:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21841921/wrestler-wrankings-logo.0.png){kind=logo}
Alberto Del Rio is the current front runner in the Wrestler Wrankings.
There are many reasons for his recent dominance, not the least of which are his privileged upbringing, natural athleticism, and his track record of ensuring his own interests are secured at the expense of others.
One could even say that Del Rio has "cracked the code" on the Wrestler Wrankings. He wrestles often, sometimes multiple times in a given week. He wins consistantly, again sometimes multiple times per week. And finally, he holds a world championship belt that grants him significant bonus points in title defenses.
It's that last point that has been extra impactful this particular Wrankings season, since the other active world title, the WWE Championship, has been held in abeyance due to the continued precociousness of Daniel Bryan. Because of this, there has been no championship rival to Del Rio who could have been racking up comparable title defense bonuses. This puts him at a distinct and unique advantage.
The big question is, can he keep up this pace? It's very possible that this question will be answered shortly at the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay per view when ADR defends that World Heavyweight Championship against a returning John Cena.
There's no guarantee that Cena will be in anything close to top form, but if he is and Alberto Del Rio can defeat him, I think we can book Del Rio as the prohibitive favorite for the Wrankings season title. If, on the other hand, Del Rio folds under the weight of Cena's star power, then we might begin to accept that Del Rio just may be a paper champion, skating by in the shadows as the major players focus on the WWE title picture.
Either way, it's a very serious match with very serious Wrankings implications. Let's hope Del Rio handles this opportunity better than he handled his run in with Santa Claus last Christmas.
***
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 BONUS = 1.5X
SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE = 2X BONUS
WRESTLEMANIA = 3X BONUS
The WWE season begins on the day after WrestleMania 29 and culminates with WrestleMania 30. The wrestler who accumulates the most points over the course of the season, wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!
***
Monday Night RAW -- 10/21/13
Main Event -- 10/23/13
SmackDown -- 10/25/13
-----------------------------------
WRESTLER WRANKINGS, WEEK 29 *TOP TEN*
1. ALBERTO DEL RIO -- 89 points
2. Randy Orton -- 75
3. Daniel Bryan -- 74
4. Curtis Axel -- 64.5
5. Dolph Ziggler -- 44.5
6. Rob Van Dam -- 42
7. Ryback – 36
8. Kofi Kingston -- 35
9. Miz -- 33
10. Christian -- 32
Thanks for reading, Cagesiders. We'll see you back here next week!