WWE Buyrates Are In, UFC Vs. WWE, Sandman, More

The buyrate for WWE's first tri-brand non-"Big Four" pay-per-view, WWE Backlash 2007, has come in. Not including buyrate numbers for December to Dismember, Backlash 2007 was the least watched WWE pay-per-view since 2004. The previous low was No Mercy 2006, which did about 195,000 buys total. Looking at the graph on corporate.wwe.com, Backlash came in just a smidge below No Mercy 2006, which held the dubious distinction of being the least watched non-ECW pay-per-view since 2004. Judging by the graph, it looks like Backlash 2007 did approximately 190,000 buys. This number is down from last year's show, which did 215,000 buys, and was a single brand pay-per-view no less. Also note, the number for Backlash 2007 is a preliminary estimate, so it may get a slight bump and not wind up being the least watched non-ECW pay-per-view within the past few years.

WWE will allow Sandman to make an appearance at the PWU show at the Alhambra on June 16th to be inducted into the Alhambra Hardcore Hall of Fame. The late Johnny Grunge will also be inducted.

UFC President Dana White was on Burning with Jim Rome Wednesday on ESPN. White said that UFC beats WWE and boxing on pay-per-view, which is true. However, White said that their 18-34 demographic beats all sports as well as professional wrestling except the NFL, which is inaccurate. UFC beats ECW and some shows beat SmackDown, but it is no longer beating out RAW. At one time during the Shamrock/Ortiz program, it was equal to RAW and sometimes beat out RAW in that demographic, but that is no longer the case.