WWE Power Rankings, RAW 6/30/2014

Coming at you from Hartford, and one of the beauties of the WWE is how they can surprise you when you least expect it.  It seemed like just days ago I was complaining about the WWE creative staff.  While I still won’t give them a complete pass nor forget the pass messes we’ve had to suffer through, Monday’s RAW was a great show.  Surprising because MitB came in slightly below high expectations.  

Money in the Bank was a good PPV.  My time is short this week, therefore I won’t pontificate on the previous debacles that has led up to the current moments in the WWE.  In short, MitB got a B-plus.  As predicted, the Traditional MitB match was the Best of Show.  While the WWE did a horrible job promoting the MitB card, by the end of the night it was packed and they barely fit the show into their three hour window (which makes no sense now considering the majority of us are watching the show on the Network so they could go as long as they want / need to).

While my time for the rankings is short this week, check out the BEARcast - WrestleCast (visit www.worldofbear.com or subscribe on iTunes) for a full show and breakdown of MitB and a great RAW.

The worst kept secret was that Cena was, and did, win the WHC match.  This just proves you can aways trust an Amazon advertising leak to be the most reliable source of WWE info, unlike constant internet rumors concerning AJ Lee’s pregnancy and need for time off.

It was a great hometown crowd for the WWE.  They were on fire which only added to the fantastic lineup and well executed show.  47 minutes into the show, I was saying to myself, “Am I really on SuperCena’s side and cheering for Jack Swagger w/ Zeb and missing Vickie Guerrero?”  I had to check outside to see if the apocalypse was upon us.

Because the show was so good, and I’m the HHH of this shit, we’re going top 21 this week!

So with that, let’s get to the rankings as of this week’s RAW on 6/30/2014…

1. HHH and Stephanie McMahon (2&14) – Stephanie getting a B-plus in a nice rayon pantsuit.  It takes a special type of performer to spit hot fire and shoot her own hometown.  As far as mic workers, there’s Heyman, Stephanie, then a third tier of the HHH’s / Cena’s / Sandow’s and then everybody else.  I loved Stephanie dancing to Cena’s music.  HHH showed his own quality when battling Thug-a-nomic Cena on the mic, let’s not forget to give him his due.  I equate what HHH and Stephanie are doing to the Donald Sterling Clippers the last two years.  You love the players but are faced with heel owner(s) that are only looking out for what’s Best for Business.  Great job by both of them throughout the night.
   
2. John Cena (5) – I can’t believe I’m saying this but this current iteration of Cena services the mark fans that boo him and the regular fans that cheer him.  This might be the closest thing to a Cena heel turn that we get.  He’s the champ for a hands-on heel owner.  He can stay face but while he holds the belts and The Authority supports him, Cena inadvertently becomes heel.  This is all just a hollow championship feel if rumors are to be believed that Brock Lesnar will be Cena’s opponent at SummerSlam.  As we discussed on last week’s BEARcast - WrestleCast (www.worldofbear.com) Lesnar is beating whomever he fights next.  In the meantime, Battleground will feature Cena vs RKO (greatness but not getting the belt anytime soon) / Kane (who cares) / Reigns (wildcard but probably too soon to win).  Early prediction is Cena retains the title, The Authority strikes a deal with Heyman and Brock comes in to take the WHC away from Cena.  Having said all this, Cena had to push things too far by diving feet first into the “pool of crap” nonsense.  You couldn’t just walked away with the victory?  You lost me at the last moment.  That’s Cena for you.
   
3. RKO / KANE / REIGNS (5) – AKA the other contestants next month’s fatal-4-way.  Everyone forgets how badass RKO is.  He has staples in his head and was BUSTED open at MitB.  Is Reigns’ shooting star getting snuffed out by being thrown in the WHC mix?  Rollins and Ambrose are off to a great feud while Reigns is just in the mix at the top with no direction.  Maybe a feud with RKO will work?  HHH and Kane set up to take out Cena for Rollins was great and it served Rollins’ feud and will pay off with Cena in the upcoming weeks.  The only negative I had was the crowd give a “This is awesome” for the Reigns / HHH standoff.  REALLY?  Pump the breaks.  That might be taking things a little too far.  I am interested in what HHH has in store.  I was set for HHH to give Reigns the MitB case at the end as his Plan B but I’m pretty confident that his next Plan B stands for BROCK Lesnar.  
   
