AJ Styles, Finn Balor and WWE Superstar Rankings Heading into WWE Extreme Rules

WWE may be struggling to maintain its ratings, but those numbers don't reflect the level of talent on both the Raw and SmackDown rosters.

It's almost gotten to the point where the company has too many people deserving of a run with the WWE title to accommodate everyone.

Even if the storylines are bad, we still get pay-per-view quality matches on a weekly basis from every division.

The month of May was all about reshaping the rosters following WrestleMania 33 and the Superstar Shake-up. 

Instead of doing weekly Power Rankings for WWE Superstars, we will be doing it at the end of each month, so the list has been increased from 10 to 15.

Each Superstar will be judged based on the strength of their performances and their win-loss record for the month in question. Let's see where everyone landed in the May Superstars Power Rankings.

15. Cesaro and Sheamus

What they did in May:

• May 1 - Promo
• May 8 - Won Tag Team Turmoil
• May 15 - Sheamus loses to Jeff Hardy
• May 22 - Cesaro loses to Matt Hardy
• May 29 - MizTV, Lose six-man tag match 

Sheamus and Cesaro lost more matches than they won in May, but running through every other team in the division during a Tag Team Turmoil bout earned them an upcoming title shot against The Hardy Boyz.

Turning heel was the right move for this team. They have embraced their new roles and turned up the intensity during their matches.

Sheamus is a natural heel, but it's surprising to see Cesaro doing so well after being so popular with the WWE Universe for so long.

The Raw tag team division has some good talent, but Cesaro and Sheamus are a cut above the rest. Hopefully, they get the run with the titles they deserve.

14. The Hardy Boyz

What they did in May:

• May 1 - Confrontation with Cesaro and Sheamus
• May 8 - Appeared during Tag Team Turmoil
• May 15 - Jeff Hardy defeated Sheamus
• May 22 - Matt Hardy defeated Cesaro
• May 29 - MizTV, Won six-man tag match

The Hardy Boyz have been on fire since they returned at WrestleMania and captured the Raw tag team titles, and they have continued to build momentum in the weeks following the PPV.

Matt and Jeff may not be able to use the Broken gimmick in WWE, but they still manage to incorporate a few mannerisms from the characters to make fans happy.

We don't know how long the Hardys will be with WWE this time around, but considering how popular they are, WWE would be wise to keep them for as long as possible.

13. The Entire SmackDown Women's Division

Raw's women's division has been hot and cold in recent months, but SmackDown has found a way to feature its entire women's roster almost every week, and it's done with an hour less to work with.

The announcement of the first women's Money in the Bank match is a big deal for the five Superstars who will be competing at the PPV.

Charlotte, Tamina, Becky Lynch, Natalya and Carmella have an opportunity to make history by not only competing in such a high-profile bout, but also stealing the show in the process.

If the brawl we saw on SmackDown was any indication, these five competitors are more than willing to put their bodies on the line to put on a memorable performance.

12. The Miz

What he did in May:

• May 1 - Promo, Defeated Seth Rollins and Finn Balor
• May 8 - Promo, Lost to Balor
• May 15 - Defeated Dean Ambrose by DQ
• May 22 - Interfered in Ambrose vs. Elias Samson
• May 29 - MizTV, lost six-man tag match

The Miz and Ambrose had a long feud on SmackDown, so when they reignited the storyline on Raw, many fans were upset.

Luckily, both men have been doing a great job making the Intercontinental Championship look important while Brock Lesnar is AWOL with the universal title.

Every time The Miz picks up a mic, he makes you pay attention. He can be serious, funny, intimidating and the butt of the joke all in the same segment.

He is just as passionate about his job as anyone else on the roster, and it would be shocking if he didn't win a top title within the next 12 months after he spent the last year being one of the most consistent performers in the company.

