WWE SmackDown Live Division Power Rankings: Kevin Owens Destroys Chris Jericho

SmackDown Live, Photo by WWE.com

Welcome to the Smackdown Live Division Power Rankings After WWE Payback.

These are the power rankings for each division on Smackdown Live for this following week. Each division would be ranked based on storyline progression and win/loss record as of 2017. Also, each division would be divided by contenders and pretenders, to differentiate the challengers in their respective division. I’ll also highlight a specific superstar in each division and explain their ranking based on their actions. Win/Loss record is provided by CageMatch.Net.

Each superstar or tag team can move up or down the rankings based on victory, defeat or storyline progression. Let’s get right to the rankings.

Photo by WWE.com

The SmackDown Live Women’s Division

Highlights of the Division

So the newly formed group called “The Welcoming Committee” scored their first huge win of the year against the Smackdown Live Women’s Champion and the No. 1 Contender for the title. This is the perfect way to establish an emerging faction but they need to do something with the name of the group. It’s a very laughable name to assign for three talented superstars who are in need for a serious push within the division. 

Carmella seems like the type who might not only be the brains of the operation but could potentially take the helm as leader of the faction. She’s the only credible contender within the group who is in striking distance to challenge Naomi for the title. She has moved up one spot ahead of Becky Lynch in the rankings after winning the tag match and should be seriously considered for a championship opportunity very soon.

Natalya is the most experienced competitor in the faction but still hold the worst win/loss record out of the trio. If she’s aligned with Carmella and Tamina, she’ll need to be treated as the biggest threat from the group. Her wrestling acumen is second to none and her championship pedigree is only rivaled to the current No. 1 Contender for the championship—Charlotte. As a tactical competitor, Natalya must demonstrate her vicious aggression to overcome her weak record inside the squared circle.

Meanwhile, for the Rest of the Division

It’ll be an interesting adjustment for Charlotte to be portrayed as a babyface in her ongoing battle against the newly formed faction but she needs to evolve as a WWE Superstar. Her run as the top heel of the Women’s Division has been repetitive and the fans need to see if she has the range to expand her personality and character. She’s in the same boat as Seth Rollins when it comes down to that kind of character shift but she must in order to maintain her current position on top of the division.

Becky Lynch and Naomi haven’t been in the forefront of these sudden developments within the division but they do play important roles moving forward. Naomi will need to justify her championship reign by calling out the new faction and Becky will need to exact revenge on the beat down she received.

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

SmackDown Live Women’s Champion: Naomi (5 Wins – 2 Losses)

Contenders

• No. 1 Contender: Charlotte (5 Wins – 8 Losses)
• Contender No. 2: Carmella (6 Wins – 2 Losses) (Moved Up 1 Spot)
• Contender No. 3: Becky Lynch (6 Wins – 6 Losses) (Moved Down 1 Spot)

Pretenders

• Pretender No. 1: Nikki Bella (3 Wins – 1 Loss)
• Pretender No. 2: Natalya (2 Wins – 4 Losses)
• Pretender No. 3: Tamina Stuka (N/A)
• Pretender No. 4: Lana (N/A)