Ratings Summary
- RAW: 3.8 (3.7 / 3.8 / 6 Share) Up from 3.7 (3.7 / 3.7 / 5.4 Share)
- Heat: 1.4 (2 Share) Up from 0.6 (0.8 Share - Opposite Super Bowl)
- Velocity: 0.7 (1 Share) Down from 0.7 (1.1 Share)
- Confidential: 0.6 (1 Share) Down from 0.6 (1.3 Share)
Last week's two hours of RAW finished #6 and #7 behind the AFC/NFC Pro Bowl, Monk, Real World, and Fairly OddParents. WWE confirmed the release of Ernest Miller (reportedly due to not working to improve his in ring work), but Dave Meltzer notes Lamont still has a job. WWE is launching a five million dollar ad campaign to promote Wrestlemania, with everything from ads on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and in Sports Illustrated to pizza boxes flyers. Wrestlemania.com is also now officially up.
Sable and Torrie Wilson appeared on Fox and Friends this morning to promote their Playboy issue, and the host may have slipped by mentioning their Wrestlemania match. The duo also signed autographs today at the Virgin Megastore in New York City. Playboy issued a press release on Sable and Torrie Wilson's Playboy spread.
Eric Bischoff was a guest on Between the Ropes and discussed WCW's financial problems, joining WWE, and Ric Flair. Inlewd.com has an interview with Todd Grisham, WWE's newest announcer. SLAM's Jaya Roopansingh spoke to Kanyon about his WWE release and plans for the future, which will have to wait 90 days if he plans to continue wrestling due to a no compete clause.
Shaniqua reportedly showed up late to the February 8 house show in Saskatoon, SK and was fined $200 as a result. Big Show has been telling people his elbow still hurts. Rikishi's luggage was lost by the airlines over the weekend, forcing him to wrestle in sweats. Sgt. Slaughter will make an appearance at the Fayetteville FireAntz "Headlock & Wedlock Day" on Saturday.
Mike Johnson has a sales breakdown for WWE Originals, which has moved 123,290 copies after 4 weeks of release. Derek Burgan at the Torch reviewed WWE Originals track-by-track. Smackdown Here Comes The Pain has been a success in Japan, hitting #6 on their sales chart. David Rosenberg of the Daytona Beach News Journal compiled a list of the 50 best wrestlers in WWE's history.
Ring of Honor announced the seeding of their Pure Wrestling tournament at Saturday's show. Jerry Lynn has been added to Ring of Honor's March 13 show in Elizabeth, NJ. Ring of Honor's DVD distribution deal is through the Navarre Corporation, and the first DVD "The Era of Honor Begins" will be available on February 17.
Steve Corino was on Between the Ropes last night and talked about WORLD-1, the end of MLW and Dusty Rhodes. MLW will still air tomorrow night at midnight on the Sunshine network as well as on WGTW in Philadelphia and on Fox Sports Digital Atlantic. All Japan Pro Wrestling has stripped Kendo Ka Shin of the Junior Heavyweight championship.
Some cable companies are offering refunds or replays to fans who ordered last night's NWA TNA PPV due to technical difficulties during the broadcast. NWA TNA's website posted a worked statement about the firing of Mike Tenay. Jonny Fairplay appeared on the CBS morning show today (video) to discuss Survivor, but also found time to plug his involvement in NWA TNA. Alex Marvez interviewed Sonjay Dutt about his career, breaking into the business, Indian wrestlers, and plans for the future.
That's it for today. Thanks for reading.
