WWE Superstar Power Rankings for 2/1/2016
With the Royal Rumble over and Fastlane 2016 still about three weeks away, the WWE Superstar Power Rankings didn't see much change this week. Triple H stayed put at No. 1, with Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Kalisto and The Wyatt Family keeping their places in the top five. In the Nos. 6-10 slots, a bit of shuffling took place, but no one dropped out or jumped into the top 10.
That's not to say the week was uneventful, though. The headline news, of course, was that The Rock returned to Raw this past Monday and got into it with The New Day. He also had some backstage encounters with Big Show, Rusev and Lana. He also spotted fellow Miamian Flo Rida backstage before heading to the ring. And speaking of Flo Rida, he got into a rap battle with Bo Dallas of The Social Outcasts.
Also, at the end of Raw, the first Fastlane match was set. Brock Lesnar, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns will compete in a No. 1 Contender's match to determine who will face Triple H at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That's a big match, but it also virtually assures Triple H won't be competing at Fastlane.
There's much more to go over and recap from this past week's events and results, all of which will be discussed more thoroughly throughout the following pages. 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
The WWE Superstar Power Rankings are not a popularity contest and are not designed to determine who has the best matches or the most ability. They 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 Watch List until officially named as part of the main roster.
Holding a championship, being a No. 1 contender or holding the 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 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 also considered.
Getting the better of someone—such as beating him 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 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 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 12AJ Styles
AJ Styles is taking WWE by storm. He's already won over the crowd and picked up wins over Chris Jericho and Curtis Axel this past week. Styles has won world titles all over the world, but never in WWE. With a hot start, he could quickly move up the ranks and find himself in contention for a title sooner rather than later.
Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens stays relevant with a solid week. On Raw, he defeated Dolph Ziggler, and the following night on Main Event he defeated Jack Swagger. Likely no longer in contention for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, the next few weeks are big for Owens. Can he find a way to keep winning matches?
Titus O'Neil
Titus O'Neil makes it onto the Watch List this week after several weeks of solid performances. He's quietly been picking up wins, and this week he got one of his biggest yet. He teamed with Dolph Ziggler and The Usos in a win over The New Day and The Miz on SmackDown, then defeated Tyler Breeze on Superstars. Can O'Neil keep up his winning ways heading into Fastlane?
10. League of Nations
3 of 12Previous Rank: 8
Movement: Down 2
The League of Nations has not had a great run of late. On Raw, Sheamus and Rusev teamed up against Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns and lost. They were destroyed by Reigns and Ambrose after the match. It was yet another high-profile defeat in a growing list of defeats. Rusev did pick up a win over Ryback on Main Event, but against quality opponents, they have fallen short lately.
All four members have been high-level champions in WWE, and three of four have held Money in the Bank contracts. Rusev, Sheamus, King Barrett and Alberto Del Rio are no slouches. Can they get their faction back on track as Fastlane approaches?
9. The Usos
4 of 12Previous Rank: 10
Movement: Up 1
The Usos had a good week and perhaps guaranteed themselves another shot at the WWE Tag Team Championships in the process. On Raw, The Rock (a relative of theirs) returned, only to be confronted by The New Day. When New Day looked like it would try to fight Rocky, The Usos answered his call and took out New Day.
Then on SmackDown, New Day and The Miz teamed up against The Usos, Dolph Ziggler and Titus O'Neil. The Usos and their team won the match, dealing New Day another loss at their hands. The question now is: Can The Usos keep on top of New Day until a match can be made official?
There are few other choices at the moment to face New Day. If The Usos indeed get another title shot, will they be able to take them from New Day?
8. Brock Lesnar
5 of 12
Previous Rank: 9
Movement: Up 1
Brock Lesnar did not appear this past week, but stays put at No. 8 thanks to Stephanie McMahon.
The Authority was looking to be impressed on Raw in determining a No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. After watching matches and weighing the options, Stephanie McMahon had The Authority's decision.
Brock Lesnar would join Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane to determine the No. 1 contender. The Authority cited "doing what's best for business" as the reason for its decision.
Lesnar now gets the chance to re-establish himself as the dominant force in WWE. Can he defeat Ambrose and Reigns and face Triple H for the title at WrestleMania? We'll find out in just under three weeks.
7. The New Day
6 of 12Previous Rank: 6
Movement: Down 1
The tag team champions had a rough go of it this past week.
On Raw, Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods all confronted The Rock but were promptly dispatched when The Usos came to Rocky's aid. Before, that, The Rock had called their unicorn horns "llama penises," which riled up The New Day and helped instigate its would-be attack.
