WWE SmackDown Power Rankings: The Miz Eyes The Top Prize

4. Jeff Hardy (United States Champion)

Even for a veteran performer like Jeff Hardy, defeating Randy Orton in a singles match on Pay Per View is always a big deal. The match itself was a bore, but Hardy’s comeback and the sweetness of his victory salvaged the overall performance. And although he lost on SmackDown Live to The Miz in a Money in the Bank qualifying match, the result was expected and the match itself was absolutely tremendous.

Hardy has been in spats with Shelton Benjamin, Orton, and Miz since joining SmackDown Live after upsetting Jinder Mahal on the first day of the Superstar Shakeup. He’s already done a lot more to elevate the United States Championship than anybody else has in recent memory, and it will be interesting to see if Andrade “Cien” Almas, who debuts next week in London, ends up with the title in his hands.

3. Samoa Joe

Despite all of his tough talk, Samoa Joe couldn’t back up the rhetoric against Roman Reigns in the main event of Backlash, falling victim to yet another last-gasp comeback by the “Big Dog”. Joe will use this loss as fuel to run rampant across the SmackDown Live roster, and he’s already stated he has his eyes set on the WWE Championship. I’d fully expect a beatdown of AJ Styles some time in the near future, perhaps next week in London.

The roster has been put on notice.