Source: EricBischoff.com

In a recent blog entry on his personal website, Eric Bischoff took a direct aim at recent comments by Paul Heyman that anyone over the age of 40 would be in trouble if he was given control of the company. Bischoff cited some of WWE’s recent ratings and some comments from Vince McMahon regarding a “lousy” quarter to offer proof that the majority of wrestling fans want to see established stars (i.e. the “over 40″ crowd) when they watch wrestling.

Forget about the fact that I’m an admitted mark for TNA Wrestling (and most of you are, too, even though you incorrectly think this term is an insult), but Bischoff’s comments are dead on accurate – especially his summation that the current team at TNA has used a good mix of the over 40 crowd and young stars to elevate new talent and bring national attention to the growing promotion. As far as this fan goes, TNA Wrestling is on the right track!

Read Bischoff’s entire blog entry either at the link above or directly below.

FACTS HURT!

On the heels of the big “youth push” in WWE during the past several weeks, here are some facts from this week in the business:

“Raw’s demographic ratings among males 18-34 and 18-49 were the lowest in seven weeks.”

“Raw scored a 1.86 rating among males 18-34, which was down from a 2.03 rating last week.”

And during this months conference call to investors Vince McMahon admitted that:

“Basically, we had a lousy quarter,” and then when on to pin the loss of Shawn Michaels, Batista, Triple H, and Undertaker (all 40 + years old) as the reason for the hit to PPV and live event revenue.

Now one could suggest that McMahon is insane enough to be intentionally misleading Wall Street with excuses that are not substantiated by financials that wouldn’t hold up under either SEC or Sarbanes Oxley Act 404 scrutiny, or maybe that he has no idea what he’s talking about despite the massive success of his business model.

Or one could recognize the direct connect between what TV ratings, PPV buy rates, and ticket sales have proven time and time again, as well as what legitimate focus groups conducted by credible media companies in the business of such have clearly identified: the TV audience (including 18-34 males) rate with ESTABLISHED (and yes older) stars!

Admittedly, these facts are kind of dry compared to the subjective opinion of those with their own agenda or the inflamed rhetoric that appeals to those perpetually pre-pubescent, parasitic internet “experts” who neither have any legitimate experience or success as executives in the television or wrestling industry, and the rants of the terminally irrelevant trying desperately to hold on to their last 200 fans.

But they are facts non-the-less.

In my opinion Vine Russo, Dixie Carter and the team at TNA have done a great job of utilizing veteran stars to help elevate some of the young emerging talent in TNA and at the same time gaining awareness and credibility within the media industry.

That’s just my opinion. And my opinion is backed up by facts.

OUCH!

Sorry.