WWE Power Rankings: The Top 15 Mid-Card Wrestlers Currently in WWE

Lists are an odd thing.

Yes, Bleacher Report is a site of the fans, by the the fans and for the fans.  We all understand the deal here: we are just regular Joes and Janes, all bound together by a love for the business of professional wrestling.  We share those feelings on this site in the form of commentaries, editorializing on every aspect of the business. 

So, unless a writer is reporting breaking news from reputable sources, the piece they are publishing is opinion based.  We know that, we expect it and that is the nature of the Bleacher Report beast.

So, when a writer like myself posts a list with a title such as the one listed above, it perhaps denotes a slideshow based on absolute fact. 

Not true. 

A lot of this particular list is based upon the criteria I chose to use when compiling it.

Mid-Card represents the status of wrestlers who are not necessarily main event but who strengthen the match card in the middle, giving the fans more bang for their buck.

But, what does it mean to be a top mid-card wrestler?  Is it based on talent, a worker's ability to put on a great match with anyone at anytime?  Perhaps.

However, this is WWE we're talking about here.  The emphasis is not on wrestling and has not been in a long time.  The focus is on entertainment, so the list should be filled with wrestlers whose ability to entertain sets him or her apart from the rest, right?

For me, I am looking at both sides of the coin for this one.  Pains me to do it, as I am personally a fan of the wrestling.  But, I appreciate the entertainment aspect of this company and will attempt to do justice to this particular list.

So, here we go...

1. Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio is a good worker, with a decent gimmick, whose mid-card status does indeed seem to have changed to main event.  Wrestling Edge at Wrestlemania 27 was a big deal, a true test for Del Rio and could very well signal his ascension in the ranks of WWE, hence his No. 1 spot on this list.

But, is he just a mid-carder who's being given a glimpse of something bigger?

I for one, have to say, that I am not completely sold on Del Rio as being a top guy.  He knows all the fundamentals, and consistently gives a good performance every time he's in the ring.  He can get it done.  By definition, he is a mid-card wrestler.

The question is, are fans paying to see him?

I for one, just don't see the "it" factor when I look at him.  That is not to say that he doesn't have it, he very well may.  Beneath that cocky smile and arrogant grandstanding may be lurking a dynamic, charismatic performer.  It's possible.

But, for me, at least right now, I look at Del Rio as being a work in progress.

Working a program with a veteran like Edge would do nothing but help him evolve in WWE, fleshing out his character even more with the fans.  But, with Edge now being retired, what happens next?  WWE's expectations of Del Rio must be high, considering his Wrestlemania match for the World Title, how will this unexpected event affect his push?

But putting the strap on him at this point, when he is still such a fresh face in the company, may not be the right move for him.  Let him wrestle.  Let him continue to get better, to learn as much as he can from the greats of WWE. 

He has the lineage, he has the ability, he's only 34 and he has a contract with the top wrestling entertainment company in the world.

There's no reason to rush him.  Jack Swagger was given the belt very early on, and he has not been at the same level since then.  Leave Del Rio at mid-card, at least for a while.  Give this guy time.

2. Jack Swagger

Speaking of the All American American American...wait, was that too many?

I like this kid.  He's young, athletic, talented in the ring and a good worker.  He has heat from the crowd, who hates his big dumb smile, and the fact that in typical heel fashion, he looks down on everyone else.

He has a technical move set based on a strong amateur background, combined with raw power.  Jack Swagger is a name we should hear for years to come.

Having said all of that, I have to say, I am a little concerned for him.  Why?  Two words.  Kurt Angle.

WWE's apparent fascination with reincarnating the former Superstar into a younger, stronger kid is bizarre. 

The red, white and blue, which, I get because of his gimmick, was one thing.  But, the way he does a "lap" in the ring and his use of the ankle lock?  I mean, is all of this really necessary?

Guys do well to get over in this business based on their ability to sell their own character and evolve as a performer.  Having to live off of someone else's gimmick?  That is a tall order.

At some point, I hope that Swagger will be allowed to stand on his own, no more Kurt Angle channeling for this guy, please.  Just let him be Jack Swagger.  He's pretty good at that.

3. William Regal

OK, so, here's the first potential argument.

How can I possibly put William Regal this high on the list, when he is now used as nothing more than a punchline, a comedy routine whenever RAW has a bit that calls for a few cheap laughs?

Because he is William Regal and can outwrestle the majority of guys in WWE's locker room.

Yes, his ring time has been limited, and he is nowhere near title contention of any kind.  But as long as he is on the active roster, Regal has the ability to get in the ring with any of WWE's younger talent and make them look like a million bucks.

