WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 8/3/2015

WWE SummerSlam 2015 gets closer every week, and the WWE Superstar Power Rankings are seeing some changes leading up to the event.  Speaking of SummerSlam, this year's SummerSlam is set to be extra special.  WWE announced on Raw that the event will be four hours long for the first time in history, a length previously reserved for WrestleMania.

But even though this may well be the biggest SummerSlam in history, there's still only one match set: The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar.  While various rivalries in WWE are starting to clue us all in as to what matches we might see, no other matches have been made official...yet.

Beyond that revelation for SummerSlam, this week was full of news.  With the Divas revolution well under way, the division lost a long-time competitor.  Layla El announced her retirement this past week.  The former Diva Search winner held the WWE Divas Championship and the WWE Women's Championship for short stints during her nine-year career with the company.

Also, for those of you living under a rock, WWE United States champion John Cena got his nose crushed by WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins in a match on Raw.  Rollins inadvertently broke Cena's nose, but after the ringside doctor checked on him, he finished the match.  You can see the graphic photos here.

And last but certainly not least, pro wrestling shockingly and sadly lost another legend this past week.  WWE Hall of Fame inductee and wrestling icon "Rowdy" Roddy Piper died last Friday.  He was 61.  Condolences to his family and friends.  Piper, you will be missed.

Moving on, we'll get into all that and much more in greater detail throughout 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.  These rankings are strictly in-storyline power rankings.

All active Superstars and Divas on the WWE roster are considered, excluding talents who primarily or exclusively perform in NXT.  Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, but any NXT Superstar deemed eligible for these rankings will remain on the Watch List until officially named as a part of the WWE main roster.

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 weighed components in the rankings.

If a wrestler is deemed to be tied with another, holding a title will be the primary tiebreaker.  However, holding a championship, being a No. 1 contender or holding the 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 components 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 and losses.  Being over with the fans (i.e., getting a strong reaction) is not heavily weighted in the ranking decisions; it is effectively the last tiebreaker. Pay-per-view wins and losses 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 and "sabbaticals"—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 them 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.

These may include but are 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 picked up a lot of momentum this past week, winning two matches.  On Raw, he defeated Fandango, and he got past King Barrett on Main Event.  On SmackDown, he attacked Stardust after his match.  Neville and Stardust seem destined to square off, and that match may (OK, likely will) come at SummerSlam.

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns falls out of the top 10 this week after making zero appearances, which was enough to allow a couple of other guys jump him in the rankings.  With Bray Wyatt relentlessly harassing Reigns and his ally Dean Ambrose, perhaps a week off was just what Reigns needed.

10. Bray Wyatt

Previous Rank: 10

Movement: None

Bray Wyatt is getting the Family back together.  After setting Luke Harper "free," Harper has returned to Wyatt's side.  This raises a few questions.

First, is Bray Wyatt going to bring Erick Rowan back into the Family?  If not, will he welcome a new disciple?  And if so, who could it be?  

When The Wyatt Family was together as one cohesive unit, they were able to go toe-to-toe with The Shield.  If they join forces once again, and with no Shield standing in their way, can anyone stop them?

9. Prime Time Players

Previous Rank: 8

Movement: Down 1

It was a slow week for Darren Young and Titus O'Neil.  The Prime Time Players, the reigning WWE tag team champions, didn't wrestle a match this week.  They were on commentary during a tag team match on Raw and again on SmackDown, but that was it.

The tag team division is a mess right now, with no team having separated itself from the pack yet.  In the coming weeks, what team will step up to challenge the Prime Time Players?  Or will more than one team prove worthy of a championship opportunity?

8. Cesaro

Previous Rank: Watch List

Movement: Into Top 10

To say Cesaro had a good week would be an understatement.  Cesaro may have had his best week in a long time.  But things didn't start off so well for the Swiss Superman.  On Raw, he tried to come to Randy Orton's aide during a beatdown but was dealt a powerbomb from Kevin Owens for his trouble.

Raw wasn't exactly a great show for Cesaro, but SmackDown was exactly the opposite.  In the first match of the show, Cesaro faced WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins in a non-title match.  Kevin Owens was on commentary, and mid-match, he attacked Cesaro, giving him a win via disqualification over the champion.

Later in the night, he teamed with Dean Ambrose against Owens and Rollins.  After a flurry at the end, Cesaro rolled up Rollins and pinned him for the team win.  So, twice in the same night, Cesaro scored victories over the WWE world heavyweight champion.  Usually, a performance like that gets a Superstar a championship opportunity.

