10 Ways WWE Must Revert To Old Habits To Pop A Rating
3. In Memory Of
As bleak as it may be to propose in a quest for ratings, WWE has readily gobbled up the publicity and huge numbers for shows dedicated to dearly departed friends and former colleagues, and probably wouldn't be opposed to doing it again if they could dress it up as a tasteful dedication.
Vince McMahon ghoulishly promoted an interview with Melanie Pillman 24 hours after her husband Brian passed away as a key segment in an October 1997 edition of Monday Night Raw, gambling that the leering intrigue would stop viewers turning back over to Monday Nitro. It worked, with Raw drawing it's biggest number in two months and one they wouldn't reach again until the night after the 1997 Survivor Series.
Eddie Guerrero's tribute show in 2005 a day after his tragic death saw Monday Night Raw leap up a full ratings point, with an identical drop the following week highlighting the exact reason for the viewer boost.
The affectionately titled 'Raw Is Owen' was a ratings colossus. The 1999 broadcast dedicated to his life following his tragic accident a night earlier drew a staggering 8.1, with hour breakdowns of 7.8 and 8.4. This implied that those who tuned in late stuck with the show to see more tearful interviews and heartbreaking goodbyes.
The next performer to sadly pass may be a recipient of the tribute treatment.