WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 4/6/2015

WrestleMania season is officially over, and as WWE looks forward to Extreme Rules, the WWE Superstar Power Rankings have seen significant changes since the post-WrestleMania 31 edition.  And as has been typical the past few years, the post-WrestleMania crowd on Raw was rambunctious.  

Two major stories emerged this week as well.  On Raw, former WWE world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was suspended indefinitely by Stephanie McMahon.  Lesnar, the rightful No. 1 contender for the title, now is out of the picture entirely and has therefore been removed from the rankings.  At this time, it is unknown when he will return.

Also, late last week, word came down from WWE.com that former WWE Divas champion AJ Lee has decided to retire.  This leaves a big hole in the Divas division, one that won't be easy to fill. 

And following Monday's Raw, the WWE Network aired a segment featuring Sting as he addressed his future.  The crowd began to chant "Undertaker," indicating the fans in attendance wanted the dream match between Undertaker and Sting.  But before The Icon could say anything meaningful, he was attacked by Bo Dallas.  Sting quickly dispatched him, but there was nothing more from Sting.

Moving on to the actual rankings, 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 and rank of a wrestler's opponents are 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

Lucha Dragons

It was a tough week last week for the Superstars on the Watch List or on the fringe of the top 10.  Superstars such as Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose had bad weeks and fell out of the conversation for top-10 status.

But not so for Sin Cara and Kalisto, the Lucha Dragons.  The former NXT tag team champions exploded onto the scene this week, picking up impressive wins on both Raw and Main Event.  On Raw, they teamed with The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E) against The Ascension and WWE tag team champions Cesaro and Tyson Kidd.  The Lucha Dragons and New Day won after Kalisto pinned Viktor of The Ascension.  Then on Main Event, they again defeated The Ascension in a tag team match.

All of a sudden, the Lucha Dragons are the hottest tag team in WWE and may well have a claim to a title shot already.  It might take actually defeating Cesaro and Kidd to make that official, but with Jey Uso nursing an injury, they may leapfrog the entire division and get a shot.

10. Big Show

Previous Rank: 8

Movement: Down 2

It was a tough week for Big Show.  On Raw, he lost in a six-man tag team match when he teamed with Kane and and Seth Rollins against Randy Orton, Ryback and Roman Reigns.  He did not take the pin in the match, so the loss didn't hurt him much.  He faced Randy Orton on SmackDown and lost via disqualification as The Authority went to town on Orton.  But Ryback appeared and cleared the ring, saving The Viper.  

Coming out of WrestleMania 31, Big Show had some momentum as the winner of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.  But another week of losses may eliminate any momentum he has remaining.  Will Big Show turn it around and assert his dominance?

9. Ryback

Previous Rank: Watch List

Movement: Into Top 10

Ryback has been in and out of the top 10 lately, and this week he's back in.  On Raw, he teamed with Randy Orton and Roman Reigns in a win over Big Show, Seth Rollins and Kane.  And then on SmackDown, he saved Orton from a major beatdown at the hands of The Authority.

With Orton targeting Rollins, Ryback could be headed for a showdown with Big Show.  Not many can match Big Show's power, but Ryback likely could.  So the question now is, will Ryback continue antagonizing The Authority?  Or was he just saving an ally of convenience on a one-time basis?

8. Sheamus

Previous Rank: Unranked

Movement: Outta Nowhere!

Sheamus made a triumphant return to WWE this past week, making a statement on Raw by beating down Dolph Ziggler and WWE intercontinental champion Daniel Bryan.  That beatdown earned Sheamus a match against Bryan on SmackDown.

During the match, when Bryan was outside the ring, former IC champion Bad News Barrett, who was on commentary, hit Bryan with a Bull Hammer that the referee did not see.  Bryan was counted out, giving Sheamus a win over the reigning intercontinental champion.  That almost certainly will earn him a title opportunity.

Barrett still has a claim to a rematch as well, but Sheamus is already rolling while Barrett hasn't won matches on a consistent basis in what seems like forever.  Can Sheamus make the most of this opportunity and win the title when he gets the chance?

7. Randy Orton

Previous Rank: 9

Movement: Up 2

Randy Orton continues to climb the rankings after two more victories this past week.  On Raw, he teamed with Ryback and Roman Reigns in a victory over Kane, Big Show and Seth Rollins.  

Then on SmackDown, he reminded Rollins that he'd never actually received his WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch.  That led to Kane booking a match between Show and Orton.  Orton won via DQ as The Authority attacked him, but he was saved by Ryback, who may be a valuable ally for Orton going forward.

Roman Reigns is guaranteed nothing after WrestleMania 31 (he was a challenger and is due no rematch).  The Rock may have a claim for a title match, since he never got a rematch after losing to John Cena at WrestleMania XXIX, but he's not really on the active roster at the moment.  

That leaves Randy Orton as the de facto No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  And that means he could get a title shot as soon as Extreme Rules in less than three weeks.

6. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd with Natalya

Previous Rank: 5

Movement: Down 1

It was not a great week for the WWE tag team champions, but it could have been worse.  On Raw, Cesaro and Tyson Kidd teamed with The Ascension against The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E) and the Lucha Dragons.  Neither Cesaro nor Kidd took the pin, so the damage done was not as significant as to could have been.

Cesaro and Kidd have done a fair job at keeping the rest of the WWE tag team division at bay thus far, but the Lucha Dragons have erupted onto the scene and may be a legitimate threat to their reign.  Can they parry the high-flying attacks of the Lucha Dragons with their technical skill?  Perhaps that question will be answered sooner rather than later.

5. Rusev

Previous Rank: 6

Movement: Up 1

After losing to John Cena at WrestleMania 31, Rusev got back on track with a win over Goldust on Raw.  Lana was not with him at ringside, which could indicate there's conflict between the two.  Rusev may blame Lana for his loss, or perhaps Lana was simply injured.  Earlier in the night, Rusev interestingly balked at Cena's open challenge for the United States Championship.

But on SmackDown, Rusev made known he still wants that rematch.  He confronted Cena and demanded a rematch at Extreme Rules.  Cena accepted and wanted the match for that night, but Rusev turned the offer down.

Perhaps Rusev feels he let emotions get the best of him at WrestleMania 31 and isn't going to make the same mistake.  Whatever his motivation, Rusev will get his rematch at Extreme Rules.  Can he avenge his first pinfall loss?

4. Roman Reigns

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: None

Roman Reigns got a win this past Monday on Raw when he teamed with Ryback and Randy Orton against Kane, Big Show and WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins.  But where Reigns goes from here is a bit of a mystery.

He sat down with Byron Saxton this past week and discussed his WrestleMania 31 match, as well as his future.  He clearly wants a piece of Rollins.  Trouble is, Reigns is on the outside looking in when it comes to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture.  

As a challenger, he does net get a rematch.  And it looks as though Randy Orton, a former adversary of his, is in line for the next opportunity.  So Reigns will have some work to do to get back into the title picture.  But if he's proved anything the last few months, it's that he doesn't go down easily, and when he does, he doesn't stay down for long. 

3. Daniel Bryan

Previous Rank: 2

Movement: Down 1

Daniel Bryan had a mixed week.  The new intercontinental champion defended his title the night after winning it, retaining the strap in a match against Dolph Ziggler.  Sheamus, a man with whom Bryan has a long history, appeared after the match and assaulted both Bryan and Ziggler mercilessly.  

On SmackDown, Bryan faced Sheamus.  He lost via count-out due to interference by Bad News Barrett.  Due to the loss, Bryan will likely have to defend the IC title in a match against Sheamus while also having to keep an eye on Barrett, who is also due a rematch.

This could set up a Triple Threat match at Extreme Rules.  Or, Barrett or Sheamus could get a title shot before then.  In any case, Bryan has people gunning for his title.  Can he hold off these challenges?

2. John Cena

Previous Rank: 3

Movement: Up 1

United States champion John Cena wants to be a fighting champion.  He issued an open challenge on Raw for a title match.  Surprisingly, Rusev did not appear, but Dean Ambrose did.  Ambrose, a former United States champion himself, wanted a chance at a second reign.  But After a competitive match, Cena retained the title.

On SmackDown, Cena made it clear he intends to issue open challenges every week.  Whether that happens remains to be seen.  But he was confronted by Rusev, who asked for his rematch at Extreme Rules.  Cena wanted the match that night, but Rusev wasn't interested.  

Cena could continue the recent trend of making the United States Championship meaningful.  Rusev brought dominance and credibility to the title, and now 15-time world champion John Cena can continue that.  But can he hold off Rusev at Extreme Rules?

1. Seth Rollins

Previous Rank: 1

Movement: None

It wasn't the best of weeks for the new WWE world heavyweight champion.  Seth Rollins has a bad habit of losing, and he got back to his losing ways this week.  On Raw, he teamed with Big Show and Kane against Ryback, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns.  His team lost when Kane was pinned by Reigns.  

Then on SmackDown, he was informed by Orton that The Viper would be his next challenger.  He helped beat down Orton later in the show but was run off by Ryback.  

If Rollins is good at one thing, though, it's surviving.  He routinely escapes just in time to save himself.  And he's surrounded himself with Superstars ready to defend his reign.  Once you get Rollins in the ring one-on-one, he's very difficult to beat, as his move-set is uncommon among the larger athletes that populate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture.  In other words, he's a unique matchup who gives bigger, slower athletes fits.

But Orton is no slowpoke.  He may not be quite as athletic as Rollins, but it's close.  And Orton fans could easily point to WrestleMania 31 as evidence that Orton's skill set matches up very will with Rollins'.  In short, Rollins may be defending his title against one of the few top Superstars who can effectively counter Rollins' abilities.  Rollins had better be ready.