:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/38124252/Wrestler-Wrankings-Logo.0.png){kind=logo}
Brock Lesnar is the world champion, but he is determined to dominate by the doctrine of "less is more." As a consequence, he'll never compete often enough to win the Wrankings, despite the advantage of his title defense bonuses.
Rusev and, former Wrestler Wrankings Champion, Sheamus are steadily winning a ton of matches and are thusly ensconced in the top two spots. This pair of brutes are as rough and rugged as they come and look to be vying for the Wrankings title for the duration of the season, if not for years to come.
On the other side of the coin, Bad News Barrett and Rob Van Dam both reside in the Top Ten. However, neither is currently an active competitor, so they almost certainly can be disregarded when it comes to contending for the season championship.
So that's what we know. But that leaves six other wrestlers in the Top Ten whose destinies are unclear. Let's tackle them one at a time:
Roman Reigns - 37 points: The supposed heir to John Cena's throne as the franchise player of WWE is not yet ready for primetime, but he may be close. He possesses an explosive move set that is capable of winning any particular match. Yet, his repertoire limited and will easily be scouted by savvy opponents, curtailing his success. He may top the Wrestler Wrankings as soon as next year, but I just don't see it this time. VERDICT: NOT YET
Seth Rollins - 38 points: In a vaccuum, Rollins is a complete athlete who has the gas tank, athleticism, and the balls to challenge the best in WWE. What will hold him back in terms of the Wrankings, is the same thing that will get him ahead in his career. The Money in the Bank contract is a direct line to the top of the world, without having to win any matches. Rollins is just too savvy to work that hard at reaching the top when he doesn't need to. VERDICT: NO WAY.
Dolph Ziggler - 38.5 points: Ziggler will defend his Intercontinental Championship often enough that the bonuses for title bouts should really add up. With the world titles unified and in the idle hands of Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman this can significantly impact the Wrankings. Trouble could arise for the Show Off as he faces increasingly difficult challengers for his championship. I think he lacks the offensive chops to take down the top wrestlers in the game. VERDICT: TREADING WATER
Cesaro - 39.5 points: Here's a guy with no shortage of firepower. So much so, that he doesn't even use his best move, the Giant Swing, anymore. Cesaro hasn't proven himself against top talent yet, but he's performed well at every level to this point. I'd say he's in need of better representation to advance his career, but he's already been chewed up and spit out by Paul Heyman, so he may be beyond help. VERDICT: LOST IN TRANSLATION
Bo Dallas - 39.5 points: Now here's a guy with his head screwed on straight. He terrorized the lower reaches of the WWE roster and willed his way directly into Wrankings relevance. He now has eyes for Jack Swagger, so we will soon find out if he can compete at a higher athletic level. Brilliantly, Bo has laid on the psychological warfare very thick. The mentally susceptible Swagger may not be at his best for their inevitable series of matches. VERDICT: BOLIEVE
John Cena - 40 points: Up until a few weeks ago, he seemed the obvious pick to make a run at the top of the Wrankings. The Wyatt Family had been dispatched; the WWE World Heavyweight Title had been regained; and rivals like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and Undertaker were nowhere to be found. The way was clear for a sustained run of dominance. The only hiccup was a one-off super fight with the part time Brock Lesnar. Cena's made a career out of overcoming great obstacles and his 2012 victory over Lesnar seemed to indicate that a win was imminent. Of course, Cena was not only defeated, but practically destroyed by Lesnar. Can Cena make the most of his mandatory rematch at Night of Champions? If not, where does he go from here? I don't see him feuding over the Intercontinental strap with Dolph Ziggler anytime soon. The way I see it, Cena's Wrankings point total will benefit from the Brock match regardless of the result. If he wins, then he regains his title and the precious point bonuses that go with it. If he loses, then he'll be forced to compete more often on WWE television. If the recent beating he put on Bray Wyatt is any indication, he'll win plenty of those matches. VERDICT: NEVER GIVE UP
OFFICIAL WRESTLER WRANKINGS FORMULA
ANY WIN = 2 POINTS
US OR INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE BOUT = 1 POINT
WWE 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 30 and culminates with WrestleMania 31. The wrestler who accumulates the most points over the course of the season, wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!
Monday Night Raw -- 9/1/14
Main Event -- 9/3/14
Smackdown -- 9/5/14
-----------------------------------
WRESTLER WRANKINGS, WEEK 23 *TOP TEN*
1. RUSEV -- 66 points
2. Sheamus -- 54.5
3. John Cena -- 40
T4. Bo Dallas -- 39.5
T4. Cesaro -- 39.5
6. Dolph Ziggler -- 38.5
7. Seth Rollins -- 38
T8. Bad News Barrett -- 37
T8. Roman Reigns -- 37
10. Rob Van Dam -- 25.5
Thanks for reading, Cagesiders. We'll see you back here next week!