WWE News: Article looks at potential effect of Benoit tragedy on WWE ratings
Submitted by Brian Cantor on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 7:50 PM EST





Since the Benoit family murder-suicide, ratings for two of WWE's three programs have declined. A Variety.com article examines whether there is a direct connection between the two events.

While the most recent SmackDown! rating was solid, numbers for WWE RAW and ECW are not as great. WWE RAW has declined 10% in total viewers, 21% in men 18-34 and 17% men 18-49 since the Benoit tragedy. ECW has fallen by 9% in total viewers, 28% in men 18-34 and 19% in men 18-49.

A WWE spokesperson, however, cited other factors for the ratings declines, including the fact that RAW was recently positioned against the "Home Run Derby" and a WWE-centric edition of "Larry King Live."

The article also noted that the Benoit tragedy led to WWE to scrap its "popular" whodunit storyline involving McMahon's death.

In any event, USA President Bonnie Hammer expects RAW ratings to rebound as hype for Summerslam gets underway.

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