Bayley, Becky Lynch and WWE Diva Power Rankings for Week of December 16
Just hours before taking to the squared circle as part of NXT TakeOver: London, women's champion Bayley, Nia Jax, Asuka and Emma battle it out for supremacy in this week's Diva power rankings.
Bayley has dominated the countdown in consecutive weeks, earning the top spot the last two. With a WWE pay-per-view event and a sudden change in character, though, Charlotte threatens to wrest the No. 1 position away from her former NXT rival.
Did the Divas Championship or NXT Women's Championship prove stronger, and whose recent activity was deemed more important in earning the most coveted spot on the countdown?
Where did Paige tumble to following a series of defeats and a sudden disappearance from the title scene following TLC? And what about Becky Lynch, who is making great strides and should find herself in a marquee feud with Charlotte as 2016 arrives?
These are all questions answered in this week's power rankings.
Find out where your favorite Diva ranks now by clicking the "next" button to your lower right.
Criteria
1 of 11
The Diva power rankings are compiled based on a few factors.
Wins and losses are certainly taken into account, as they are in almost all power rankings, but they are hardly the only thing considered.
Also of great importance is the quality of the Divas' appearances on television. If they work throwaway matches of little meaning or reason, it will affect whether they advance up the ranks, stay neutral or fall. For example, winning an irrelevant match will not help a Diva jump one of her peers who may have lost a high-profile title bout.
Booking also plays a small role in the compilation of the list. If someone who should be booked strongly is made to look significantly weak, it could result in her falling a spot or two, depending on the strength of the field.
And finally, in extreme cases in which one's placement is not immediately obvious, main roster versus NXT will be taken into account—almost assuredly leading to those on the main roster earning the nod.
10. Eva Marie
2 of 11
Last Week: 8
Eva Marie is in danger of dropping out of the rankings altogether following another week of remaining idle.
The December 9 episode of NXT saw Nia Jax stand up to the All Red Everything Diva and tell her that she does not need a mouthpiece, which left some to wonder about Eva's role in the association. It certainly is not as the seasoned veteran wrestler to Jax's rookie.
Eva Marie remains the most despised villain in the sport, thanks to perceptions about her ability (or lack thereof) as a worker.
How NXT management chooses to follow up on the insane reactions she receives on a weekly basis is the question that will determine her fate.
9. Naomi
3 of 11
Last Week: 10
The continued rise of Team B.A.D. has Naomi up a spot to No. 9, despite not working a single televised match over the last week.
The former star of Total Divas was by Sasha Banks' side as The Boss battled Becky Lynch in the TLC pre-show and then could be seen backstage during the Divas title bout between Charlotte and Paige, joining Banks and Tamina in mocking the former Team P.C.B. member.
While she has not been on much of a roll from an in-ring perspective, Naomi remains one of the keys to the attitude behind Team B.A.D. and is a threat to break into championship contention at any moment.
Whether she is booked on par with her peer Banks or is presented as a sidekick to The Boss is the real question going forward.
Naomi has long been one of the wasted talents on the roster, so one would hope the former is the case in her situation.
8. Emma
4 of 11
Last Week: 7
Emma had no in-ring competition this week, barring her series of matches in the United Kingdom against Bayley, but she falls only one spot to No. 8 on the back of her high-profile feud with Asuka.
The December 9 episode of NXT saw the Aussie Diva forced to watch from the ramp as the Japanese star sent a loud and clear message to her, delivering a knockout kick that put down Deonna Purrazzo.
The question remains whether that same fate awaits Emma, or will the former main roster star score the biggest upset win of the night?
It is a pleasure to see Emma back in the spotlight and preparing for a big match, especially with how poorly booked she was on the main roster. Back in NXT, she has the opportunity to show the world just how great a wrestler she is. She will look to seize it Wednesday night when she squares off with the most dangerous woman in NXT.
7. Asuka
5 of 11
Last Week: 9
Asuka rebounds from her disappointing spot at No. 9 last week, courtesy of a fantastic showing on the December 9 episode of NXT.
Squaring off with Deonna Purrazzo, Asuka had one last opportunity to send a message to Emma ahead of their match in London.
She did just that, knocking her overmatched opponent unconscious with a single kick while Emma and Dana Brooke watched on from the stage, terror engulfing their faces.
Asuka has been on a roll since arriving in NXT, compiling an undefeated streak to this point. With her toughest test to date in Emma on the horizon, it should be interesting to see what awaits her going forward.
Will she be interjected into the title hunt, or will her slow climb up the ranks continue, perhaps with a rivalry with Eva Marie or Alexa Bliss?
Only time will tell, but do not be surprised to see the Japanese Diva move up the ranks in next week's countdown.
