Author: John Bass

XFL Television Ratings Hit New Low

XFL television ratings hit a new low in Week 5.

Both Sunday games dropped below one million viewers for the first time, despite the late game airing on ESPN as opposed to the weaker ESPN 2 the prior week. The first game on Sunday airing on FS1 between the St. Louis BattleHawks and DC Defenders averaged 767,000 viewers, the smallest audience for an XFL game yet. The ESPN game on Sunday evening between the Tampa Bay Vipers and the Los Angeles Wildcats averaged 833,000 viewers.

Total attendance for the weekend was the lowest so far this season with 64,246 fans, down 8.5% from last week.

The first game on ABC on Saturday fared much better, as the audience was only down 1% from the week prior to 1.547 million viewers. However, the following game on FOX, which faced competition from NCAA basketball, was down 17% to 1.497 million viewers.

The four games averaged 1.16 million viewers, down 16% from Week 4.

Below are details ratings and attendance numbers for the first five weeks, courtesy of Showbuzz Daily:

Week 1 (Feb 8 & 9):
Sat. Game 1 – ABC, Seattle at DC (17,163 fans): 3.302 million viewers, 1.1 (18-49)
Sat. Game 2 – FOX, L.A. at Houston (17,815): 3.29 million, 1.1
Sun. Game 1 – ABC, Tampa Bay at New York (17,634): 3.39 million, 1.0
Sun. Game 2 – FOX, St. Louis at Dallas (17,206): 2.5 million, 0.93
Total Attendance: 69,818
Average: 3.12 million viewers

Week 2 (Feb 15 & 16):
Sat. Game 1 – ABC, New York at D.C. (15,031): 2.146 million, 0.6 (18-49)
Sat. Game 2 – FOX, Tampa Bay at Seattle (29,172): 2.324 million, 0.6
Sun. Game 1 – ESPN, Dallas at L.A. (14,979): 2.397 million, 0.6
Sun. Game 2 – FS1, St. Louis at Houston (17,103): 1.359 million viewers, 0.51
Total Attendance: 76,285 (+9.3%)
Average: 2.06 million viewers (-35.9%)

Week 3 (Feb 23 & 24):
Sat. Game 1 – ABC, Houston at Tampa Bay (18,117): 1.914 million (-10.8%), 0.6 (no change)
Sat. Game 2 – FOX, Dallas at Seattle (22,060): 2.051 million (-11.8%), 0.5 (-16.7%)
Sun. Game 1 – ESPN, New York at St. Louis (29,554): 1.473 million (-38.54%), 0.47 (-21.7%)
Sun. Game 2 – FS1, D.C. at L.A. (12,211): 1.004 million (-26.12%), 0.37 (-27.5%)
Total Attendance: 81,942 (+7.4%)
Average: 1.61 million viewers (-21.8%)

Week 4 (Feb 29 & Mar 1):
Sat. Game 1 – ABC, L.A. at New York (12,116): 1.558 million (-24%), 0.4 (-33%)
Sat. Game 2 – FOX, Seattle at St. Louis (27,527): 1.802 million (-5.85%), 0.5 (no change)
Sun. Game 1 – FS1, Houston at Dallas (18,332): 1.113 million (+10.86%), 0.38 (-19%)
Sun. Game 2 – ESPN 2, D.C. at Tampa Bay (12,249): 1.030 million (2.59%), 0.34 (-8.1%)
Total Attendance: 70,224 (-14%)
Average: 1.38 million viewers (-14%)

Week 5 (Mar 7 & 8):
Sat. Game 1 – ABC, Seattle at Houston (19,773): 1.547 million (-0.7%)
Sat. Game 2 – FOX, New York at Dallas (15,950): 1.497 million (-17%)
Sun. Game 1 – FS1, St. Louis at D.C. (16,342): 767,000 (-31%)
Sun. Game 2 – ESPN, Tampa Bay at L.A. (12,181): 833,000 (-19%)
Total Attendance: 64,246 (-8.5%)
Average: 1.16 million viewers (-16%)

 

 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tampa Officials To Discuss Canceling Or Postponing Major Events On Thursday

The City of Tampa and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor will be meeting on Thursday to discuss canceling or postponing major events due to the coronavirus. CBS Tampa’s Ryan Bass tweeted the news tonight.

His full tweet was, “@CityofTampa and @JaneCastor will meet on Thursday to discuss canceling or postponing “major” events due to #Coronavirus. This weekend’s River O’Green fest isn’t likely to be canceled.”

WrestleMania 36 will most definitely be one of the events to be discussed on Thursday. As noted the event is scheduled to be in Tampa on April 5 at the Raymond James Stadium.

Due to the virus, several large popular events like Coachella and South by Southwest have been canceled or postponed.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Nia Jax WWE Return Update

Nia Jax is reportedly expected to return to WWE at any point now, according to PWInsider.

She’s been medically cleared for in-ring action, it’s simply up to WWE to work her back into a storyline.

Jax underwent double knee surgery last April, and in December, got back to training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

Her last match on WWE TV was at WrestleMania 35 where The IIconics won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in a Fatal 4-Way Match against Bayley & Sasha Banks, Beth Phoenix & Natalya, and Tamina & Jax.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rob Gronkowski Signs With WWE, Will Debut On SmackDown And Appear At WrestleMania 36

Gronk is reportedly headed to WrestleMania 36.

Former NFL player and WWE celebrity friend Rob Gronkowski has signed with WWE and is set to appear at WrestleMania 36 next month, according to The Wrap.

The former New England Patriots tight end has now signed a contract with WWE, and will make his official debut during the March 20 episode of SmackDown on FOX from New Orleans.

