source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The first Triple H vs. Chris Jericho match in several years managed to lose a good portion of television viewers. The match was the main event for the 6/16 Raw and lost 205,000 viewers to do a 3.13 overrun. The main event almost never loses viewers, especially one that hasn’t been done in several years. In other ratings notes, the Cena vs. Umaga match gained 174,000 viewers. The bikini contest only gained 63,000 viewers, a far less gain than recent TNA Knockout matches on Impact involving Daffney and Shantelle Taylor. Vince doing a phone call with Hacksaw Jim Duggan lost 16,000 viewers. A Jeff Hardy vs. Carlito match followed by part of the Highlight Reel with Jericho gained 95,000 viewers, which is actually a bit low for the 10 p.m. hour. Although, it was still the high point of the show at 3.44. The stuff involving Ric Flair returning and his backstage segment with Jericho & Triple H, plus the brief Holly & Rhodes vs. Cryme Tyme match lost 174,000 viewers. Paul Burchill & Katie Lea vs. Mickie James & Mr. Kennedy lost 111,000 viewers.
DH Smith & TJ Wilson are working together as a tag team called “The Canadian Bulldogs” in developmental. Reports indicate that Smith is showing far more personality as part of the tag team than he ever did in WWE. Regarding his partner TJ Wilson, he’s considered to be a good wrestler, but he’s a little on the small side (billed at 5 foot 9), and even though he grew up in the famed Hart house and is considered to be a member of the family, he’s still not an actual blood relative. He doesn’t appear to be on WWE’s radar for a call-up because he’s hardly ever talked about by officials.
FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion Jake Hager is doing a Bill Goldberg win streak gimmick in developmental. His record is now up to 51-0 and he is pushed as the top wrestler in the organization. It’s pretty much only a matter of time before he gets called up to WWE.
