Bayley, Sasha Banks and WWE Diva Power Rankings for Week of December 23
On the heels of another successful title defense at TakeOver: London, women's champion Bayley was the favorite to land the top spot in this week's WWE Divas rankings.
A late surge by Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks made it difficult on the hug-loving Diva, though, creating doubts about her ability to return to the catbird seat. With Nikki Bella returning to Raw to accept her Slammy for Diva of the Year and Asuka earning title consideration for her victory over Emma in London, it was a busy week for the women of World Wrestling Entertainment.
All of the women included in this week's rankings are determined to make an impression as the new year dawns, making them far more dangerous than they otherwise may have been.
Who topped this week's countdown, and which Diva is most likely to unseat her as we move into 2016?
And what effect will the aforementioned Bella have on the state of the Divas division now that she has returned to television?
Let's take a look.
Criteria
1 of 11
The Diva power rankings are compiled based on a few factors.
We take into account wins and losses, as almost all power rankings so, 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. Nikki Bella
2 of 11
Last Week: N/A
Nikki Bella returned to television Monday night on Raw, accepting the Slammy for Diva of the Year, an honor she absolutely deserved given her outstanding 2015.
It was the first time that fans had seen the former Divas champion since Hell in a Cell, where she lost a second consecutive pay-per-view match against Charlotte.
At home recovering from nagging injuries, including one to her neck and back during her time away, Bella is poised to leap back into the discussion of elite Divas in 2016.
Will she win another Divas Championship, strengthening her resume and adding to her legacy, or will she find the competition far more challenging than it was when she reigned over women's wrestling in WWE for nearly one whole year?
9. Naomi
3 of 11
Last Week: 9
Naomi, Sasha Banks and Tamina continued to make life miserable for Becky Lynch and Charlotte over the last week, most notably on the December 22 episode of SmackDown.
With Lynch conducting commentary during Charlotte's match with Brie Bella, the former Funkadactyl and her sisters in Team B.A.D. made their way to the ringside area, where Naomi brazenly tossed a cup of eggnog on the Lass Kicker, humiliating her in front of the entire world.
If that were not enough, she joined her teammates in a beatdown of the top contender to the Divas Championship, leaving her lying at ringside.
Naomi has been absent from the squared circle of late, but her profile has risen via her ongoing program, which earns her a second straight week at the ninth position on this countdown.
8. Emma
4 of 11
Last Week: 8
There was a time when Emma was considered a comedic act more than an actual worker. Her charisma and adorable entrance became favorites of the NXT Universe, and her pairing with Santino Marella on the main roster ensured that she would remain in that role.
A heel turn in 2015 and a feud with Asuka allowed Emma to showcase her considerable wrestling ability, though, culminating in a phenomenal match with the Japanese star at TakeOver: London.
Emma controlled a large portion of the match, and when she was not, she was bumping around to make Asuka look like a million bucks.
She may have fallen prey to a devastating kick that ended her night on a losing note, but Emma broke out, altering any perceptions that fans may have had about her and proving that she is one of the elite in-ring talents on the WWE roster.
After showcasing her skills, it would not be a surprise to see the Aussie Diva get a run with the women's title by the time 2016 wraps up.
7. Nia Jax
5 of 11
Last Week: 6
A ton of pressure comes with participating in the NXT Women's Championship match on a TakeOver special, especially considering the standard set by the women who have previously done so.
As a fairly green rookie, there was a lot of concern regarding Nia Jax's ability to deliver a match worthy of its predecessors.
All of that concern went out the window immediately as the cousin of The Rock worked hard in the Vader role to champion Bayley's Sting. She pummeled the popular babyface all around the squared circle, using her size advantage to overwhelm the fan favorite.
Unfortunately for Jax, resiliency and tenacity proved to be the difference, and Bayley was able to retain her women's title over a game challenger.
It was a watershed moment for the newcomer, one she can look back at as the moment she truly arrived in the world of sports entertainment. If she can continue to build on what she accomplished on that night, Jax can help build the legacy of extraordinary female workers in NXT.
