10 Weird Wrestling Matches That Drew Incredible TV Ratings

10. Wrath vs. Lizmark Jr. (Nitro - 21 December 1998) - 4.2

Wrath Lizmark Jr
WWE Network

The way TV ratings are calculated may have evolved over the years to allow for on-demand programming, but it's still impressive that a nothing match like Wrath vs. Lizmark Jr. pulled in a 4.2 rating in lateDecember 1998.

A mere six days before WCW presented that year's Starrcade, the 21 December '98 Nitro drew an overall 3.99 TV rating compared to Raw's 4.71. That comprehensive victory for the WWF only makes it even more confusing that Wrath squashing a masked Cruiserweight would outshine Raw.

More people tuned into Wrath's routine win than a DX segment starring Shane McMahon.

Whilst there was a little bleeding over of audience from a prior Ric Flair promo, it's striking that Wrath (someone WCW were trying to present as a Goldberg-like wrecking ball) outdrew D-Generation X and a member of the McMahon clan at all, never mind beating their skit by a 0.2 score.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.