Raw 3/17: Sheamus' Time to Shine

I admit I am a bad NASCAR fan because really its pretty stupid.  I will say last week's race was kind of fun though.  Maybe you are right about the short tracks being better races.  Maybe.  I am probably a worse wrestling fan because there are really very few things enjoyable about the current product for me.  Heyman, Wyatts, SHield, Bryan, Punk.  I am sorry but Triple H is not going to let Bryan win at Mania, it just isn't going to happen.  Triple H hates the IWC so much he is going to put himself over, he can't help it.  God listen to me I sound like Chas.  Ugh.

Also only the Mayor of Sheboygan - I figure lordship will happen organically, kind of like Daniel Bryan.

You probably fed him Funyans and whiskey after midnight. BIG mistake.

Ruh roh...




WWE Raw on Monday, March 17 scored a 2.98 rating, down from last week's 3.09 rating and down from a 3.26 rating two weeks ago.

Raw slipped below the 3.0-level for the first time since the final Raw of 2013.

- Raw averaged 4.075 million viewers, down seven percent from last week's show and down 11 percent from two weeks ago. It was the fewest viewers of the year.

Hourly Break Down: 4.001 million first hour viewers (fewest of the year), increase to 4.174 million second hour viewers (fewest of the year), and slight decline to 4.051 million third hour viewers.

The bright spot was the third hour only declining three percent from the second hour, as compared to 10 percent, 4 percent, and 9 percent the past three weeks.

WWE placed the highly-rated Daniel Bryan-Triple H feud in the final segment of the show, which appeared to help offset Raw's typical third hour slide.

- In the demographic ratings, Raw took a big hit in the key male demos of m18-34 and m18-49 to month-low levels. Raw also took a hit among general viewers, male and female.

The final hour scored the highest m18-34 rating of the night, but only slightly higher than the third hour. The reverse was true for m18-49, which scored highest in the second hour before declining in the third hour.

On cable TV Monday night, Raw still ranked #1 in overall viewers and in the male demos.

- One year ago this week, Raw slid to a 3.09 rating after scoring a 3.35 rating the week before.

There's really nothing going on for key demographics. The Latino/Hispanic/Mexican market doesn't really have anybody doing anything. Rey Rey is no longer a factor, Sin Cara(s) suck, are they even still doing the Los Matadores garbage? Del Rio was about the only one slightly doing anything when he wasn't losing to Batista for 7 straight weeks.

The black/African American demographic is only slightly better. Big E WAS doing some good stuff but he's an afterthought these days. Mark Henry should be awesome but they never use him that way and all he does is job to Lesnar every few weeks or so. The rest of the brothers just dance around to varying degrees.

There's no Asian connection whatsoever.

The women's division has been incredibly mundane for the longest time now. Even if they go AJ/Tamina, I don't think Tamina as a face will work very well.

So you're pretty much left with the white/Caucasian fans. Some of which are probably bummed that Punk really is gone and it's finally sunk in. And although he does his on screen job phenomenally well, there's a significant portion of the audience that just hates Triple H.

And even the kids really don't have a hero other than Cena and Bryan. I doubt many 10 year olds are much of a fan of somebody like bray Wyatt.

I think even the kids hate Sheamus.

The Shield stuff has been fantastic in my opinion. I love how they have handled them. The beat down on Kane was awesome monday night. They've really allowed Seth and Roman to speak more. Seth has improved. I'm still not convinced on Roman on the mic. Too bad he is the most babyface ready guy, because he'd be huge with Heyman.

Don't get me wrong, I love The Shield and basically everything they do but who are they facing at 'Mania? That's what I was trying to say. 2 weeks to go and we have no idea.

How much build do you need for Taker-Lesnar at this point in their careers? I don't like how Taker was kind of a consolation prize for Brock, but that is a minor issue.

The tag team division has the Usos, Coddust, and Real Americans (for now) all chasing the titles. They built a young team up to champions and will have feuds set for at least the next 2-3 months. Then maybe The Ascension comes up and there's another young team. Throw Rowan and Harper in there and there's a rebuilt tag division. No complaints there.

Women's Title is AJ against random Total Divas until she turns on Tamina. Giggity.

The Shield has been interesting as they seemingly went from the breakup storyline to all of them turning face on Monday. I still expect Ambrose and Rollins to break away and let Reigns be a star.

The Main Event is stacked against Bryan. That's why there's 2 heels going to go against the underdog. Perfect booking after the course-correction post-Rumble.

Nothing has been happening with the US or Intercontinental Titles in years. Maybe with the one champion they'll combine both belts and the IC title will go back to being the 2nd most important title in the company.

Bray Wyatt promos and story against Cena will be reminiscent of Cactus Jack vs Sting in psychology. Wyatt will lose the match but come out the other side stronger.

Good grief. After reading some certain Smackdown spoilers, this could be correct.


SPOILER!!