WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 4/20/2015: Pre-WWE Extreme Rules 2015 Edition

WWE Extreme Rules 2015 is in less than one week, and the WWE Superstar Power Rankings have seen some significant changes heading into WWE's most "extreme" event of the year.  For the event, there are already six matches set, with one or two more that could possibly be added to the card.

It was already determined that Randy Orton would face Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but we now know the stipulations for the match.  Also on Raw, Paige became the new No. 1 contender for the Divas Championship, but her status for Extreme Rules is in doubt after suffering internal injuries at the hands of Naomi.

The United States and Intercontinental Championship matches are also set, as well as a couple of other matches.  More on those bouts later.  

This past week's action will be discussed in greater detail in the following slides.  But beforehand, please read how these rankings are determined.

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

Neville

Neville continues to square off against top-quality competition.  This week, he faced Dolph Ziggler on Raw in a losing effort.  Then on SmackDown, he went up against Sheamus and won.  The win came at a price, though.  He won via disqualification after Sheamus got fed up with Neville's resilience.  Dolph Ziggler came to Neville's aid, saving him from further beatings.  Will Neville be featured at Extreme Rules this Sunday?

Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler had a busy week.  He defeated Neville on Raw, lost to Rusev on Main Event and then saved Neville from Sheamus on SmackDown.  As a result of the save on SmackDown, he will now face Sheamus in a Kiss Me Arse match, where the loser will have to kiss the winner's "arse."  Can Ziggler get the win over Sheamus?

Big Show

Big Show didn't have a match this week, but he did put a nasty beating on Roman Reigns on Raw.  After he and Reigns traded insults, he assaulted Reigns on the stage, using an English car as a weapon.  On SmackDown, he explained his actions (see video above).  He'll now face Reigns at Extreme Rules in a Last Man Standing match.  Can he pick up the win?

10. Lucha Dragons

Previous Rank: 10

Movement: None

The Lucha Dragons kept their momentum going this week after picking up another win.  On Raw, they faced The Ascension and won.  The Lucha Dragons are no strangers to The Ascension, though.

Sin Cara and Kalisto defeated The Ascension in NXT, taking the NXT Tag Team Championships from Konnor and Viktor after a lengthy and dominant reign.  They now could be in position to add to their resume since they may be the best candidates for a shot at the WWE Tag Team Championships held by Cesaro and Tyson Kidd.  Will that opportunity come this Sunday?

9. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd with Natalya

Previous Rank: 6

Movement: Down 3

It was a bad week for the WWE tag team champions.  On Raw, Cesaro faced Randy Orton and lost via DQ when Tyson Kidd interfered.  However, that match was restarted as a Handicap match, with Kidd and Cesaro teaming against Orton.  Orton defeated both of them.

Then on SmackDown, Cesaro and Kidd faced United States champion John Cena and Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan in an All Champions Tag Team match.  Kidd and Cesaro held their own for a time, but they couldn't defeat Bryan and Cena.  Kidd was eventually forced to tap out to the Yes! Lock.

Cesaro and Kidd had major opportunities this week against top-tier opponents but failed to capitalize.  They need to get back on track and fast; otherwise, other tag teams will take advantage of their loss of momentum.

8. Sheamus

Previous Rank: 8

Movement: None

Sheamus had a mixed week.  He lost his only match, a singles bout against Neville on SmackDown, by disqualification.  However, he did beat down Dolph Ziggler and Neville on Raw.

On SmackDown, he and Ziggler sparred briefly, but Sheamus wanted no part of Ziggler.  It's now been announced that Sheamus and Ziggler will compete in a Kiss Me Arse match.  Will Sheamus power his way to a win this Sunday?

7. Ryback

Previous Rank: 9

Movement: Up 2

Ryback continues to quietly pick up wins.  In his only match of the week, he faced Luke Harper on Raw.  It was a tough, physical match.  At the end, Harper attacked Ryback with the announce table, giving Ryback the win via DQ.

Ryback does not have a match scheduled for this Sunday.  Will he get one?  If not, can he continue winning and earn himself a shot at a title in the near future?

6. Roman Reigns

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: Down 2

Roman Reigns continued his post-WrestleMania slide.  He didn't lose any matches this week, but he did take one hell of a beating at the hands of Big Show.  

After his beating, he refused medical attention and walked out on his own.  He's tough, no doubt.  Few can go toe to toe with Brock Lesnar and live to tell the tale.  But he'll have to be on top of his game to get past Big Show this Sunday in their Last Man Standing match.

5. Rusev

Previous Rank: 7

Movement: Up 2

Rusev looked like his usual dominant self this past week.  On Raw, he beat down John Cena after Cena had defended his title against Bad News Barrett.  Then on Main Event, he defeated Dolph Ziggler via submission.

Rusev will face Cena in his rematch for the United States Championship this Sunday at Extreme Rules.  The match will be a Russian Chain match, which will require Rusev and Cena to be chained together.  Whoever touches all four corners of the ring in succession will be declared the winner.

Will Rusev regain the United States Championship?  Or will John Cena put away Rusev once and for all?

4. Randy Orton

Previous Rank: 5

Movement: Up 1

Randy Orton will get his WWE World Championship opportunity this Sunday.  And on Raw, the stipulations were finally established.  Randy Orton defeated Cesaro via disqualification, and after the match was restarted, he defeated Cesaro and Kidd to allow him to set a stipulation.

Randy Orton chose to make the match a Steel Cage match to keep The Authority out.  Rollins, who also won his match on Raw (more on that later), chose to ban the RKO.  Can Orton win the title without his signature move?  

3. Daniel Bryan

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: Up 1

Intercontinental champion Daniel Bryan got a win this week in tag team action, teaming with United States champion John Cena against WWE tag team champions Cesaro and Tyson Kidd.  Bryan and Cena got the win as Bryan forced Kidd to submit.

Daniel Bryan will face Bad News Barrett this Sunday.  Barrett is a tough opponent, but Bryan has been on a roll lately.  Can he defend his title at Extreme Rules?

2. John Cena

Previous Rank: 2

Movement: None

John Cena picked up two wins this week.  On Raw, he defended the United States Championship against Bad news Barrett in an Open Challenge match.  He was attacked by Rusev after that match, however.  Cena shrugged off the attack on SmackDown, though, teaming with Daniel Bryan and picking up a win over Cesaro and Tyson Kidd.  

Cena now looks ahead to Extreme Rules where he'll face Rusev in a Russian Chain match.  Rusev got the match he wanted, but will Cena be able to defeat Rusev again?  

1. Seth Rollins

Previous Rank: 1

Movement: None

WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins had one match this week, and he won.  How he won, however, was controversial.  He faced Kane in a match that, if Rollins won, would allow him to set a stipulation for his title match at Extreme Rules.

Kane ended up in the match after he and Rollins had an argument backstage.  Rollins wanted Kane to simply lie down, but when the match got underway, Kane refused to cooperate.  The Big Red Monster took it to Rollins in spurts, acting conflicted with every flurry of offense.  After Kane laid out Rollins, he finally relented, fell to the mat and draped Rollins' arm over his chest.

Because of that "victory," Rollins got to set a stipulation for his match with Randy Orton.  Rollins chose to ban the RKO.  Orton, who also got to set a stipulation, chose to have the match in a steel cage. Will banning Orton's signature move guarantee Rollins a win?  Or will Rollins fall to Orton without any help from The Authority?