source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
— In the SmackDown Divas locker room, there is a bit of resentment from some of the ladies towards reigning WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool. Whether it’s true or not, the feeling is that McCool has some power as the star of the women’s division on SmackDown and that she comes across like the veteran leader even though she doesn’t really have that much experience in the wrestling business. This was actually the case before McCool won the WWE Divas Championship at The Great American Bash last Sunday as the belt doesn’t have anything to do with the resentment. A few weeks ago, Natalya Neidhart was reportedly upset with McCool due to a behind the scenes incident involving the two in which McCool tried to show her how to lock up correctly and how to work “WWE style,” which is more about telling a story in the ring than doing a bunch of random moves. On the other hand, McCool doesn’t really appear to be in the wrong, and all of this probably has more to do with the typical wrestler mentality of someone becoming a star when others think they’re not as good as they themselves are, and then they come up with reasons why. Also, since McCool in involved in a real-life relationship with Undertaker, it would appear that some of the resentment and jealousy towards her is due to that. In other words, when a Diva is dating a Superstar wrestler and then gets a push, that’s obviously going to get people talking.
— Here are some segment-by-segment ratings notes from last Monday’s Raw. The Lance Cade vs. Paul London match and beginning of Jericho’s promo lost 214,000 viewers. The conclusion of his interview as well as the Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix match gained 260,000 viewers. The “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Jerry Lawler, Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes segment gained 149,000 viewers. The Cena & Cryme Tyme vs. JBL & Rhodes & DiBiase match gained 343,000. The mixed tag match featured Kofi Kingston & Mickie James vs. Paul and Katie Lea Burchill lost 206,000 viewers. The Santino Marella vs. D-Lo Brown match and Marella & Beth Phoenix angle gained 34,000 viewers. The first-ever match between CM Punk and Batista lost 86,000 viewers. The post-match stuff featuring Cena, Batista and JBL gained 756,000 viewers and drew the show’s peak rating at 3.89. Overall, the show drew a 3.32 rating and 4.74 million viewers. It wasn’t the most watched cable show of the night as it finished in third place behind TNT’s The Closer and Saving Grace.
— An enhancement wrestler by the name of Jeff Lewis broke two ribs during his dark match with Charlie Haas at the 7/14 Raw taping in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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