By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE Raw on Monday, December 17 scored a 2.89 rating, up from a poor 2.67 rating leading into the TLC PPV. It was the highest rating since October 29, which isn't saying much since Raw has been in the basement the past two months.

Raw averaged 4.23 million viewers for all three Slammy hours, which was up 12 percent from last week's Raw. It was the most viewers of the fall season. However, the story remained the same on WWE losing a big chunk of third hour viewers.

Hourly Breakdown: 4.29 million first hour viewers (most since Sept. 3), 4.41 million second hour viewers during Ric Flair's return (most during fall season), and 10 percent drop-off to 3.99 million third hour viewers.

On cable TV Monday night, Raw ranked #2 in overall viewers behind the Monday Night Football game, which drew a season-low 10.1 million viewers despite featuring a New York market team. MNF's audience was down 31 percent from last week, which certainly helped Raw.

Raw ranked #2 in key male demos behind football and ranked #1 among male teens. It was the best teen male rating since August 13 and the best m12-34 night of the fall season.

Caldwell's Analysis: Raw probably could have topped a 3.0 rating if WWE just promoted the idea of big returns for the Slammys, even doing even a fraction of Raw 1,000 hype. Coming into Raw, though, there was no indication that anyone of note would be returning to Raw, so the marketing was "tune in for the TLC fall-out and check out a rigged awards show." A poor MNF match-up combined with advanced planning to promote big returns could have delivered that elusive 3.0 rating again. But, WWE and USA Network will take the 2.9 rounded rating and strong demo ratings at a time when the bar has been lowered to the basement this fall season.

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