WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 8/10/2015

WWE SummerSlam 2015 is less than two weeks away, and as the biggest event of the summer approaches, there's been some big changes in the WWE Superstar Power Rankings.  One match was already scheduled (Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker), but now two more are official and an additional match highly likely. 

The Triple Threat match featuring WWE intercontinental champion Ryback, Big Show and The Miz, which was originally scheduled for Battleground but postponed due to Ryback's health, will finally take place.  Also, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose will face Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper in a tag team match.

In Addition, WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins wants to face WWE United States champion John Cena in a match where both titles will be on the line.  This of course depends on whether or not Cena is healthy and cleared to wrestle after having his nose broken by Rollins.

In other news, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman had plenty to say about The Undertaker, the Tag Team Division is as muddled as ever and there's a new No. 1 atop the rankings.

Anyway, 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.

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

Credit: WWE.com

Bray Wyatt

With his one match this week ending in a team loss, Bray Wyatt drops out of the top 10.  But it's now official: Wyatt will team with Luke Harper against Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns at SummerSlam.  

On SmackDown, after accepting the challenge from Reigns, he told Reigns he'd bring "his brother."  Is that a reference to Harper or someone else?

Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose remains in the Watch List this week after picking up a win in his only match.  He teamed with Reigns and Randy Orton against Wyatt, Harper and Sheamus.  His team won.  Now he has a tag team match at SummerSlam.  Can he and Reigns fend off Wyatt and Harper until then?

Neville

If Neville were to get a new nickname, it would be "The Man Who Almost Won."  He has a habit of taking top-tier competitors to their limit, then losing the match.  

He is young and has never competed against this level of competition.  And one of these days, he'll get that huge win.  But as his loss to world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins on Raw showed, he has to learn how to finish matches and put away his opponents consistently.

10. Cesaro

Previous Rank: 8

Movement: Down 2

Cesaro did not compete this week, only appearing on MizTV alongside Kevin Owens and The Miz himself.  As is common with MizTV, violence erupted on the talk show.

Cesaro managed to run off Kevin Owens, and it's highly likely that a match between the two will be made for SummerSlam.  If it is, when will it become official?

9. Roman Reigns

Previous Rank: Watch List

Movement: Into Top 10

Roman Reigns powered his way back into the top 10 this week, picking up two wins.  On Raw, he teamed with Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose against Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Sheamus.  His team won when he speared then-No. 2 ranked Sheamus and pinned him.

On SmackDown, he challenged Wyatt and Harper to a match at SummerSlam against himself and Ambrose.  Wyatt accepted.  Later that night, Reigns would face Rusev and get the win via pinfall.  

With a showdown against Wyatt and Harper looming, can he stay one step ahead of the crafty Wyatt Family?

8. Prime Time Players

Previous Rank: 9

Movement: Up 1

Tag team champions The Prime Time Players finally got back in the ring this week, teaming with Mark Henry to face The New Day in a six-man tag team match.  They won.

With the Tag Team division a mess and no team thus far standing out as an obvious No. 1 contender for the titles, The Prime Time Players may be faced with the prospect of facing multiple teams or, at worst, with no preparation time for their eventual opponents.

7. Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman

Previous Rank: 7

Movement: None

Brock Lesnar looks ready for his showdown with The Undertaker.  And Paul Heyman, who speaks for Lesnar, has made it clear that this match will be of monumental proportions.  In fact, Heyman would call this match the biggest of all time.

Perhaps he's right.  There's little doubt it's one of the biggest rematches in pro wrestling history and deserves its place atop the card at SummerSlam.  

The question now is: Can Lesnar put away The Undertaker for good, or will Undertaker get retribution?

6. Ryback

Credit: WWE.com

Previous Rank: 5

Movement: Down 1

Once again, intercontinental champion Ryback was idle.  He is still recovering from his staph infection but is expected to be ready to go for his Triple Threat match at SummerSlam against Big Show and The Miz, a match that was originally planned for Battleground.

With so much time off, Ryback could be well-rested.  Or, due to his injury, he could be at a significant disadvantage.  With less than two weeks until the match, it won't be long until we find out which Ryback we'll see.

5. Big Show

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: Down 1

Big Show has been ready for his Intercontinental Championship opportunity for some time now.  And in less than two weeks, he'll get that chance.  

In his only match of the week, he faced and defeated Jack Swagger on Main Event.  Can Big Show keep his momentum up heading into SummerSlam and win his second Intercontinental Championship?

4. Randy Orton

Credit: WWE.com

Previous Rank: 6

Movement: Up 2

Randy Orton find himself in the top five this week.  On Raw, he teamed with Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns in a victory over Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Sheamus.  His RKO on Wyatt allowed Reigns to spear Sheamus and score the pinfall for the victory.

While nothing is official, it's likely he's going to face Sheamus at SummerSlam.  Will that match be made official this week, if it happens at all?

3. Sheamus

Previous Rank: 2

Movement: Down 1

Sheamus drops a spot this week after taking the pin in a six-man tag team match on Raw.  He teamed with Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt, who deemed him "the enemy of my enemy," referring to Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns.  Reigns and Ambrose teamed with Randy Orton in the match, and Reigns speared Sheamus and pinned him for the win.

Sheamus still holds the Money in the Bank contract, and it's possible he could walk out of SummerSlam as the world heavyweight champion, like Seth Rollins did at WrestleMania.  Or he could end up on his back after an RKO, assuming he faces Orton at SummerSlam.

2. John Cena

Credit: WWE.com

Previous Rank: 1

Movement: Down 1

United States champion John Cena is still out with a broken nose.  WWE and his fans hope he'll be ready for SummerSlam.  If he is, world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins has a big challenge for Cena: title vs. title.

Rollins wants to face Cena one-on-one, with both the U.S. and heavyweight titles on the line.  For Cena, it has to be frustrating to be injured, as this is a huge opportunity for him.  

If he can win, it will be his 16th world championship, tying him with Ric Flair for the most of all time.  Will he be healthy enough to compete?

1. Seth Rollins

Previous Rank: 3

Movement: Up 2

World heavyweight champion Seth Rollins reclaims the top spot this week after picking up a hard-fought victory over Neville on Raw.  

Prior to the match, he challenged United States champion John Cena to a title-vs.-title match at SummerSlam, then issued the first WWE World Heavyweight Championship open vhallenge.  

He also had a few caveats.  He said the open challenge was available to anyone under 6 feet tall and under 200 pounds.  It was teased that El Torito might be the only one capable of answering, but Neville in fact met the criteria.  Rollins did not look pleased at Neville's appearance on stage.

Rollins and Neville would go on to have a back-and-forth match that saw both men take the other to the limit.  On more than one occasion, Neville looked to have Rollins beat, but a well-placed foot by Rollins and a poor decision by Neville allowed Rollins to pick up the win.

Will John Cena answer his challenge?  If so, can Rollins defeat him in what would be the biggest match of his career?