WWE Stock Report: The IIconics keep losing, because being a champion means nothing in WWE

Some places do power rankings. Here at Cageside, we do a stock report.

In this weekly series, we identify three Superstars (or groups of Superstars) who are on their way up, and three that are moving in the opposite direction. After a busy week that included the debut of Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House, the start of a physical conflict between Shane McMahon and Roman Reigns, and the Viking Experience becoming the Viking Raiders, a lot of fortunes were changed.

With that in mind, let’s see whose stock has decreased the most this week:

Stock Down #3: Ricochet

Uh oh, Ricochet finally took a pinfall loss on the main roster. This was inevitable, of course, but it’s a little concerning because there wasn’t much effort to protect him during the finish; Roode beat him without any underhanded tactics at the end of the match. Ricochet was booked like a star in his tag team with Aleister Black during the build up to WrestleMania 35, so he’s probably fine, but this defeat at least raises some uncertainty regarding the role Vince McMahon sees for him as a singles performer.

Stock Down #2: Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch and Alicia Fox had an awful match on Raw this week (Apr. 22), the kind of match that hurts the stock of both wrestlers. It was even worse for someone in Becky’s position, because the top star in the company should presumably steamroll a low card performer without much trouble, but that’s not what happened here. Becky was then laid out afterwards by two punches from Lacey Evans. There’s no doubt that Becky Lynch is in a great spot, but it feels like she could still use a week where she outright demolishes everyone in her path like a true badass.

Stock Down #1: The IIconics

The IIconics lost all of their televised matches yet again this week, this time in separate singles action. If WWE’s strategy was to render the relatively new Women’s tag team titles as meaningless as possible in the aftermath of WrestleMania 35, they’ve done a great job. It’s not clear why anybody should take the IIconics seriously as featured stars right now, given their booking.

Now let’s see whose stock has increased the most this week:

Stock Up #3: AJ Styles

WWE didn’t waste any time reminding the audience that AJ Styles is among the top stars in the company. This week on Raw, the Phenomenal One defeated both Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio in a triple threat match, and then later pinned Baron Corbin in the main event in order to earn a Universal championship match against Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank. It looks like AJ Styles could easily fill in Roman Reigns’ shoes as top babyface on Monday nights for the rest of 2019, if WWE decides to go down that route.

Stock Up #2: Robert Roode

Bobby Roode grew a mustache and became Robert Roode, and he immediately received a push on Raw with a big win over Ricochet. We really haven’t seen the singles heel version of the glorious one on the main roster yet, so this could be the exact character change that many fans have been clamoring for.

Stock Up #1: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens predictably betrayed the New Day this week (Apr. 23) on SmackDown, ending his brief run as an honorary member of their group in Big E’s absence. With Daniel Bryan out of the picture for now, perhaps due to injury, it looks like the Big O has just ascended to the top heel spot in the men’s singles division on SmackDown Live.

There you have it, Cagesiders. Whose stock do you think has changed the most this week?