By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

After WWE CEO Vince McMahon declared the "Survivor Series" PPV concept obsolete earlier this year, the 2010 edition showed it has some life with an improvement in PPV buys compared to 2009.

The 2010 edition last month drew approximately 240,000 buys according to preliminary estimates. The 2009 Survivor Series drew 235,000 buys, leading McMahon to prematurely declare the end of Survivor Series in a conference call with investors.

-- WWE released new monthly business figures this week indicating Survivor Series is ahead of 2009, but still well below the 2008 edition, which drew 319,000 buys. Also, the 2007 edition drew 341,000 buys.

WWE also revealed 53 percent of PPV buys in the fourth quarter have come from domestic sources. WWE reported 55 percent for fourth quarter 2009.

Despite a minimal increase in total PPV buys and a lower percentage of domestic buys in fourth quarter 2010 vs. 2009, WWE should realize a material increase in PPV revenue for Survivor Series due to the $5 price increase for domestic PPVs.

-- The TLC PPV this past Sunday still has to be accounted for in the current quarter. Barring an unexpected surge in PPV buys for TLC, WWE's fourth quarter 2010 will be off the pace from 2008 and 2009.

WWE averaged 232,000 buys per event in fourth quarter 2008 and 2009. Through three out of four events reported in Q4 2010, WWE is averaging 195,000 buys.

WWE's current quarter was dragged down by a poor performance by the Bragging Rights PPV, which drew fewer than 150,000 buys according to WWE's preliminary estimates.

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