Gronk is also scheduled to appear at WrestleMania 36. It was noted that current plans for the WrestleMania 36 appearance will lead to a future match for the three-time Super Bowl champion. Gronk is not scheduled to wrestle on The Grandest Stage of Them All this year, but that appearance will lead to the match they have in mind.

The 30 year old Gronk, who retired from the NFL one year ago, signed with FOX Sports as an analyst back in October. The Wrap reached out to FOX Sports for comments on if the new WWE deal will impact Gronk’s NFL work, but there’s no word yet.

It was reported last night on WWE Backstage by Pro Wrestling Sheet‘s Ryan Satin that Gronk and WWE were close to finalizing a deal. That deal has been officially signed, according to the new report from The Wrap.

Gronk, a noted pro wrestling fan and good friend to Mojo Rawley, made his WWE debut at WrestleMania 33 back in 2017, to help Mojo win the 4th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

There’s no word yet on the terms of Rob’s deal with WWE.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Preview 3/10/20

Tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and Twitch, get ready for another high-stakes episode of IMPACT! from Las Vegas.

* Best of 5 Series – Match 5: Eddie Edwards vs. Michael Elgin –  the two will compete one final time to determine who will challenge Tessa Blanchard for the World Title at Rebellion

* Madison Rayne has an answer for Jordynne Grace’s Open Challenge

* Desi Hit Squad vs. The Rascalz

* Rhino vs. Madman Fulton

* Johnny Swinger and Glenn Gilbertti vs. Willie Mack

AEW Dark Preview 3/10/20

The following was taped for tonight’s AEW Dark episode on YouTube at 7pm ET:

* Lucha Express (Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy) vs Peter Avalon and Kip Sabian

* Jimmy Havoc vs. Severino Corrente

* Hikaru Shida vs. Abadon (local talent)

* Sonny Kiss and Brandon Cutler vs. Private Party

NJPW And AJPW Cancel More Shows Due To The Coronavirus Outbreak

In response to the novel Coronavirus outbreak, NJPW and AJPW have announced that they will be cancelling their events scheduled between March 16 through March 21 and March 14 through March 22 respectively. New Japan’s cancelled dates will result in the cancellation of the New Japan Cup tour.

New Japan had previously cancelled the first half of the New Japan Cup tour earlier this month. Many other promotions in Japan have announced cancellations of events earlier this month as well in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan.

Stardom recently held a show called “No People Gate” in response to the events they cancelled. They also announced recently that they will be canceling more shows. This was an empty arena show held in Korakuen Hall and was broadcast live on YouTube for free.

New Japan have been releasing videos for their NJPW Together Project on NJPW World in replacement for the cancelled shows. New Japan’s next big show is Sakura Genesis. The show is scheduled for March 31, and in their official statement, New Japan has stated that they will be making an announcement in regards to the status of future shows.

In their statement, they said, “We apologize to fans who were looking forward to the remainder of the New Japan Cup. Ultimately, the health and safety of our fans, wrestlers and staff, as well as society at large is our utmost concern, and we will make announcements about events scheduled after March 22 upon careful monitoring of this developing situation.”

https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/1237288925745446913

https://twitter.com/alljapan_pw/status/1237267546367094784

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jeff Hardy And Paige Returning To WWE SmackDown This Friday

WWE announced that Paige and Jeff Hardy will be appearing on SmackDown this Friday night on FOX.

It was announced that Paige, who was forced to undergo emergency surgery last week to remove an ovarian cyst, will be appearing on the show to confront Bayley.

It will be Paige’s first appearance on RAW or SmackDown since The Kabuki Warriors dropped her as their manager on RAW last October.

Hardy announced last week that he was cleared to return to action. He suffered a leg injury last year shortly after WrestleMania 35 in April of 2019, and suffered some personal setbacks during that time.

After being arrested last October, Hardy checked himself into inpatient rehab for the first time in his life. He is scheduled to be back in court on Monday, April 6, the day after WrestleMania 36, for charges related to the arrest.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1237241773748924419

WWE RAW Preview 3/9/20

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC with fallout from WWE Elimination Chamber as the road to WrestleMania continues.

WWE has not issued an official preview for tonight’s RAW as of this posting.

* WWE Hall of Famer Edge has been confirmed for tonight’s show as he confronts Randy Orton over his recent actions

*  Shayna Baszler is also advertised to appear, one night after her big Elimination Chamber win to win a WrestleMania 36 title shot from RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.

WWE Elimination Chamber Results 3/8/20

(Kickoff) The Viking Raiders vs. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder –

Winners: The Viking Raiders

 

Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak –

Gulak passed out in the Yes Lock

Winner: Daniel Bryan

 

United States Championship: Andrade (c) w/Zelina Vega vs. Humberto Carrillo –

Winner: Andrade He had a handful of Carillo’s tights

 

SmackDown Tag Team Championship – Elimination Chamber Match:  The Usos vs. The New Day vs. Heavy Machinery vs. Lucha House Party vs. The Miz and John Morrison (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode –

Winners The Miz and John Morrison

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1236813043385933824

 

No DQ Match: Aleister Black vs. AJ Styles w/The OC

The Undertaker appeared and took out The OC and delivered a ChokeSlam to Styles.

Winner: Aleister Black

 

RAW Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits (c) vs. Seth Rollins and Murphy w/AOP

Winners: The Street Profits

Post match: Kevin Owens hit Rollins with a Stunner

 

Intercontinental Championship – 3-on-1 Handicap Match: Braun Strowman (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, and Sami Zayn –

Winner and new Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn

 

Elimination Chamber Match (Winner gets RAW Women’s Championship Match at WrestleMania 36):  Natalya vs. Ruby Riot vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Liv Morgan vs.  Sarah Logan vs. Asuka –

Winner: Shayna Baszler