Ray's UK Rating's Report: Week Ending August 21st 2011

Courtesy of the Broadcaster's Audience Research Board (BARB) here are the UK TV ratings for wrestling programming that ranked in the top 10's for their respective channels on the week ending August 21st 2011:

1	TNA PRESENTS IMPACT WRESTLING (Tue, Challenge , 2201)	218,000
2	WWE LATE NIGHT RAW – LIVE (Mon, Sky Sport 3, 2600)	136,000
3	WWE LATE NIGHT SMACKDOWN (Fri, Sky Sports 2, 2200)	120,000
4	TNA XPLOSION (Wed, Challenge, 2200)	Under 136,000
5	WWE AFTERBURN (Sun, Sky Sport 3, 1900)	54,000
6	WWE VINTAGE COLLECTION (Sun, Sky Sport 3, 1800)	31,000

Despite a drop from last week, it's another impressive showing from IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge as it remains the most watched wrestling show in the UK and Ireland, a position it has held now for 20 consecutive weeks. The show garnered 218,000 viewers (down 23,000 viewers [9.5%] from last week) for the Tuesday August 16th episode (Originally aired Aug 11th on Spike in the USA) headlined by a four way bout pitting Crimson against Scott Steiner, Gunner and Bully Ray of Immortal and the subsequent post-match attack on Crimson from Kurt Angle.

WWE RAW drew 136,000 viewers (up 7,000 viewers [5.4%] from last week) for it's Monday August 15th episode which featured an Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio main event.

WWE's other flagship show, Smackdown, garnered 120,000 viewers (up 19,000 viewers [18.8%] from last week, ending a two week ratings slide.) for the Friday August 12th edition which saw Mark Henry win a 20-Man Battle Royal to become Number 1 contender to the World Title.

Here's how the total's look for the year to date since IMPACT's return to UK Television on Challenge:

Weekly Ratings Wins so far (2011)*:
IMPACT Wrestling – 24
WWE RAW – 2
WWE Smackdown – 2

*Based on first showing viewing figures, not inclusive of +1 or replay figures.

Thoughts on IMPACT Wrestling: August 2nd 2011

Photo: IMPACTWrestling.com

This week on IMPACT Wrestling:

• Kurt Angle reminded Hogan that he cannot be bought, wanted no part of Immortal and told him if he wanted Sting taken out so badly he should do it himself.
• Rob Van Dam def. Gunner to earn 7pts in the Bound For Glory Series
• Sting announced he was the new Network Executive and booked Anderson/Sting in a Cage Match with Fortune as the ring enforcers, as well as Abyss vs. Kendrick in an Ultimate X match, much to the annoyance of Immortal.
• Crimson def. Bully Ray in a Bound For Glory Series match
• Winter def. Tara
• Brian Kendrick def. Abyss in an Ultimate X Match
• Velvet Sky & Traci Brooks asked ODB & Jackie to put up or shut up.
• The Network confirmed with Eric Bischoff that Sting was not in fact the Network Executive. Sting confirmed it had been a ruse and proceeded to lock Bischoff in his office with an angry looking Crow.
• Kurt Angle d. Mr. Anderson in a Steel Cage match following interference from Bully Ray

I don’t often say this about any tv show, but last night's IMPACT Wrestling on Challenge was PERFECT. I loved this show, start to finish and it was easily my favourite episode of 2011. IMPACT Wrestling got the tone of the show right and Sting was tremendously entertaining throughout the night.

I must admit I did sigh a little at the thought of yet another person in the “Network Executive” role, not to mention that I have memories of Sting in an authority role in WCW in the summer of 1999 which wasn’t exactly his greatest moment. However I was pleasantly surprised by the swerve and it totally fit the unpredictable nature of the Sting character. I know some people just haven’t warmed to Sting’s new “joker” like persona but I’m sure there would be very few of you who did not enjoy his performance on this episode. He toned down the character a little and got the perfect blend of comedy and seriousness.