Major Backstage RAW News, Real Reason For MVP's Losing Streak, More
Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (f4wonline.com)
? At the Slammy Award RAW show, the wrestlers spent all day rehearsing their lines for the Slammy Awards, with virtually no time working on the wrestling aspects of the show. Most of the awards given were as a result of the ongoing storylines, but some were shoots. They were described as not meaning to be credible as creative didn't really sit down to think of people's qualifications and who deserved to win certain awards. For example, they didn't have Santino Marella win any awards because because it played into his storyline of bragging he'd win and his role in WWE is to be laughed at and always failing. Jericho received "Superstar of the Year" because they wanted to put him over strong since he faced John Cena for the World Heavyweight Championship at the Armageddon pay-per-view. It also gave him a reason to cut a big promo promoting the match, so he got the award. Chris is also know as an all around good guy backstage who gets along with just about everyone. Match of the Year going to Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair was done to continue the JBL vs. Michaels storyline.
? For people wondering about MVP's losing streak (now at 19 consecutive losses on television), he was told it was being done because the company is mad about giving guys such as Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley huge pushes only to see them leave. The word going around is that they're doing this to MVP now not as a booking reprisal, but as a way to make sure he's willing to stick out for the long haul. MVP feels this is the real reason for the losing streak, apparently not realizing everyone else they are high on and grooming for the future also don't have losing streak storylines.
? As we reported earlier, this year's Cyber Sunday pay-per-view drew an estimated total of 104,000 pay-per-view buys in North America (162,000 overall), making it the third lowest purchased pay-per-view in company history. The event featured Chris Jericho defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Batista with the option of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin being the special guest referee. If you're wondering which two shows did worse, they are December to Dismember (2006) and an "In Your House" pay-per-view event in December 1996, "In Your House 12: It's Time." The December to Dismember event was a complete disaster, drawing 90,000 pay-per-view buys, with 55,000 of them domestic ? the lowest buyrate in company history. The "In Your House" event featured Sycho Sid defeating Bret Hart to retain the WWF Championship.