4. Seth Rollins (6) – Rollins is now if full X-men gear and I suspect his alter ego name is Plan B aka The Abortion.  Clearly Rollins wasn’t performing at 100% but was understandable after participating in the best match of the night on Sunday, the traditional MitB match.  Surprisingly RVD and Rollins put on a solid match after they got warmed up.  Even though the camera caught some talk between the two, Rollins’ leg whip in the ropes was tight.  Rollins even put in work with a good shoot after the match.  It would have been great to have Rollins win the WHC but I’d rather have this Rollins / Ambrose feud.
   
5. Dean Ambrose (8) – “From one scumbag to another,” should be the title to their feud.  Nice shoot.  There’s not another current feud I’m more excited for than Rollins vs Ambrose.  And the however Reigns is dropped in doesn’t matter because it could work both ways.
   
6. Bray and The Wyatt Family (5&10) – Absolutely destroying their entrances with help of willing crowds.  It was so fun to hear that the “Let’s go Usos" vs “Let’s go Wyatts" has the same decibel change at the split Cena chants.  Harper finished off an Uso with a devastating clothesline.  If that was all the Wyatt Family did, it would have been fine but then they showed up to take out a return Y2J setting up a possible Bray / Jericho feud?  I’d have to say I’m excited with any direction the Wyatts go in right now.
7. Sheamus and The Usos (9) – With the way Sheamus has been on fire of late and with the emergence of Rowan and Harper, this 6-man tag was great.  Sheamus is on fire.  A month ago, a Sheamus vs Wyatt would have felt like a huge demotion for Bray but now it seems like they’re a good match.  Little did we know that a returning superstar would / will be an even better opponent for Bray which puts Sheamus on a bit of an island.  The biggest surprise of MitB was that The Usos retained their titles.  It still remains to be seen how long that lasts.
8. Cesaro w/ Heyman (5) – Heyman = greatness.  (See, I told you I was in a rush.)  You’ll not find a better Hugh Hefner-esque robe nor a better catch into a backbreaker move that what Cesaro sported on RAW.  Fantastic match with Kofi.  If Cesaro isn’t in the mix for WHC then I’d assume he’s got to be the favorite for Barrett’s vacant IC belt.
   
9. Kofi Kingston (17) – Philosophical question: If Kofi only does two or three amazing spots in a MitB match but sits on the sideline for 90% of the time, is he a wrestler or a glorified stuntman?  This isn’t to take away from Kofi, it’s just a question of usage.  I’d give up a few mind-blowing stunts if it meant that Kofi can put on more matches like he did with Cesaro.  During the MitB match, Kofi was offscreen so long that I though he was making an exoskeleton out of ladders and was going to then “Ripley from Aliens” take everyone out.  Make fun of me but that’s more plausible than Kofi winning a match of any consequence.  
10. Rob Van Damn (7) – RVD vs Rollins would have been a great headliner for ECW back in the day.  The two put on a great opening match.  It’s great to see RVD back putting on solid matches, even if it’s only to put over the young up and comers.
    
     
11. Jack Swagger w/ Zeb (18) – “If it’d been a snake, it would have bit me.”  Right in front of our face was sitting the perfect feud with the perfect managers and two very capable wrestlers and NO ONE saw it coming.  In one night, Swagger and Zeb became instant crowd favorites.  Give credit to an admirable heel persona for Rusev which allowed Swagger and Zeb to step in and finally act like Real Americans.  Sure, once this is over, they’ll go back to the semi-racist / underachieving duo (who need’s a third leg to the Real American gimmick) but for now, I’m super pumped for a little Rusev vs Swagger feud in-ring and a Lana vs Zeb feud on mic.  Add in a minimalistic cool t-shirt, I might have to be a Swagger fan for the next few weeks.
    
