This month’s rankings happen a bit sooner than usual, as WWE conducted a rare two pay per views in May. From now on, these will be posted on the Friday following the final WWE PPV event of each month.
In this monthly feature, the InsidePulse Wrestling editorial board ranks the heavyweight, women/cruiserweight, and tag team divisions on World Wrestling Entertainment’s RAW and Smackdown brands. Rankings include the top ten heavyweights, top five women/cruiserweights, and top five tag teams on each brand, and include everyone listed on WWE.com’s RAW and SD Superstars pages, plus regular, unlisted competitors from each brand.
These rankings take into account (in order):
– Current title status*
– Declared and presumed storyline rankings
– Recent victories and quality of opponents
– Quality of matches (psychology, workrate, and entertainment value)
– Quality of TV exposure (length, placement during show, and crowd response)
*In the heavyweight division, “secondary” champions are always de facto top contenders unless otherwise stated on television.
Check out this link for last month’s rankings, and click here to see any changes in the RAW or SD rosters since the last rankings report.
(Win-Loss records for televised matches since May 7 are in parentheses next to each superstar, along with italicized comments, where appropriate.)
RAW SUPERSTARS
Heavyweights:
World Champion – Dave Batista (1-0)
Intercontinental Champion – Shelton Benjamin (1-2)
1. Edge (2-1) – Lost in a hard fought championship match, but still holds “Money in the Bank” title shot.
2. Kane (1-1) – Beat Benoit in Gold Rush tourney; storyline with Lita and Edge is second-most dominant on RAW.
3. Chris Benoit (1-1) – Featured as part of ECW storyline; edges out Jericho here.
4. Chris Jericho (2-1) – Recharged character, still tops in IC Title picture.
5. Muhammad Hassan (2-0) – Still not pinned or made to submit on RAW; making his way up the IC Title ranks.
6. Ric Flair (2-0) – Undefeated in recent return to in-ring action, and figuring prominently in main event scene.
7. Christian (0-1) – Drops a few notches, but still figuring a big part of RAW in allegiance with brother Edge and Lita.
8. Viscera (1-0) – Continues to get major TV time with the divas.
9. Chris Masters (1-0) – Still getting a ton of TV time and undefeated.
10. Khosrow Daivari (2-1) – Still has a great record, but not positioned as a “real” wrestler.
Unranked:
Triple H (NR) – “Quit” RAW until showing up on May 23.
Shawn Michaels (0-1) – Injured after losing in Gold Rush tourney.
Antonio (0-1)
Maven (1-1)
Rob Conway (1-1)
Steven Richards (0-1)
Sylvain Grenier (0-2)
Tajiri (0-1)
The Hurricane (1-0)
Tyson Tomko (1-1)
Val Venis (1-2)
William Regal (1-0)
Women:
Champion – Trish Stratus (NR)
1. Christy Hemme (NR)
2. Victoria (NR)
Tag Teams:
World Champions – The Hurricane & Rosey (1-0)
1. Regal & Tajiri (0-2)
2. Hassan and Daivari (NR)
3. La Resistance (NR)
4. Maven & Dean (0-1)
5. The Heartthrobs (2-0)
Not Active Wrestlers (since May 7):
Candice
Eric Bischoff
Eugene
Gene Snitsky
Ivory
Jerry Lawler
Jim Ross
Jonathan Coachman
Lilian Garcia
Lita
Maria
Mick Foley
Randy Orton
Stacey Keibler
Stone Cold
The Rock
Todd Grisham
SMACKDOWN SUPERSTARS
Heavyweights:
WWE Champion – John Cena (2-0)
United States Champion – Orlando Jordan (3-1)
1. Booker T (4-1) – By far the top non-title holder on SD right now, beating Angle at Judgment Day, having a great record, and looking great in the process.
2. Kurt Angle (3-2) – Major storyline with Booker and Sharmel, having won a SD battle royale on the last show.
3. John Bradshaw Layfield (0-2) – A ton of TV time, and not out of the picture yet.
4. Rey Mysterio (1-0) – Yet another PPV win over Eddie, plus in the final two of the recent battle royale.
5. Eddie Guerrero (0-2) – Winless, but in a top spot on TV and continues to be a great worker.
6. Carlito Caribbean Cool (1-1) – Big PPV win was tainted, but who’s counting?
7. Big Show (2-1) – PPV loss to Carlito was tainted, but a loss nonetheless.
8. Matt Morgan (2-0) – Teaming with Carlito helps him maintain his spot on the rankings.
9. Heidenreich (2-1) – Stays steady at this slot in the rankings, due to steady TV time and deep into the US Title hunt.
10. Mark Jindrak (2-2) – Takes last month’s “Rene Dupree” slot for “not really a title contender, but getting solid TV time with main eventers.”
Unranked:
Hardcore Holly (1-0)
Joey Mercury (0-1)
Rene Dupree (1-0)
Cruiserweights:
Champion – Paul London (3-1)
1. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (2-2)
2. Scotty 2 Hotty (1-1)
3. Billy Kidman (1-1)
4. Nunzio (1-0)
5. Akio (0-2)
Unranked:
Funaki (0-1)
Shannon Moore (0-3)
Spike Dudley (0-2)
Tag Teams:
WWE Champions – MNM (3-1)
1. Basham Brothers (3-1)
2. Holly & Haas (1-2)
3. Funaki & Nunzio (1-2)
4. Akio & Spike (0-1)
5. Scotty 2 Hotty & Shannon Moore (NR)
Not Active Wrestlers (since May 7):
Al Snow
Bubba Ray Dudley
Dawn Marie
D-Von Dudley
Josh Mathews
Joy
Kenzo Suzuki
Lauren Jones
Michael Cole
Michelle McCool
Miss Jackie
Rob Van Dam
Shannon Moore
Tazz
Theodore Long
The Undertaker
Torrie Wilson
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