WWE Superstar Power Rankings Ahead of October 24 Raw

With WWE Hell in a Cell 2016 coming up on Oct. 30, Raw has been the company's main focus of late, but there has been plenty of interesting developments over on SmackDown.

The return of Goldberg grabbed the most headlines last week, but James Ellsworth was the heart and soul of Tuesday's SmackDown.

For some unexplainable reason, Ellsworth has connected with members of the WWE Universe on a personal level, leading to him becoming the most unlikely wrestler to main-event a show in years.

Many worried WWE would not be able to maintain good storylines on both Raw and SmackDown following the brand extension, but the past few months have featured some great entertainment from both shows.

Let's take a look and see who made the top 10 in this week's Superstar power rankings.

Honorable Mention: Goldberg

Goldberg returned to Raw to address Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman's challenge for a fight, and the reaction he received from the crowd showed how his legacy has not faded over the years.

Goldberg left WWE after an unsatisfying run and a poorly booked feud with Lesnar, but his return offers a chance for redemption.

As one of the only new stars to break out in WCW during the Monday Night Wars, Goldberg holds a special place in the hearts of many fans who loved seeing him defeat Hulk Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Nobody expects a five-star match out of Goldberg and Lesnar, but if done right, it can still give him a good way to close out his career in the ring once and for all.

10. James Ellsworth

Ellsworth's meteoric rise has been one of the oddest things to happen on WWE programming in years, and for some reason, he has struck a chord with the WWE Universe.

It's hard to say if it's his odd looks or underdog persona people are drawn to, but whatever it is, WWE has capitalized on it to the fullest extent.

Ellsworth's title match against AJ Styles brings back memories of when The Brooklyn Brawler, a man who was known exclusively for losing matches, somehow won himself a shot at the WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels in 1997.

We all knew Styles would retain the belt, but simply being in the ring with one of the greatest performers in the business and fighting for the most prestigious title in the industry is something he can use to up his status on the indy scene.

It's tough to say how long Ellsworth's unlikely ride will last in WWE, but if the fans continue supporting him, he could stick around for longer than expected.

9. Charlotte and Sasha Banks

All of Sasha Banks and Charlotte's time this week was devoted to two interview segments with Lita, but it was time well-spent.

There wasn't anything WWE could have these women do in the ring we haven't seen before, so having them share their thoughts in a simple interview was more effective.

Both women are at the tops of their games right now, and being the first women to wrestle inside Hell in a Cell gives them the opportunity to make history.

We have seen how good they can be in a technical sense, but working inside the cell is different than any other match. They need to be able to tell a different kind of story, and if they pull it off, we could see more hardcore stipulations for the division in the future.

8. Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt is always interesting to watch, but WWE has dropped the ball with him so many times that it has become hard to get invested in his character as a real threat.

His current feud with Randy Orton has given him a chance to reset and add new details to his character so that he doesn't come off as repetitive.

Putting Luke Harper back with him was the best move for both men, and it appears WWE is giving Harper more to do than playing a pawn in Wyatt's schemes.

If officials want Wyatt to be viewed as a monster, he needs to be booked as the winner of his storyline with Orton.

7. Randy Orton

Wyatt has benefited from his storyline with Orton, but the same can be said for The Viper. Not only does he seem to be comfortable staying out of the title scene for the time being, but he also has embraced the weirder aspects of Wyatt's character.

Orton has tried to play Wyatt's own strategy against him, but it's too early to tell who will come out on top when this is all over.

All that matters is Orton looks like he is having fun playing his character, and the more a Superstar enjoys what they do, the harder they try to make the show entertaining.

6. Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler's program with The Miz has refreshed his character and given him another Intercontinental Championship to add to his resume.

He has been doing some of the best mic work of his career, and with The Miz also being at the top of his game, they are one of the most interesting feuds going right now.

With any luck, Ziggler will prove his worth and find his way back to the main event scene for at least one more run with the world title.

5. The Miz and The Spirit Squad

As stated in the previous slide, The Miz has been at his best during his feud with Ziggler, and bringing in The Spirit Squad as a way to mess with Ziggler was a great idea.

Seeing Mikey and Kenny back in a WWE ring is something many assumed would never happen, and acknowledging Ziggler's past gimmicks has added more depth to the storyline.

The Miz is on fire right now, and it wouldn't be surprising if he was put into a few main event feuds in 2017 to help some of the new talents establish themselves.

4. Dean Ambrose

Most people think that having the WWE title means it's clear sailing for the person holding it, but in Dean Ambrose's case, it seems like he is better without the belt.

When he was champion, Ambrose seemed complacent. He was still entertaining, but it felt like he was just going through the motions.

Ever since he went into pursuit mode with AJ Styles, he has been much more determined and, more importantly, entertaining.

The last couple of weeks have been especially good for The Lunatic Fringe because he has been able to sit back and focus on being funny while Ellsworth did all the heavy lifting.

3. AJ Styles

Speaking of Styles, he has been an amazing heel champion, especially in those moments when he was dominating Ellsworth while trying not to let Ambrose get the best of him.

It took Styles a long time to get here, but now that he is finally in WWE, management is making up for lost time by pushing him as hard as possible.

He lost a few bouts early on, but he has bounced back and put together an impressive string of wins over the past few months.

If he can keep delivering solid performances in the ring and on the mic, 2017 will be even better than 2016 was for The Phenomenal One.

2. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens

If there is an act in pro wrestling more entertaining than Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens, it's being kept off television.

Every Monday, fans are entertained by their promos and matches, and seeing who makes The List of Jericho every week has become an event in itself.

The recent cracks in their foundation may eventually lead to a babyface turn for Y2J, but until that happens, we all need to appreciate how good these guys are as a team.

With any luck, WWE will keep them together long enough for them to have a short reign with the tag titles. Seeing them trade barbs with Enzo Amore and Big Cass or The New Day would be incredible.

1. Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins has made a smooth transition from heel to babyface since returning from injury, and he did it without changing much about his character.

He is still the same determined, stubborn Superstar he always was, but instead of focusing his anger on guys such as Roman Reigns, he is using it against Owens and Stephanie McMahon.

He doesn't have to pander to the fans by complimenting sports teams from the area or mentioning the name of the city WWE is visiting because the fans appreciate how good he is in the ring.

Between The Shield and The Authority, this is the first time we are seeing Rollins fend for himself, and it has given him the chance to be less cowardly and more intense.

The eventual feud with Triple H will allow him to settle his business with the McMahon family, which means he will finally be able to move on to a new storyline with someone who has nothing to do with The Authority.

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