12. Rusev and Lana (15) – Can we keep someone’s full name for at least a year until we know their character is going to catch on?  Rusev not only migrated to Russia but also dropped his name.  It’s one thing for Cena or RKO or HHH to go by one name or an acronym.  Even the Zigglers, Cesaros and Barretts have put in enough time to go by one name (which they don’t exclusively).  I can’t sign off on the Big E and Rusev’s of the world going by the singular name when I barely know them.  Maybe I’m being too picky.  I’ll shut up and allow myself to be distracted by the ample breast action going on with Lana this week.  It’s was like a Carl’s Jr. commercial for their super-mega-chicken-breast-sandwich.  I got my Big E vs Rusev match at MitB.  It was good, not great.  I’m not feeling the hammerlock.  I’m sorry, when all you have to do is slip your arms out to get free, I can’t suspend reality that this move is so devastating instead of the opponent just being incompetent.  Maybe one of the biggest shocks of the night, on a night filled with surprises and returns, was that I instantly loved the Rusev / Swagger feud.  Let’s see where this goes! 
    
13. The Dust Brothers (11) – Only the greatest tag team ever!  Ryb-Axel should be grateful that they’re allowed to job to Goldust and Stardust.  I love seeing Stardust’s little legs running back and forth during the match.  I wish I had the time, I would write poetry about these two.  I love it!!!!
    
14. Dolph Ziggler (4) – If he’s gotta start with Fandango to get the push he needs, so be it.  He got to make out with Summer and get the win.  Not a bad night.  My only concern is that Ziggler falls in with this Fandango / Summer / Layla feud.  Hopefully as friend of the BEARcast - WrestleCast (www.worldofbear.com or on iTunes) texted me, Ziggler is his pick for the next IC champ.
    
15. AJ Lee (N/A) – She’s back and rumors of her being preggers were slightly exaggerated.  In fact the time off looks like she’s done her good.  She looks GREAT.  CM Punk must have her on his strict vegan diet.  The ultimate move would be fore Punk to come back only as her manager.  Tease the crowd for a year would be a total Punk move.  He’s a Chicago kid and is doing his best Jordan ’93 bit.  He’ll eventually return to in-ring work.  No one fights in the indies and up through the ranks to become WWE champ and just quits in their mid 30’s.  Let him be not just a great heel manager but terrorize the fans with the possibilities of his return and only showing up during Diva functions.  
    
16. Paige (HM) – She wasn’t joking about being a woman of few words.  Hey, she’s 21.  Give her a break.  I can’t complain about the silly way she dropped the belt back to AJ since Paige got the Divas Championship in the same silly fashion.  I guess “your house” only lasts as long as AJ allows it?  Finally some character development to Paige.  If she goes off the deep end and get’s vengeful and obsessed at beating AJ to regain the title, that could be awesome.  
17. Chris Jericho (N/A) – Y2J has returned.  The Ayatollah-of-Rock-n-Rolla is back!  I run hot and cold with Y2J but it’s always fun when he comes back (and back and back and back and back).  He’s the king of returns, so much so that they should name him Costco - BANG, you don’t get comedy like that anywhere else folks.  How long is Jericho back?  Who knows?  But when the Wyatts came out, I dumped the Sheamus / Bray idea like the Chicago Bulls dumping Boozer to sign Melo.  Bray vs Y2J is a perfect feud for both men.  Well played WWE.
18. The Miz (N/A) – If I didn’t secretly love The Miz, I’d be annoyed by his constant disappearances and below average matches and forgettable feuds.  But then he comes back and give a great shoot and is such a good prick.  Being married to Maryse doesn’t hurt him at all.  There’s an alternate reality where the Miz is still working MTV Challenges and CT is staring in the Marine 4 and fighting his way back up the WWE ranks.  BTW, if you’ve seen The Challenge lately, the only question I have is; Why hasn’t the WWE signed CT to be The Miz’s bodyguard?
    
19. Bo Dallas (12) – 60 seconds of silence.  Just wait until it’s 480 seconds of silence and it lasts a whole segment.  Then the heel push will be complete.  Hell, the WWE has wasted 8 minutes on dumber ideas.  Again, my fear is how long and far can he push this.  Who’s Bo’s next real opponent or feud going to be with? 
    
