Donald Trump-based WWE Raw scores record ratings

The Donald Trump-based episode of "WWE Raw" score record ratings, hitting the highest overall audience for the program since the brand split. The episode, based around Trump assuming storyline ownership of the Raw brand, scored a 4.5 Nielsen mark which translates into a 20-25% jump over the same measure of two weeks earlier.

Trump's 'changes' to Raw included making it commercial free this week, a factor that no doubt contributed to the ratings increase. In actuality, KFC subsidized the commercial-free episode in exchange for favorable (and obvious) product placement.

After firing Santina Marella to write off that ridiculous character, Trump himself eventually 'sold' the program back to Mr. McMahon at double his purchase price to seemingly end the story.

While SEC fears may or may not have prematurely ended Trump's storyline Raw ownership though, Nielsen numbers should ensure that Trump will have an active role on WWE programming again, sooner rather than later.

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USA Network acknowledges Trump/Raw purchase a storyline

USA Network officially acknowledged the Donald Trump 'purchase' of WWE Raw as a storyline, apologizing to the business and entertainment press outlets for an earlier misleading press release.

The cable outlet claimed that the Tuesday press release entitled 'Trump Buys Raw' was meant as a promotional tool for the WWE Raw program. A number of media outlets including TV Guide and Media Life Magazine though ran stories that implied Trump's buyout was real.

Some stockholders apparently also took the Trump story to be real with WWE stock price dropping 7% before realization of its storyline aspect finally sunk in to these wayward investors.

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Donald Trump 'buys' WWE Raw in storyline development

Mr. McMahon announced on the live 3-For-All telecast that Donald Trump had 'bought' WWE Raw which would be run independently of the other WWE programs. Trump subsequently announced via satellite that next week's Raw would be commercial free and would feature WWE champion Randy Orton defending vs. Triple H in a Last Man Standing match.

Clearly, Trump's 'purchase' is yet another attempt by WWE to gain mainstream media attention combined with an attempt by both WWE & USA Network to boost flagging ratings for the Raw program.

The problem with this development is that the actual pro wrestling fans don't care about it, at least if ones in live attendance in Charlotte were any indication. The storyline could have made some sense with someone more ingrained in the WWE Universe. Trump is an outsider whose casting here just doesn't make sense in this particular context.

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