Wrestler Wrankings™: 2012-2013 Season, Week 30

If luck is equal parts preparation and opportunity, then #2 Ryback must be the luckiest guy in the world. Sure #5 John Cena is the guy we'd all like to see get his hands on #3 CM Punk inside Hell in a Cell, mainly due to Cena's immense fame and his rivalry with Punk over the past two years. But, with Cena out of action for this one PPV, the WWE was put in a bad spot. Who has the clout to face CM Punk to sell this major show to the masses?

Cena's hurt, Triple H is out of commission, Brock wouldn't face another Heyman guy, the Rock is off in Hollywood until 2013, Chris Jericho isn't under contract, both members of Team Hell No are busy with the newly revitalized tag division, and Undertaker is off playing catch with Cerberus somewhere. Hell, even the in the biggest of pipe dreams, Shawn Michaels is out with a broken arm thanks to the events of SummerSlam.

Among new faces, Brodus Clay is in a funk, Tensai is terrible, David Otunga has won one match this year, Miz is off his game, and even impressive newcomer Antonio Cesaro has recently lost a match. Apparently, the major players in the World Heavyweight Title picture on SmackDown aren't interested in the WWE title right now, so Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, and the like are out of the question.

That literally leaves the Ryback as the last man standing. Now, as recently as a few weeks ago, I would have said this was a mistake, or at least an unfortunate but necessary matchmaking reality. Ryback had the high Wranking to justify this shot, but who had he really beaten?

Taking names out of the picture to avoid any biases, the chart below shows the Wranking points of Ryback's opponents for every Wrankings eligible match he's had this season. Check it out:

I think it's pretty clear that "Big Hungry" had been on what can only be considered an epic, if perhaps hollow, roll that has turned legitimately white hot in the last few weeks. If ever there was an opportunity for him to explode into the main event picture, it's right now. Yes, he's in the right place at the right time, but now we get to see how "lucky" this Ryback really is.

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OFFICIAL WRESTLER WRANKINGS FORMULA:

• ANY WIN = 2 POINTS
• US OR INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE BOUT = 1 POINT
• WWE OR WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT = 3 POINTS
• NON "BIG 4" PPV = x1.5 BONUS
• SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE = x2 BONUS
• WRESTLEMANIA = x3 BONUS

The wrestler with the highest score when the season culminates at WrestleMania 29 wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!

Now, without further delay, let's get to this week's scores:

Raw, 10/22/2012:

• Sheamus - 2 points (win)
• Ryback - 2 points (win)
• Alberto Del Rio - 2 points (win)
• Dolph Ziggler - 2 points (win)
• Big Show - 2 points (win)
• Kofi Kingston - 2 points (win)
• Justin Gabriel - 2 points (win)

SmackDown, 10/19/2012:

• Kane- 2 points (win)
• Miz - 2 points (win)
• Damien Sandow - 2 points (win)
• Wade Barrett - 2 points (win)

WEEK 30 WRANKINGS TOP TEN:

1. SHEAMUS -- 104.5
2. Ryback -- 75
3. CM Punk -- 73.5
4. Alberto Del Rio -- 68.5
5. John Cena -- 42.5
6. Daniel Bryan -- 37
T7. Randy Orton -- 36.5
T7. Antonio Cesaro -- 36.5
9. Dolph Ziggler -- 33.5
10. Big Show -- 32.5

Thanks for reading Cagesiders, we'll see you next week!