WWE Power Rankings Top 25 Superstars This Week: #195: Braun Strowman Cracks His Way Back Into Top 2
Welcome to another edition of POWER RANKINGS from Smark Out Moment! Each week, we will break down the current roster and examine who has gone up the WWE hierarchy and who has unfortunately taken a step down the ladder. Factoring in things such as wins and losses, suspensions, injuries, making a name for one's self, being humiliated, and more, who is at the top of the food chain and who needs to make up some ground next week?
Here is the key code for the rankings shorthand when referencing their position in relation to the previous week:
Lars was in a handicap match against both Dream and Ricochet. After team turmoil, Lars scored a victory on his path to Alesiter Black.
Corbin beat No Way Jose, hopefully ending the feud, Corbin has been stuck in a rut over the last few months, as WWE Creative hasn't thrown much his way.
Gargano returned to NXT still wounded, but he tore off his brace and called out Ciampa. Unfortunately, Ciampa played Gargano's game and it ended with Johnny knocking his wife down onto the steel ramp.
Dallas and Axel pick up another upset win, this time over Breezango. The duo is picking up wins, but over the bottom of the ladder teams.
Mahal continues his feud with Reigns, attacking him during his match with Owens. After losing in a tag match, Mahal retaliated and assaulted Reigns and Rollins.
Owens was used as the scapegoat in the Reigns/Mahal rivalry. He started off the show promising, but was eventually pinned to keep heat off of the other men in the match. At least he is still doing better than his friend Sami Zayn.
Naomi beat Sonya Deville in a MITB qualifying match, the most momentum Naomi has had in a long while. She isn't a threat in the match at this point though.
Rousey returned to Raw to sign her contract for her title match at MITB. Ronda is seemingly becoming the female version of Lesnar. If she wins the title, hopefully she is nothing like Lesnar.
After a win over Billie Kay, Lana found herself in the MITB ladder match. She is a surprise entry, as she hasn't had a decent push lately.
The Miz tried to tear apart of the group when asking who of them will be in the MITB ladder match. There is some minor tension in the trio, but nothing seriously yet. The Bar is still in the background and being a pain to them, costing them matches.
Reigns is clearly not the top star on Raw, let alone WWE. They put him in a match with the biggest star on Raw in Seth Rollins to elevate him. His feud with Mahal is progressing, but it is a midcard feud at best.
While not in a match or feud, McMahon was the vocal piece for Jax and Rousey in their contract signing. She performed wonderfully in causing added tension to their rivalry.
It is official: Nakamura picked Last Man Standing as the stipulation to their title match. At least this time we should get a clear winner.
Natalya beat out four others for a spot on the MITB ladder match. The veteran is a favorite, trying to get in one more title run.
After months of being stuck at the bottom of the ladder, Gallows and Anderson won the right for a title match and it should be a solid match against the Bludgeon Brothers.
Jax signed her contract to defend her title against the strongest threat to her title yet, Ronda Rousey.
Ciampa came out to Gargano's callout, but did not beat down his former partner as everyone would have expected. He continued his head games, knocking Johnny into his wife, who was knocked down and out.
Miz tried to get inside of the heads of The New Day, and it worked in showing some small tension in the group. He was even able to roll-up Big E after a distraction from The Bar.
For the second time, Moon has pinned the former Women's Championship Alexa Bliss.
Slowly bur surely, WWE seems to be teasing the true potential of Ziggler and McIntyre's partnership. They are winning, but haven't hit their stride yet.
In a surprise main event on Raw, Balor was pitted against Braun Strowman. Balor was strong in his loss to the big man, but was shown a huge sign of respect by the Monster Among Men after the great match.
Nakamura finally picked the title match stipulation after much teasing. A Last Man Standing match will at least give us a clear winner...right?
Bryan brought out the best in Jeff Hardy and beat the US champ for a chance at Samoa Joe next week for a spot in the MITB ladder match.
WWE threw us a curveball with a surprise match with Balor vs Braun. Braun won a show-stealer of a match and even raised Balor's arm after the match to show the mutual respect.
Rollins didn't have one of his open challenges this week, but was tossed into Reign's storyline with Mahal and Owens. He helped Reigns win a tag match against the heels, but was beaten down afterwards by Mahal.
Lacey Evans - Evans is quickly progressing through NXT, even beating fan-favorite Kairi Sane.
Samoa Joe - Daniel Bryan beat Jeff Hardy for a run at Samoa Joe for a MITB ladder match spot.
TM61 - The heels took down Heavy Machinery and they seemed poised for a decent run as heels.
Hideo Itami - Itami battled his former partner Akira Tozawa in the main event of 205 Live.
Jeff Hardy - The US Champion finally is gaining some ground, even though he did lose to Daniel Bryan. The champ is just looking like himself again.
Here is the key code for the rankings shorthand when referencing their position in relation to the previous week:
NR = Not included in last week's rankings at all
+ Green = the number of moves up in the rankings compared to last week
- Red = the number of moves down in the rankings compared to last week
Honorable Mentions = five superstars who just barely missed the cut
25. LARS SULLIVAN [NR FIRST TIME RANKED]
Lars was in a handicap match against both Dream and Ricochet. After team turmoil, Lars scored a victory on his path to Alesiter Black.
