WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 10/5/2015

It was a very busy week in WWE, and following the WWE at MSG special, there have been some significant changes in the WWE Superstar Power Rankings.  With less than three weeks until WWE Hell in a Cell 2015, and with just two matches scheduled so far, it's reasonable to expect the coming weeks to be very eventful.

As mentioned, two matches are set for Hell in a Cell.  Undertaker and Brock Lesnar will face off in a Hell in a Cell match.  And as of SmackDown, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns are also scheduled for a Hell in a Cell match.

Getting back to this past week, there were a number of title matches.  WWE United States champion John Cena issued an Open Challenge on Raw.  WWE intercontinental champion Kevin Owens defended his title on SmackDown.  And there were three more titles defended at WWE at MSG.

Anyways, we'll get into this past week's action, including WWE at MSG, 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 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 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

Dudley Boyz

It was a mixed week for Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley.  On Raw, The Dudley Boyz teamed with John Cena in a loss to The New Day.  On SmackDown, they teamed with Kane against Seth Rollins and The New Day and got the win.  They then defeated The New Day at WWE at MSG in a WWE tag team title match, but it was by disqualification, thus The Dudley's did not win the titles.  

Will they get another shot at the titles following their win?

Cesaro

Cesaro quietly had a good week.  On Main Event, he defeated Bo Dallas.  Later in the week on Superstars, he defeated Heath Slater.  While no one will brag about beating Dallas or Slater these days, Cesaro took care of business against opponents he both needed to beat and should have defeated.

Big Show

Big Show started off his week looking strong, picking up a solid win over Mark Henry on Raw.  But when he faced Brock Lesnar on Saturday at WWE at MSG, he was outmatched.  Lesnar took everything Big Show threw at him, and the giant ultimately fell to The Beast.  Can Big Show get back on track after a tough loss?

Charlotte

It was not a great week for the WWE Divas champion.  On Raw, Team PCB (apparently they're still a team) lost to Team Bella when Paige walked out. She was then replaced by Natalya.  Paige attacked Natalya, distracting Charlotte and costing her the match.  

Then at WWE at MSG, Team PCB again teamed up against Team Bella.  This time, Becky Lynch and Charlotte gave Paige a taste of her own medicine and refused to tag her out.  Paige was furious after being pinned and suffering the loss.  But that was two losses for Charlotte.  She needs to get back on track—and fast.

10. Brock Lesnar

Previous Rank: Unranked

Movement: Into Top 10

Brock Lesnar powered his way back into the top 10 this week after an impressive performance at WWE at MSG.  Lesnar faced off against Big Show, an old foe from Brock Lesnar's early days in WWE.

Big Show is one of the few men who can match Lesnar's size, but Lesnar proved size isn't everything.  The Beast has a terrifying combination of size, strength and speed.  And Lesnar put that to good use.  Lesnar defeated Big Show and got in a good warm-up match in preparation for his bout against Undertaker in less than three weeks at Hell in a Cell.

9. Kane

Previous Rank: Unranked

Movement: Into Top 10

Kane looks like he'll be the next man to challenge WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  Kane's different personas, Corporate Kane and Demon Kane, seem to be spilling over into each other.

For longtime fans, this isn't a surprise.  After all, Kane has long been unstable.  And on SmackDown, when he teamed with The Dudley Boyz against Rollins and The New Day, Kane revealed his inner demon again.

After winning the match, Kane annihilated The New Day as Rollins fled to safety.  Kane then put a beatdown on Rollins at WWE at MSG.  That perhaps sealed Rollins' fate and may guarantee Kane a title opportunity.

8. Sheamus

Credit: WWE.com

Previous Rank: 6

Movement: Down 2

Mr. Money in the Bank Sheamus had a slow week.  His only match of the week came at WWE at MSG.  He teamed with Rusev against Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler.  

The match didn't go well for The Celtic Warrior.  Sheamus missed a Brogue Kick, then caught a Superkick from Ziggler, followed by an RKO from Orton.  He ended up taking the pin for the loss.

After the match, Rusev called him useless.  Sheamus responded by delivering a Brogue Kick to Rusev.  Can Sheamus get back on track this week?

7. Randy Orton

Previous Rank: 9

Movement: Up 2

Randy Orton had a solid week.  On Raw, he defeated Bo Dallas in short order.  Then at WWE at MSG, he teamed up with Dolph Ziggler against Sheamus and Rusev.  His team won.

The question now is, what's next for Orton?  With Kane apparently up next for a title shot, can Orton get himself in line behind Kane?

