IP Wrestling WWE Rankings: June 3, 2006

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Here is the latest update of Inside Pulse Wrestling’s OFFICIAL rankings of the WWE RAW and Smackdown rosters … posted on the first Saturday of each month. Check out this link for the last rankings (as of April 10), and click here to see any changes in the RAW and SD rosters since the last rankings report. Until details are cleared up, members of the ECW roster that are still actively competing on RAW or SD will continue to be included in these rankings.

(Previous ranking for each superstar is in parentheses following each name. Italicized comments are included where appropriate. See below* for an explanation of our ranking system.)

Official Inside Pulse Rankings for WWE RAW and Smackdown – 06.03.06

RAW SUPERSTARS

Heavyweights:

WWE Champion – John Cena (same)
Intercontinental Champion – Shelton Benjamin (same)

1. Rob Van Dam (3) – Has title shot at ECW PPV, cashing in Money in the Bank, and has held and dropped IC belt since last rankings.
2. Edge (1-tied) – Won a match giving him the winner of RVD/Cena at Vengeance.
3. Triple H (1-tied) – Didn’t win the title at Backlash, but also wasn’t pinned. Getting a ton of TV time in angle with Mr. McMahon.
4. Shawn Michaels (4) – Still in high-profile feud with McMahon.
5. Big Show (6) – Lost #1 contender’s match, but still featured prominently on RAW.
6. Kane (7) – Featured in strange angle with… himself.
7. Umaga (NR) – Undefeated since his debut.
8. Carlito Caribbean Cool (8) – Seems on the brink of a push; all he needs is the right opponent.
9. Mick Foley (NR) – Centerpiece of ECW storyline.
10. Ric Flair (5) – Huge loss to Umaga, but still in high enough standing to stay in the top ten.

Women:

Champion – Mickie James (same)
1. Trish Stratus (1)
2. Beth Phoenix (NR)
3. Victoria (4)
4. Torrie Wilson (2)
5. Candice Michelle (3)
6. Melina Perez (NR-SD)
7. Lita (5)
8. Maria Kanellis (6)

Tag Teams:

World Champions – Spirit Squad (same)
1. TNT (Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch) (NR)
2. Odd Squad (Gene Snitsky & Goldust) (4)
3. Vince & Shane McMahon (3)
4. Mick Foley & Edge (NR)
5. Shelton Benjamin & Chris Masters (NR)

Unranked or Not Active Wrestlers:

Armando Alejandro Estrada
Charlie Haas
Danny Basham
Eugene Dinsmore
Hulk Hogan
Jerry Lawler
Jim Ross
Johnny Nitro
Johnny Parisi
Jonathan Coachman
Matt Striker
Rene Dupree
Retro-Kane
Rob Conway
Shelton’s Mamma
Stacey Keibler
Stone Cold
The Rock
Todd Grisham
Val Venis
Viscera

No longer listed on WWE.com or appearing on TV:
Joey Styles – Quit on RAW as part of the storyline.
Ashley Massaro – Jumped to SD.

SMACKDOWN SUPERSTARS

Heavyweights:

World Champion – Rey Mysterio (same)
United States Champion – Bobby Lashley (6)

1. Kurt Angle (1) – On his way to ECW, leaves SD with a win over the Champ.
2. Mark Henry (4) – Injuring everyone in his path.
3. The Great Khali (NR) – Huge wins over Rey Mysterio and The Undertaker makes this monster seem unstoppable.
4. Booker T (10) – King Booker jumps up to the top four.
5. The Undertaker (3) – Drops two slots after jobbing to Khali, but shouldn’t be down for long.
6. Chris Benoit (5) – Injury drops him down a slot, and depending on how long he’s out, he could be out of the top ten come next month.
7. Finlay (7) – Likely willing his way into US Title feud before we know it.
8. Matt Hardy (8) – Treading water — a move to ECW could do him good.
9. Paul Burchill (NR) – His push seems to have slowed down, but if he’s good enough to get taken out by Mark Henry, he’s good enough for the SD top ten — isn’t that sad?
10. Gunner Scott (NR) – Has a win over the King of the Ring under his belt, but needs some momentum if he’s going to stay here with Kennedy, Batista and Orton on the way back.

Cruiserweights:

Champion – Gregory Helms (same)
1. Super Crazy (4)
2. Kid Kash (2)
3. Jamie Noble (3)
4. Nunzio (7)
5. Psicosis (6)
6. Simon Dean (8)
7. Scotty 2 Hotty (9)
8. Funaki (10)

Tag Teams:

WWE Champions – HooliganZ (Paul London & Brian Kendrick) (1)
1. Mexicools (Psicosis & Super Crazy) (2)
2. Jamie Noble & Kid Kash (3)
3. FBI (Nunzio & Vito) (NR)
4. Gymini (Jesse & Jake) (4)
5. Funaki & Scotty 2 Hotty (5)

Unranked or Not Active:

Ashley Massaro
Boogeyman
Daivari
Dave Batista
Doug Basham
Hardcore Holly
Jillian Hall
Joey Mercury
Josh Mathews
Ken Kennedy
Kristal
Leprechaun
Michael Cole
Michelle McCool
Mike “The Miz” Mizanin
Randy Orton
Road Warrior Animal
Sharmell
Steven Richards
Sylvain Grenier
Tazz
Theodore Long
Tim White
William Regal

No longer listed on WWE.com or appearing on TV:
Palmer Canon – Asked for release from WWE.
Melina Perez – Fired by Teddy Long.
Johnny Nitro – Fired by Teddy Long.
John Bradshaw Layfield – Forced to quit by Teddy Long after losing a match as part of a stipulation.
Orlando Jordan – Released by WWE.



*In this monthly feature, the Inside Pulse 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, women (RAW), cruiserweights (SD), and 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. Divisions that include less than ten competitors/teams are also reflected in the rankings.

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)

**Both primary and secondary heavyweight champions are listed at the top of each brand’s rankings, with the assumption that Intercontinental or United States Champions are de facto top contenders unless otherwise stated on television or online by WWE.

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