6. Nia Jax
6 of 11
Last Week: 6
The No. 1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship at TakeOver: London, Nia Jax had a few choice words for Bayley on the December 9 episode of NXT.
Not only did she threaten to end wrestling's most beloved underdog's championship reign, but she also expressed independence by telling associate Eva Marie that she does not need anyone to talk for her.
That refusal to be overshadowed or manipulated has helped fans discover another, more dangerous side of the rookie Diva.
Whether that leads her to championship gold remains to be seen, but there is no denying that the most important night of her life will occur Wednesday night when she takes to the squared circle to battle Bayley for the top prize in women's wrestling.
5. Paige
7 of 11
Last Week: 3
One of the biggest falls in this week's rankings belongs to former No. 1 contender Paige.
On the December 10 episode of SmackDown, she fell victim to a distraction courtesy of Charlotte and suffered a loss to Becky Lynch.
Then, days later at TLC, she again was on the receiving end of underhanded tactics by the Flair family. As Ric Flair distracted the official, Charlotte loosened the turnbuckle pad in the corner and sent Paige face-first into it, scoring the pinfall victory via nefarious means.
At one point, Paige was one of the hottest heels in WWE but has been left for dead by WWE Creative and its decision to turn Charlotte and put all the focus on her. Where that leaves the British-born Diva going forward is a mystery, especially with renewed attention being paid to Team B.A.D.
Arguably the most over Diva and one of the division's finest workers, Paige has been done wrong by the writing staff once again.
4. Sasha Banks
8 of 11
Last Week: 4
Sasha Banks remains at No. 4 following a big victory over Becky Lynch on the TLC pre-show.
The Boss is the baddest Diva in WWE and has begun re-establishing herself as such, alongside Naomi and Tamina. Team B.A.D. has touted its unity and the fact that it is the only remaining group in the Divas division.
Team B.A.D. has certainly utilized the numbers game to its advantage, as seen in the aforementioned match with Lynch, and appears poised to make life a living hell for Charlotte and Lynch.
And it could not come at a better time.
Banks is among the most underappreciated stars on the main roster, and it is time the company does something about it...or risk chants of "We want Sasha" overpowering matches until fans get what they want.
3. Becky Lynch
9 of 11
Last Week: 5
It has been a whirlwind week for Becky Lynch.
One of the most underrated and underutilized Divas on the roster, she has exploded into relevance, courtesy of a storyline that has made her the focus of Charlotte's disrespect.
It is clear her own best friend does not believe her capable of winning on her own, as Charlotte provided the distraction necessary for Lynch to win on her own against Paige on the December 10 episode of SmackDown. Then, on the post-TLC Raw, the Divas champion's father, Ric Flair, tripped up Alicia Fox, leading to another tainted victory for Lynch.
And Charlotte may be right.
During the TLC pay-per-view pre-show, Lynch was unaccompanied to the ring for her match with Sasha Banks and lost to The Boss.
Lynch is clearly in line for a push in the coming weeks, and with the narrative being told, it would not be a surprise to see her pull out the upset victory and unseat Charlotte as Divas champion sometime in the near future.
2. Bayley
10 of 11
Last Week: 1
Just one week away from TakeOver: London, Bayley prepared for the NXT Women's Championship match by squaring off with Peyton Royce in singles competition.
Fighting from underneath as she has done her whole career, the champion caught her leggy opponent with a big Bayley-to-Belly suplex for the pinfall win and then watched from the squared circle as she was threatened with defeat by Nia Jax.
Bayley has been the glue that has held the women's division in NXT together. While there may be some desire on the part of management to book Jax to go over the Hug Life Diva, it should resist the urge. Jax is not ready, and Bayley has been phenomenal as the underdog star of women's wrestling and one of the faces of WWE's most celebrated brand.
Her time is not up.
1. Charlotte
11 of 11
Last Week: 2
Charlotte's recent attitude change, coupled with a high-profile pay-per-view victory, earns her the top spot in this week's Divas rankings.
At TLC, she successfully defended the WWE Divas Championship, defeating Paige in a solid match that saw the second-generation champion manipulate the referee, remove a turnbuckle pad and send her opponent crashing into it face-first—not unlike her father, the legendary "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, would have done decades earlier.
She followed up that victory with another on Raw, teaming with Becky Lynch to defeat Team Bella's Brie Bella and Alicia Fox. Unbeknownst to Lynch, it was Flair at ringside who tripped Fox up and allowed the Irishwoman to score the win.
Charlotte is clearly in heel mode at this point, using her father as a pawn and benefiting from his interference in her matches. It has worked, bringing out the more natural villain in the athletic champion.
A feud with best friend Lynch is on the horizon, potentially giving WWE fans a taste of what the two were able to accomplish in NXT.
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