– This week was the first time in a long time that Smackdown actually had more viewers than Raw. It drew a 2.7 rating with 4.57 million viewers as opposed to Raw’s 3.59 rating with 4.41 million viewers. Such discrepencies used to be regular occurences in the post-brand split, pre-JBL days of Smackdown, when the show was still on Thursday nights on UPN. Also, the Kevin Federline ratings boost dwindled considerably second time around. His segment with Cena and Nitro gained only 245,000 viewers, less than a quarter of the gain made first time.
– At this point Cyber Sunday is not scheduled to air in the UK. BSkyB’s contract with WWE calls for 8 PPVs a year and 6 more shown on Sky Sports 1. Talks are still ongoing between them and WWE about airing this show and ECW December to Dismember, which are the two extra PPVs not covered by the present deal. Something similar happened with Taboo Tuesday last year and it was resolved in time to air the show live.
– The feud between John Cena and Umaga is still scheduled to go ahead as soon as they are done with the ‘Champion of Champions’ program.
– Afa Anoia Jr signed a developmental deal this week. He is said to have a problem doing promos because he was taught to talk in an ’80s, Wild Samoan style that wouldn’t work today. His cousin Joe, younger brother of Rosey, is playing football at Georgia Tech and also considering wrestling after his graduation. He is probably going to try and make the NFL first, however. He is said to be a great talker and has an awesome look with wild long hair and crazy tattoos.
– There have been several plans for bringing Eric Bischoff back as a regular on-air character discussed but nothing has been settled for beyond Cyber Sunday yet. A number of people backstage are upset about various comments in his book, while Bischoff is said to not want to do anything that will look anti-climatic compared to his General Manager stint. His current contract expires in July.
– Mark Copani, the former Mohammed Hassan, has stopped trying to get into acting in Los Angeles and instead opened up a personal training centre called Copani Fitness.
Credit: Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information)
