| Date: 01/11 | 1:30 AM |
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24 hours away and look what happens! Let's start with ECW - Tuesday night's edition of the Shelton Benjamin/CM Punk Comedy Hour did a 1.2 rating. (WO) Much like TNA Impact their rating seems to be stuck in the mud, barely moving forwards or backwards an inch from week to week. Speaking of ratings the final Smackdown # last week was a 2.9 rating last week. (PWI) It's possible by audience share Smackdown may have been seen by more people than this Monday's Raw. Blame the bowl game if you like.
Good ol' J.R. updated his blog again! In this edition he praises Bret Hart (and subsequently his book) for his honesty and gives his two cents on Britney Spears. You can read all of this and more here.
Royal Rumble news - WWE.com added Kane as a participant in the over-the-top battle royale bringing the official # of contestants to 14 - Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Umaga, Snitsky, Hornswoggle, Mick Foley, Hardcore Holly, Rory and Robby (The Highlanders), John Morrison, The Miz, Undertaker, Batista and of course the Big Red Machine. You may be thinking the total should be 15 including Shelton Benjamin but WWE.com indicates that Benjamin did not SAY he was in the Rumble on this Tuesday's ECW but rather announced his INTENTION TO QUALIFY for it, which he'll do next week.
Speaking of WWE.com a recent article indicates that next week, for the third week in a row, CM Punk will face Chavo Guerrero in a non-title match. If Chavo wins he gets an ECW title shot. I can understand getting a "Second Chance Match" but three times is just a little bit ridiculous. They should have just been having regular matches all along and then when Chavo finally picked up the win Armando Estrada could have given him a title shot as a reward. Oh well, common sense booking went out the window a long time ago.
Good news for fellow dog show haters! For the first time ever on USA, Raw will NOT be pre-empted by the stupid fucking Westminster Dog Show. USA will air the dog show on February 11th up until 9:00 PM EST/8:00 Central and then immediately switch to Raw live, while dog show coverage will continue on CNBC. (PWI) HUZZAH~!
A few American Gladiator notes - for those who hadn't noticed, Toa on American Gladiators is actually The Rock's cousin. In fact as it turns out has done some stunt double work for The Rock in a few of his movies. (PWI) Yes, that's how you know The Rock went Hollywood - he doesn't even take his own bumps any more. I can't wait to hear what Nikes the Sneaker Pimp has to say about that on our next podcast! PWI also reports that American Gladiators has been picked up for a full season by NBC.
Leave it to Hulk Hogan to always find gainful employment - one show goes down the tubes (Hogan Knows Best) and another pops up with even better ratings than the other! Speaking of the Hulkster a rather bizarre video popped up on TMZ this week with Hogan giving his assessment of the Britney Spears situation. You can check it out here. J.R. has weighed in, now Hogan has had his two cents, who's next - JBL?
Maybe this item should have been saved for Friday Night's Absurd News but fuck it let's get it out of the way now. WWE Mobile seems to be building up a storyline involving Playboy and Santino Marella. SERIOUSLY. Ashley was at the Playboy Mansion on New Year's Eve and was asked by Hugh Hefner who the next WWE Diva to pose for Playboy should be. Before Ashley could answer Santino showed up and said that the only people who will see Maria naked are "former intercontinental champions who were plucked from the crowd in Italy and beated the Umaga." If you want the full story check it out here.
Last and DEFINITELY least, Johnny Jeter was at the OVW TV taping on Wednesday night. This is notable since WWE told Jeter to continue working in OVW but he's only been showing up there every now and then instead of on a regular basis. (PWI) Quick tip for Jeter - the unemployment line after WrestleMania 24 runs to your left.