He is a well-rounded veteran who is all about business.  That is what he does.

I personally believe that Regal should have been given at least one WWE Title run back during the years when he was actually being pushed as the tough competitor he is.  That belt would have looked very good around the waist of a wrestler who was technically proficient in the ring and able to draw serious heat on the mic.  Regal would have been a great World Champion.

But what fans would like to see and what actually happens often tends to be two different things in this business.  Regal is now assigned the silliest of spots on the program, drawing weak laughter and stirring the frustration of at least this writer, who really believes that he deserves better. 

On any given night, William Regal can get in the ring and put on a clinic with any wrestler placed before him.  He is what mid-card is all about.  And, man, what a shame.

4. Daniel Bryan

Once again, another case of "good worker who gets nothing."

Daniel Bryan does not need another fan rushing to his defense, God knows he has a multitude of those.  Truth be told, I am usually one of the fans irate over the fact that despite his ability in the ring, Bryan has never been utilized to his full potential since arriving in WWE.

Instead, I will say that while the guy seems to very rarely go over, there is the feud with Sheamus, and he does get to work on RAW.

Then again, his rematch for the United States Title was pulled from Wrestlemania 27.

Still, if following the "William Regal Principle" Bryan can at any time, get over big and have a great match with virtually anyone in the locker room.  So, though he may not be presented in the same light as Cena or Hunter, the fact is he can get it done in the ring on a high level.  So, perhaps that is enough.

Daniel Bryan is a good worker who is always up to the task.  He can bring fans to their feet and keep them there, if given the opportunity.  At the end of the day, maybe that is all that matters.

5. Wade Barrett

What is is about this guy that just screams "Superstar?"

It's there.  He has it.  Perhaps it's his look, the tall dark charming stranger in the room who could be a real gentleman to everyone he comes in contact with.

Maybe it is his personality, which, in contrast to that appearance, is cold, merciless and concerned with pleasing only one person: himself.  He is a classic heel in every sense of the word, and he seems to wear it very comfortably.

Whatever the answer may be, for me, Barrett is a star because he just seems to get it.

His mic time does not feel forced, his matches are well paced, and his ring psychology smacks of a 20-year veteran, not a fresh face.  He's a natural and at one point seemed well on his way to the top of WWE.

Then, The Nexus angle, which could have been huge, just sort of fizzled out, and suddenly Barrett is on Smackdown, as a member of The Corre. 

Yes, it may have been a little soon for Barrett to win the WWE Championship.  But, when considering the belt was given to other guys early in their WWE career, it seemed to make sense.

Barrett and The Nexus had more heat than arguably anyone had in years.  Wade was the right leader at the right time, and everything just clicked.

But that was then, and now that Nexus is just another stable and Barrett has moved on, his current Intercontinental Title run could be just the stepping stone that he needs to go to the next level.  Only time will tell just how good Barret can be, but I for one suspect that he has a big WWE career ahead of him.

6. Christian

Spoiler Alert!!

I had a tough time with this one.

Not because Christian isn't worth a mention but because I would rather be talking about him on the main event level rather than as a mid-carder.

But, without debating that topic again, which I have personally done quite a bit in the past, I will say that Christian is everything a mid-carder should be.

He can work, he can talk and he can have a great match with anyone in the locker room.  No matter what the event or who he's in the ring with, Christian is consistently good all the time.

Fact is, he could challenge for either Championship on each show and be taken as a serious threat to win the strap.

Now that his best friend Edge has been forced into early retirement, thus vacating the World Title, Christian has been given that very opportunity. 

On the April 15th edition of Friday Night Smackdown, Christian won a 20-man battle royal, earning the right to face Alberto Del Rio at Extreme Rules for the Championship.  Of course, actually walking away with the gold may or may not happen for Christian.

Whether or not Christian will get a title run in WWE remains to be seen.  What is not in question is his ability in the ring and his willingness to do anything asked of him.  Christian is a pro and is certain to excel no matter what situation he's placed in. 

In this writers' humble opinion, I say WWE should strike while the iron is hot.  Give Christian the belt, and let's see what he can do with it.

Not debating, just saying.

7. Sheamus

Sheamus is not so much a wrestler as he is a brawler.  Nothing wrong with that, a lot of guys have built their careers around this very approach.  Truth is, in WWE's ludicrous attempt to erase the wrestling aspect of their company, the fact that Sheamus is not exactly Ricky Steamboat doesn't really affect his legacy at all.

That is not to discredit the guy, he can definitely go.  His ring work is calculated and methodical, in typical heel fashion.  He's a bruiser, with a wicked squint and confident smile, his character in full effect every time he's in the ring.