On SmackDown, after badmouthing The Rock, New Day teamed with The Miz against The Usos, Dolph Ziggler and Titus O'Neil and lost. And worse than that, the loss may have opened up an opportunity for The Usos to get a shot at the titles.
6. Charlotte
7 of 12Previous Rank: 7
Movement: Up 1
Divas champion Charlotte had a solid week.
On Raw, she interrupted a match between Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks, then attacked both competitors. Then on SmackDown, she faced and defeated Natalya in a non-title match. After the match, she tried attacking Natalya, but Lynch appeared and drove Charlotte off, saving Natalya from the beating.
Becky Lynch clearly still has beef with Charlotte, but Sasha Banks has made it clear she wants her shot at Charlotte, too. Who will Charlotte have to face at Fastlane? Will more than one challenger be in that match?
5. The Wyatt Family
8 of 12Previous Rank: 5
Movement: None
The Wyatt Family flexed its muscles this week and paid for it. On Raw, Bray Wyatt defeated Kane, then the Wyatts decimated him after the match. Then on SmackDown, they interrupted The Highlight Reel, which featured Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns.
After an argument, the main event was set. Jericho, Ambrose and Reigns would face Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan with Braun Strowman ringside. The Wyatts lost, but did so by disqualification when Strowman assaulted Reigns outside the ring. The beatdown was on until Big Show came and evened the odds, and Big Show helped Jericho, Reigns and Ambrose destroy the Wyatts.
The Wyatts are dominant until they get into a fair fight. That's what they found themselves in on SmackDown, and they paid for their actions. How will they respond to Big Show's attack?
4. Kalisto
9 of 12Previous Rank: 4
Movement: None
WWE United States champion Kalisto continued to roll this week.
He picked up a win over The Miz on Raw to open the week. Then, on SmackDown, he put his title on the line against Neville. He and Neville had a back-and-forth match, but in the end, Kalisto defeated his high-flying opponent to retain.
Kalisto is one of the most exciting Superstars to watch, and his move set allows him to compete with much larger opponents while keeping them off balance. It's worked against Alberto Del Rio, who is still due his rematch. That match might come at Fastlane. If it does, can Kalisto again defeat Del Rio and keep his title?
3. Roman Reigns
10 of 12Previous Rank: 3
Movement: None
Roman Reigns stays put at No. 3 after turning in a solid week.
On Raw, he and Dean Ambrose faced Sheamus and Rusev, defeating and then destroying them after the match as payback for what The League of Nations did to Reigns during the Royal Rumble. After that match, Stephanie McMahon announced that they'd both be in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane (along with Brock Lesnar) to determine who would face Triple H at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Then on SmackDown, they teamed with Chris Jericho against Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Their team won by DQ when Braun Strowman attacked Reigns. The Wyatts attacked them, but they turned the tables when Big Show came to their aid. With the numbers even, They Wyatts were taken out.
Heading into Fastlane, can Reigns stay friends with Ambrose while still preparing to do battle with him?
2. Dean Ambrose
11 of 12Previous Rank: 2
Movement: None
WWE intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose turned in a solid week. He and Roman Reigns defeated Sheamus and Rusev and beat them down after the match. It was then announced that he, Reigns and Lesnar would all compete in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane to determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and get a title shot at WrestleMania.
Then on SmackDown, he, Reigns and Chris Jericho defeated The Wyatt Family by DQ when Braun Strowman, who was not in the match, interfered. The numbers caught up to Ambrose and Company, though, until Big Show came to help. The Wyatts were beaten down once Big Show helped them out.
Ambrose isn't afraid of Lesnar and isn't concerned about losing his friendship with Reigns. But in WWE, a lot of friendships have ended in the middle of the ring. Can Ambrose avoid the same fate?
1. Triple H
12 of 12Previous Rank: 1
Movement: None
Triple H didn't compete this week, and it's likely he won't compete very often, being an executive and all. But he did get to celebrate his title win in the ring with his family this past week. It was also announced that The Authority was looking for his challenger.
At the end of Raw, The Game got one step closer to finding one. Stephanie McMahon announced that Brock Lesnar, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns would compete in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane to determine the No. 1 contender, who will be Triple H's WrestleMania opponent.
The choices were interesting, since Lesnar didn't even appear, and The Authority has been doing everything to keep Reigns down lately. But The Authority likes to do what's "best for business," and the selections were made.
So far, Triple H is not scheduled to compete at Fastlane. Will Triple H compete at all leading up to WrestleMania? Or will he use his executive authority to avoid competing until he must?
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