Power Ranking WWE Top 10 Men's and Women's Stars Right Now
Much has changed since the last time B/R ranked the top 10 men's and women's WWE Superstars at the end of 2025.
Injury, retirement and even pregnancy led to several of last year's top talent being sidelined, costing them spots in the first rankings of 2026.
Returns, creative reinvestment and high-profile victories have helped some appear for the first time and others catapult to the top of the countdown.
Who landed where, why, and which Superstar retained their spot at the top of their division? Find out with these power rankings of the 10 best men's and women's stars in WWE right now.
Women's Nos. 6-10
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10. Lyra Valkyria (2025 ranking: 8)
The former women's intercontinental champion remains a consistent part of the women's division, despite a less-than-stellar win-loss record of late. Valkyria appeared on both the January 5 and 12 episodes of Raw and was on the losing side in both to The Judgment Day. Still one of the best in-ring performers on the roster, she has become a workhorse on the red brand.
9. Maxxine Dupri (2025 ranking: N/A)
The underdog entered the year as the women's intercontinental champion but lost her gold back to Becky Lynch in controversial fashion. How that affects her booking and TV time moving forward, and how it propels her character forward, will determine how long she is destined to stay on this countdown.
8. Kabuki Warriors (2025 ranking: Honorable Mention)
Asuka and Kairi Sane entered the year as the biggest antagonists in the women's division, picking fights with every other team. On the first Raw of the year, they dropped the titles to Ripley and Sky, then lost a No. 1 Contender's match a week later, but they remain a presence on the flagship show.
7. Raquel Rodriguez (2025 ranking: N/A)
Big Mami Cool has the potential to skyrocket up this list if her recent booking is any indication. The former tag team champion has her eyes on the Women's World Championship, after attacking Stephanie Vaquer on the January 5 and 12 episodes of Raw. Positioned as a legit threat to La Primera, do not be surprised if she wins gold as soon as the Royal Rumble.
6. Jade Cargill (2025 ranking: 7)
The WWE women's champion slots at No. 6 on this list, thanks to her limited use thus far in 2026. A teased rivalry with Jordynne Grace is reason to be excited about the SmackDown women's division, and her presence in the WrestleMania marketing materials suggests big things await. We just need to see more of Cargill before she can catapult up these rankings.
Men's Nos. 6-10
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10. Austin Theory (2025 ranking: N/A)
The former breakout star of WWE returned after a long hiatus, revealing himself to be the masked assailant behind the attacks on The Vision's opponents. Since then, he has joined the faction and battled the likes of CM Punk, Rey Mysterio and Penta. Not bad for a guy whose future was uncertain at the midpoint of last year.
9. Damian Priest (2025 ranking: N/A)
The Archer of Infamy settled his rivalry with Aleister Black on the final SmackDown of 2025, defeating the former NXT world champion in an Ambulance match. Since then, he has made his intention to win the Undisputed WWE Championship clear and has the potential to reestablish himself as a contender to the top prize on Friday nights, especially with Drew McIntyre now holding the gold.
8. Jey Uso (2025 ranking: 6)
The former world heavyweight champion capped off an up-and-down 2025 by reuniting with his brother, Jimmy, to win the World Tag Team Championship from AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. He also remains the most prominent link back to the Bloodline Saga, which continues to hang over WWE programming, revisited every time Roman Reigns reappears on TV.
7. AJ Styles (2025 ranking: N/A)
As The Phenomenal One embarks on what will be his final year of in-ring competition, he is as hot as he has been in years. Styles and Lee lost the tag titles to The Usos to close out 2025, but he had a brilliant match against Gunther on Monday's Raw and appears poised for one last, great singles run.
6. Carmelo Hayes (2025 ranking: N/A)
Hayes closed out 2025 by winning the United States Championship from Ilja Dragunov to cap off a stretch of momentum-building victories. He continued his winning ways into the New Year, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura on Friday's SmackDown to retain the title and set himself up for a banner year in 2026.
Women's No. 5: Liv Morgan
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2025 ranking: N/A
Fresh off her return from a shoulder injury in the closing weeks of 2025, Liv Morgan has wasted little time making 2026 hers.
