We come together for another week of WWE Raw Power Rankings. How well did the superstars who bothered to show up fare?
Friends, colleagues, potential creditors, it is time once again for my weekly WWE Raw Power Rankings.
It was an edition of Raw that sticks out mostly for what we didn’t get more than what we did . A couple of good moments slathered in a lot of talk made for, in his wrestling pundit’s humble yet also not-so-humble opinion, a middling edition of the Red brand. For the second week in a row. You’d think the Road to WrestleMania would be full of twists and turns instead of a leisurely path.
Let’s get right to it!
WWE Universal Champion: Brock Lesnar
RAW Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
Credit: WWE.com
10. Sasha Banks & Bayley
Okay, so Sasha and Bayley are sharing the number 10 position this week because of how linked they are in this week’s edition of “Will They/Won’t They.”
First and foremost, if Bayley didn’t want to go to the ring, why did she? She looked so miserable being there, it was like seeing myself when my mother would drag me to church on Sundays.
And if Sasha is so determined to save their friendship, maybe doing something a little more than just meekly asking for a hug would be a good way to go?
It’s time for WWE Creative to pull the trigger on this heel turn, whoever it may be.
Credit: WWE.com
9. The Miz
Miz is really good when he tries to be a weasel.
True to himself, he invited Seth and Finn to an interview on his Miz TV segment and attempted to get his two WrestleMania opponents to fight each other. Seth and Finn may have been onto his tactic, but the moment devolved nonetheless into a singles match between the two.
But at this stage of the feud, Miz needs to be positioned a little stronger. He’s taken defeats and he’s been dodging straight up confrontations (and we love him for it, don’t get me wrong), so he doesn’t exactly radiate competition for Bálor and Rollins. Sure, the cowardly heel thing is his… thing (check out my vocab, children) but heading into the biggest PPV of the year, you kind of want things (words!) to be tenser.
8. Roman Reigns
I’ve noticed a trend within the Internet Wrestling Community™ recently.
Roman Reigns comes out for a promo. Roman does a good-to-excellent job with his promo. Wrestling fans take to Twitter to say that it was the best promo of Roman’s life.
This has happened multiple times recently. Roman can’t be cutting the “promo of his life” week after week. Therefore, shouldn’t we be agreeing that Roman Reigns can indeed cut a good promo?
We know Roman can talk. We know he can be charismatic and witty. He just needs to be put in a position where he can be more like himself, more loose, more passionate. He turned it up again this week. Sure his promo was short, but it was extremely effective, concise and to the point.
The story with Brock is coming from a place of truth and it shows. Maybe it’s time to stop over scripting the Big Dog?
Credit: WWE.com
7. Asuka
I still don’t quite understand why WWE Creative feels it’s a good idea to put a microphone in front of its non-native English speakers for interviews and segments.
They do it with Shinsuke and they do it with Asuka, too. It’s especially not a good idea when you put her up against one of the best talkers of the female roster, even if she ends up spewing fire in Japanese.
Thankfully the interview wasn’t the endpoint, as Asuka was allowed to do what she does best, against one of the best hands in the company, and in the process continue to position herself as a threat to Charlotte.
Credit: WWE.com
6. Mickie James
Folks, I believe that in a perfect world, chocolate brownie sundaes are an acceptable breakfast meal, my leprosy doesn’t keep me from wearing jorts, and Mickie James has another run as a champion in WWE.
I was extremely excited when the impromptu match against Asuka was announced, as I got throwbacks to the excellent match they both put on at NXT TakeOver Toronto a couple of years ago.
The quintessential, solid pro that she is, Mickie put on a flawless heel match that made Asuka look like a million bucks. Not that it’s surprising, as Mickie has been consistently good since the 00’s. Give her the strap for another (final?) run.
Credit: WWE.com
5. Nia Jax
Yes, it was catty.
Yes, it was cringy.
Yes, they were sharing secrets in front of live broadcast cameras like we’re watching Nitro in 1996.
But you have to give credit: that “Mean Girls” angle is doing undeniable wonders for Nia’s standing with the fans and raising her stock exponentially. Did you hear the pop she got when she decided to run up the ramp to get at Alexa? Nia’s face turn has been executed from out of nowhere, but it feels perfect.
And boy, that banshee wail? Did anyone know she could produce such a sound? That was bonkers.
Credit: WWE.com
4. Seth Rollins
I can’t help but feel that WWE is messing up a perfect opportunity to raise Seth’s profile tenfold this Wrestlemania season, but this isn’t such a bad situation.
He’s an amazingly sharp, grounded foil to Miz’s hogwash ways, as the Miz TV segment showed. And the match he put together with Finn Bálor was great, so it’s a good omen on what’s to come.
Not to mention that Seth continued showing that little scrappy, nasty side of his where he doesn’t mind getting a cheap shot in if it’ll give him an advantage. And we love him for it.
Credit: WWE.com
3. Finn Bálor
”Smilin’” Finn Bálor had a great outing this week. Maybe his participation in the Miz TV segment was a little cookie-cutter, but his performance against Seth Rollins was fantastic. The fact that he won is meaningful because, from the three guys involved in the IC Triple Threat, he’s the one who needs momentum most.
The fact that he interrupted Seth’s superplex-into-a-Falcon-Arrow is UNACCEPTABLE, THOUGH. But forgivable. You can’t stay angry at a man who smiles that much. Especially if he continues being an integral part of the buildup of this match.
Oh, and just before ending this, I gotta wonder if the Blue Gear is foreshadowing of the results of a possible upcoming superstar shakeup…
Credit: WWE.com
2. John Cena
I think End-Of-Career Self-Aware John Cena is legitimately my favorite incarnation of John Cena, right behind Doctor Of Thuganomics Cena.
Here you have a superstar wrestler who understands where his position in the company lies. He understands what footing he has with the audience. Unlike some veterans from the not-so-distant past, Cena truly does have the best-for-business attitude and is ready to play the role that is expected of him to make sure the company can continue and thrive once he’s really and truly gone.
In the meantime, let’s leave him to crush his promos with as much fire as he’s always had, nuanced with that wonderful blur of kayfabe and shoot.
Credit: WWE.com
1. Braun Strowman
I’m very much in an existential dilemma right now.
As it stands, Braun Strowman unquestionably pulled off the most impressive result of the show, as he, his beard, and his invincibility defeated every single tag team on Raw to become the number one contender to Sheamus and Cesaro’s Raw Tag Team Championships.
Yup, he did it alone.
Next: 5 Possible WrestleMania Tag Partners For Braun Strowman
Creatively speaking, I love the idea and it makes a lot of sense. After all, Braun didn’t have a WrestleMania match and being the unconquerable monster that he is, it’s easy to imagine him winning and carrying the tag titles all by himself.
But I can’t help but hate how all the teams on Raw’s tag division were treated in this segment.