WWE Superstar Rankings Ahead of August 8 Raw

Finn Balor established himself as a threat to Seth Rollins ahead of their Aug. 21 SummerSlam bout. John Cena and AJ Styles set up their epic rematch. Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar took turns delivering finishing moves that served as messages to each other before their encounter at the summertime spectacular.

Yet none of those Superstars were able to climb the ladder to the top spot in this week's rankings.

With tension building on both Raw and SmackDown and Superstars jockeying for position before SummerSlam, the most prominent wrestlers proved to be those looking to avenge significant defeats or assert themselves as credible championship contenders.

Which Superstar took the top spot in this week's rankings, and who disappeared from the list, dropping out of the top 10 ahead of one of the most important pay-per-view extravaganzas of the calendar year?

Honorable Mention: Baron Corbin

It would be easy to name Apollo Crews the honorable mention of the week, especially after he cashed his ticket to SummerSlam via victory over Kalisto and Baron Corbin in a Triple Threat match on SmackDown. In reality, though, it was The Lone Wolf who grabbed the attention of the WWE Universe with his post-match assault on the babyfaces.

To top it all off, his End of Days to intercontinental champion The Miz drew a babyface reaction, proving that fans are ready to toss their support behind the perpetual badass.

With few other heels to slow his ascension, expect Corbin to be an elite villain on SmackDown by year's end. Continually strong booking and an undeniable presence will only ensure his rise.

10. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar exploded through security, interrupting Randy Orton's match with Fandango on the Aug. 2 episode of SmackDown and repaying The Viper for Monday night's RKO. Lifting the former WWE champion onto his shoulders, The Beast Incarnate spun him in the air and brought him crashing to the mat with an F-5.

It was a receipt for Orton's RKO, a not-so-subtle warning that the most dangerous man in professional wrestling can strike at any time and without mercy. Whereas Orton's trademark move put Lesnar down for only a few seconds, the F-5 left the third-generation star visibly shaken.

Since WWE is heavily relying on him to generate interest and buys for SummerSlam, Lesnar's television time may be numbered ahead of Aug. 21, but the former NCAA champion will make the most of his appearances, which could be a bad thing for Orton.

9. Randy Orton

The Viper struck from out of nowhere Monday night, cutting off an overbearing Paul Heyman and sending a message to Brock Lesnar: No one is invulnerable when it comes to the RKO.

Randy Orton received one of his biggest pops in years as he slithered into the ring, laid waste to the biggest box-office attraction in sports entertainment and escaped through the crowd.

In many ways, the two minutes of screen time he received Monday night did more to re-establish the connection he has with the WWE Universe than the overly long, sometimes clunky promo he delivered at Payback, when he joined Chris Jericho on The Highlight Reel.

Orton has renewed purpose, even if his character remains as one-dimensional as ever. The marquee match of SummerSlam against Lesnar will help revive what was an ice-cold character and career a year ago, but it will be at the feet of WWE Creative to drum up intriguing stories post-Aug. 21 to ensure Orton remains a compelling part of the company's brand extension.

Otherwise, WWE management will find itself in an unenviable position: having a Hall of Famer at its disposal and nothing interesting to do with him. 

8. Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks kicked off Raw Monday night, basking in the love and adoration of the WWE Universe as she celebrated her Women's Championship victory from the week before.

The Boss cut a promo that improved on her previous performances and then teamed with Enzo Amore to battle nemesis Charlotte and Chris Jericho in a Mixed Tag Team match. The champion never looked out of place while sharing the ring with future Hall of Famer Jericho, the electrifying Amore or her primary rival.

With SummerSlam on the horizon and a rematch against Charlotte approaching, Banks must continue to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way.

WWE management has already shown the lengths to which it is willing to push Charlotte, so Banks cannot afford any slip-ups or lackluster performances to hinder her ability to carry the title and be the face of the women's division.

Those who witnessed her work in NXT know she is capable of doing just that.

7. Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt made it clear to both Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose on Tuesday's SmackDown that he wants the WWE World Championship and will not rest until he achieves what he considers his destiny.

The Reaper of Souls may have lost the night's main event to Ziggler under somewhat questionable circumstances, but he was the last man standing. With the help of Erick Rowan, Wyatt knelt over the fallen bodies of the WWE champion and his top contender, looking like the Superstar with the most momentum heading into SummerSlam.

It does not appear as though Wyatt will officially be part of the WWE title bout on Aug. 21, but he does enter this upcoming week as the biggest puzzle to solve on the SmackDown roster. What is his endgame? As written now, what is his character's happy ending?

Wyatt is an engaging character. His presence and mic skills make up for WWE Creative's complete and utter lack of understanding for his on-screen persona. No matter how many times he overcomes creative missteps, he remains relevant.

Now that he has escaped the endless logjam of talent that prevented him from breaking out when the company was one united roster, he finally has the chance to rightfully ascend to main event status.

