WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 3/16/2015
In less than two weeks, the biggest event of the year for pro wrestling will take place: WrestleMania 31. This week's WWE Superstar Power Rankings have seen quite a bit of change too, with a new Superstar assuming the No. 1 spot.
With WrestleMania almost upon us, most matches, as of this writing, have been set. The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has 14 competitors, though a few more are likely to be added.
Other matches set this past week include John Cena and Rusev for the United States Championship, Nikki and Brie Bella against Paige and AJ Lee in a tag team match and the Undertaker against Bray Wyatt. In addition, it's likely that the last of the entrants into the Intercontinental Championship Ladder match have been announced.
In a taped promo, Sting gave further clarification as to why he's coming for Triple H. Sting sees WWE's corrupt and out of control Authority as being equivalent to those who ran WCW into the ground. He claimed that though he failed to save WCW, he would attempt to redeem himself by saving WWE from the same fate.
This past week's action will be discussed in greater detail in the following slides. But beforehand, please read how these rankings work.
These rankings are not a popularity contest and are not designed to determine who has the best matches or the most ability. They are strictly in-storyline power rankings.
All active WWE Superstars and Divas on the main roster are considered, excluding talents who primarily or exclusively wrestle in 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, 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—such as 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 or addresses it publicly.
WWE's non-televised domestic and international live events are not included in these rankings unless WWE incorporates them into television storylines or acknowledges the event on WWE television. Also, nothing that could be explicitly considered a spoiler is included unless WWE acknowledges it as well.
In short, all WWE main roster 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
1 of 11Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler was just edged out of the top 10 by Ryback this week. The two of them have jumped in and out of the top 10 in recent weeks, with neither establishing a firm footing in the rankings. Ziggler won one match this week, the Six-Man tag team Match on SmackDown, after which he confronted Daniel Bryan and called him a "turd." Can Ziggler gain momentum heading into WrestleMania? Or will he just be engaged in more name-calling?
Randy Orton technically lost his only match of the week when he left Seth Rollins hanging in a 2-on-1 Handicap match against Roman Reigns. Reigns pinned Rollins for the win, and Orton annihilated Rollins afterward. Earlier in the evening, Orton had basically explained exactly what he'd do to Rollins and how he'd do it, but then said he was kidding. Rollins foolishly believed him. Now, a match between the two is all but assured for WrestleMania.
No. 10: Ryback
2 of 11Previous Rank: Unranked
Movement: Outta Nowhere!
Ryback sneaks back into the top 10 this week after picking up two wins. On Raw, he teamed with Erick Rowan against Kane and the Big Show. His team won. On SmackDown, he destroyed the Miz as Damien Mizdow watched (and laughed) backstage.
As of now, Ryback may be one of the favorites to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, though Kane and Big Show, also entrants, may have something to say about that. Ryback has made forays into the upper echelon of WWE before, and a win at WrestleMania could once again jump start his career. Can he claim what would surely be the biggest win of his WWE career?
No. 9: Cesaro & Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya
3 of 11Previous Rank: 10
Movement: Up 1
The tag team division is a hot mess right now with no team dominant. On Raw, Cesaro and Kidd lost to the New Day, and then Natalya lost to Naomi, but the Usos lost to Los Matadores. Then on SmackDown, Cesaro and Kidd teamed with Los Matadores in a win over the Usos and the New Day.
All this likely means a large, four-team match at WrestleMania for the Tag Team Championships. Though it's not yet set in stone, no team has set themselves apart, meaning the best way to determine a champion is to pit all against all and settle it in the ring.
No. 8: Seth Rollins
4 of 11Previous Rank: 7
Movement: Down 1
Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins had a tough week. On Raw, he was gullible enough to believe Randy Orton was "kidding" when he explained how he'd punish him for the Curb Stomp that put Orton out of action. That came back to bite him later that evening.
Orton and Rollins teamed in a Handicap Match against Roman Reigns. Orton betrayed Rollins in the match, allowing Reigns to score the win. Then, Orton beat the tar out of Rollins, pouring out months of built up rage.
A match between the two at WrestleMania is now all but assured. Can Rollins withstand the wrath of an angry Viper? Or will he prove to the Authority that he's better than Orton and deserves their support?
No. 7: Bray Wyatt
5 of 11Previous Rank: 8
Movement: Up 1
Bray Wyatt had no matches this week, but due to Seth Rollins falling, he moves up a slot regardless. On Raw, Wyatt claimed he would resurrect the Undertaker. He had the Urn and brought it to the ring. But just as Wyatt declared the Urn to be empty, smoke billowed out.
Bray Wyatt's chair, once destroyed, reappeared in the ring. It was struck by lightning, and the Undertaker then declared that Bray Wyatt would "Rest in Peace." Thus, the match has been made official: Bray Wyatt will face the Deadman at WrestleMania.