The former women's world champion defeated Lyra Valkyria on the January 5 episode of Raw, then followed that win up by teaming with Judgment Day teammate Roxanne Perez to defeat Valkyria and Bayley, as well as the Kabuki Warriors, in a Triple Threat No. 1 Contender's match.
That victory sets her and Perez on a collision course with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky for the Women's Tag Team Championship.
Do not be surprised if she is a favorite to win the women's Royal Rumble and is challenging for either world title entering WrestleMania 42.
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Men's No. 5: Gunther
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2025 ranking: 3
The Ring General earned the biggest win of his career to close out 2025, tapping out John Cena in the legendary competitor's final match on December 13.
Since then, Gunther has been the most hated man on WWE television, a throwback to the days when heels relished the opportunity to infuriate fans.
He has been booed out of buildings and frustrated fans by continuing to defeat their favorites.
Case in point: his win over AJ Styles on Monday's Raw.
Unflinching in his commitment to the sacredness of the mat, Gunther continues to be the most punishing striker and the most gifted technician, all at the same time.
Where he fits in the puzzle that is WrestleMania 42 booking remains to be seen, but there is no denying he and WWE Creative are making the most out of the momentum he had coming off of the victory over Cena.
His fall to fifth in this list has everything to do with the men ranked above him and nothing to do with his work or positioning on the card.
Women's No. 4: Giulia
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2025 ranking: N/A
After months of questionable booking that did little to help her establish herself on the main roster, Giulia regained the Women's United States Championship from Chelsea Green and enters the new year riding a wave of momentum.
She defeated Alexa Bliss to kick off 2026, a big win over a former world champion in her own right.
One of the most talented and charismatic performers on the roster, Giulia has the aura necessary to be a huge star, even if the creative team on SmackDown has yet to truly tap into it.
Losing Kiana James as her representation on Friday nights might be the first step to accomplishing that.
Regardless, Giulia has both momentum and the attention of WWE Creative on her side, and that bodes well for someone who spent half of last year inexplicably wandering around the midcard on Friday nights.
Men's No. 4: Bron Breakker
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2025 ranking: Honorable Mention
The second-generation competitor silenced all critics on the January 5 episode of Raw, proving he can hang with an all-time-great and future Hall of Famer in the first big, world title match of his main roster career.
Breakker never looked out of place sharing the ring with CM Punk and was booked in a manner that meant no one could argue he was worse off for the loss.
The son of Hall of Famer Rick Steiner has been presented like an unstoppable force since winning the men's WarGames match for The Vision at Survivor Series.
After being suspended by Raw general manager Adam Pearce for putting his hands on him, look for Breakker to explode back on TV as one of the most dangerous competitors in WWE and a threat to take the gold from Punk if they cross paths again.
Women's No. 3: Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky
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2025 rankings: Ripley (4), Sky (2)
As individuals, Ripley and Sky's greatness is undeniable. They appear to be on their way to achieving just that as a tag team, too, if their recent run is any indication.
Known collectively as "Rhiyo," the duo built themselves into a contender for the Women's Tag Team Championship to close out 2025, then kicked off the New Year by challenging Asuka and Kairi Sane for the gold in the January 5 edition of Raw.
A fantastic match concluded with Ripley downing The Empress of Tomorrow with Riptide and Sky adding her Over the Moonsault for the win and the titles.
With The Judgment Day's Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez set as their next contenders, Ripley and Sky have the chance to make the titles as meaningful as they ever have, all while revisiting the intense rivalry between Ripley and Morgan.
Men's No. 3: Cody Rhodes
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2025 ranking: 5
For the first time since SummerSlam, The American Nightmare is not the undisputed WWE champion.
Rhodes defended his title on Friday's SmackDown against Drew McIntyre in a heated Three Stages of Hell match. This was the culmination of a rivalry that dated back to September, and the contest ended with the return of Jacob Fatu and a controversial conclusion that saw The Scottish Warrior steal the title.
