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WWE SmackDown Live: Division Power Rankings Before WWE Payback

By Warsame A

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Photo by WWE.com

The SmackDown Live Mid Card Division

Highlights of the Division

Baron Corbin faced off against AJ Styles in a rematch of last week’s main event and lost via a roll-up pin combination. It’s disappointing that the Lone Wolf has been on a losing streak since the Superstar Shake-Up and hasn’t picked up any momentum to move up the rankings. If the WWE is seriously considering turning Baron Corbin into a potential world champion, he’ll need to be on a crazy win streak to justify the hype.

Kevin Owens has Payback to look forward to and he should walk away with the championship intact. His feud with AJ Styles might be the key to determine if either man will be wallowing around in the mid card scene or eyeing a WWE Championship opportunity. Both men are former world champions and I don’t see any scenario where both men will be fighting for the United States Championship past Backlash.

Sami Zayn has no clear path to the title but in the meantime he might have a possibility of facing Baron Corbin for a future championship shot down the line. Zayn needs to be in action and competing at a high level to justify his place at the top of the division. He hasn’t scored a win since arriving to Smackdown Live and that needs to change in a hurry.

Rusev demanding a WWE title shot at Money in the Bank is laughable based on his record this year alone but if Jinder Mahal can do it, so can he. The Bulgarian Brute might look the part as a champion but he needs to act the part as well. Quality and quantity of wins will change the perception that has casted over him this year and justify his warranted title opportunity. 

Let’s see the rankings for the division this week.

WWE United States Champion: Kevin Owens (8 Wins – 5 Losses)

Contenders

  • Top Contender: Sami Zayn (6 Wins – 10 Losses)
  • Contender No. 2: Baron Corbin (3 Wins – 9 Losses)
  • Contender No. 3: Mojo Rawley (6 Wins – 3 Losses)
  • Contender No. 4: Rusev (3 Wins – 7 Losses)

Pretenders

  • Pretender No. 1: Dolph Ziggler (3 Wins – 9 Losses)
  • Pretender No. 2: Tye Dillinger (2 Wins – 0 Losses)
  • Pretender No. 3: Sin Cara (2 Wins – 5 Losses)
  • Pretender No. 4: Luke Harper (1 Win – 8 Losses)
  • Pretender No. 5: Aiden English (1 Win – 4 Losses)
  • Pretender No. 6: Erick Rowan (0 Wins – 4 Losses)