Smackdown. Photo by WWE.com
Welcome to the Smackdown Rankings for the August 29 episode.
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.
Smackdown. Photo by WWE.com
The SmackDown Live Women’s Division
Highlights of the Division
Natalya has been officially been pigeonholed as a transitional champion on this past episode of Smackdown Live. She wasn’t in action this week but she learned that she’ll face Carmella next week and Naomi for the title rematch two weeks from Tuesday. This leaves everyone with an uneasy feeling Natalya won’t be the champion during that two-week stretch. If that’s the WWE’s play on the title picture then so be it. It’s disappointing that Natalya won’t be getting her fair shake as champion but let’s be real, she isn’t the long-term solution as the face of the division.
That honor is still being knighted to the Princess of Staten Island, Carmella. She defeated Naomi in a non-title match weeks ago, so the same scenario could happen next week versus Natalya. But in all honesty, it’ll be a little too soon for Carmella to cash-in the briefcase on the champ if she does defeat her next week. It would make a lot more sense to cash it in the championship rematch between Naomi and Natalya. It would be the perfect way to kick off a fresh championship feud between all three competitors on the road to Hell in a Cell.
Meanwhile, for the Rest of the Division
Tamina took out a jobber in her first match but what happened after the match was very interesting. Having photographers take photos of both Tamina and Lana after the match adds a different layer to this storyline, turning the Samoan into a superstar in the Women’s Division. Having Tamina slowly rack up some wins and having the media chasing her around for photos and interviews will create the bullseye Lana was hoping for. Either the entire division takes notice of Tamina slowly becoming a threat to their status or the Samoan becomes a bigger star that eclipses them on her path to championship gold.
Let’s see the rankings for the division this week.
SmackDown Live Women’s Champion: Natalya (9 Wins – 9 Losses)
Contenders
- No. 1 Contender: Naomi (11 Wins – 7 Losses)
- Contender No. 2: Carmella (11 Wins – 5 Losses) (MITB Winner)
- Contender No. 3: Becky Lynch (11 Wins – 13 Losses)
- Contender No. 4: Charlotte (9 Wins – 14 Losses)
Pretenders
- Pretender No. 1: Tamina Snuka (4 Wins – 4 Losses)
- Pretender No. 2: Lana (0 Wins – 6 Losses)
- Pretender No. 3: Maria Kanellis (N/A)
Smackdown. Photo by WWE.com
The SmackDown Live Tag Team Division
Highlights of the Division
The Usos once again defeated the New Day in a repetitive bout just to determine the stipulation for the championship rematch. At the moment it doesn’t seem to matter what kind of match it is because this rivalry has already run its course. Both teams have faced each other more times than the entire tag division competed this year alone. The WWE will need to decide which team should be at the forefront of this division for the rest of the year. All bets should be placed on the Usos, since they have started a Twitter rivalry with the RAW Tag Team Champions. This could potentially be something that could lead to a Survivor Series match between these two championship teams in the next few months.
The new duo of Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin scored their first victory over the Ascension in their Smackdown debut as a team. Both men looked really sharp in the ring but the key will need to be developing a persona that will get the fans attention. That was plaguing American Alpha for months in their time on Smackdown, they were generic characters who were amazing technical wrestlers. In the end, the team got stale and Jason Jordan got shipped to RAW. The WWE will need to find creative ways to get this team to be as entertaining in front of a camera than they are inside the wrestling ring.
Meanwhile, for the Rest of the Division
Breezango has no issue being the funniest tag team in the WWE but their skits still haven’t resolved the glaring question, who was attacking them? Rumours are still circulating that the Authors of Pain from NXT might be the culprits or the reunited team of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Repeating this theory every week is getting extremely agitating but the WWE won’t allow the Fashion Files to drop important clues that would expose these teams. The Fashion Police are getting themselves over with these goofy segments but there needs to be a pay off by the end of this series.
Let’s see the rankings for the division this week.
SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions: The Usos (12 Wins – 5 Loss)
Contenders
- No. 1 Contender: The New Day (8 Wins – 6 Losses)
- Contender No. 2: Breezango (6 Wins – 7 Losses)
- Contender No. 3: Hype Bros (1 Win – 2 Losses)
- Contender No. 4: Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin (1 Win – 0 Losses)
Pretenders
- Pretender No. 1: The Colons (3 Wins – 11 Losses)
- Pretender No. 2: The Ascension (1 Win – 6 Losses)
Smackdown. Photo by WWE.com
The SmackDown Live Mid Card Division
Highlights of the Division
Bringing back the United States Championship Open Challenge is the perfect way to revitalize the mid card division. Everyone was getting tired of seeing AJ Styles and Kevin Owens facing each other for the gold for weeks, so the change was greatly needed. Tye Dillinger stepped up to the plate but lost in quick fashion because of Baron Corbin’s interference. The Perfect 10 was made to look like a jobber in a potential feud between Corbin and Styles, which is a huge mistake. The Lone Wolf has lost all credibility as a contender on Smackdown and Tye Dillinger shouldn’t be wasted away in that type of scenario. A proper rematch should be in order between Dillinger and Styles. Dillinger still has the capability to be one of the top babyfaces on this brand, Corbin has no shot of being the top heel of the show.
