WWE IN TROUBLE AND FEELING THE HEAT
  • 08/01/2007 (9:30:06 pm)
  • Georgiann Makropoulos

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The rapid decline in ratings for RAW this week to a mere 2.5 rating.  That is the lowest rating in a decade.  The last couple of weeks it had dropped to 3.4.  This low rating is BIG trouble for the company. 

Not only will sponsors be watching carefully, as it will effect them and their sales, but stock holders are also watching closely. 

Today's WWE stocks closed at a LOW  of $14.52.  Dropping 48 cents from yesterday, which is a drop of 3.20%. In just three months it has dropped from $18.50 to where it is now.

And with Congress breathing down WWE's neck, the WWE has to be worried.

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This was just sent to me by Michael Weaver, Jr:

(WEBMASTER'S NOTE: WU Online is pleased to announce that former wrestling promoter, Jerry Jarrett, will be interviewed in the very near future regarding steroids and drugs in the wrestling business.  Before the interview takes place, Mr. Jarrett wrote this editorial piece for WU Online to use.  If used elsewhere, please credit WU Online - http://www.wrestlingupdateonline.com.  If you have a question you would like answered by Mr. Jarrett regarding steroid and drug use in wrestling, send it to WU Online.)


     The wrestling of today is advertised as sports entertainment and not sport.  This seems to make the business more kin to theater than competitive sports.  If we follow logic, professional wrestling should be held to the standards of the movie industry or theater rather than professional sports.

     My position is not to condone steroid use.  I have done all in my power to caution and explain the negative effects of any drug use to my own family as well as the wrestlers that worked for me.

     My point is that if the government is going to hold the professional wrestling business to the standards of pro-sports, the government must also investigate the movie and theater industry.  The recent drug bust of top movie stars should at least be a signal to congress that drug use is going on in Hollywood.  What are the drug testing policy of Fox Studios, Paramount and Time Warner.  Should congress ask Rupert Murdock to supply the same information they have requested from Vince McMahon?

     Another point I wish to make concerns the single investigation of WWE from the business of professional wrestling business.  Our laws are based on fairness and the premise that we are all equal under the law.  Is the WWE being singled out because of their success?  Should companies that are successful be held to a different standard than those who are not profitable?  Is the WWE penalized because of their size?  Should the company that promotes twelve events per year be less accountable than the company that promotes a thousand events each year?  Should congress mandate a steroid testing policy for only promoters who hold 500 events or more each year?  Should congress mandate a steroid testing policy for only promoters who show a profit at the end of each year.

     If this sounds like I'm a WWE fan, you are greatly mistaken.  I encourage my children to not let their children, my grandchildren, watch either TNA or WWE.  I think the content of both shows are a negative influence on children.  I do hope our congress will be fair in the investigation of the industry.

     The first thing Congress must do is to determine if they are investigating fish or fowl.  They must decide if professional wrestling is true sport or theater.  At that point, they must investigate everyone in the industry.  It appears to be a grasp for headlines to single out WWE and no other professional wrestling company.  It is also a safe area for politicians to investigate WWE and not take on the movie industry.  WWE is financially successful but they are a sheep compared to the lion that is the movie industry.

Jerry Jarrett
 
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I beg to differ with Mr. Jarrett.  Are YOUNG movie stars dropping dead from taking the drugs they take, like the young wrestlers are??  I think not.
Yes, they are getting arrested for DUI, overdosing, going to rehab, etc.  But they are not dying like young wrestlers are dying!!!!
 
A few of our readers have been calling me a WWE hater.  That is the farthest from the truth.  I have been a WWWF, WWF and WWE fan for almost 50 years. 
 
I would not be here on this site plugging their PPV's, autograph signings, dates for their upcoming shows, functions, etc.
 
I am just very passionate about seeing the SPORT (Entertainment) clean up better, so the rapid deaths STOP..  I don't see anything wrong with that.  I have LOST A LOT of friends in this business over the years, and when I look at their old pictures, it just saddens me terribly.
 
I love watching MSG Classics, as I am doing now.  But seeing so many of the young wrestlers on these shows that are no longer with us, it saddens me.
 
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Next-gen Red Faction in the works
More details please THQ.
At a recent conference, THQ CEO Brian Farrell revealed that the company is working on a new Red Faction game. Unfortunately, that's about all that was revealed about the game, so we'll have to wait a bit longer to find out exactly which consoles it's coming to.

Also at the conference, THQ talked up the marketing strategies that they'd previously discussed at E3 for the new financial year, boasted that Ratatouille (based on the film of the same name) had already shipped over 1 million units, and confirmed that Chris Benoit will be removed from the next Smackdown vs. Raw game following his unfortunate death/suicide earlier this year.
 
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Lance Storm's commentary on the Congressional Inquiry
 
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P. S.  This video was sent to me this morning.  At first I was angry, but after watching it twice, I thought whoever did that, did a good job, and thanks for the Wrestling Chatterbox publicity..  LOL...
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