WWE SmackDown Power Rankings: Asuka Has Her Path To The Title

6. Daniel Bryan

A few weeks ago, Daniel Bryan failed to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match, as he lost to Rusev, with Big Cass taking the credit for the loss by saying that his post-Backlash beatdown of Bryan ensure that the four-time world champion wouldn’t be at 100% for his qualifying match. Bryan defeated Jeff Hardy last week to earn an opportunity to face Samoa Joe for the final MITB ladder match spot, but he couldn’t seal the deal this week, passing out to Joe’s Coquina Clutch.

Having to deal with Big Cass in the match likely complicated things for Bryan, but the fact of the matter is that he came up short. Bryan is smarter, more experienced, and more technically sound than all of his opponents in the ring, but the roster is more talented than ever. Even though he isn’t an underdog anymore, Bryan still has to fight tooth and nail for titles, title opportunities, and victories, because the WWE is just that much more competitive.

That’s the story here with Bryan, who has a target on his back now that he’s established as one of the A+ players in WWE. Over the coming months, we’ll see how he handles that pressure.

5. Carmella, SmackDown Women’s Champion

Carmella is one of those heels who always seems to have a plan, even if she tries to fool her opponents by coming across as a self-absorbed idiot. I don’t know many idiots who have defeated Charlotte Flair twice for the title, so, clearly, Carmella’s gameplans are effective. The problem is that I don’t know how much planning or how many underhanded tricks it takes to defeat someone like Asuka.