Ratings Summary
- RAW: 3.4 (3.2 / 3.6 / 5 Share) Up from 3.2 (3.0 / 3.4 / 5 Share)
- Heat: 0.8 (2 Share) Up from 0.7 (1 Share)
- Velocity: 0.6 (1 Share) Up from 0.5 (1 Share)
- WWE Experience: 0.5 (1 Share) Same as last week
There are Smackdown spoilers from last night in Long Island, NY. There were taping delays at Smackdown due to an unfinished vignette that had to be filmed during the show. The reason Chris Candido was replace by Funaki in a dark match against Carly Colon last night is reportedly because WWE was interested in evaluating Colon, and it was easier to do so with a wrestler they know like Funaki.
WWE selected New York advertising firm The Media Kitchen to be their primary media planner and buyer, with an estimated billing of $8 million. The RAW Tour of Defiance in Dublin, Manchester and Birmingham broke merchandising records in the three venues with a total of over $772,000 in sales. WWE officially announced plans to return to Australia in August for the Smackdown: Return of the Deadman tour with shows in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. WWE PPVs have been a big hit in Australian cinemas, drawing in over 30,000 fans last year.
Christian Heintz of BSWW.de, who attended the German WWE shows, wrote about the Bradshaw incident and fan reaction in some detail. Vince McMahon was reportedly upset by CNBC firing Bradshaw thinking they went too far, and WWE.com's statement on the incident yesterday may have been an attempt to save Bradshaw's CNBC job. The Associated Press ran a story on Bradshaw's firing from CNBC which means it will be in many newspapers tomorrow. Bradshaw appeared at the International Licensing Convention in New York City yesterday, but he had few autograph seekers and didn't appear excited to be there. Alex Carson shared his thoughts on the appropriate punishment for Bradshaw, too.
Kurt Angle told fans in New York City today that he'd be back in the ring in a few months and that he won't be having neck surgery. Chris Jericho is among the people interviewed for the 1980's thrash metal documentary "Get Thrashed" due out possibly at the end of this year. WWE.com spoke to Bill DeMott about his transition from Hugh Morrus the wrestler to Bill DeMott the commentator as well as his future in the business. Dr. Tom Prichard's latest commentary covers the press, WWE hopefuls, and experience.
NWA TNA was represented at the New York City Licensing Convention by PB & J Licensing with most of the talk about a toy line from Toy Biz and as yet unfinalized video game deal. NWA TNA officials are hopeful they'll do well enough at 3pm on Fridays to get moved to 10am on Sundays as a lead-in to football. Between The Ropes interviewed Ron Killings about Impact, the six-sided ring, company morale and being NWA champion.
World Wrestling Superstars cancelled their July 3 show in Utrecht, Holland, which was to feature numerous NWA TNA wrestlers, due to poor ticket sales. Jersey All Pro Wrestling's Basebrawl II on June 12 in Trenton, NJ will feature a 3 Way Dance of Hate with Teddy Hart vs. Trent Acid vs. Sonjay Dutt. Homicide won't wrestle for Ring of Honor on Saturday due to his hand injury, but his scheduled opponent John Walters will probably still have a match. SLAM's Jason Clevett reviewed MLW's Hybrid Hell DVD and although there were a couple matches that weren't great, he says it's an "entertaining three-hour show" overall.
Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, and Mr. T are among the celebrities appearing at XTRA Sports Radio and the Arrowhead Pond's "A Day of Champions" on July 11 in Anaheim, CA. Tampa, FL's WTSP ran a story on Brooke Hogan and her work with the Lightning with comments from her father. Honky Tonk Man is back with another commentary (mp3) in which he shoots on Bischoff, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Bret Hart and more. Spin interviewed actor/wrestling fan Macauly Culkin about growing up, dealing with success, and running into Diamond Dallas Page on the streets of Los Angeles.
That's it for today. Thanks for reading.