11. Randy Orton

What he did in May:

• May 2 - Didn't appear
• May 9 - Promo, lost six-man tag match
• May 16 - Defeated Baron Corbin
• Backlash May 21 - Lost WWE title to Jinder Mahal
• May 23 - Didn't appear
• May 30 - Promo

Randy Orton didn't appear on every show or wrestle as many matches as some of the other people in the rankings, but he still had a good month.

He lost the WWE Championship to Mahal, but he put over a Superstar in a way few other competitors can, which is its own accomplishment.

Orton's history of success in WWE is second only to John Cena, and he doesn't look like he is planning on retiring anytime soon.

His promo on the final SmackDown in May was short and sweet, which is a rare thing in WWE. He is the perfect person to help legitimize a Superstar like Mahal, and with any luck, their match at Money in the Bank will outshine their encounter at Backlash.

10. Alexa Bliss

What she did in May:

• May 1 - Championship celebration, won six-woman tag match
• May 8 - Defeated Mickie James
• May 15 - Promo, fight with Bayley
• May 22 - Defeated James
• May 29 - This is Your Life with Bayley

Alexa Bliss' rise to the top of the women's division has been a joy to watch, and it doesn't look like her reign as champion will end in the near future.

Her heel persona has developed into one of the best in the company, making her an ideal rival for fan-favorite Bayley.

The This is Your Life segment from Raw was not her finest work, but she did the best with what WWE gave her to work with. When she faces Bayley at Extreme Rules, they might actually manage to make an Object on a Pole match interesting.

9. Seth Rollins

What he did in May:

• May 1 - Promo, lost triple threat match
• May 8 - Defeated Samoa Joe by DQ
• May 15 - Defeated Bray Wyatt by DQ
• May 22 - Lost tag team match
• May 29 - Lost to Roman Reigns

Rollins didn't have the best month in May. He only won two matches, and both were by disqualification, but he still managed to keep himself in the spotlight.

The Kingslayer is one of the top babyfaces in the company right now, so he can afford to lose a few matches here and there.

What's important is how well he wrestles, and few are as good as Rollins. His match against Reigns on May 29 was another in a long line of show-stealing performances.

8. AJ Styles

What he did in May:

• May 2 - Promo
• May 9 -  Lost six-man tag match
• May 16 - Highlight Reel, Lost to Mahal
• Backlash May 21 - Lost to Kevin Owens by countout
• May 23 - Won tag team match with Shinsuke Nakamura
• May 30 - Lost to Dolph Ziggler

AJ Styles didn't have the best record in May, but he earned a place in the power rankings by being the best pure wrestler on the roster.

No matter how many times he loses, Styles will always be someone fans want to see because he is so versatile. He can put on a good match against anyone, even James Ellsworth.

The Prince of Phenomenal has been one of the focal points of SmackDown since the draft, and he will continue to be a top star until the day he retires.

7. Breezango

What they did in May:

• May 2 - Fashion Files
• May 9 - Fashion Files, won tag team match vs. The Ascension
• May 16 - Fashion Files, Won tag team match vs. The Colons
• Backlash May 21 - Lost to The Usos
• May 23 - Tyler Breeze and Fandango win singles matches, lose tag team match vs. The Usos
• May 30 - Fashion Files, won tag team match vs. The Colons

Breezango had a great month in May, and despite coming up short against The Usos at Backlash, they still seem like the top contenders for the Tag Team Championships.

Breeze and Fandango had this gimmick for months before being given an opportunity with the Fashion Files segments we have been treated to in recent weeks.

Their comedic chemistry makes them fun to watch, but it's their wrestling ability that keeps us coming back for more. 

6. Shinsuke Nakamura

What he did in May:

• May 2 - Didn't appear
• May 9 - Promo with Ziggler
• May 16 - Didn't appear
• Backlash May 21 - Defeated Ziggler
• May 23 - Won tag team match with Styles
• May 30 - Highlight Reel, won tag team match with Zayn

WWE has done a lot of work to build Shinsuke Nakamura up into a big star right away, and Dolph Ziggler was the perfect opponent for his first feud.

Waiting until Backlash for his main roster debut was smart because it increased interest in the PPV, but it also put a lot of pressure on the Japanese Superstar.

