WWE Raw Power Rankings: Braun Strowman Climbs to Top After Smashing Ladder
By Bryan Heaton
4. Kevin Owens (last week: 3)
Nothing major here, just Kevin Owens once again proving he’s got what it takes to be a top guy in WWE. You’d think a fairly lengthy Universal Championship reign would have done that, but there was that whole year Owens spent feuding with Shane gosh darn McMahon. But if there’s anyone who’s benefitted from a shift away from SmackDown to get to Raw, it’s definitely KO.
I don’t know how smart it was to have Owens display a fear of heights less than two weeks before a ladder match, but I’m sure KO will find a way to overcome that phobia to grab the briefcase if push comes to shove. Knowing the Owens mentality, he’ll just bulldoze his way through as many of his seven opponents as possible before risking a trek up the ladder.
3. Finn Balor (last week: 4)
KO’s opponent this week was Finn Balor, who also raised his stock in a big way in the main event. Balor should absolutely be in the Universal Title picture, especially since he’s the inaugural champion and never received his rematch. But over the past few weeks, he’s made it increasingly difficult to keep him away from the championship for much longer.
His victory over Owens was a pretty good match, even though it suffered from one of pro wrestling’s most garbage finishes (“you wrestled too much!”). Balor’s survival of the post-match assault to hit a Coup de Grace from the top of the ladder should be a sign of things to come at MITB, even if it may have been better to hold that spot until the pay per view.
Oh, and Balor doing his entrance with the Special Olympians? Too sweet, indeed. And that’s just more proof that Balor Club is for everyone.