6. The New Day

Previous Rank: 7

Movement: Up 1

The New Day had a mixed week, filled with embarrassing moments, title matches and one big win.  On Raw, Xavier Woods answered WWE United States champion John Cena's open challenge.  Woods lost when Big E and Kofi Kingston interfered in the match.  But The Dudley Boyz came out to save Cena, setting up a six-man tag team match.  The New Day won that match when Kofi Kingston pinned D-Von Dudley.

On SmackDown, Big E and Kofi Kingston teamed with WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins in a loss to Kane and The Dudleys.  Kane destroyed all three members of The New Day after the match.

Finally, at WWE at MSG, they defended their titles against The Dudleys.  They lost via DQ as Xavier Woods broke up a pinfall attempt.  They kept their titles but will likely have to defend them against The Dudleys once again.  Perhaps that will come at Hell in a Cell.

5. Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose

Previous Rank: 3

Movement: Down 2

While all the focus is on Roman Reigns right now, tag team partner Dean Ambrose was the only one of the two to pick up a win this past week.  Ambrose defeated Bo Dallas on Main Event.

Reigns did have a match, a single's contest against Bray Wyatt on Raw.  But the match ended in a no-contest as they brawled into the crowd.  Wyatt sent Reigns through a barricade, and Reigns speared Wyatt through an announce table.  

On SmackDown, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns made a Hell in a Cell match official.  So in less than three weeks, Reigns and Wyatt will seek to destroy each other.  But will that end the war between The Wyatts and Reigns and Ambrose?  Not likely.

4. Ryback

Previous Rank: 5

Movement: Up 1

Ryback had a decent week this past week.  Although Rusev and WWE intercontinental champion Kevin Owens attacked him while on commentary on Raw, Ryback defeated Owens for the title on SmackDown.  However, he won the match via count-out.  

After the match, Ryback beat down Owens, and The Big Guy will likely get another title shot following his count-out win.  Will that come at Hell in a Cell, if indeed Ryback gets another shot?

3. Kevin Owens

Previous Rank: 4

Movement: Up 1

WWE intercontinental champion Kevin Owens got off to a mediocre start for the week but capped it off nicely.  On Raw, he and Rusev battled to a no-contest when they both attacked Ryback, who was on commentary.  On SmackDown, he defended his title against Ryback and lost via count-out.  He was beaten down after the match by an angry Ryback.

But at WWE at MSG, he defended his title against Chris Jericho.  Owens and the veteran battled, but in the end, Owens successfully retained his title by pinning Jericho.

Will Owens have to defend his title against Ryback in a few weeks at Hell in a Cell?  Or will a new challenger step up to get the shot?

2. Seth Rollins

Previous Rank: 2

Movement: None

WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins clung to the No. 2 spot this week after having a rough go of it.  On Raw, he tried to convince a WWE Human Resources representative that Kane was a monster.  But Kane had the HR rep in the palm of his hand.  Rollins got frustrated and beat down Kane, who needed to be stretchered out.  

Kane went into the ambulance in a suit, but as the ambulance drove away, it stopped.  Kane, in Demon form, emerged from the ambulance and, with a visible limp, headed to the ring.  Rollins fled after Kane attacked him and nearly gave him a tombstone piledriver.  

On SmackDown, Rollins was forced to team up with The New Day against Kane and The Dudley Boyz.  Rollins' team lost, and as Kane destroyed The New Day, Rollins again escaped.

Finally, at WWE at MSG, Rollins got one last United States Championship match against WWE U.S. champion John Cena.  Rollins looked poised to win by escaping the cage, but Kane emerged, and Rollins decided to try for a Curb Stomp from the top of the cage rather than risk the wrath of Kane outside.  He missed.

Cena delivered an Attitude Adjustment, pinned Rollins and retained his title.  Kane then locked himself inside the cage with Rollins and viciously attacked him, leaving him in a heap.  A title defense against Kane now seems inevitable.

1. John Cena

Previous Rank: 1

Movement: None

WWE United States champion John Cena had an up-and-down week.  On Raw, he issued an open challenge that Xavier Woods answered.  Cena won by DQ when The New Day interfered.  The Dudley Boyz came out, and a six-man tag match was made.  The New Day defeated Cena and The Dudleys.

Then, at WWE at MSG, Cena defended his title against WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins inside a steel cage.  Rollins looked like he might actually win the match, but he decided to risk it inside the cage rather than take a chance against Kane, who was outside the ring.  Rollins made the wrong choice, and Cena made him pay for it.  Cena dodged a Curb Stomp from the top of the cage, hit an AA and retained his title.

Cena now can look forward to a new opponent, as he's surely finished with Rollins after the win on Saturday.  Who will step up to face Cena next?