We’re ranking the WWE Raw roster superstars as of February 19, 2018. It was an eventful night. How does everyone stack up?
Gentle reader, welcome to my very first edition of the WWE Raw Power Rankings. As many of you know, I already provide similar Power Rankings for NXT, and now I will provide the same type of vague insights with wrestlers from WWE’s flagship show in the form of a commented top ten list.
For now, I will be focusing exclusively on singles competitors from the men’s and women’s divisions. I may start a separate list for tag teams eventually if WWE gives the RAW tag team division some real love.
What a journey we are about to embark upon, friends. Won’t you join me?
RAW SINGLES DIVISION POWER RANKINGS (positions 10 and 9)
WWE Universal Champion: Brock Lesnar
WWE RAW Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
Credit: WWE.com
#10 Mickie James
Mickie is such a consistent and solid worker, I always get excited when she gets added into storylines. So the fact that the women’s Elimination Chamber match subplot she has with Alexa Bliss took shape at the end of the 6-women tag team match was very cool indeed. Mickie stood side-by-side with Alexa as they delivered a double DDT on Sonya Deville, cementing their partnership as they go into the PPV.
Of course, Alexa is more than likely going to betray Mickie if it means holding onto her Raw Women’s Title, but adding this extra layer of intrigue will certainly keep us guessing as to how the match will turn out.
Credit: WWE.com
#9 Roman Reigns
It brings me no joy to rank Roman Reigns so low on the first edition of my Raw rankings. Especially knowing how, um, polarizing Roman is in the community, but let’s take a second to be objective here.
Roman started the gauntlet match with Seth. He tried to get some offensive off, but he and the Architect were too evenly matched. He was eventually eliminated from the match via roll-up that he never saw coming. That was it for Roman Reigns.
But, I also understand from a booking perspective it makes sense for Roman to not go too far in the gauntlet match if he’s indeed supposed to win the Elimination Chamber and then beat Lesnar at WrestleMania, lest the audience riots. The fact that he’s having trouble securing wins recently makes for a better story, too.
So yeah, losing the gauntlet match may not be a good look short term, but it may be a good decision down the line.
RAW SINGLES DIVISION POWER RANKINGS (positions 8 and 7)
Site: WWE.com
#8 Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks undoubtedly had the best showing from all the women involved in the 6-woman tag team match in the main event of Raw. She also arguably had the most memorable moment when she lept off the ring apron to the floor and onto Sonya Deville with double knees.
But it was the hot tag she got later on in the match which was able to clinch it for her team. She cleaned house and locked in a Bank Statement to score the “W.” It’s a good idea to let Sasha look strong heading into Elimination Chamber, especially if WWE finally decides to pull the trigger on her heel turn…
Credit: WWE.com
#7 Nia Jax
Out of the entire Raw women’s roster, Nia Jax was the one woman who made the biggest impact by going after Asuka and beating her up like a couple of eggs for an omelet. Jax even no-sold that initial flurry of kicks that Asuka tried to use to defend herself. And for the first time since the Empress of Tomorrow started on main, she took a strong and one-sided beating.
In fact, had I been booking this, I would have had Jax beat Asuka up even more savagely. It would have added extra stakes to the match while making Nia an even more credible opponent.
RAW SINGLES DIVISION POWER RANKINGS (positions 6 and 5)
Credit: WWE.com
#6 Finn Bálor
On any other night (that is, one where Seth Rollins didn’t establish the fact that he came down from Mount Olympus to live among us mere mortals), Finn Bálor’s performance in the gauntlet match would have made us giddy like a murderous clown who found an open sewer entrance.
But even taking a step back from the fact that anyone following after Rollins would have his hands full, Finn was again put in a very ordinary match with a very ordinary story that built up to very ordinary outcomes. It stinks because, like Corey Graves likes to remind us, he’s the extraordinary man who does extraordinary things. But not in the ring, not recently. I mean, even Finn at his most average is a good match, but it’d be nice for him to have the wiggle room to really ignite something special.
