WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 3/2/2015

Pro wrestling's biggest event of the year, WrestleMania XXXI, is just 27 days away, and the WWE Power Rankings are in flux as Superstars jockey for position looking to earn themselves a spot on the card.  

This past week, we also celebrated the one-year anniversary of the WWE Network (fellow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Chris Harrington wrote an excellent analysis of the Network).

The other big news of the week involves WWE world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.  PW Insider (h/t Wrestling Inc) reported that he walked out before the end of Raw.  Dave Meltzer wrote at MMAFighting.com that Lesnar walked out over a contract dispute.  

Adding to the speculation on Lesnar's WWE status was this photo (taken by UFC representative Dave Sholler) showing Lesnar ringside at UFC 184 with UFC president Dana White.  

Since WWE has not publicly commented on any of this, rumors and speculation about Lesnar's "walking out" or his possible WWE/UFC future was not taken into consideration for the WWE Power Rankings.  It will not be mentioned further in this list.

Anyway, we'll get into all this past week's action in the following slides. But before we do, please read how these rankings work.  

These rankings are not a popularity contest and are not designed to determine who has the best matches, the most ability, etc. They are strictly in-storyline power rankings.

These rankings consider all active WWE Superstars and Divas on the main roster and exclude talents who primarily or exclusively wrestle on NXT. Holding a championship, being a No. 1 contender or holding a Money in the Bank briefcase counts for much of a wrestler's ranking, and these honors are therefore the most heavily weighted components in the rankings. 

If a wrestler is deemed to be tied in the rankings with another wrestler, holding a title will be the primary tiebreaker. However, holding a championship, being a No. 1 contender or holding a Money in the Bank briefcase in no way guarantees a spot in the top 10.

Wins and losses account for the bulk of the week-to-week movement and, after championships, are the most important component of the rankings. The quality of a wrestler's opponents and whether they're ranked is considered in the week-to-week movement.

Getting the better of someone—like beating someone down—also counts, though not nearly as much as wins or losses. Being over with the fans (read: extremely popular) is considered but not heavily weighted in the ranking decisions. Pay-per-view performances take on added importance.  

Only the top 10 wrestlers are ranked. Wrestlers on the "Watch List" were considered for top-10 status but were ultimately nixed. They are unranked, and their listing is in no particular order.  

Generally speaking, these rankings do not break kayfabe. However, any major non-storyline information (serious injury, WWE Wellness Policy violations, suspensions, legitimate hirings, firings, contract information, "sabbaticals," etc.) may be taken into consideration, but generally only if WWE confirms it publicly.

Domestic and international WWE live events are not included in these rankings unless WWE incorporates them into television storylines. Nothing that could be explicitly considered a spoiler is included unless WWE acknowledges it as well.

In short, all WWE shows, televised or digitally distributed, as well as anything from WWE.com, the WWE App, the WWE Network and any WWE or Superstar accounts on social media that don't break kayfabe may be taken into consideration for these rankings.

This may include but is not limited to: WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, WWE Main Event, WWE Superstars, NXT, WWE pay-per-views and any storyline-driven content from the WWE Network.

Watch List

Nikki Bella w/Brie

WWE Divas champion Nikki Bella teamed up with her sister Brie twice this week, both times against Emma and Paige.  They won both matches, one on Raw and one on Main Event.  

Nikki has held the belt for 99 days and counting, and assuming she carries it into WrestleMania XXXI, she'll have the seventh-longest reign in the history of the championship.  She currently has the ninth-longest reign but will pass Kelly Kelly this week if she doesn't somehow lose the title.  

Bad News Barrett

It's been a rough few weeks for Bad News Barrett.  The curse of the Intercontinental Championship seems alive and well.  Barrett can't get a win to save his life these days, losing to Dolph Ziggler on Raw and Daniel Bryan on SmackDown.  

He also can't seem to prevent his title belt from being stolen.  He recovered the belt from Ambrose, only to have it stolen by R-Truth and returned to Ambrose.  Can Barrett turn things around?

The Usos w/Naomi

The Usos are back in title contention after technically winning their return match for the WWE Tag Team Championships.  On Raw they defeated Cesaro and Tyson Kidd by disqualification when Natalya kicked Jimmy Uso in his Little Jimmy.  

Naomi lost a match on SmackDown to Natalya that saw The Usos and Cesaro and Kidd brawl on the outside, too.  Can The Usos win back the titles?

10. Seth Rollins

Previous Rank: 10

Movement: None

Seth Rollins clings to the No. 10 spot after a rough Raw.  He was called out by a returning Randy Orton, but Stephanie McMahon convinced Orton to put the past behind them, and Orton shook Rollins' hand backstage.

Rollins and Orton teamed up against Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns.  They lost the match and had issues with each other during the match.  Afterwards, Orton RKO'ed Jamie Noble and stared down Rollins, only to help him to his feet.  

Rollins had better keep an eye on Orton.  The Viper could simply be biding his time, waiting to strike when he least expects it.  