6. John Cena and AJ Styles

Neither John Cena nor AJ Styles did enough to earn a solo spot on this week's list, but their promo on the Aug. 2 episode of SmackDown was extraordinary.

It was a definitive moment in their rivalry—one that not only explained the differences that exist between the Superstars, but also set up a grand, main event-worthy battle for supremacy at SummerSlam.

Around two minutes in, Styles unleashed a verbal venom that longtime fans are not familiar with. He spoke with conviction, almost as if every word that spewed from within was a genuine gripe with Cena. He was calculating with every line, working in his "Beat up John Cena" catchphrase and ending with the proposition for a match on Aug. 21.

Cena was his typically great self, reaffirming his love for all things WWE and accepting Styles' challenge.

Was the promo earth-shattering? Of course not. Still, it came across as two men with a legitimate beef looking to settle it in short order.

5. Finn Balor

One week after showcasing his athleticism and in-ring capabilities in a victory over Roman Reigns, Finn Balor put his mic skills to the test during an in-ring encounter with Seth Rollins. While the soft-spoken Superstar could easily have sunk under the immense pressure of a high-profile segment, he soared.

Was the mic work as smooth as that of his SummerSlam opponent? No, but Balor more than held his own and never appeared as shaken as he did early in his NXT career.

That The Demon was able to get the last laugh on Rollins, catching him with a Pele Kick before standing tall, only enhanced the quality night he had crafted for himself.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see if Balor can bring a consistency to his mic work that was never quite there during his days in NXT. If he can, the Irishman has the opportunity to become a bona fide main event attraction on Monday nights.

4. Dean Ambrose

The Lunatic Fringe had a quiet week from an in-ring perspective, but he began showing flashes of a character fans have not yet met.

As the WWE world champion stood inside the squared circle, face-to-face with SummerSlam opponent Dolph Ziggler, he took on a condescending personality not typically associated with the popular fan favorite. Ambrose told Ziggler he was not good enough to beat him, that he was only so great in his own mind.

It was a different tone taken by a Superstar who, before his days as the top dog on the SmackDown brand, was in a similar place as Ziggler. They were both fighting politics behind the scenes and a logjam of Superstars ahead of them on the depth chart.

Now that he is the star of the blue brand, it should be interesting to see if Ambrose undergoes a change in his on-screen persona, a former man of the people whose sudden success alters his personality.

That seems too complicated for the writing staff to pull off, but in theory, it sounds awesome.

3. Charlotte

Charlotte rebounded from her WWE Women's Championship loss to Sasha Banks with a victory over The Boss on the Aug. 1 episode of Raw. Teaming with Chris Jericho, the second-generation star spoiled Banks' championship celebration by pinning the new champion.

Moreover, she outclassed Banks on the mic. An entire year of experience in high-pressure in-ring promo segments has given her the confidence to make more focused points than Banks, who has not had the same opportunities to expand her skill set.

Just over 12 months ago, it appeared as though Charlotte was the least talented and experienced of the three women to be called up, but she is arguably the most well-rounded female performer on the entire roster and well on her way to a glorious career in WWE. 

2. Seth Rollins

The Architect continued to rebuild, redesign and reclaim his spot atop World Wrestling Entertainment this week, defeating Sami Zayn in a competitive main event to cap off the Aug. 1 episode of Raw.

It was a promo with Finn Balor that established his position in the rivalry as the grizzled vet, an experienced main event performer capable of carrying a program under the bright lights of WWE's flagship television property.

Rollins showed strong command of the moment, guiding the in-ring segment in the direction both he and management wanted it to go. It was a perfect example of how much he has grown as an overall performer since his ascension to the top of the card.

As SummerSlam approaches, Rollins will be front and center, the franchise star of Raw and the man under pressure to build a WWE Universal Championship match fitting its spot on the card. If he continues to deliver the performances that he has to this point, he has the potential to enjoy a banner stretch heading into 2017. 

1. Dolph Ziggler

The Showoff climbs again this week, a huge victory over Bray Wyatt and a signature promo fueling his ascension.

Dolph Ziggler has seized the opportunity that the brand extension has afforded him. The new No. 1 contender to the WWE World Championship, he appears rejuvenated and re-energized by the chance to prove himself as an elite performer for Vince McMahon's company.

As the scrappy competitor frustrated by the lack of belief in him by his peers and fans, he has excelled. Determined to prove every doubter wrong by rolling at SummerSlam, he will turn in a performance that reaffirms why he is the most underrated, underappreciated and consistently strong worker in the company.

His match with Wyatt on the Aug. 2 episode of SmackDown was dramatic thanks to a series of heart-stopping near-falls and a story that captivated audiences. Despite an onslaught from Wyatt, Ziggler withstood the punishment and proved. he was willing to do whatever was necessary to win.

Even if it meant using an exposed turnbuckle to finish off The Reaper of Souls.

With his character developing and his passion renewed, Ziggler has the potential to take a transitional position and make it his own, becoming the first breakout star of a brand extension designed to help guys like him achieve (and maintain) main event status.