Rhodes' preoccupation with Fatu, who he attempted to pull off of McIntyre before engaging him in a fist fight of his own, allowed the heel to escape the steel cage and take the gold from the top babyface in professional wrestling.
What was once teased as Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns for the top prize in the company at WrestleMania 42 no longer looks like a guarantee, begging the question: What would Rhodes do on the grand stage if not compete for, or defend, the WWE title?
Considering how intricately linked he has been to that prize, perhaps it is not a bad thing that there is a little intrigue surrounding his path this year.
Women's No. 2: Becky Lynch
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2025 ranking: 3
After weeks of conspiracy theories, all-caps social media posts and delusional ramblings, Becky Lynch did what she said she would do and defeated Maxxine Dupri to regain the Women's Intercontinental Championship on the January 5 episode of Raw.
The greatest women's wrestler of all time (lots of people are saying it), she is not only a champion but she is also doing some of her greatest work to date. Whether it is on Raw, Busted Open Radio, Sam Roberts' Show or her own social media accounts, she has completely bought into her current persona and struck a chord with fans.
Add to that an upcoming role on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and you have a woman building incredible momentum entering the most important stretch on the pro wrestling calendar.
It will be interesting to see if her road to WrestleMania 42 includes a date with AJ Lee, with whom she has plenty of unfinished business following two high-profile, premium live event losses to the future Hall of Famer.
Men's No. 2: Drew McIntyre
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2025 ranking: 10
The new undisputed WWE champion finally paid off two years of developing a persona defined by winning the top prize in the company on Friday's SmackDown, albeit in controversial fashion.
Widely believed to be the man who attacked Jacob Fatu and cost him a shot at the title, McIntyre absorbed a beatdown from The Samoan Werewolf before escaping a steel cage and claiming the gold from Cody Rhodes.
It was poetic for the Scot, who had repeatedly seen his chances to win either the WWE or world heavyweight title dashed by outside forces or controversy.
An engaging character and hard-working competitor who long ago earned a title reign in front of an actual audience since his first run occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, McIntyre has the chance to reestablish himself as a marquee player in WWE and ensure he never drops back out of that spot.
Considering the timing, the question arises whether this puts him in a good spot for a high-profile WrestleMania 42 match or if he serves as a transitional champion, helping to pass the title from Rhodes to someone else in time for The Showcase of the Immortals.
Given all of the hard work he has put into his character, creating a persona that fans can get behind rather than the undefined babyface he was under the previous creative regime, one has to hope it is the former scenario.
Regardless, in the midst of his third reign as WWE champion, McIntyre has the chance to go on the most audacious and insufferable celebration tour ever, with more "I told you so's" than anyone can handle.
Women's No. 1: Stephanie Vaquer
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2025 ranking: 1
La Primera ended 2025 as the top-ranked woman in WWE and kicks off 2026 with more of the same.
She entered the New Year having successfully retained the Women's World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez and Nikki Bella on the December 29 episode of Raw.
While her issues with Bella appear to be over, Rodriguez remains a thorn in her side, after attacking her and her injured ankle in consecutive weeks on Raw.
Rehabbing a real injury to that ankle, it will be interesting to see if the Chilean competitor can thwart the challenge of Big Mami Cool or finds herself chasing gold.
Regardless, Vaquer is one of the most popular women on the WWE roster and someone who should play a big role in WrestleMania 42 plans.
Men's No. 1: CM Punk
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2025 ranking: 2
CM Punk entered the year as the world heavyweight champion and survived a grueling war with Bron Breakker on January 5, and he has wasted little time setting up his next title defense.
The Best in the World will put his gold on the line on Monday's Raw against Finn Bálor, proving he is not content to be a champion who appears on shows but rarely defends his title.
Punk is still one of the best workers in the world, a performer who knows how to put over the prestige of the title, his opponents and himself all at the same time. He approaches the business with an old-school mindset, and it has made for a refreshing change of pace on Monday nights.
His promos are great, his work is strong, and his ability to elevate Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory into consistent, legitimate main event players is invaluable.
One of the biggest stars in the industry, Punk figures to have a seat at the table when discussing the biggest matches at this year's WrestleMania 42.
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