He has risen very far very quickly in WWE.  Why?  It's the best time for him.

WWE is all about moving forward.  The biggest superstars will grow into legends, and those legends will eventually walk away.  No one knows this better than Vince McMahon, who is constantly prepping young wrestlers to take the spots left by those departing stars.

It is this approach to business that led WWE over WCW during The Monday Night War, and it is the same formula that has opened doors for a young man like Sheamus who, perhaps 25 years ago, would not have been pushed as high as he has.

Then of course, there's the fact that he is also supposedly a buddy of Triple H, whom he reportedly works out with.

In this business, you have to do what you can to get an opportunity, and when you get it, you have to make the best of it.  Sheamus has done pretty well thus far.  The question is, what does the future hold for him?

8. Dolph Ziggler

Who says male cheerleaders can't be stars?

Sporting blonde hair and a goofy new name, Spirit Squad member Nicky was repackaged and actually given a shot at legitimacy in WWE.  So far, so good.

Ziggler looks good in the ring, and despite his lack of gimmick, he is over as a heel on RAW.  Getting to this position required some hard work on his part, and he should be given his due for making it to the next level.

I have to wonder, however, if he really has what it takes to get over the hump.  He's still young with plenty of time to grow, but if left at mid-card status too long, he may very well begin to blend in.

Just being another face in the crowd is the death sentence for any wrestler.  Making it to the top is about finding that one unique spot that no one else inhabits, a way to become memorable for the fans who pay to see you perform. 

WWE is notorious for pushing young talent, giving them plenty of spotlight, then pulling them back, perhaps after seeing that the fans are not buying into it.  Of course, later on, some of those guys get a second opportunity at the top, and hopefully this will be the case with Ziggler.

So far, Dolph has done pretty well carving out his own niche, and perhaps one day he will be given a Championship run.

Again, time is of the essence.  Not enough and a guy is pushed before he's ready and may collapse under the weight of it.  Too much and he may grow stale in the eyes of the fans, soon becoming irrelevant.

Where does Dolph Ziggler fall in that equation?

9. Cody Rhodes

While seemingly the majority of wrestling writers here on BR went absolutely nuts for Cody Rhodes' new "Dashing" nickname, I have to say, I don't really care for it.

Of all the guys who could be running that classic gimmick of the vain, egotistical, cocky Superstar, Cody just doesn't seem to fit for me.  Then again, you gotta give the guy something, and it's a ton better than those embarrassing yellow polka dots his dad had to wear.

Cody seems to be on the right track, in terms of his natural progression up the ladder of WWE.  Being the youngest son of a wrestling legend, it would have been very easy to push Cody hard and fast very early on, based on last name only.  But so far he has been allowed to evolve at his own pace, learning the ins and outs of the business as he goes.

And it seems to be paying off.  While I wasn't much for his new gimmick, I am very much into the new direction it has taken.

Sporting the transparent face mask and playing the part of the tortured soul who fights to hide himself from a judgemental crowd, Cody Rhodes has revealed another side to his personality, fleshing out his character to another level.

Add to this the fact that his brother Dustin and of course his father, the one and only American Dream, came before him, Cody brings a wealth of natural talent and ability to the game, cementing his spot as a strong mid-card performer.

Cody Rhodes is having a nice little career in WWE.  Perhaps one day it will be more than that, but for right now, Cody is doing his thing.

No goofy headband needed.

10. John Morrison

John Morrison may just be the most overrated, or perhaps underrated, wrestler in WWE history. 

Fans seem to be split down the middle when it comes to this guy.  You either love him or hate him, and while it does seem he should be perhaps higher on the food chain, the fact remains he seems to always be standing still.

The reason for this is not very clear.  He has received some heat for his finishing move, Starship Pain, which, at times, is less than stellar in its execution.  His apparent carelessness in the ring is debatable, as everyone seems to have their own view on his ability.

But what is not in question for me, is that he can work, he has the look, and at least on the surface, appears to have all the tools needed to get to the next level.  So, why is he not there?

The truth is, a wrestler does not necessarily have to be World Champion to be considered one of the top guys.  So, while winning the title would be a huge accomplishment for Morrison, it means nothing if WWE has no faith in him to perform at that level.  He would be one and done, then kicked back down to the spot he's in right now.

So, while the fans rage back and forth about his place in the company, John Morrison remains a good mid-card wrestler who is so close to getting his big shot.

Seems that's a title he has held for quite a while now.

11. Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre and John Morrison should have a one-on-one match to determine just who is the guy pushed the least.

In this case, at least in my view, Drew wins hands down.