20. Mr. McMahon-dow aka Damien Sandow (13) – He does it again!  Sunday night it was Paul Revere and on Monday, the most powerful man in Connecticut.  The masses ARE to ignorant to appreciate Sandow!  The only question is where do you hide a 7 foot tall Khali?  I guess Big Show was too tired from his massive workload of late?
    
21. Divas match: N-Bella vs Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi) (20) – All good things must come to an end.  We had a great opening segment and two excellent matches but then the crap end of the Divas spectrum had to rear its reality show head.  Naomi’s got talent and hopefully this break will allow her to do work with the AJ / Paige end of the Divas spectrum.  

Honorable Mentions

Wade Barrett – This poor bastard can’t stay healthy.  Just as he was getting a huge push and taking off in and out of the ring with his #BadNewsBarrett gimmick.  Goes to show, the idea that they can’t give Ziggler a push because he’s injury prone is the same risk with all the wrestlers and any of them can get hurt.  Barrett got hurt on a simple throw against the wall.  Shit happens in this business.  You can’t book on fear.  Barrett and Bryan get hurt and life will go on even if the transition of the belt is sloppy.

Fandango w/ Layla – Really, what’s going on here?  Weren’t we over with this at MitB?

SAN-TIN-OOOOOOO and Adam Rose – doing a live plug for an alcoholic beverage?  On a PG show?  Iced-T with a kick and no mention of alcohol?  The behind the scenes on this is way more fascinating to me.  I guess they feel if the major sports leagues can have alcoholic sponsors, so can they?  I assume this “hard” lemonade and iced-T they’re pushing is like Zima.  For all you kids out there, Zima was 7-up with alcohol.  It’s what turned me into the degenerate you see before you.  

Michael Cole – Monday’s RAW was so crazy even Cole got injured.  What’s going on this week?

Until next time…

WWE Power Rankings (Xmas vacation edition), RAW 12/23/2013

Coming at you from Austin (not Houston) for the not-so-live Christmas edition of RAW.  RAW was pre-taped last week so that the cast and crew could have the week off.  If the Superstars get a week off, so do the Power Rankings.  Besides, how do you really rank things like the Battle of Good and Bad Santa?  Well, I guess it’s not too different from the regular craziness of RAW storytelling. Regardless, we’ll put the Power Rankings on the back burner and do some year end cleanup.  

Even with all the holiday nonsense, RAW was pretty good.  Knowing that everything tonight was tongue-in-cheek, the wrestlers were free to just wrestle and have a little fun.  Goes to show that not everything needs hours and hours of set up and effort to put on a fast paced and fun event.

These are just some random topics to end the year on.  Next week I’ll try to look ahead to 2014 but this week let’s finish off 2013 with a little housecleaning of topics.  

There was a bit of business that still lingered from current story lines with Daniel Bryan and The Wyatt Family.  The good part was an excellent match between Bryan, Cody and Goldust vs The Wyatts.  The bad part was that I couldn’t tell if this was the WWE trying to set free Bryan from the Wyatt storyline or the WWE trying to reinforce the continuance of Bryan possibly “becoming” a Wyatt?  Who cares, it’s Xmas and the match was worth the three segments it got.  

In what was the surprise of the night, the Divas match was really good.  You heard me, I said it.  The Divas match was really good…until they got to the inevitable / mandatory promotion of Total Divas, which isn’t even airing nor will be airing until March.  The finishing Diva-go-round spot was awful.  Not only was it stupid but the Divas involved couldn’t pull it off without falling all over themselves.  The first 7/8ths of the match contained some of the best wrestling of the night.  AJ was excellent on the mic the entire length of the match as guest announcer with Cole and JBL.  BTW, not a good sign for The King’s future when; a) he’s not on a taped show from last week because he was “on Christmas vacation”, b) this really seemed like a test run for just having JBL and Cole, and c) JBL and Cole did a fine job.  I’ll admit, Lawler has been adequate as part of the three man announce team but it’s clear that The King has far less shows in front of him than behind.  If I were a gambling man, I’d put the over / under that The King still being part of the weekly announce team on this same time next year.  2014 seems like the end of the road for The King.  We’ll have to check in next December.

Now, just because we’re not doing the Official World’s Greatest Power Rankings this week, doesn’t mean I don’t like to rank things.  There’s always time to rank.  Here’s a mini ranking that I came up with.  

