WWE SmackDown Power Rankings: Tick, Tock, AJ Styles

2. Becky Lynch

There are so many great stories on WWE SmackDown right now, but perhaps nothing has gotten the crowd more invested than Becky Lynch’s rise back to the top. She was the first ever SmackDown Women’s Champion, in addition to being the first woman drafted to the Blue Brand in the brand split in 2016. Lynch never won the NXT Championship despite her excellent work there, so winning the SmackDown Women’s Title carried additional meaning for her.

Right now, Lynch has beaten all the heels on the SmackDown roster, and that includes Carmella, who must now defend the title against Becky at SummerSlam after this week’s match. Lynch continues to take arms and names, and the entire WWE Universe has rallied behind the talented grappler in her pursuit of the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Oh, and her promos continue to be excellent.

1. AJ Styles, WWE Champion

The consistently high-quality work that AJ Styles produces never ceases to amaze me, and we truly are witnessing one of the legends of the business at his best. Styles will be pushed to the limit at SummerSlam, but that’s when he delivers. Last year’s United States Championship bout against Kevin Owens was an entertaining roller-coaster, and nobody is forgetting his instant classic with John Cena two years ago anytime soon.

There’s a chance Styles’s match against Samoa Joe could be his best one yet. Look for Styles to try and set up the Calf Crusher against Joe, since that submission has definitely come in handy over the past year, including at Survivor Series 2017 against Brock Lesnar. Joe might be his biggest test since that near-loss to Lesnar, but Styles is more prepared than ever.