Credit: WWE.com
#5 Elias
You have to give Elias credit: He’s the guy who pinned Seth Rollins. His opportunistic sprint down the ramp to pin a semi-conscious Rollins was met with seething boos. Even if Seth tried to put up a fight, the Drifter was able to get the best of him and put an end to the Architect’s unprecedented and historic moment.
Holding his own against Finn Bálor isn’t anything to scoff at. I can’t say it was his best showing, but still impressive enough to show just how much confidence WWE has in Elias. The entire Raw roster will benefit from a strong heel Elias.
RAW SINGLES DIVISION POWER RANKINGS (positions 4 and 3)
Credit: WWE.com
#4 The Miz
There wasn’t a better candidate to get the pin on Finn Bálor than the Miz. There also wasn’t a better candidate to get eaten alive by Braun than the Miz. And these two situations are a testament to the excellence of Miz’s heel work.
Shenanigans from the Miztourage ensured that Finn still looked strong in defeat, as winning with cheap tactics remain completely within Miz’s Modus Operandi.
But the true genius of Miz’s role came full circle as his face slowly transitioned from elation to fear upon realizing that Braun was up next. Of course, he fled. Of course, he tried to worm out a win. And of course, he lost. But Miz can take his losses. We still love/hate him regardless.
Credit: WWE.com
#3 Braun Strowman
I have come to the conclusion that Braun Strowman is like a preschooler in the body of a Mack truck.
Anyone who has children back me up: Young kids go for what they want without any regard for social norms or correctness. They just go for it unless an adult comes in and sets the child’s limits. So if this child has on one in a proper position of authority telling them what they can or cannot do, they will simply never stop until they get what they want.
Tell me that doesn’t exactly what Braun Strowman is. Again this week, he sauntered into the ring and pretty much did whatever he wanted to do with the Miz, won the gauntlet match, and continued beating up Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel until he was fed up of it. He even decided to call Brock Lesnar “Beastie Boy” something most people wouldn’t dare to do.
Entertaining as usual and really coming into his face role, Braun once again continued to be a shining star on the Raw roster. An 18-wheel, 605 horsepower, 2,060lb. of torque star, but a star nonetheless.
RAW SINGLES DIVISION POWER RANKINGS (positions 2 and 1)
Credit: WWE.com
#2 John Cena
John Cena gets and puts up with a lot of crap. And you’re probably sitting there reading these words, screaming at your screen “Number two position? What a mark you are, Warren Haynes,” as you confuse me with the former guitarist of Gov’t Mule.
Look, Cena’s no fool. He understands the business, he knows what he’s worth and he knows what the WWE Universe thinks of him. And on Monday, he knew what had to be done. And to get it done, Cena pulled out heel tactics. He slowed down the pace of the match, he tried to force a count out, he taunted Rollins to stay down… hell he even made excuses for losing in his post-match interview. This was the opponent Seth needed, and boy did Cena deliver.
Combine this with the fact that Big Match John is still in great shape, a credible competitor, and a bonafide superstar, he’s the perfect veteran to help get the new guys into top spots.
Credit: WWE.com
#1 Seth Rollins
Last week, Seth Rollins told the WWE Universe that he didn’t want to be a part of Monday Night Raw, he wanted to be Monday Night Raw.
The WWE Universe is in agreement this week: He delivered on that promise.
He started the gauntlet match, spending a total of 65 minutes competing in the match. He snuck a victory out of his Shield brother Roman Reigns and curb stomped John Cena. He defeated Roman Reigns and John Cena in the same night. Yes, others have said it before, but it begs to be repeated: this is Jericho-beating-Rock-and-Stone-Cold-in-one-evening level of amazing.
Next: Elimination Chamber Predictions
He reminded us of how great he is. How explosive and crisp he can be. How he can control the flow of a match. I know some people prefer heel Seth Rollins, but I don’t. As my colleague Quinn said when we were discussing this, Babyface Seth is still scrappy, still willing to take a cheap shot to survive. He’s not a total boyscout. Yet he’s our babyface hero.