Storylines, other sports diminishing ratings

While it may be a little too early to sound the alarm, World Wrestling Entertainment has to be concerned with a downward trend in business over the past few months.

The Chris Benoit tragedy and subsequent drug-testing controversy certainly have played a part in the downturn, as well as a number of untimely injuries to some of the company's biggest stars. Major angles — specifically the Vince McMahon fake death and illegitimate child storylines — also have had to be dropped or altered due to circumstances beyond the company's control.

But there had to be a collective shudder at Titan Towers last week when ratings for Monday Night Raw came in at a numbing 2.8 — the show's lowest mark for that period in 10 years.

Only the McMahon love child storyline has generated a significant bump in ratings over the past couple of months, but the unsatisfying payoff has resulted in declining ratings ever since.

This past week's drop can be partially attributed to Raw's competition during that time period —a Monday Night Football game featuring the Dallas Cowboys and a deciding Major League Baseball game featuring the New York Yankees. But the number is particularly alarming since it came the night following a pay-per-view in which a new world champion was crowned, and it continues a disturbing trend for a company that lately has been bereft of compelling storylines and short on star power.

Moreover, it could be a loud and clear sign that there is overall dissatisfaction with the product, an issue that the WWE brain trust will eventually be forced to confront.

It's a very telling commentary when one of the company's biggest names, Ric Flair, sits on the sidelines specifically because "creative" can't find anything for him. And, when they do, it's certainly nothing befitting a 16-time world champion and a performer widely regarded as the greatest in the modern era.

--Main event for WWE's Cyber Sunday pay-per-view on Oct. 28 will be Randy Orton defending his WWE heavyweight title against the fans' choice of Shawn Michaels, Mr. Kennedy or Jeff Hardy. The original main event was to have been Orton against John Cena.

--The controversial Teddy Hart, whose unpredictable behavior has plagued him his entire young career, appears to be on his way out at WWE, placing a major angle planned for later this year in jeopardy.

There had been talk that a reformation of The Hart Foundation — already in play in WWE's Florida developmental territory — could make a surprise appearance at the Survivor Series in November. Michaels is expected to play a major role on that show, which marks the 10th anniversary of the infamous Montreal screwjob, and an attack by The New Hart Foundation reportedly was in the works.

The new generation of the Canadian-based group consists of Teddy Hart (Annis), a third-generation member of the famous wrestling family and grandson of the late Stu Hart; Harry Smith, son of the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith and grandson of Stu Hart; T.J. Wilson, who started his career at 15 working for the Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling and is the current boyfriend of Nattie Neidhart, Stu Hart's granddaughter; and Ted DiBiase Jr., a third-generation wrestler whose step-grandfather, Iron Mike DiBiase, grandmother, Helen Hild, and father, "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, all wrestled.

--TNA is bracing for a major power shift as a group led by Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Christian and Vince Russo is expected to make a pitch to company president Dixie Carter to have minority owner Jeff Jarrett and Dutch Mantell removed from the booking process. The coup most likely would place Russo, who oversaw the dying days of WCW, as main booker.

Reach Mike Mooneyham at 937-5517 or [email protected]. For wrestling updates during the week, call The Post and Courier Info Line.