It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve updated our power rankings — but then again, we weren’t the ones who scheduled a six-week gap between the last two WWE PLEs of the year. One thing’s for sure though, there’s been plenty going on since we last visited these lists: CM Punk being crowned world champion, Samoa Joe beating Hangman Page at Full Gear, and Jade Cargill winning her first singles title in WWE. And that’s before we get to John Cena becoming a Grand Slam champion and wrestling his final PLE match at WarGames.
By anyone’s measure, that has to make for a busy six weeks. Here’s how it’s affected the balance in the Uncrowned Power Rankings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMEN’S POWER RANKINGS
10. Ilja Dragunov (Prev: NR)
Let’s face it: “SmackDown” isn’t exactly the best of the televised shows right now. But it does have some saving graces, and a big one of those is the men’s US Championship, which is now routinely defended on a weekly open challenge basis. Another massive saving grace is the fact that the title currently sits with Ilja Dragunov, who wrestles every single match like there’s a legitimate million-dollar bounty on the line. Keep up the good work, champ!
9. Gunther (Prev: NR)
After a five-month hiatus, “The Ring General” is back. And he also has his old theme music (the classical one), which immediately brings back fond memories of when the Austrian bruiser arrived in NXT UK for the first time, with an urgent plan to reshape the division in his image. What will Gunther do this time around? It’s no secret that he’s heavily tipped to be John Cena’s last opponent, which would be another massive achievement on the former champ’s résumé.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement8. Dominik Mysterio (Prev: NR)
Dominik Mysterio ranking one place above Gunther — now there’s something you wouldn’t have expected a few years ago. But here we are, and no one can deny that “Dirty Dom” has exceeded all expectations, going from the chubby-cheeked nepo baby of the latter Vince McMahon era to one of the most compelling stars on the roster. And what an honor he received to cap off his superb year: Getting the chance to beat John Cena at WarGames.
7. Samoa Joe (Prev: NR)
As a rule of thumb, when the AEW World Championship match closes the show, there’s a decent chance something big is going to go down — but how many of us predicted that Samoa Joe would emerge victorious at Full Gear, restoring his status as AEW’s top dog? The blood pouring from his head was yet further proof that the former WWE man is one of Tony Khan’s hardest workers — and a great target for the returning Swerve Strickland.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement6. CM Punk (Prev: 4)
November was a huge month for CM Punk, who picked up the vacant WWE World Championship with a statement win at Saturday Night’s Main Event — and this time around, he got to hold the prize for more than five minutes. Given what happened earlier this year, “The Second City Saint” knows better than anyone that holding one of the world titles puts a massive target on your back. In Punk’s case, it looks like the man to watch is Bron Breakker. And I can’t say I envy him there.
5. Brock Lesnar (Prev: NR)
Boy, is it tight at the top this month, with all five names feeling like arguable contenders for MVP. First off the block is Brock Lesnar, who made a barnstorming return during the WarGames match to dispense some suitably huge suplexes to the great and good of WWE. And to think some internet provocateurs like to pretend the former UFC heavyweight champion is “washed”...
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLesnar being in the WrestleMania 42 trailer suggests WWE has big plans for “The Beast” next year, though the conclusion to WarGames suggests he won’t be the one to challenge Cody Rhodes.
4. John Cena (Prev: 3)
It’s 10 minutes to midnight on the John Cena retirement tour, with just one (!) appearance to go until the GOAT hangs up his boots forever. God knows it’s been a rollercoaster year for the 17-time champion, but this final stretch feels a bit paint-by-numbers — with the great man bouncing from one opponent (AJ Styles) to the next (Dom Mysterio) with little rhyme or reason, even if the matches themselves are great.
That said, you can bet there won’t be a dry eye in the house when the big moment arrives on Dec. 13.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement3. Bron Breakker (Prev: 2)
The fact that his imposing physique was on the poster should have been a clue that WWE had something big planned for Bron Breakker at WarGames. Despite that, the former Vision enforcer spent much of the build-up treading water, doing exactly what he did when Seth Rollins was still in charge. Though the ending to WarGames suggests things might finally be changing on that front, with a big hint that it will be Breakker vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania.
2. Roman Reigns (Prev: NR)
While it can sometimes feel like he’s had more returns than matches recently, this month turned out to be a big one for Roman Reigns. Not only did he carry the babyface team into the iconic cage match at WarGames — landing some serious offense on Brock Lesnar in the process — but we also saw the biggest hint so far that “The Tribal Chief” wants the Universal Championship back around his waist. Unsurprisingly, he's now the betting favorite for the upcoming Royal Rumble.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement1. Cody Rhodes (Prev: 1)
Let’s be honest: Holding the biggest prize in pro wrestling goes a long way toward being top of these lists. But it does feel like Cody Rhodes has put the work in over the past month or so, delivering a sizzling promo on “SmackDown” to set the stakes for the men’s WarGames match and then putting in a decent shift during the match itself. Now it looks like “The American Nightmare” might be about to face his biggest threat since dark Cena, as the prospect of Rhodes vs. Reigns III at 'Mania 42 comes into view.