Whether that comes is a different story, as Rollins may be busy at SummerSlam (more on that later).  But for now, Cesaro can bask in the glory of two wins over Rollins.  

7. Brock Lesnar

Previous Rank: 6

Movement: Down 1

Brock Lesnar didn't appear this week on WWE television nor did his advocate Paul Heyman.  Lesnar is likely already preparing for his match against The Undertaker, scheduled for SummerSlam in just a few weeks.

It's the first time the two will face off since Lesnar ended Undertaker's legendary WrestleMania streak.  Can Lesnar make it two in a row against the Deadman, or will he Rest in Peace at SummerSlam?

6. Randy Orton

Previous Rank: 7

Movement: Up 1

Randy Orton moves up one spot this week after picking up one win in his only match.  On Raw, he faced Kevin Owens.  During the match, Sheamus, who was on commentary, attacked him, handing The Viper a win via disqualification.

Orton and Sheamus have unfinished business, and that could come to a head at SummerSlam.  Can Orton stay one step ahead of Sheamus in their rivalry?

5. Ryback

Credit: WWE.com

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: Down 1

Another week, and still no sign of WWE intercontinental champion Ryback.  He drops another spot, and only his championship kept him in the top five.  That won't be the case next week, assuming he doesn't appear.

Will Ryback return from injury?  if so, do Big Show and The Miz get their championship match upon return, or will that match ultimately take place at a later date?

4. Big Show

Previous Rank: 5

Movement: Up 1

Big Show keeps on rolling.  In his only match of the week, Big Show went one-on-one with Dean Ambrose.  Big Show won via countout when he KO'd Ambrose out of the ring and onto the floor.  The Lunatic Fringe was unable to answer the referee's count giving Big Show the victory.

After the match, he moved in to deal more damage, but as he tried to spear Ambrose through the barricade, Ambrose moved and Big Show crashed into the wall.  It was an inauspicious end to an otherwise dominant performance.  Can Big Show translate this success into a win over Ryback down the road?

3. Seth Rollins

Previous Rank: 2

Movement: Down 1

What a terrible week it was for WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins.  On Raw, Rollins faced John Cena in a match where the WWE United States Championship was on the line.  During the match, Rollins landed a knee squarely in the center of Cena's face, breaking his nose and bloodying him in the process.

However, after Cena waived off the doctor, the match continued.  Ultimately, John Cena would pick up the win via submission.  When Cena locked in the STF, it didn't appear that Rollins ever considered fighting out of it, tapping immediately.

Things didn't get any better on SmackDown.  Rollins lost to Cesaro via disqualification in the opening match after Kevin Owens attacked Cesaro during the match.  Then in the main event, he teamed with Owens against Cesaro and Dean Ambrose.  As the match broke down toward the end, Cesaro rolled him up and pinned Rollins.  

Overall, Rollins lost three matches on the week: one by submission, one by pinfall and one by disqualification.  Rollins better turn it around, and fast, or he may not have the championship much longer.

2. Sheamus

Credit: WWE.com

Previous Rank: 3

Movement: Up 1

Mr. Money in the Bank Sheamus moves up one spot by default this week after not competing in any matches.  He attacked Randy Orton on Raw, causing Orton to win his match against Kevin Owens via disqualification.  But that was about it.

However, with his Money in the Bank contract in hand, he could become the WWE world heavyweight champion any time.  And with Seth Rollins in a funk lately, he could be vulnerable.  Is Sheamus going to cash in soon to take advantage?

1. John Cena

Previous Rank: 1

Movement: None

Already ranked No. 1 and holding the WWE United States Championship, John Cena didn't have to do much to hold onto the top spot this week.  But he went and turned in one of the gutsiest performances of his career, and put the No. 1 ranking in a lockbox.  

On Raw, he faced off against WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins.  He wanted a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but Triple H decided the WWE United States Championship would be defended instead.  

During the match, Seth Rollins crushed Cena's nose and broke it, and it appeared Cena would have to forfeit the match due to injury.  But after ringside doctors checked him out, he insisted on continuing.  Cena eventually would lock in the STF, and Rollins tapped out immediately.

For a long time, the WWE United States Championship meant almost nothing.  It was a sideshow, an afterthought.  Now, it may well be the most coveted championship in WWE.  Sure, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is technically the top prize in all of pro wrestling.  But right now, is there any championship defended more frequently and that is more sought after?  It's hard to say no to that question.