WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 12/14/2015: WWE TLC 2015 Edition
WWE TLC 2015 is over, and the WWE Superstar Power Rankings have seen some reshuffling in the wake of WWE's final pay-per-view of the year. WWE World Heavyweight champion Sheamus remains atop the rankings after retaining his title, Dean Ambrose climbs to No. 2 after capturing the WWE Intercontinental Championship and Roman Reigns drops after once again being foiled on the big stage.
TLC saw every title defended, but only one changed hands. Charlotte retained the WWE Divas Championship, Alberto Del Rio kept the WWE United States Championship and The New Day remain WWE tag team champions. It was also a good night for The League of Nations. At least, as far as match results go. All three members who competed (Rusev, Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus) won their matches.
There's plenty to go over and recap, and this past week's events and results, including TLC results, will be discussed more thoroughly throughout the following slides. But beforehand, please read the "How These Rankings Work" slide for more information on how the rankings are determined...
How These Rankings Work
1 of 12
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 main 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 Watchlist until officially named as part of the 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 weighted components.
If a Superstar 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 weighed 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 Watchlist 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 injuries, 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 TV or in some other official storyline capacity. Also, nothing that could be explicitly considered a spoiler is included unless WWE acknowledges it as well.
In short, all main-roster shows—televised or digitally distributed—as well as anything from WWE.com, the WWE mobile app, the WWE Network and any WWE-affiliated or Superstar accounts on social media that don't break kayfabe, may be taken into consideration. These may include but are not limited to Raw, SmackDown, Main Event, Superstars, NXT, pay-per-views, WWE Network specials and any other storyline-driven content from the WWE Network.
Watch List
2 of 12Jack Swagger
Jack Swagger got off to a good start this past week, picking up a win over Stardust on Raw and fending off an attack by Alberto Del Rio afterward. But at TLC, he was unable to win the WWE United States Championship in a chairs match. Is Swagger done with Del Rio? And will he try to enlist the help of former ally Zeb Colter again?
Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks has quietly been putting together a good run. This past week, Banks picked up wins over Team Bella as a member of Team B.A.D., and then defeated Becky Lynch by submission on the TLC Kickoff show (with interference from Team B.A.D.). Paige may have a decent argument about deserving a rematch, but she's already had several now. Banks could be next in line to face Charlotte.
Rusev with Lana
League of Nations member Rusev had a mixed week. The League of Nations lost in a huge 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match on Raw, and then lost to Ryback by count-out as well. League of Nations lost again on SmackDown to Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and The Usos. But at TLC, when it really mattered, he defeated Ryback one-on-one. He locked in the Accolade and forced Ryback to pass out. Can Rusev build on his TLC win?
10. The Usos
3 of 12Previous Rank: 9
Movement: Down 1
The Usos turned in a mix of wins and losses this past week. On Raw, they teamed with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose in an enormous 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match against The Wyatt Family, The ECW Originals (The Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno) and The League of Nations. Their team won. The same night, they helped cost The New day a match against The Lucha Dragons.
On SmackDown, they again teamed with Reigns and Ambrose against League of Nations. They again won the match. And then they got their biggest opportunity on Sunday at TLC.
They competed against The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) and The Lucha Dragons in a match that perhaps stole the show and was the most exciting of the evening. The Usos had their chances but failed to capture the WWE Tag Team Championships. And with The Lucha Dragons' recent success against The New Day, The Usos may find themselves on the sidelines come the Royal Rumble.
9. Charlotte
4 of 12Previous Rank: Watch List
Movement: Into Top 10
WWE Divas champion Charlotte only wrestled one match this week and got the job done when it mattered most. After brawling with Paige following a confrontation on MizTV this past Monday, she helped Becky Lynch defeat Paige on SmackDown with a ringside distraction.
Becky Lynch has been less than impressed with Charlotte's cheating ways, though. She's confronted Charlotte several times now about it, but Charlotte (and her father Ric Flair) seem only concerned with the end result.
That paid dividends again at TLC, when Charlotte leveraged Ric Flair's presence to avoid being pinned by Paige and instead left TLC with her title reign intact. A secretly exposed turnbuckle was the deciding factor, allowing Charlotte to pin Paige.
While the win wasn't exactly "clean," the end result for Charlotte is all that mattered. She's still the Divas champion, and that's more important than anything else.
8. Lucha Dragons
5 of 12Previous Rank: 7
Movement: Down 1
The Lucha Dragons had a very good start to their week. On Raw, they defeated The New Day when Sin Cara rolled up Kofi Kingston as Xavier Woods was being attacked by The Usos. Then on SmackDown, they defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods).
At TLC, they faced New Day and The Usos in a ladder match for the WWE Tag Team Championships. They lost. Had it not been for Xavier Woods' interference, they might have won. But as Woods pointed out, everything is legal in a ladder match.
Based on two wins over New Day this past week, Kalisto and Sin Cara might have the strongest case out of any tag team for a title shot. But will they get it?
7. Kevin Owens
6 of 12Previous Rank: 6
Movement: Down 1
Kevin Owens continued his slide this week. On Raw, he defeated Dolph Ziggler but got a face full of popcorn and soda from Dean Ambrose for his trouble. Then on SmackDown, his attempted hit-and-run attack on Ambrose at their contract signing didn't go according to plan.
And at TLC, he faced Dean Ambrose with the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the line. He lost, and his first title reign in WWE came to an end. He's surely due a rematch, but can he regain his title from Ambrose when he gets the chance?
6. The Wyatt Family
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Previous Rank: 8
Movement: Up 2
The Wyatt Family turned in a solid week. In the 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match on Raw, they were the first eliminated. But things got better from there. Braun Strowman defeated Tommy Dreamer on Raw, and then came TLC.