Wrestlers that need a push in 2014:

5) CM Punk – I know this sounds crazy but hear me out.  Punk has been out of any championship scene since he dropped the WWE belt.  While he’s one of the most popular Superstars, he’s been on his own island for the better part of the year.  He had his big feud with Heyman, which included runs against Ryback and Curtis Axel, but he’s been as far from the main event as SAN-TIN-OOOOOOOO has been this last half of the year.  He can only go so far being in CM Punk land.  The best part about his recent feud with The Shield is that he was wrestling with alike talent and putting on good matches.  I realize there are rumors that put him in a feud with HBK or HHH or both which will lead up to something at WM30 but until that happens or I see more, Punk is in limbo.

4) Wade Barrett – In just two or three weeks, I’m already done with #BadNewsBarrett.  We can move on now.  Barrett has the ability to be a top tier guy.  I’d say he’s even got a clearer path than someone like Alberto Del Rio, who is probably his equal in-ring but Barrett has an easier path to being a heel.  #BadNewsBarrett isn’t working and we need to see him in the ring.  We’ve just seen it with RKO.  Some guys are natural heels.  They don’t need too much tinkering.  The more they messed with RKO the worse of a heel he was (see the mentally unstable viper days).  RKO has flourished at just being a prick.  Barrett can flourish the same way.

3) AJ Lee – The only current Champion on this list.  AJ has a lot of potential right now.  She’s on the verge of having the longest Divas title reign, which the WWE is now pushing.  Say what you will about the Divas division, which you know that I do and it’s usually not kind, but it’s getting better.  The Divas are putting on some interesting matches.  AJ has been great on the mic.  Whether it was her “pipe-bomb” from earlier this year or her time at the announce table, AJ has been great.  The problem is that she’s been hampered by a few injuries and the WWE’s need to write towards the Total Divas show, which AJ is not a personality on.  Since Total Divas isn’t on for another few months, this is a chance to let AJ be front and center.  The writers can focus on her current title reign and push the quality of matches that the Divas division has been putting on.

2) Kofi Kingston – Kofi is the most athletic person on the roster.  He also has one of the worst gimmicks, if you can even call what he’s got a gimmick.  He’s got no storyline or feud.  I thought he was beginning a feud with The Miz but that was nonexistent.  Hopefully it had more to do with Miz being absent than another change in direction.  While I wouldn’t want to end my career with a feud with Miz, it’s better than a kick in the balls.  Definitely better than doing nothing.  

Although I might change my signature hand move if I were Kofi, just maybe?

1) Dolph Ziggler – Any reader will know how much I cheer for Ziggler.  He must have done something to piss of someone with power because he’s been jobbing hard for the past six months and was in off the radar completely right before that.  Remember, it was only about a year ago that Ziggler was the World Champ!  He’s the one who shepherded in Big E and AJ to their current championship spots.  Now Ziggler is jobbing to Fandango in a “pole match”.  Ziggler is the best pure wrestler on the roster and can put anyone over.  He brings his “A” game every night.  The only hint that he may be in line for a decent feud is that twice now he’s jobbed to someone who is to go on to fight Big E for the IC belt.  If that’s true, that could build up tension for Ziggler to finally win his chance to challenge Big E for the IC belt at a PPV.  A Ziggler / Big E feud would be great.  It’s hard to go wrong with a Master / Student storyline, especially when both men can wrestle.  Add in that one is seen as a ring technician (Ziggler) and the other is a powerhouse (Big E) and you have a nice contrast there as well.  As I was putting this together, I was getting myself more and more excited for a potential Ziggler / Big E feud.  C’mon WWE, give us what we want! 

And now, for something completely different.  Someone has to show me this Sin Cara comic book I keep hearing about.  I read a lot, A LOT, of comic books and I ain’t never seen no Sin Cara comic book.  And who cares, should be the first question?  Just because the WWE says something is true, doesn’t mean it is.  Just like the WWE says this Sin Cara I’m watching is the same Sin Cara from previous years.  Who am I to believe, the WWE storytellers or my own lying eyes?  