Again, another guy with talent, young, full of potential, and here I am, trying to understand why he remains at mid-card status.

OK, it is a bit easier in Drew's case.

From day one, Drew has supposedly been considered one of the top future stars of the company.  Perhaps as a result of what some may call over confidence in his ability, Drew's attitude has reportedly been a problem backstage.

Nothing worse than a guy who does very little, if anything,  to earn his spot but is given the chance based on his look or favor he's gained with the top brass.

Wait, that explains a couple dozen big name stars over the past several years in WWE.  What makes McIntyre any different?

The point here for me is that if Drew McIntyre ends up not succeeding in WWE, it will be a shame.  I believe he has it in him to really be a big deal some day.  Hopefully he will understand that and work toward making it a reality.

12. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston was at one time seemingly on the cusp of something big.

Feuding with Randy Orton, Kofi had gained a new found respect from the crowd, and his pop had never been bigger.  Their heat was new, it was fresh, it was surely devised to help get Kofi over, possibly to make him into a top player.

But then, like with a couple of other guys on this list, the push just suddenly ended.

The blame for this is laid directly at Orton's door, who reportedly complained that Kofi was not ready for main event status, due to some botched spots and lack of charisma.

Since then, Kofi hasn't even sniffed the spotlight.

Despite what the facts are behind his sudden move back down to mid-card, Kofi has made the best of it, his energy and ability in the ring is always in abundance every time he wrestles.

He is a classic baby face, in the same vein as Ricky Steamboat, as it is very hard to not like the guy.  The issues with Orton aside, Kofi is a dynamic, exciting worker who deserves a second chance.

Right now, he's just another face in the crowd, and that needs to change.

13. R-Truth

Okay, so where in the world has this sudden push for R-Truth come from?  More importantly, why has it taken so long?

Truth was a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a featured worker in TNA.  He was living the dream of being a main event wrestler, finally getting his due in the business.

Then, he comes back to WWE and gets...well, not much.

Some fans hate this guy, and I have to say, I don't understand why. 

Perhaps it is his move set, which, yes, can be predictable at times.  But, how is he any different than any other WWE Superstar that has ever pieced together a series of moves leading up to the finish?

Maybe it is his entrance that rubs fans the wrong way.

I have to admit, I am really beginning to loathe that song.  Then again, anything is better than the "time to get krunk" nonsense he was rapping for a while there.

Whatever the reason for fans not taking to this guy, the fact is that he now perhaps, just perhaps, may be getting a real shot at the top.  A three-way match between him, John Cena and Miz for the WWE Title.  It's a big deal, especially for Truth, who five minutes ago, was doing nothing.

Will Truth win the Championship at Extreme Rules?  Probably not.  Will he have a prime opportunity to make an impact while working that match?  Absolutely. 

He's capable of getting it done, in my opinion.  Here's hoping he does.

14. Ted Dibiase

This one is easy for me.

Ted Dibiase Jr is a good solid worker, with a bright future ahead of him in the business.  That future may very well be in WWE. 

Or, it could end up being somewhere else.

Why?  For me, it is the simple fact that while I recognize his ability and future potential, I, like a lot of fans, just don't care about him.

The fact is, he is basically irrelevant at this point.  After Legacy came to an end, WWE's bright idea of his next move?

Give him his father's gimmick.

It did not work for Dustin Rhodes in WCW, it was not a good idea for Barry Windham in the WWF, and it is, in my view, not the right move for Ted Dibiase now.

This kid is too young and too fundamentally sound of a wrestler to be held back by someone else's gimmick, especially his father's.

Dibiase is on this list because he is a good mid-card worker.  Unless things change for him, he will become a good curtain jerk wrestler.  That is a list I personally do not want to see him on.

15. Santino Marella

OK, go ahead, let it fly.  I'm ready.

But, before you do, hear me out.

Santino Marella is entertaining.  The crowd pops whenever he comes out, and they pop like crazy when he does the ridiculous Cobra finisher. 

He's getting a reaction, the crowd interacts with him, he's not bad in the ring and all of this, despite the fact that fans online hate his guts.

He's a clown, they say.  He's unimportant.  A silly, sideshow act with no potential for ever getting a title run in the future, he's a waste of time with no value to the program at all.

Gee, sounds like the exact insults that they used to hurl at Mick Foley.

Now, let's all calm down here, I am not comparing the two in the ring.  We all know the differences there.  But, the fact is that Santino. no matter what anyone says, no matter what anyone thinks, has done what a thousand other wrestlers who came before him could never do.

He found a way to get over.  In this business, what more could you ask for?