A shows vs. B shows here is a valid point when Randy Orton vs. Sheamus is being used as one of the examples to make the point. That's why I raised that point and wanted to know if they're working the same cities/venues.
But if you present this as the standalone evidence to a detractor and use the Sheamus vs. Orton figure as an example but they aren't working the same size venues and cities then that part doesn't hold water.
I wasn't doubting the point you made about the skewed comparisons of A versus B level House show cards. I was merely pointing out that JMT likely only included the B-show attendance average to illustrate that not all house show tours are created equal, and not all WWE shows draw the type of numbers that Cena/Owens drew, especially at this time of the year where house show attendance is expected to suffer.
The more relevant number to illustrate how much people care about Owens was the comparisons to last year's Cena/Bray numbers, which the company was reportedly very happy with at that time.
The Orton/Sheamus number also helps drive home the point that WWE house shows haven't necessarily been a "hot ticket", but pairing Owens and Cena bucked that downward trend with relatively huge house show numbers over the summer season that haven't been seen by the company on a consistent basis in quite some time.
I don't think anyone is arguing Owens' ability to be a draw. I think everyone in this particular thread knows he is.
We may know it, but if we are to believe leaked information about how Owens is viewed by the powers that be, it seems that the backstage opinions of those who matter are not nearly as unanimous.
What were say Cena vs. Rollins numbers like? That would be a big one to know given that Rollins is the champ and a main event guy.
It would be interesting to make such a comparison, but there isn't extensive data yet as Cena/Rollins house show work is a new occurrence and they haven't yet worked the prolonged series of dates that Cena worked against Bray or Owens(or far less successively against the likes of Rusev, or Kane).
And much like we can't compare "A and B" show numbers, these recent month's shows can't be accurately compared to the numbers that Cena's house show tours with Rollins in early 2015(which admittedly drew similar numbers to what Cena/KO drew), as well as his tours working Orton in early 2014, as the numbers at that time of year are always higher no matter who competes, as Mania season inflates attendance.
