– Deuce & Domino, who did a 50s greaser gimmick, were at the Smackdown the other night. They were flown in to debut on TV, but plans changed. Deuce is James Reiher Jr., the son of Jimmy Snuka. They’ve been the top heel tag team in OVW for a long time.
– TNA Impact drew a 1.02 rating last Thursday night for its prime time debut and two hour special. The first hour drew a 1.01 rating and the second drew a 1.04 rating.
The peak quarter hour rating was a 1.11 for Kurt Angle vs. Abyss, less than 0.2 higher than the opening quarter hour rating of 0.92, with relatively little volatility throughout the show. So viewers generally tuned in at the start and watched throughout.
TNA Impact outdrew TNT’s Chicago Bulls vs. Houston Rockets broadcast among men 18-49 and outrated the Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors among both men 18-49 and men 18-34.
Impact averaged 1.2 million viewers with a 1.09 among men 18-49 and a 1.00 among men 18-34.
– ECW.com has posted Tommy Dreamer’s latest commentary here. Here is an interesting exerpt from the article:
There are many things that have been lost and forever changed in today’s industry. One thing that cannot be lost is RESPECT. This includes respect for people that opened the door for you to be doing something that you love.
The first-ever closed circuit telecast was something called Starrcade. This was before pay-per-view. Ric Flair was in the main event. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was in the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania. Respect is something that is earned and these guys have done that.
Recently, I watched Ric Flair and Roddy Piper wait last on line to go through customs to board an airplane. Nobody thought of saying, “Hey guys, wanna go in front of me?” This was the same occurrence at hotels, food lines and then again at the end of the tour going back through customs. If you are a 25-year-old wrestler and your body is sore, how sore do you think a guy’s body is that has been wrestling for 25 years? It wasn’t done purposely, but you need show respect all the time.
– WWE.com has stories up about Lita retiring, Ron Simmons’ new shirt, the AWA DVD, Dusty Rhodes’ in-ring return and more.
– From JR’s Blog:
We can report that Jim “J.R.” Ross signed a new contract with World Wrestling Entertainment Monday in Baltimore prior to going on the air for Monday Night Raw. Terms of the agreement were not made public.
– WWE return to Iraq press release can be found here.
– January’s New Year’s Revolution PPV will feature DX as dressed like figures from the Revolutionary War.
– The Gymini and Joey Mercury have been removed from the Smackdown roster on the WWE Web site.
Credit: JRSBarBQ.com, Yahoo!, WWE.com, ECW.com, WrestlingObserver.com, PWTorch.com, PWInsider
