches; being a monday after a ppv [plus a ppv where rock takes the title]; and seeing what EazyE would do his first night "in charge"
i didn't read one note about a new set anywhere on the net...
All right, I don't want to be a dick, but I don't think you got what Meltzer was saying. The "new format" has nothing to do with the set. The format = way the show is set up. Not phyiscally, but, internally. The format of the show would consist of the writing, the pacing, the production, etc. At least, that's my interpretation. I can only assume that's Meltzer's. The faster pace, the swerves, and to a much smaller extent, the set change were all a part of that new, WCW-ish format.
To be fair, though, I think the rating is more indictive of a good PPV and crowd interest based on the Rock with the title and Bischoff in control. The format, though, is the reason the net is buzzing with *gasp* positive reviews, and I think it's the reason the ratings will STAY UP.
In summary... Format does not equal set design. At least, not in my understanding of the word in this context.
Zach
"... opportunity has knocked. Well, it's not knockin' fast enough, so we're kickin' the damn door in. So what we're gonna do, we're gonna give your children a hero to look up to - we're gonna give your boyfriends, your husbands an excuse to get into the gym. And we're gonna give you ladies a fantasy to go home to every Monday night." - Mike Sanders, 8/21/00
That's how I was interpreting the change of format from Meltzer. The show they're doing now is markedly different from the one they were doing two weeks ago when Nash gimped himself. The dueling shows storyline they've set up actually sets up an overall conflict that looms over everything, and that's what makes for interesting TV. It's not just throwing out the good matches, but having a sense of an overall mission to the show. You can see this in a number of other programs, not just wrestling: X-Files, Buffy, Friends, Star Trek: DS9... like 'em or not, they were all successful in part due to the fact that there was a major storyline driving it, and there were twists thrown in that no one saw coming. If the WWE can do that, and have the twists make sense in a storyline context, then this split may finally have the wheels it needs to get going.
I think the ratings spike can be attributed to 2 factors.
I know it's early, but Bishoff is a success. He is getting tremendous heel heat and fans can't wait to see what he will do next. I love the idea of subtle changes to a Nitro. The 2nd reason is that the RVD/Jeff Hardy ladder match was hyped on the net. And some smarts called up guys who don't regularly watch the show and told them to watch. I don't think an offseason PPV like Vengeance had enough pull to spike the ratings by itself.
(Blatant plug: Check out my ratings analysis column on guest column feedback for more info.)
I could be wrong, but I remember reading that there wasn't a post-PPV bump last time, and that some thought they had finally hit rock-bottom as far as only hardcore fans watching anymore.
If Bischoff gets more casual people to tune back in, I say great. I loved last week's show, and his 'being an asshole' is a million times better than McMahon's 'I'm an asshole, but I also have to be cool, cocky, and make out with hot chicks... and act badly' I loved the last RAW.
You know, not for nothing, but is anybody else getting the feeling like Dreamer is turning into the old WCW Raven, but as a babyface? It isn't a bad thing.
In the name of good taste, I will no longer say anything about people who run wrestling websites and cats.
So, uh, funny story. For the very first time since I started doing these recaps, I accidentally deleted the whole thing instead of posting it. It's gone, man. The only reason I'm bothering to put this up now is sort of a heads-up: