Free Live Sacrifice Pre-Show, Santina Not Drawing?, More
As reported earlier, last week's episode of Raw drew a 3.29 cable rating. The segment-by-segment breakdown is as follows: The long opening segment building the show's opening match was for naught as Batista vs. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase lost 156,000 viewers. The women's tag match pitting Mickie James and Kelly Kelly against Maryse and Jillian gained 242,000 viewers. Carlito vs. The Brian Kendrick lost 128,000 viewers. Segments involving The Miz calling out Cena again, Santina Marella, Beth Phoenix, Rosa Mendes, Chavo Guerrero and Vickie Guerrero gained 498,000 viewers for a 3.55 quarter hour, drawing the peak number for the show. However, the Santina Marella vs. Beth Phoenix match was a huge ratings loser as 369,000 viewers tuned out during the bout and largely never came back. MVP's VIP lounge segment followed by a Kofi Kingston and MVP vs. William Regal and Matt Hardy tag match lost an additional 185,000 viewers. The show's main event pitting Randy Orton against Batista only gained 14,000 viewers, drawing a lackluster 3.17 quarter hour.
The final number for Friday Night Smackdown on May 8th was a 1.89 rating and 2.97 million viewers. While the rating isn't that much lower than usual, the number of total viewers was really bad as fewer viewers per household than usual were watching.
TNA also sent out this press release, announcing that the Sacrifice Pre-PPV show will be available online for free:
TNA TO SIMULCAST "SACRIFICE COUNTDOWN" LIVE PAY-PER-VIEW
PRE-SHOW FREE ON THE INTERNET!
Featuring a live match with Amazing Red vs. Kiyoshi and much more!
Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling will simulcast the "Sacrifice Countdown" pay-per-view pre-show event free of charge this Sunday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT live from Universal Orlando on www.tnawrestling.com/ and www.Mycontent.com/TNA. The pre-show will also air on cable and satellite systems carrying the "Sacrifice 2009" pay-per-view.
The live on-line pre-show will also feature the most up-to-the minute news on the Pay-Per-View event.
"TNA Sacrifice 2009" is available on a pay-per-view basis through InDemand, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Time Warner, Comcast, Charter, Cablevision, AT&T, Verizon, Viewer's Choice Canada, Sasktel, Bell TV and Shaw TV. Check with your local cable or satellite provider for availability.
The current lineup for Sunday's PPV is as follows:
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THE TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion Mick Foley vs. Sting vs. Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett
If Mick Foley gets pinned, he loses the TNA Heavyweight Title
If Kurt Angle gets pinned, he gives up leadership of The Main Event Mafia
If Sting gets pinned, he has vowed to never wrestle again
If Jeff Jarrett gets pinned, he gives up all his power in TNA
I-QUIT MATCH FOR THE TNA LEGENDS CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion AJ Styles vs. Booker T
TNA KNOCKOUT WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
Champion Angelina Love vs. Awesome Kong
MAIN EVENT MAFIA VS. TNA FRONTLINE
Kevin Nash vs. Samoa Joe
X-DIVISION TITLE MATCH
Champion Suicide vs. Daniels
THE FIRST-EVER KNOCKOUTS MONSTER'S BALL
Taylor Wilde vs. Daffney
THE FINALS OF THE TEAM 3D TOURNAMENT
Beer Money, Inc. vs. The British Invasion