Early Judgment Day Buyrate Revealed, Murdoch, Lashley, & More

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

As noted earlier, Trevor Murdoch will make his first post-WWE appearance in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Council promotion on July 19. Also scheduled for the event is WWE's Carlito, former WWE stars Bobby Lashley, Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore and The Gymini. This will be an Anniversario event with a retirement ceremony for Carlos Colon featuring Harley Race, Hercules Ayala, Chicky Starr, Abdullah The Butcher, Dusty Rhodes, Jose Rivera Sr. and Dory Funk Jr.

The preliminary buyrate for WWE's Judgment Day PPV on May 18 was 244,000 buys, with 154,000 buys domestic. This is around the same number last year's Judgment Day drew with 240,000 buys total with 158,000 domestic. Considering these are just early numbers, the final numbers will increase from the first estimate. While there are times that preliminary numbers are a bit high, considering TV ratings and web site traffic was up now from last year, it is almost a lock the final numbers will be higher.

The four big matches on the show featured Triple H vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship in a Steel Cage Match, The Undertaker vs. Edge for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship, John Cena vs. JBL and Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho in what was largely considered the match of the night. Last year's show featured John Cena vs. Great Kahli for the WWE Championship, Edge vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship (shortly after Undertaker's injury), Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels and Bobby Lashley vs. then ECW Champion Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and Umaga.