WOMEN’S POWER RANKINGS
10. Lash Legend (Prev: NR)
Michael Cole confirmed it during her entrance at WarGames: “The Bougie Bully” is now a full-time member of the “SmackDown” roster. It was yet another sign that WWE has big plans for the former WNBA athlete, who has been holding her own against the likes of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss over the past few weeks. If you were looking for a breakout star for next year, Lash Legend has to be a smart pick.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement9. Charlotte Flair (Prev: NR)
Winning the Royal Rumble and the tag-team titles made for a solid enough year for “The Queen.” But her two recent showdowns with Asuka — first on “SmackDown” in a singles match, and then running it back at the beginning of WarGames — made the best case yet for why Charlotte Flair remains among the very best to ever do it. Does she now try to get these tag belts back or go for something bigger?
8. Asuka (Prev: 7)
Having been absent from the world title picture for a couple of years now, Asuka made the correct decision to go rogue: Becoming one of the most reliably dastardly heels on the women’s roster over on "Raw." Her asymmetric tag-team relationship with Kairi Sane — who has been reduced to being Asuka’s lackey — has been one of the more interesting storylines on Monday night. All of which begs a question: Should we be expecting Asuka vs. Iyo Sky or Asuka vs. Kairi Sane at 'Mania 42?
7. Becky Lynch (Prev: 6)
Praising a wrestler for their social media game feels against the spirit of the rules. But something about Becky Lynch’s recent character work — driven largely by her deranged kayfabe rants on her X account — is joyous to watch, as the former IC champion rages against the supposedly corrupt forces that apparently brought about her defeat to Maxxine Dupri on “Raw.” In a year where wrestling has felt less flamboyant, it’s nice to see someone bringing humor to the table.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement6. AJ Lee (Prev: NR)
Her comeback match at Wrestlepalooza was great fun. Now it’s looking like AJ Lee — CM Punk’s favorite wrestler — is probably sticking around, not least because she was the one who picked up the win during the women’s WarGames match. It was the second time this year AJ Lee forced Becky Lynch to submit to her signature Black Widow hold. But can she do the same when the two women inevitably go one-on-one at a future PLE?
5. Jade Cargill (Prev: NR)
It was a big win for Jade Cargill at SNME, as she finally picked up the WWE Women’s Championship with a clean win over Tiffany Stratton. If we’re being honest, Cargill’s WWE career has been frustratingly stop-start — particularly given the way they built up her arrival in the first place — but it now looks like she has finally arrived in the big leagues.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement4. Kris Statlander (Prev: 4)
Winning titles in AEW is one thing, but beating Mercedes Moné? Only two women have ever achieved that particular feat in Tony Khan's promotion — and Kris Statlander is the latest name on that list (if you can even call two names a list). The stuntwoman-turned-wrestler is an impressive talent by anyone’s measure. She’s also a rare example of a champion who has built her reputation solely on the back of AEW rather than being shaped in WWE beforehand.
3. Liv Morgan (Prev: NR)
Liv Morgan’s return has been rumored for months now — and it didn’t disappoint when it finally arrived. The former Women’s World Champion brought the crowd to their feet when she made her big entrance during the John Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio match at WarGames. After misdirecting the crowd by pretending to be seething with her former beau, she instead reunited with Dominik — delivering a brutal nut-shot to John Cena to make her presence felt. What a return.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement2. Stephanie Vaquer (Prev: 2)
As expected, “La Primera” picked up another win at WarGames, adding another achievement to her ever-impressive list. Not only has she now won four separate singles titles in WWE, she has also won three PLE matches in a row — including crushing a Hall of Fame talent in Nikki Bella. That’s one hell of a record to take into WrestleMania season, where Stephanie Vaquer will surely face her toughest test yet. But who will be brave enough to step up to her?
1. Rhea Ripley (Prev: 3)
Rhea Ripley has been occupying the podium spots in our Power Rankings for much of the year. But the ear-splitting roar that accompanied her entrance at WarGames was just about enough to propel her to the top spot this time around for the first time this year. How many other performers — male or female — get that sort of reaction? At risk of repeating myself month after month, it’s clear that WWE has a truly generational talent in Rhea Ripley, and next year’s WrestleMania should honor that fact.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