Despite being the best NXT had to offer for a long time, some of the WWE Universe was unfamiliar with his work when he first arrived on SmackDown. 

With the way things have been going for The King of Strong Style, it wouldn't be surprising to see him win the Money in the Bank briefcase on July 18.

5. Samoa Joe

What he did in May:

• May 1 - Interfered in triple threat match
• May 8 - Lost to Rollins by DQ
• May 15 - Interfered in Rollins vs. Wyatt
• May 22 - Won tag team match with Wyatt
• May 29 - Defeated Balor and Wyatt

Samoa Joe was put into a tough position when he debuted on Raw. The main event scene was already crowded when he showed up, so he had to prove himself right away.

His feud with Rollins has helped quickly establish him as a dangerous competitor, and when Triple H eventually returns to television, we can expect Joe to become his main enforcer.

It might be a while before The Destroyer wins a title in WWE, but as long as he keeps dominating his opponents like he has been, people will want to see him. If he plays his cards right, he might just end up in the ring with Brock Lesnar before the end of the year.

4. Finn Balor

What he did in May:

• May 1 - Lost triple threat match
• May 8 - Defeated The Miz
• May 15 - Lost to Reigns
• May 22 - Promo with Paul Heyman, defeated Karl Anderson
• May 29 - Lost triple threat match

Despite losing three out of his five matches in May, Finn Balor has remained one of the most popular stars on the Raw brand.

His unique style sets him apart from the rest of the roster, but it's his Demon persona that has captivated fans around the world.

Balor's entrances is a show in itself, and when he gets in the ring with someone on his level, it's a safe bet they will steal the show every time.

3. Kevin Owens

What he did in May:

• May 2 - Defeated Chris Jericho for U.S. title
• May 9 - Won six-man tag match with Mahal and Corbin
• May 16 - Highlight Reel, interfered in Mahal vs. Styles
• Backlash May 21 - Defeated Styles
• May 23 - Lost tag team match with Ziggler
• May 30 - Highlight Reel, lost tag team match with Corbin

Even though he is a heel, it's hard not to like Kevin Owens. The only thing better than his wrestling is his ability to tear anyone apart on the mic.

His feud with Chris Jericho took him to a new level, and he has carried the momentum he built up with him to SmackDown, where he has become the face of America.

His match against Styles at Backlash felt like the real main event of the show. As long as he can stay healthy, KO will be a major player on the blue brand for a long time to come.

2. Roman Reigns

What he did in May:

• May 1 - Didn't appear
• May 8 - Brawl with Braun Strowman
• May 15 - Promo, Defeated Balor
• May 22 - Lost tag team match with Rollins
• May 29 - Defeated Rollins

Reigns and Strowman took each other to the limit at Payback, and both came away with plenty of scars to remind them of their battle.

With The Monster Among Men out with an injury, Reigns has started to re-establish himself as the top dog on Raw.

He has earned wins over Balor and Rollins in recent weeks, and he looks ready to get back in the hunt for the universal title. Whether you like him or not, Reigns is here to stay.

1. Jinder Mahal

What he did in May:

• May 2 - Defeated Zayn
• May 9 - Won six-man tag team match with Owens and Corbin
• May 16 - Defeated Styles
• Backlash May 21 - Defeated Orton for WWE Championship
• May 23 - Title celebration
• May 30 - Promo with Orton

Love him or hate him, Mahal is our WWE champion. His ascension may have come out of nowhere, but he is handling the pressure better than expected. 

In the past month, The Maharaja has defeated Styles, Zayn and Orton. He had some help, but at the end of the night, it was Mahal with his hand raised in victory.

Some might see this as a business move since WWE wants to expand into India, but when you think about it, every title reign is a business decision. WWE puts the belt on whoever it feels is the most marketable at the time.

Mahal has made big improvements to match his new status both in the ring and on the mic. It will take a long time before some will accept him as a main event player, but if he works hard, he can win over his haters.