Welcome to another edition of the Wrestling Post. This time we take a look at the WWE’s new network show, Slamming TUF ratings on RAW and the King Mo’s debut on TNA.
WWE Main Event rating
The WWE’s newest show on the ION Network, “WWE Main Event,” airing on Wednesdays from 8-9pm earned high ratings in its most important demos during its debut this week. It scored the highest male audience in the last year on the network with the most Men 18-49 (422,000), Men 25-54 (444,000), and Men 2+ (876,000).
Payout Take: The debut had exceptional ratings in part by having two of its top main eventers (CM Punk vs. Sheamus) star in the debut so it is likely that the ratings will decrease considering the fact it cannot have those type of events each year. But, the ratings show growth for the network and another platform for the WWE brand.
WWE shows its smacking down TUF
On this past Monday Night’s RAW, the WWE ran a graphic which showed that Friday Night Smackdown on the SyFy Channel had 3 times as many viewers as TUF on FX. The graphic was shown touting its social media supremacy.
Payout Take: A valid statement that the UFC should take notice. It shows that Friday night is not an excuse for ratings. I find it interesting that each time the WWE takes a shot at the UFC, White does not respond back as he does to media reporters. Perhaps he realizes who he’s dealing with and wants to stay in his own lane.
Lawal upset with Zuffa matching rights
King Mo Lawal made his debut on TNA Impact Thursday. As you recall, Lawal will be doing pro wrestling with TNA and then fight for the Bellator promotion. Lawal signed with Bellator on May 10 will not participate with the organization until 2013.
MMA Junkie reported on Zuffa’s promotional agreement which feasibly could have retained the rights of Lawal after he was released. Ironically, the issue occurred in Bellator as Tyson Nam threatened litigation against Bellator as he was being held out of its tournaments while having opportunities go by the wayside due to the fact that Bellator retained his rights under contract. Dana White has been critical of Bellator for holding fighters like this. However, the UFC/Strikeforce have similar clauses and Lawal and his agent question why it is in the Zuffa contracts. Lawal’s agent had called White to see if the UFC/Strikeforce was still interested in retaining Lawal despite being cut.
Payout Take: Bad feeling between White and Lawal remain. Matching rights essentially is a right of first refusal which allows the company the opportunity to retain the person under contract usually by matching whatever offer is made to them. According to MMA Junkie, most MMA organizations including the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator have them. The UFC explained its need to retain the rights of those that leave the promotion but in the form of video rights. Essentially, the UFC retains its rights to the images while the fighter was in the UFC. But, it does not explain why it continues to have a matching rights clause for fighters when it does not plan to exercise it. The fact is with all of the injuries, the UFC may have to enforce this clause to retain some healthy fighters for its events.
As a postscript, Roy Nelson sent out a tweet to his followers to watch Lawal tonight on Spike. The UFC probably is not happy about that tweet.
I think you need to take into account a few things about WWE/UFC Friday nights. WWE fanbase is young kids, teens and adults who grew up on it. Also hasnt WWWE been on Fridays for a long time now? On Mondays WWE does like 5 mill viewers because everyone is home, kids, teens who have school the next day and everyone has work so they do good ratings. On Fridays you still have the young kids, some teens dont go out but you lose out on half the ratings because the 20 plus year old fans are out. But they still get the young kids.
WIth the UFC their main base is 20 year old plus kids who are all out on Fridays. Also its about content. UFC is more PPV driven, WWE gives you title fghts, superstars on tv every week which weakens the PPVs because you see title fights on tv and you see Cena or whoever every week. UFC however you only see the title fights nad big stars on PPV.
So they really arent the same, WWE attracts young kids, the 8, 10, 12 year olds who are home on Friday night to watch,. 10 year old kids arent watching the UFC.
UFC doesnt release the PPV numbers so thats why Dana doesnt gloat about it but UFC just did a reported 450k for Jones/Vitor. What PPV has the WWE done besides Wrestlemania that did over 450k buys? I believe Brock vs HHH just did 350k which means Frankie Edgar vs Bendo at UFC 144 did more than Brock did with another superstar HHH on a big WWE show.
WWE can run on any night because their fan base doesnt have a social life. WWE fans are a bunch of dorks…except for you Jason Cruz lol. ;P
I agree with the sentiment that dana white should know his place. Considering Linda Mcmahan(sorry) is running for US Senator could compound things very quickly for Dana should he cross vince. Not to mention the WWE billions