Sinking Ship: WWE and Its Recent Ratings Dip of Just 2.8

At the height of the Monday Night Wars, ratings were everything in wrestling. The much talked about dominance by the nWo led WCW lasted nearly two years. The WCW seemingly could do no wrong.

History of course shows what happened next.

Fast forward a decade, and WWE in rivalry with Monday Night Football and other programmes has faltered.

Posting a 2.8, Raw has had its worst result in two years. This on the back of a 3.0 rating the week before.

Examining Raw last week is fruitless because we in the IWC like different things. I would argue that Cena was one of the few interesting things about the show, though the Nexus result was kinda predictable.

The feud keeps Cena out of the Title picture, whilst still giving him an angle at Hell in a Cell. Others will of course argue differently.

But examining the rest of the show, and same problems appear. Yet another Tag Team squash, another Divas match with no interest, a slap down of the US Champion and Michael Cole's rant about the Harts?

Where did that even come from? Celine Dion?

The quality of raw has in recent times been extremely erratic. At times it has shown why it is the longest episodic show in American history i.e. JoMo and Sheamus from last week. And yet other moments are so poor, that you wonder how WWE ever won the Ratings War at all.

I wrote an article several months ago about the decline in quality of wrestling. I said that WWE would begin to gradually lose its support . And so it has. Wrestling fans need something to watch. They need a reason to tune in. At moment they don't.

Stone Cold lite or Orton is limited. RKO this, RKO that. Nothing much more...PG rules will ensure that. He is getting a bump now but its difficult to see where they can go with him unless Cena turns; something that is gaining momentum if rumour sites are to be believed.

Though not a fair comparison in terms of days, TNA did a 1.2 last week. WWE still dominate but its not exactly a proportional lead given the expenditure. TNA is trying hard and while some will never accept it as the WCW's heir, it is at least on the wrestling radar.

Should WWE fall further, and TNA gains a few points, things will begin to get interesting. Not that TNA will catch WWE anytime soon but something will happen in terms of creative control in Connecticut.

The mid-1990s slump of the WWE fueled the Attitude Era and a new type of wrestling was created.

Attitude won't return but something new is needed.

Daniel Bryan, John Morrison, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston: four examples of talents needing a push. Storylines not just belts. Reasons to watch. Reasons to tune into WWE.

Maybe not these superstars perhaps, but quality rivalries, quality matches and quality shows.

Ultimately, would you want the NFL or Santino getting squashed again? Football or a Divas Match? Monday Night Football or Monday Night Raw? At present, WWE is not winning. And because of that wrestling is not winning.

Some in TNA might just be beginning to believe.