At TLC, they faced The ECW Originals in an eight-man elimination tables match. They won, four eliminations to one, with Erick Rowan being the only Wyatt member to be eliminated.
After their convincing victory at TLC, will The Wyatts turn their attention to a new foe, or will they continue their hardcore war with The ECW Originals?
5. Roman Reigns
8 of 12Previous Rank: 2
Movement: Down 3
Roman Reigns' week started off so well, but it ended on a sour note. On Raw, he teamed with Dean Ambrose and The Usos in the 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match. His team won. He also argued with Sheamus later in the evening and claimed Sheamus was "smuggling tater tots" in his pants. You can guess the body part he was talking about.
On SmackDown, he again teamed with Ambrose and The Usos against League of Nations. His team won once again. Heading into TLC, Reigns had confidence and momentum. But it would not be enough.
At TLC, he faced Sheamus in a TLC match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Reigns looked to have the match won, but Alberto Del Rio and Rusev, Sheamus' League of Nations allies, would interfere. It was reminiscent of Bray Wyatt attacking him at Money in the Bank.
Despite the interference, Reigns nearly pulled it out. But the numbers were too much, and Sheamus ultimately retained his title. Afterward, Reigns viciously attacked Sheamus with a chair. That brought out Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and a host of referees. But Reigns was irate, and nothing would contain his rage.
After Sheamus was taken from the ring, Reigns directed his anger at Triple H, who was savagely beaten and eventually put through a table and then speared as referees tried to help the COO to the back.
Reigns seemed to know his actions would likely end in his being fired, but he didn't seem to care. He'd had enough. The frustration of nearly a year of "close calls" had finally boiled over. Perhaps a new Roman Reigns was born last night, or maybe he just snapped. Either way, Reigns is almost certainly going to be severely punished for his actions, if not fired for them.
4. The New Day
9 of 12
Previous Rank: 5
Movement: Up 1
WWE tag team champions The New Day know how to get the job done when it counts. With losses to The Lucha Dragons on both Raw and SmackDown, things weren't looking good for them. But at TLC, they found a way to remain champions.
They faced The Usos and The Lucha Dragons in a ladder match with the WWE Tag Team Championships on the line. It was an exciting, high-flying match that wowed the crowd. And at times, it looked as though New Day would lose the titles.
But Xavier Woods remembered just in time that there are no disqualifications in ladder matches and saved the titles by throwing his trombone at Kalisto, leading to a series of events that saw New Day retain their titles.
Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods remain champions. But The Lucha Dragons apparently have their number. How long will their second title reign last?
3. Alberto Del Rio
10 of 12Previous Rank: 4
Movement: Up 1
WWE United States champion Alberto Del Rio got off to a slow start this past week, but TLC proved very successful. On Raw, he took part in the 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match as a member of The League of Nations. His team lost, as Sheamus was pinned by Roman Reigns as the final elimination.
On SmackDown, League of Nations faced (and lost to) Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and The Usos. That came after a scheduled match between Del Rio and Reigns broke down and was called off at the beginning of the show.
At TLC, though, he faced Jack Swagger with his title on the line. Having ditched Zeb Colter earlier in the week, Del Rio was without distraction. And after a brutal chairs match, he emerged victorious over Swagger and retained the title. Then, he helped fellow League of Nations member Sheamus retain his strap by attacking Roman Reigns in the main event.
Del Rio has solidified his hold on the United States title after defeating his biggest rival. Will Swagger get another shot at Del Rio? Or is Del Rio off to a new opponent?
2. Dean Ambrose
11 of 12
Previous Rank: 3
Movement: Up 1
WWE intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose had a very good week. On Raw, he teamed with Roman Reigns and The Usos as they defeated The ECW Originals, The Wyatt Family and The League of Nations in the 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match. Later, he would confront Kevin Owens and throw popcorn and soda in his face.
On SmackDown, he again teamed with Reigns and The Usos in yet another win over League of Nations. Also, his contract signing with Kevin Owens took place, with Owens sending a legal representative in his place. It was a ruse, and Owens tried attacking Ambrose. Ambrose fought off the attack, though.
At TLC, Ambrose finally got his title match and made the most of it. There were no special stipulations, just two men facing off for the title. Owens briefly saved his reign by getting a single finger on the ropes during a pinfall, but Ambrose rolled him up shortly thereafter and secured the victory.
The win marks Ambrose's second title reign in WWE, and first with the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Will Ambrose be able to retain once Owens gets his rematch? And when will that match happen?
1. Sheamus
12 of 12
Previous Rank: 1
Movement: None
By the skin of his teeth, Sheamus remains both WWE world heavyweight champion and No. 1 in the rankings. He suffered several losses this week, including taking the final pin from Roman Reigns in the 16-man Fatal 4-Way elimination tag team match on Raw. League of Nations also lost to Reigns, The Usos and Dean Ambrose on SmackDown as well.
At TLC, though, the fun and games were over. He faced Reigns in a TLC match. As one would expect, the match was brutal, hard-hitting and violent from the start. But after Sheamus and Reigns had battered each other for more than 15 minutes, Reigns looked to have victory in sight. As Reigns closed in on the title that hung high above the ring, Sheamus' League of Nations allies (Rusev and Alberto Del Rio) assaulted Reigns.
It took time, but the numbers eventually gave Sheamus the win, and his title reign was saved. In TLC matches, there are no disqualifications. So technically, Sheamus won without breaking any rules. But tell that to Roman Reigns, who bashed Sheamus repeatedly with a steel chair after the match.
With Reigns likely out of the title picture for some time due to his actions, Sheamus can perhaps look forward to a new opponent. But who is next in line? As of now, there's no clear choice.
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