6. Paige
6 of 11
Last Week: 5
The curious use, or misuse, of Paige continued into another week as she was all but absent from television while WWE Creative put the emphasis on Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Team B.A.D.
The British-born Diva did return to Raw, where she was mistakenly revealed to be the winner of the Slammy for Diva of the Year, only to have it ripped away from her and handed to Nikki Bella in WWE's pathetic attempt to mimic Steve Harvey's gaffe from the Miss Universe competition.
She then stood by and watched Bella deliver her acceptance speech, doing nothing about it in a display that was anything but true to her character.
Paige is lost in the shuffle at this point, being forced to the background. Given how much television time she received in 2015, the inconsistencies within her character's development and the overexposure she suffered in the Divas title picture, perhaps it is best that she take a step back and freshen up a bit.
5. Asuka
7 of 11
Last Week: 7
Asuka makes the biggest leap in this week's countdown, thanks in large part to her impressive victory over Emma at TakeOver: London.
The Japanese star overcame the biggest threat to her undefeated streak and firmly entrenched herself in the championship hunt in the process. That is not to mention the tense staredown that ensued between her and Nia Jax during a backstage promo, suggesting that she may have one last roadblock to overcome on her journey to gold.
The popularity of Asuka was on full display in London, with fans gleefully cheering her on as she dissected Emma, picking her apart with stiff kicks and explosive strikes. Her win was a signature victory in her best match to date and one that will be looked back upon as she rises to the top of the industry.
4. Sasha Banks
8 of 11
Last Week: 4
The leader of Team B.A.D. continued to make her presence felt on WWE programming, sticking her nose in the business of Becky Lynch and Charlotte while simultaneously promoting the unity that exists within her trio.
The Boss has seen her television time increase in recent weeks, as she is clearly on the receiving end of a push that will earn her championship opportunities at some point in the near future. WWE has underutilized her, so it is about time she receives the screen time and championship opportunities that her talent demands.
Whether she is actually given a run with the title is the big question.
3. Becky Lynch
9 of 11
Last Week: 3
Becky Lynch continued to have her emotions toyed with as best friend Charlotte looked out for herself and her Divas Championship this past week.
If having the second-generation Diva constantly interfering in her matches—as if to suggest that Lynch is incapable of winning on her own—was not bad enough, Lynch was humiliated by Team B.A.D. on the December 22 episode of SmackDown. Naomi dumped eggnog poured over her head, and then the tag team gave her a beating for good measure.
Making the week a little better for herself, and earning her a repeat on this list at No. 3, were victories over the Divas division's favorite punching bag of late, Brie Bella.
Lynch is in the midst of her biggest push to date, but at some point, WWE Creative must stop presenting her as the clueless woman and let her stand up for herself in the face of Charlotte. A slow burn is fine, but it will be imperative for the breakout to happen before fans perceive her the wrong way.
2. Charlotte
10 of 11
Last Week: 1
The Divas champion continued her heelish tendencies this week, interfering in Becky Lynch's match against Brie Bella on the December 17 episode of SmackDown, which caused some to question the faith she has in her friend to win by herself.
Five days later on SmackDown, she battled that same Bella in singles competition. During that match, she watched as Team B.A.D. beat down Lynch, and Charlotte opted to finish off her opponent rather than rescue her best friend.
It was nice character development and storyline progression that will surely lead to a high-profile match between Charlotte and Lynch at some point in the near future.
For now, Charlotte will continue on her path, performing as a tweener while fans anticipate the moment she completes her heel turn.
1. Bayley
11 of 11
Last Week: 2
Bayley returns to the No. 1 spot in the countdown on the heels of another epic title defense on a TakeOver special, this time thwarting the challenge of Nia Jax in London.
Not only was the match beautiful with superb storytelling, but the atmosphere was electric as well. Fans serenaded Bayley, letting her know that she was the top babyface on the brand's roster.
The consummate underdog, Bayley finds ways to continue telling her story between the ropes without ever getting repetitive or boring. She has so much energy and performs with such conviction that it is impossible not to invest emotionally in her work.
Few performers are beloved in the way that Bayley is, making her an absolute joy to watch and one of the truly great characters currently active in the sport.
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