Can Bray Wyatt pick the carcass of Undertaker's dead Streak? Or will Undertaker dispatch the Eater of Worlds as he has done to so many before him?
No. 6: Dean Ambrose
6 of 11Previous Rank: 6
Movement: None
Dean Ambrose picked up two wins this past week but stays put at No. 6, edged out by WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar for the No. 5 spot. On Raw, he defeated Stardust and was then part of the brawl that led to R-Truth once again taking possession of the Intercontinental Championship belt.
On SmackDown, he teamed with Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler in a win over Luke Harper, Stardust and Bad News Barrett. After the match, Ziggler called Bryan a "turd" and Ambrose agreed.
Can Dean Ambrose, who has already won the United States Championship, add the Intercontinental Championship to his resume?
No. 5: Brock Lesnar
7 of 11Previous Rank: 4
Movement: Down 1
It's been a long time since WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar stepped into a WWE ring for a match. That changes in less than two weeks. In the meantime, though, Lesnar continues to slowly drop in the rankings.
He did, however, appear on Raw alongside Paul Heyman. Heyman delivered a promo on Roman Reigns (video above) that Reigns found insulting. He asserted that Reigns' family was only a few generations removed from cannibalism and claimed that the WWE World Heavyweight Championship no longer belonged to WWE but to Lesnar.
We'll soon find out if Lesnar will destroy Reigns, or if Reigns will shock the world and knock off the most dominant champion in pro wrestling, and maybe all of sports, today.
No. 4: John Cena
8 of 11Previous Rank: 5
Movement: Up 1
John Cena got what he wanted, and he had to go to a much darker place to get it. Usually, John Cena is about respect and earning what you get. But some would argue he took a shortcut to force Rusev's hand on Raw this past week.
After weeks of asking, he finally took matters into his own hands. He assaulted Rusev, beat him down and locked him in the STF submission maneuver. Lana panicked and gave in to Cena's every demand. Cena now has a chance to compete for the United States Championship at WrestleMania. It was the title that launched his career, and one he hasn't held in over a decade.
Can he defeat Rusev and claim the title for both himself and America?
No. 3: Rusev w/ Lana
9 of 11Previous Rank: 1
Movement: Down 2
Rusev has never been pinned and never been forced to tap out. And after Raw, that's technically still the case. Even so, Rusev was forced to "tap" when John Cena, angling for another shot at the United States Championship, brutally attacked the Bulgarian Brute as Lana looked on helplessly.
Cena locked in the STF and Rusev finally relented, unofficially "tapping out." Rusev refused to discuss the matter on SmackDown. It may have been humiliating, but Rusev could now be even more dangerous than before. The Super Athlete is angry, and Cena may have given Rusev extra incentive to take him out.
No. 2: Daniel Bryan
10 of 11Previous Rank: 3
Movement: Up 1
Daniel Bryan keeps climbing the rankings and moves up another spot to No. 2 this week after picking up two more wins. On Raw, he defeated Intercontinental champion Bad News Barrett and was later part of the brawl over the IC title belt.
On SmackDown, he teamed with Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler in a win over Stardust, Luke Harper and Bad News Barrett. After the match, though, his teammates called him a "turd."
Bryan will be in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder match at WrestleMania and will probably be the crowd favorite. And while Ladder matches are hard to predict, he may be the the odds-on favorite to win. Bryan has held the Money in the Bank briefcase and has won every title in WWE except one: the Intercontinental Championship (and the Divas Championship, obviously).
Winning the IC title will make him both a Triple Crown champion (due to having held all major singles titles in WWE) and a Grand Slam champion (having held all major singles titles and the Tag Team Championships as well). A win would cement Bryan as one of the greatest of this generation. Can he climb the ladder and take home the gold at WrestleMania?
No. 1: Roman Reigns
11 of 11Previous Rank: 2
Movement: Up 1
After slipping from the No. 1 spot last week, Roman Reigns regains his place atop the WWE Superstar Power Rankings by picking up a big win on Raw and decimating Mark Henry on SmackDown. On Raw, he defeated then-No. 7-ranked Seth Rollins and Randy Orton when Orton betrayed Rollins.
On SmackDown, he was interrupted by Mark Henry during a promo in which he was responding to Paul Heyman. Henry said that Reigns hadn't earned respect and tried to attack him. Reigns hit a Superman Punch before spearing Henry through the barricade at ringside.
Reigns then vowed to defeat Lesnar at WrestleMania 31. Roman Reigns is confident, but he's also inexperienced. Yes, he won the Royal Rumble, but tossing Lesnar over the top rope won't do him any good at WrestleMania. He's got the chance of a lifetime, but can he prove his detractors wrong and win his first world championship?
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