IP Wrestling WWE Rankings: July 1, 2005

Archive

Here is the latest update of InsidePulse Wrestling’s OFFICIAL rankings of the WWE RAW and Smackdown rosters … 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 are taken into account, but no longer tracked. Instead, last month’s ranking for each superstar will be in parentheses following each name, with italicized comments included where appropriate. ECW One Night Stand participation is not included.)

Official InsidePulse Rankings for WWE RAW and Smackdown – 07.01.05

RAW SUPERSTARS

Heavyweights:

WWE Champion – John Cena (Same-SD)
Intercontinental Champion – Carlito Caribbean Cool (6-SD)

1. Edge (Same) – Can’t buy a win, but still holds “Money in the Bank” title shot… or at least he did until Batista was drafted. Unclear if that title shot holds up vs. the WWE Championship.
2. Shawn Michaels (NR) – Came back from injury to beat Kurt Angle in a match of the year candidate.
3. Kurt Angle (2-SD) – Drafted to RAW and thrown right into the main eent picture.
4. Kane (2) – Storyline with Lita and Edge remains dominant on RAW, including a recent PPV win.
5. Chris Jericho (4) – Fought in WWE Title PPV match and was not pinned.
6. Triple H (NR) – Lost to Batista in Hell in a Cell, in PPV main event.
7. Ric Flair (6) – On a streak of hot matches, including hard-fought loss to Kurt Angle.
8. Big Show (7-SD) – Drafted to RAW, and made an impact with a squash win over Snitsky.
9. Shelton Benjamin (IC Champ) – On a two-match losing streak to Carlito.
10. Chris Masters (9) – Still getting a ton of TV time and undefeated.

Unranked Heavyweights:
Antonio (NR)
Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (1-CW/SD)
Danny Basham (NR-SD)
Gene Snitsky (NR)
Kenzo Suzuki (NR-SD)
Mark Jindrak (10-SD)
Maven (NR)
Rene Dupree (NR-SD)
Rob Conway (NR)
Romeo (NR)
Tajiri (NR)
The Hurricane (NR)
Tyson Tomko (NR)
Val Venis (NR)
Viscera (8)

Women:

Champion – Trish Stratus (NR)
1. Victoria (2)
2. Christy Hemme (1)
3. Lita (NR)
4. Lilian Garcia (NR)
5. Stacey Keibler (NR)

Tag Teams:

World Champions – The Hurricane & Rosey (Same)
1. The Heartthrobs (5)
2. Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree (NR-SD)

Not Active Wrestlers (since June 1):

Eric Bischoff (NR)
Eugene (NR)
Hiroko (NR-SD)
Ivory (NR)
Jerry Lawler (NR)
Jim Ross (NR)
Jonathan Coachman (NR)
Maria (NR)
Mick Foley (NR)
Rob Van Dam (NR-SD)
Stone Cold (NR)
The Rock (NR)
Todd Grisham (NR)

No longer listed on WWE.com or appearing on TV:
Marc Lloyd

SMACKDOWN SUPERSTARS

Heavyweights:

World Champion – Dave Batista (Same-RAW)
United States Champion – Orlando Jordan (Same)

1. John Bradshaw Layfield (3) – Most prominent heel on SD, and just won a 6-man #1 contender’s match.
2. Christian (7-RAW) – Was final man pinned in #1 contender’s match on first night on SD after being drafted.
3. Booker T (1) – In final three of #1 contender’s match, and on a hot streak after prominent storyline with Kurt.
4. Chris Benoit (3-RAW) – On fire after being first draft pick to SD.
5. The Undertaker (NR) – Went from being inactive to participant in #1 contender’s match, but was first eliminated, via DQ.
6. Muhammad Hassan (5-RAW) – After losing WWE Title match on RAW, was drafted to SD where he beat Big Show and was then in #1 contender’s match (lost via count-out).
7. Rey Mysterio (4) – Another month, another month where Eddie cannot beat him.
8. Eddie Guerrero (5) – Can’t seem to get a victory, but is on TV and in Rey’s head.
9. Heidenreich (Same) – Crazy act is getting over with the fans — and the Divas — surprisingly.
10. Matt Morgan (8) – Spent most of the month in a prominent angle with Carlito and Big Show, but likely he won’t be in the top 10 on Smackdown in July.

Unranked Heavyweights:
Charlie Haas (NR)
Doug Basham (NR)
Hardcore Holly (NR)
Joey Mercury (NR)
Sylvain Grenier (NR-RAW)
William Regal (NR-RAW)

Cruiserweights:

Champion – Paul London (Same)
1. Juventud (NR)
2. Akio (5)
3. Billy Kidman (Same)
4. Nunzio (Same)
5. Scotty 2 Hotty (2)

Unranked Cruiserweights:
Funaki (NR)
Psicosis (NR)
Shannon Moore (NR)
Simon Dean (NR-RAW)
Spike Dudley (NR)
Super Crazy (NR)
Steven Richards (NR-RAW)

Tag Teams:

WWE Champions – MNM (Same)
1. Holly & Haas (2)
2. Super Crazy and Psicosis (NR)
3. Akio & Kidman (NR)
4. Scotty 2 Hotty & Shannon Moore (5)
5. Funaki & Nunzio (3)

Not Active Wrestlers (since June 1):

Al Snow (NR)
Bubba Ray Dudley (NR)
Candice (NR-RAW)
Dawn Marie (NR)
D-Von Dudley (NR)
Josh Mathews (NR)
Joy (NR)
Khosrow Daivari (10-RAW)
Michael Cole (NR)
Michelle McCool (NR)
Miss Jackie (NR)
Randy Orton (NR-RAW)
Tazz (NR)
Theodore Long (NR)
Torrie Wilson (NR)

No longer listed on WWE.com or appearing on TV:
Lauren Jones

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Matthew Michaels is editor emeritus of Pulse Wrestling, and has been since the site launched.