24. BARON CORBIN [NR]
Corbin beat No Way Jose, hopefully ending the feud, Corbin has been stuck in a rut over the last few months, as WWE Creative hasn't thrown much his way.
23. JOHNNY GARGANO [NR]
Gargano returned to NXT still wounded, but he tore off his brace and called out Ciampa. Unfortunately, Ciampa played Gargano's game and it ended with Johnny knocking his wife down onto the steel ramp.
22. B-TEAM [+2]
Dallas and Axel pick up another upset win, this time over Breezango. The duo is picking up wins, but over the bottom of the ladder teams.
21. JINDER MAHAL [+2]
Mahal continues his feud with Reigns, attacking him during his match with Owens. After losing in a tag match, Mahal retaliated and assaulted Reigns and Rollins.
20. KEVIN OWENS [-15]
Owens was used as the scapegoat in the Reigns/Mahal rivalry. He started off the show promising, but was eventually pinned to keep heat off of the other men in the match. At least he is still doing better than his friend Sami Zayn.
19. NAOMI [NR]
Naomi beat Sonya Deville in a MITB qualifying match, the most momentum Naomi has had in a long while. She isn't a threat in the match at this point though.
18. RONDA ROUSEY [NR]
Rousey returned to Raw to sign her contract for her title match at MITB. Ronda is seemingly becoming the female version of Lesnar. If she wins the title, hopefully she is nothing like Lesnar.
17. LANA [NR]
After a win over Billie Kay, Lana found herself in the MITB ladder match. She is a surprise entry, as she hasn't had a decent push lately.
16. THE NEW DAY [-10]
The Miz tried to tear apart of the group when asking who of them will be in the MITB ladder match. There is some minor tension in the trio, but nothing seriously yet. The Bar is still in the background and being a pain to them, costing them matches.
15. ROMAN REIGNS [+3]
Reigns is clearly not the top star on Raw, let alone WWE. They put him in a match with the biggest star on Raw in Seth Rollins to elevate him. His feud with Mahal is progressing, but it is a midcard feud at best.
14. STEPHANIE MCMAHON [NR]
While not in a match or feud, McMahon was the vocal piece for Jax and Rousey in their contract signing. She performed wonderfully in causing added tension to their rivalry.
13. AJ STYLES [+0]
It is official: Nakamura picked Last Man Standing as the stipulation to their title match. At least this time we should get a clear winner.
12. NATALYA [+10]
Natalya beat out four others for a spot on the MITB ladder match. The veteran is a favorite, trying to get in one more title run.
11. GALLOWS AND ANDERSON [NR]
After months of being stuck at the bottom of the ladder, Gallows and Anderson won the right for a title match and it should be a solid match against the Bludgeon Brothers.
10. NIA JAX [NR]
Jax signed her contract to defend her title against the strongest threat to her title yet, Ronda Rousey.
9. TOMMASO CIAMPA [+1]
Ciampa came out to Gargano's callout, but did not beat down his former partner as everyone would have expected. He continued his head games, knocking Johnny into his wife, who was knocked down and out.
8. THE MIZ [NR]
Miz tried to get inside of the heads of The New Day, and it worked in showing some small tension in the group. He was even able to roll-up Big E after a distraction from The Bar.
7. EMBER MOON [+1]
For the second time, Moon has pinned the former Women's Championship Alexa Bliss.
6. THE SHOW [+3]
Slowly bur surely, WWE seems to be teasing the true potential of Ziggler and McIntyre's partnership. They are winning, but haven't hit their stride yet.
5. FINN BALOR [+14]
In a surprise main event on Raw, Balor was pitted against Braun Strowman. Balor was strong in his loss to the big man, but was shown a huge sign of respect by the Monster Among Men after the great match.
4. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA [-2]
Nakamura finally picked the title match stipulation after much teasing. A Last Man Standing match will at least give us a clear winner...right?
3. DANIEL BRYAN [+8]
Bryan brought out the best in Jeff Hardy and beat the US champ for a chance at Samoa Joe next week for a spot in the MITB ladder match.
2. BRAUN STROWMAN [+14]
WWE threw us a curveball with a surprise match with Balor vs Braun. Braun won a show-stealer of a match and even raised Balor's arm after the match to show the mutual respect.
1. SETH ROLLINS [+0 FOURTH WEEK STRAIGHT]
Rollins didn't have one of his open challenges this week, but was tossed into Reign's storyline with Mahal and Owens. He helped Reigns win a tag match against the heels, but was beaten down afterwards by Mahal.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Lacey Evans - Evans is quickly progressing through NXT, even beating fan-favorite Kairi Sane.
Samoa Joe - Daniel Bryan beat Jeff Hardy for a run at Samoa Joe for a MITB ladder match spot.
TM61 - The heels took down Heavy Machinery and they seemed poised for a decent run as heels.
Hideo Itami - Itami battled his former partner Akira Tozawa in the main event of 205 Live.
Jeff Hardy - The US Champion finally is gaining some ground, even though he did lose to Daniel Bryan. The champ is just looking like himself again.
BIGGEST MOVES THIS WEEK
Braun Strowman +14
Kevin Owens -15
Do you think anyone should be listed differently?
What can these Superstars do to get back up at the #1 spot?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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