Next up, cross promotions.  I don't know if this is feasible but the next evolution in WWE promotion should be “awarding” championship belts to people.  The WWE showed pictures of Clayton Kershaw (the greatest living pitcher and current Dodger ace) and Max Scherzer.  Both of whom won the MLB Cy Young trophy this year for the best pitcher in the National and American leagues.  The WWE sent them championship belts as a nod to their great accomplishment.  They each took pictures at home with them and tweeted the out.  We’re living in a world where it would be almost impossible for someone to grow up and not at least have a passing knowledge of the WWE and the fact that its champion wears a big gaudy belt.  Hell, the Aaron Rodgers “discount double check” comes from the old school championship motion started in wrestling years ago.  And since it’s not a real championship belt you have to win, like a boxing belt (which there’s a strong debate on the validity of those belts but that’s an argument for another day) or an MMA belt, you can easily receive a duplicate / personalized belt and parade around with it as a sign of being the best.  Sure, anyone can now buy an authentic WWE championship belt, but no one can be given one by the WWE.  If the WWE were to send out yearly awards or randomly throughout the year to people who accomplish awesome things, they could inject themselves into hot pop culture phenomenons or special real life events.  This could be a great means of promotion.  I’m sure the WWE already does this or would do it for anyone who’d ask but the WWE should lay claim on handing out these belts.  Peyton Manning, here’s your championship belt for being sportsman of the year, congrats.  Jennifer Lawrence, you killed it in multiple movies in 2013 and won an Oscar this year, here’s your championship belt, congrats.  Limit it to 3 - 5 max, so as not to dilute the specialness.  It can be fun.  It can be serious.  This feels like a no brainer and probably something the WWE already tries to do, but I’m suggesting it anyway.  I say own the idea, make it bigger and incorporate it as part of the Slammies or during a big PPV.  Give one to a soldier on their “Tribute to the Troops” show.

Lastly, the WWE tag division.  The WWE will be the first to tell you that their tag division is in its best shape in years.  There was a time, not so long ago, that the WWE was actually thinking of getting rid of the tag team belts.  With a renewed emphasis and dedication to forming actual tag teams vs super teams of singles wrestlers being thrown together, the tag ranks are on fire.  There’s no better example than the Usos vs Primetime Players match on RAW.  Both teams are excellent in-ring.  Neither has the tag straps, those are resting in the hands of the Rhodes brothers, but both could easily be champs tomorrow and it would be well deserved.  Both the Usos and Primetime Players are underused and haven’t come close to their creative ceilings.  The Usos still have not give a proper promo as I can recall.  The Primetime Players have had a chance to get on the mic and have built up a semi-popular gimmick, which I can’t really describe but I know I like watching them.  The Usos in particular never put on a bad match.  They’ve had standout performances even when matched up against The Shield.  And no mention of the tag division can be concluded without mentioning The Shield.  They might have been the beginning of the tag renaissance.  Since The Shield came into the WWE a year ago we now have at least six, ready to go tag teams that can take the championship mantle.  The Shield, The Wyatt Family, Cody and Goldust, The Primetime Players and The Usos are at the top of the list while lesser groups such as The Real Americans, Los Matadores, and 3MB are not teams that I enjoy but are serviceable and can put on a quality match.  We’re not even mentioning the singles wrestlers that have been put together which have the potential of being quality tag teams, i.e. Big Show / Rey Mysterio, Mark Henry / Big E Langston and R-Truth / Xavier Woods.  We even a glimpse at a possible Bryan / Punk super-team.  The tag ranks have been killing it all year.  With the inevitable breakup and showdown between the Rhodes brothers, the tag belts will be up for grabs sooner than later.  This might be the golden era for tag teams.  I’m sure I’ll get lots of teams thrown at me as “better” teams / champions but I’m talking about across the entire tag team division.  I know the Horsemen, DX, Road Warriors, Demolition, NWO and others may have been better than anyone one tag team now (I’d say that The Shield could make their way on that best ever debate) but I don’t recall the depth of the roster being as strong as it is now.  Please feel free to comment and correct me.

With that, I’ll leave all of you to a Merry Christmas.  Be safe and have fun over this holiday week.  And look forward to this next week:

Until next week…