PAY-PER-VIEW STATS PAGE
On this page you will see how federations not only compare with each other from year to year, but also the quality of a federation's shows from one year to the next. I have included 10 stats in each yearly comparison- I could include more but simply chose what I believe to be the most relevant ones when judging how one's PPV product measured up. Lots of interesting stats come up, including how match quality foes not always determine a show's popularity, and how the number of responses in grading WWF/WWE pay-per-views has continued to rise even in light of sharply decreasing buyrates. I haven't included data for 2003 because we're only a few shows in; look for a 2003 data table later in the year. Keep in mind many of these stats were drawn from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Dave Meltzer's match ratings, so proceed with your own risk :)
1998
| - | WWF | WCW | ECW |
| # of shows | 12 | 12 | 4 |
| Total # of rated matches | 98 | 112 | 27 |
| Average * rating per event | 1.666 | 1.534 | 1.588 |
| Average * rating per match | 1.643 | 1.536 | 1.556 |
| # of unrated matches | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Average Popularity % | .540 | .405 | .466 |
| Average # of responses per show | 178.67 | 143.25 | 175.75 |
| Thumbs up vs Thumbs down | 6-6 | 4-8 | 1-3 |
| Best match average * rating per show | 3.708 | 3.729 | 3.000 |
| Best match | ****1/2 | ****1/2 | **** |
1999
| - | WWF | WCW | ECW |
| # of shows | 12 (1) | 12 | 6 (2) |
| Total # of rated matches | 100 | 113 | 37 |
| Average * rating per event | 1.452 | 1.443 | 1.892 |
| Average * rating per match | 1.435 | 1.432 | 1.885 |
| # of unrated matches | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Average Popularity % | .544 | .379 | .759 |
| Average # of responses per show | 170.73 | 120.08 | 142.00 |
| Thumbs up vs Thumbs down | 6-5 | 3-9 | 5-0 |
| Best match average * rating per show | 3.477 | 3.542 | 3.650 |
| Best match | ****1/2 | ****1/4 | ****1/4 |
2000
| - | WWF | WCW | ECW |
| # of shows | 12 | 12 | 7 |
| Total # of rated matches | 100 | 131 | 56 |
| Average * rating per event | 2.134 | 1.283 | 2.270 |
| Average * rating per match | 2.080 | 1.281 | 2.277 |
| # of unrated matches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Average Popularity % | .722 | .397 | .791 |
| Average # of responses per show | 269.92 | 150.67 | 121.57 |
| Thumbs up vs Thumbs down | 10-2 | 5-7 | 7-0 |
| Best match average * rating per show | 4.063 | 3.146 | 3.429 |
| Best match | ****1/2 | ****1/4 | ***3/4 |
2001
| - | WWF | WCW | ECW |
| # of shows | 14 (3) | 3 | 1 |
| Total # of rated matches | 105 | 30 | 8 |
| Average * rating per event | 2.549 | 2.142 | 1.625 |
| Average * rating per match | 2.507 | 2.142 | 1.625 |
| # of unrated matches | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Average Popularity % | .769 | .730 | .709 |
| Average # of responses per show | 325.07 | 124.00 | 134.00 |
| Thumbs up vs Thumbs down | 13-1 | 3-0 | 1-0 |
| Best match average * rating per show | 4.161 | 3.917 | 3.250 |
| Best match | ****3/4 | ****1/4 | ***1/4 |
2002
| - | WWF/WWE |
| # of shows | 13 |
| Total # of rated matches | 102 |
| Average * rating per event | 2.304 |
| Average * rating per match | 2.272 |
| # of unrated matches | 0 |
| Average Popularity % | .648 |
| Average # of responses per show | 368.92 |
| Thumbs up vs Thumbs down | 10-3 |
| Best match average * rating per show | 4.058 |
| Best match | ****3/4 |
(1) Only 11 shows have data out of 12 because WWF Over the Edge wasn't critically reviewed due to the circumstances of Owen Hart's death.
(2) I don't have data for ECW Hardcore Heaven 1999; from what I remember its averages seemed pretty much in line with the overall data.
(3) Beginning in 2001, the Observer included complete info for UK PPVs, including poll responses, so I'm including those shows from 2001-on in the stats.