WWE SmackDown Rankings: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Dominating?

Smackdown. Photo by WWE.com

The SmackDown Live World Title Picture

Highlights of the division

The dumbest idea the WWE has ever concocted is trying to pit Jinder Mahal against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. Why on earth would anybody even care for that match. Sure it’s champion versus champion, but it seems obvious that it’s a massive mismatch when you have Lesnar and Mahal in the same ring. Having AJ Styles inserted into the title picture was an obvious choice but he’ll need to earn a title shot after losing to Baron Corbin for the US Championship last week. Jinder Mahal has already defeated AJ Styles back in May on SmackDown Live but this potential match will have higher stakes attached to it.

As for Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura, they suffered their first tag team loss in the main event after winning as a pair the other week. Both men have been in limbo since they are out of the title picture. It seems like the only logical route they can go is being inserted into the Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn feud with SmackDown management. There could be a possibility where they might be even part of a Survivor Series match in the long run, which could suit them well if there is nothing creatively for them.

Next: Raw Rankings Before WWE TLC 2017

Meanwhile, for the rest of the division…

Bobby Roode suffered his first loss on Smackdown Live to Dolph Ziggler with a roll-up pin. The WWE has systematically devalued Bobby Roode since he joined the blue brand after Summerslam. Him being presented as a babyface and feuding with Dolph Ziggler might have been a mistake that the WWE could have avoided. This feud is clearly dead in the water with no end in sight. Having each man beat each other will do nothing for them in the grander scheme of things.

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

WWE World Champion: Jinder Mahal (16 Wins – 12 Losses)

Contenders

• Top Contender: Shinsuke Nakamura (13 Wins – 5 Losses)
• Contender No. 2: Randy Orton (17 Wins – 11 Losses)

Pretenders

• Pretender No. 1: Bobby Roode (4 Wins – 1 Loss)

What are your thoughts on this week’s Smackdown Rankings?