9. Dolph Ziggler

Previous Rank: Watch List

Movement: Into Top 10

Dolph Ziggler had a solid week and gets back into the top 10.  On Raw, he defeated intercontinental champion Bad News Barrett.  It's a big win, one that Ziggler really needed.  With Barrett needing an opponent for WrestleMania XXXI, Ziggler has as good a claim as any to a shot at the IC title.

But with The Authority firmly against Ziggler, will he have to do more to get that shot?  And if he's left out of a potential IC title match, what's ahead for him?

8. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd w/Natalya

Previous Rank: 8

Movement: None

Cesaro and Tyson Kidd's first match after winning the WWE Tag Team Championships didn't go too well, though it could have gone worse.  They lost the rematch with The Usos when Natalya kicked Jimmy Uso low, causing the disqualification.

They got back in the win column with a victory over the Lucha Dragons on Main Event, then brawled with The Usos on SmackDown during Natalya's win over Naomi.  But the loss on Raw almost assures The Usos another shot at the titles.  

Will it come at WrestleMania XXXI, or will that match happen sooner?

7. Dean Ambrose

Previous Rank: 9

Movement: Up 2

Dean Ambrose possesses the Intercontinental Championship belt, but he's not the champion.  He's now stolen it twice from Bad News Barrett (well, R-Truth stole it once and then gave it to him later).  

Aside from his title antics, though, Ambrose had no matches.  He moves up because of some churn in the rankings.  Will Ambrose get rolling with a win or two this week?

6. John Cena

Previous Rank: 5

Movement: Down 1

John Cena wants another crack at Rusev and the United States Championship.  On Raw, he said as much in the middle of the ring.  But Rusev was not in a giving mood.

Rusev called him a loser and stated that Cena would not get the rematch he desired.  If he wants another shot at Rusev, Cena may have to find ways to get his attention and make him angry.  But that hasn't gone well for anyone else thus far.  

Can Cena get the rematch he wants?  What will he have to do to get it?

5. Bray Wyatt

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: Down 1

After weeks of speculation as to whom Bray Wyatt was referring in his promos, Bray Wyatt called out The Undertaker at Fastlane.  This past week, he continued calling him out, hoping to get a match at WrestleMania with The Deadman.

So far, Undertaker has not responded.  Unseen since losing to Brock Lesnar last year, Undertaker may not respond at all.  With The Streak over, he may not have anything left.  

Is Wyatt picking over dry bones, or does The Deadman have life in him yet?

4. Daniel Bryan

Previous Rank: 6

Movement: Up 2

Daniel Bryan rebounded nicely from his disappointing loss to Roman Reigns at Fastlane.  He may have missed a chance to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but with wins over quality opponents, he's still positioning himself for a big match on the card.

On Raw, he pinned Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins in a tag match that saw Bryan and Roman Reigns face Randy Orton and Rollins.  Then on SmackDown, he hinted he might be interested in the Intercontinental Championship that will be defended in a Ladder match with yet-to-be-announced competitors.  

He also defeated Bad News Barrett, which could get him a shot at the title.

3. Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman

Previous Rank: 2

Movement: Down 1

WWE world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar did not appear this week, though Paul Heyman did have words for Roman Reigns.  Heyman said that Reigns is a powerhouse, and that against any other man, past or present, his money would be on Reigns.  

But according to Heyman, Lesnar is not a man; he's a beast.

Lesnar has a just over a month to prepare for Reigns, who will try to match Lesnar's power in what's sure to be a hard-hitting, brutal match.  Heyman talks a good game, but it will be up to Lesnar to do the heavy lifting come WrestleMania.

2. Rusev w/Lana

Previous Rank: 3

Movement: Up 1

WWE United States Champion Rusev moves up to No. 2 this week after Lesnar fell one spot.  On Raw, Lana and Rusev had plenty to say to John Cena and rejected a possible rematch for the US title.

On SmackDown, Lana said Cena had no right to ask for a rematch at all.  Jack Swagger interrupted him, and Rusev did what he always does to Swagger: He crushed him, locking him in an Accolade until he passed out.  

At this point, can anyone stop Rusev?  He's never been pinned or submitted in WWE.

Brock Lesnar had better be grateful Rusev's busy with the US title and not coming after the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  

1. Roman Reigns

Previous Rank: 1

Movement: None

Roman Reigns came out of Fastlane on a roll and continued that roll with a tag team win on Raw.  

He teamed with Daniel Bryan in a win over Seth Rollins and Randy Orton.  Earlier in the night, though, Reigns was confronted by Bryan, who congratulated him on his win.  Then Paul Heyman appeared.

Heyman said that he'd pick Reigns to beat any man from any era, but since Brock Lesnar is a beast rather than a man, Reigns has no chance.  Reigns, however, disagrees.  He expressed that sentiment to Heyman on Raw, and then on SmackDown expounded on those thoughts in an interview with Byron Saxton.  

Reigns is inexperienced in singles competition, but his combination of raw strength and athleticism has powered him into the main event at WrestleMania.  His opponent is as close to unbeatable as anyone can get, but Reigns just might have a puncher's chance.  

Few can match Lesnar's power and size, but even if Lesnar will still likely have the advantage, Reigns is one of the few who comes close.  Can he capitalize?