Updated WWE Power Rankings For Men's Stars After SummerSlam

With SummerSlam in the books, WWE has separated the contenders from the pretenders and positioned the top stars of each brand for the remainder of 2026. 

The Biggest Party of the Summer delivered surprise returns, title changes, and the end of an era. It wasn't perfect. Nevertheless, the company wrapped up some of its ongoing storylines and effectively set up new matchups for the second half of the year.

Let's find out which top male Superstars had the most significant impact as we rank them based on wins, creative direction, and overall momentum. This is our updated power ranking for the men ahead of Money in the Bank.

10. Sami Zayn

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Sami Zayn had a tough few weeks after his upset win at Night of Champions, but his promos and character work are still top-notch. "The Last Real Good Guy" was one win away from becoming the number one at SummerSlam until Nick Aldis stacked the odds against him.

Even worse, Kevin Owens immediately overshadowed him, and he missed the chance to avenge his loss to CM Punk. Still, Zayn must be an early favorite to win the men's Money in the Bank ladder match in October. Considering his grievances, the briefcase could be his best opportunity to re-enter the world title picture.

9. Solo Sikoa

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Solo Sikoa has been surprisingly much more entertaining as a good guy. In fact, Roman Reigns' former enforcer was the highlight of the six-man tag team match from the Biggest Party of the Summer.

Sikoa helped LA Knight defeat his ex-stablemates and proved that he has more potential in this new role than many of us expected. Honestly, he's in a much better position now that he's not tied to The Bloodline, which has lost its luster lately.

8. Gunther

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Gunther deserves more recognition for his performance at SummerSlam. The Austrian wrestler pulled double duty at the event, ending his conflict with Nick Aldis just in time to join the number one contender's match.

The Ring General has had a turbulent year since he ended AJ Styles' in-ring career at Royal Rumble. WWE hasn't made the best use of his "Career Killer" persona, but he remains among the most compelling antagonists on the roster.

7. LA Knight

LA Knight has been such a curious case since his breakout year in 2023. The self-proclaimed megastar has been a fan-favorite ever since, but WWE hasn't always capitalized on his popularity. 

Knight finally overcame The Bloodline with the help of Sikoa and Royce Keys. Now, he has his sights set on Reigns and a rematch for the world heavyweight championship. It took two years, but he finally has a chance to face The Tribal Chief one-on-one again.

6. Kevin Owens

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Kevin Owens made his long-awaited return as the fourth participant in the match to determine the next challenger for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The Canadian star has been out of action for 17 months due to a neck injury, which required surgery.

The unfortunate timing forced him to miss WrestleMania 41, where he was scheduled to face Randy Orton. Now, Owens is on a collision course with an opponent he has real-life and onscreen with, CM Punk. Get your popcorn ready because this is a matchup we've been waiting for since the two crossed paths backstage in 2023.

5. Chad Gable

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Chad Gable finally earned championship gold in his hometown of Minneapolis, MN. The Olympian has coveted the Intercontinental title since his 2023 feud with Gunther, but he repeatedly fell short of his goal.

This made his crowning moment at SummerSlam even more rewarding. Gable's first singles title win was long overdue. It was an excellent conclusion to his redemption arc, even with the gratuitous product placement at the end.

4. Cody Rhodes

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Cody Rhodes is still undeniably one of the top WWE Superstars, but he desperately needs a creative pivot. His character has grown stale, and many of his storylines this year have been dull.

His highly-anticipated showdown with Punk at The Biggest Party of the Summer didn't live up to the hype either. Reigniting his feud with Orton, without Pat McAfee involved, could be a step in the right direction. More than anything, WWE needs to shake up the world title picture and put Rhodes in fresh non-title matchups.

3. CM Punk

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CM Punk has had a productive year. His match with Rhodes didn't reach the heights of his other output in 2026, but pro wrestling is much more interesting when he's active.

His tirade during the SummerSlam post-show is a prime example of the chaos he brings to WWE's weekly programming. To that end, his upcoming encounter with Owens is the shot in the arm SmackDown needs right now. A clash between two prolific talkers with a well-documented history should be must-see TV.

2. Oba Femi

Oba Femi slayed The Beast Incarnate for a second time and received the most definitive endorsement at SummerSlam. Brock Lesnar minted the 28-year-old as the future of the company and the most exciting NXT call-up in recent memory.

Following such a decisive win over Lesnar, Femi has the whole world on notice, making him the biggest threat to Punk and Reigns. The 2026 King of the Ring winner still has an unused title shot for the championship of his choice, and it's only a matter of time before he comes to collect. 

1. Roman Reigns

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Roman Reigns is on top as the world heavyweight champion following a strong match against Seth Rollins. The two produced a tremendous love letter to The Shield, ending their ongoing rivalry with a beautiful show of respect.

Reigns has cemented his legacy at both WrestleMania and SummerSlam. Like Punk, Rollins was one of the last vestiges of his time as "The Big Dog" that he still needed to conquer. There's not much more that his critics can say now that he has beaten them both on his own.