As for Kevin Owens, his beef with Shane McMahon resulted in him becoming a referee in a match between Aiden English and Sami Zayn. This bizarre turn of events is what may be the key to turning Smackdown around and compete with RAW during the Fall season. Unpredictability is what will be fuelling Kevin Owens on his revenge tour on Shane McMahon and anybody who supports him. Someone like Dolph Ziggler would benefit by aligning himself with Kevin Owens, since he’s upset that he hasn’t gotten the respect or opportunities he deserved on Smackdown. If Owens could rack up guys like English and Ziggler on his war with Shane McMahon, this will be a turning point for the Smackdown brand.
Meanwhile, for the rest of the division.
Rusev lost in his tag team match against Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura, so what’s next for him? The only possible route for the Bulgarian Brute would be to run interference and cost Randy Orton his chance to compete for the WWE Championship next week. Continuing with that feud should be the only course of action after the debacle that transpired at Summerslam. The former United States Champion will need to demonstrate to the Smackdown audience that he isn’t a doormat to the main-event stars of the blue brand.
Let’s see the rankings for the division this week.
WWE United States Champion: AJ Styles (18 Wins – 12 Losses)
Contenders
- Top Contender: Kevin Owens (14 Wins – 17 Losses)
- Contender No. 2: Sami Zayn (12 Wins – 18 Losses)
- Contender No. 3: Baron Corbin (7 Wins – 18 Losses)
- Contender No. 4: Chris Jericho (5 Wins – 9 Losses)
- Contender No. 5: Rusev (4 Wins – 11 Losses)
- Contender No. 6: Mike Kanellis (1 Win – 3 Losses)
Pretenders
- Pretender No. 1: Tye Dillinger (5 Wins – 5 Losses)
- Pretender No. 2: Dolph Ziggler (5 Wins – 15 Losses)
- Pretender No. 3: Aiden English (4 Wins – 8 Losses)
- Pretender No. 4: Sin Cara (2 Wins – 7 Losses)
- Pretender No. 5: Luke Harper (2 Wins – 11 Losses)
- Pretender No. 6: Erick Rowan (1 Win – 6 Losses)
Smackdown. Photo by WWE.com
The SmackDown Live World Title Picture
Highlights of the Division
Jinder Mahal lost in his main event tag team match but his push as the face of Smackdown remains the same. He wasn’t involved with the deciding sequence of the loss and still maintains his credibility as champion. His promos are still as basic as a 1980s foreign bad guy’s rant. The Maharaja is still the best old-school heel in the WWE in a sense where the fans aren’t cheering for him. He isn’t a guy like Kevin Owens where he’s supposed to get jeered but instead gets applauded for the insults he dishes to the crowd. Mahal is doing his job but is he an outdated champion in the wrong era?
Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura will face each other next week to determine who will be facing Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship. Nakamura should be considered the favorite since he has unfinished business with the champion. Rusev might cost Orton his rightful shot at the gold, which should add more fuel to the fire in their heated feud. This No. 1 contenders match was the right move to make for the WWE since both men were deserving of a title shot. Here’s hoping that the King of Strong Style gets his rightful opportunity at the title once more.
Meanwhile, for the Rest of the Division
Bobby Roode scored another impressive victory over Mike Kanellis on Smackdown Live. The former NXT Champion is still treated as a babyface for the moment but it won’t be long before he becomes the biggest heel of the blue brand. At the moment, it seems like he’ll be piling up some victories as he raises his profile as a perennial pretender to a main event championship contender in the next few weeks. Is he the long-term solution as the next WWE Champion? Or is the man who might be directionless in the next few weeks?
Let’s see the rankings for the division this week.
WWE World Champion: Jinder Mahal (15 Wins – 12 Losses)
Contenders
- Top Contender: Shinsuke Nakamura (11 Wins – 3 Losses)
- Contender No. 2: Randy Orton (13 Wins – 8 Losses)
Pretenders
- Pretender No. 1: Bobby Roode (2 Wins – 0 Losses)
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What are your thoughts on this week’s Smackdown Rankings?