USA Ratings & John Cena

According to The Nielsen ratings, the USA Network ratings for the week ending December 14th drew in an average of 3.11 million viewers. This ratings surge gave the USA Network a victory in the weekly ratings race over ESPN for the first time since the start of the 2008 football season. (source: smartbrief.com)

The surge in USA's ratings is thanks in large part to the return of flagship WWE Raw superstar, John Cena. Cena has returned to the show as its current World Heavyweight Champion. He'll also be highlighted on this coming Saturday night's NBC "Tribute to the Troops" special. In a recent article and interview with Cena, the champ discusses what it's been like performing overseas and his passion for collecting military memorabilia.

From thedeadbolt.com:

JOHN CENA: I think the word has gotten out over there that I’m a little bit of a stooge for military souvenirs because - One thing I always try to get for myself is - a little [key tick] that I have, myself, is a combat fired shell of munitions, whether it be a 762 or 50-caliber, or, you know, whatever I can find that’s actually been used. And I kind of fill it with dirt from Iraq. So I got five of those at my house, one for every year that I’ve been over there, which is kind of something that I take for me.

But the biggest thing over there is military coins and combat patches. Units, divisions have certain military coins that represent their division or their unit, or their operation, or whatever they do. You’re given these coins by usually ranking officers - Generals or Commanders, or Colonels, or people in charge. Soldiers will often give me their combat badges. That’s a pretty esteemed honor because you’re not supposed to have them unless you’ve served in combat over in the war zone. So it’s an honor when somebody hands you a coin or a patch because it’s almost like you’re accepted into the group. And that is the utmost form of flattery.

Read the full interview with John Cena at thedeadbolt.com.