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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Aug 16, 2013 1:55:33 GMT -5
I've been watching Eddie's DVD set and he really as incredibly over for pretty much the entirety of his last WWE run from 2002 until his death. I know that single talents don't really draw in the traditional sense any more, but when Eddie was Smackdown's main event player and the single brand PPVs were still around, how was business around that time? Because his crowd reactions were huge.
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Post by nickcave on Aug 16, 2013 2:02:06 GMT -5
I'm not sure how well he drew on his own but I think I remember hearing that he personally asked if he could drop the belt because he didn't like the pressures of being the top guy so it definitely wasn't WWE's decision for him to step down. So they must have been happy with the business he was doing.
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Cranjis McBasketball
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Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Aug 16, 2013 2:28:59 GMT -5
I'm not sure how well he drew on his own but I think I remember hearing that he personally asked if he could drop the belt because he didn't like the pressures of being the top guy so it definitely wasn't WWE's decision for him to step down. So they must have been happy with the business he was doing. I thought they took it off him after he bladed against JBL and it was too gruesome, but they took it off him before he killed himself in the ring trying to handle the pressure |
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Post by celticjobber on Aug 16, 2013 2:38:35 GMT -5
At one point Smackdown had more viewers than RAW, and I think that was largely due to the Latino audience watching to see Eddie and Rey.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2013 2:38:55 GMT -5
All I know is that ratings and buyrates fell in 2004. Whether that was down to Eddie and Benoit being champs, or other factors (e.g. Lesnar and Goldberg leaving) I don't know.
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mizerable
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Post by mizerable on Aug 16, 2013 3:44:54 GMT -5
At one point Smackdown had more viewers than RAW, and I think that was largely due to the Latino audience watching to see Eddie and Rey. Or because people were realizing that the Triple H show followed the same formula for nearly 3 years. |
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Post by thegame415 on Aug 16, 2013 3:46:49 GMT -5
All I know is that ratings and buyrates fell in 2004. Whether that was down to Eddie and Benoit being champs, or other factors (e.g. Lesnar and Goldberg leaving) I don't know. Ratings and Buyrates were already bad. I think in terms of viewers for RAW, they actually average more now. To answer the question, to some extent, yes, he had a big market. However, I think he's one of the worst drawing champions of all time. The same goes for Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Personally, I think Shawn's 1996 title reign is the best ever in terms of overall performance. However, it's one of the worst drawing reigns ever. To sum up my point, he drew some people, but a very small audience. |
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Post by frogsplash45 on Aug 16, 2013 3:51:28 GMT -5
At one point Smackdown had more viewers than RAW, and I think that was largely due to the Latino audience watching to see Eddie and Rey. SmackDown at its best made for some of the finest wrestling shows I've ever seen. The era from Lesnar/Angle up until Eddie's passing was just outstanding, IMO. |
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SEAN CARLESS
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Post by SEAN CARLESS on Aug 16, 2013 3:59:41 GMT -5
Yes, Eddie drew. The Smackdown six drew better than RAW in 2002, and Eddie drew better than any SD World champ ever, TV ratings-wise, in the post-brand extension era when he had the strap. Mysterio was second, despite his horrendous booking.
Latinos are the most untapped market in the U.S. right now. Fiercely loyal and passionate for their people and customs. Boxing has known this for years. Wrestling and MMA are just now "getting" it.
That said, ratings and PPV buyrates took a nosedive in 2004 because of JBL. He was critically over but a complete disaster as WWE Champion, business-wise. I know Nash is the popular opinion as lowest drawing long-term WWE Champion ever, but that distinction actually belongs to JBL.
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Post by muzzle on Aug 16, 2013 10:27:36 GMT -5
Eddie couldn't draw in an art class.
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Post by wildojinx on Aug 16, 2013 16:34:12 GMT -5
Eddie couldn't draw in an art class. So THATS why they did that angle about him going to night school to get his GED. |
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The Ichi
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Post by The Ichi on Aug 16, 2013 16:39:41 GMT -5
I'd say about on the same level as Punk, honestly.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2013 16:59:07 GMT -5
I remember in Eddie's DVD he said the ticket sales a few weeks before No Way Out was disappointing so he asked Vince if he can do a lot of promotional work in San Francisco on his days off so the PPV could sell more tickets especially focusing on the Hispanic crowd. They let him and the event sold out. So yeah I think Eddie might of brought up the importance of promotional appearances to the WWE
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Bub (BLM)
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Aug 16, 2013 17:44:03 GMT -5
I still hate the topic of people being "draws" so much. Eddie was WAY over and sold a crap ton of T-Shirts. What the hell matters more than that?
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Crimson
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Post by Crimson on Aug 17, 2013 0:57:48 GMT -5
At one point Smackdown had more viewers than RAW, and I think that was largely due to the Latino audience watching to see Eddie and Rey. This is the reason why Rey still maintains a high position despite his constant injuries (and why the company is hell bent on backing Alberto Del Rio). |
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Post by lildude8218 on Aug 17, 2013 1:08:25 GMT -5
Well you know my name is Eddie and I like to do drawings. I like to draw all day long so come and do drawings with me. Come and do drawings with me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 11:23:38 GMT -5
At one point Smackdown had more viewers than RAW, and I think that was largely due to the Latino audience watching to see Eddie and Rey. It was also due to Smackdown still being on broadcast television. It was the only show a lot of low-income households got, and a lot of the US Hispanic population falls into that category. Moving that to cable probably got them better rights fees, but hurt them with that demo. |
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Post by Manute Bol on Aug 17, 2013 14:26:21 GMT -5
I think the days of one wrestler being a "draw" ended long before Eddie Guerrero came along. People don't pay to see one particular star anymore, they pay to see the WWE brand.
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driver8
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Post by driver8 on Aug 18, 2013 7:42:22 GMT -5
That train of thought is somewhat contradicted by buyrates spiking upwards when big name part-timers like rock and lesnar are involved, though.
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Post by KobashiChop on Aug 18, 2013 8:18:46 GMT -5
That train of thought is somewhat contradicted by buyrates spiking upwards when big name part-timers like rock and lesnar are involved, though. Draw =/= Special attraction. If The Rock worked the 300-day schedule, he'd be worth just as much as the other guys. Not to mention the buyrate for Survivor Series 2011 wasnt anything to scream about (not entirely down to him, but his first match in 7 years didn't really do anything for buyrates) And even sticking him into the WWE Title match at the Rumble still came out with a pretty standard Rumble buyrate. |
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