WWE Stock Report: Where’s Asuka?

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 Drew McIntyre threatening Jinder Mahal with a sword, Roman Reigns and the Usos taking out Finn Bálor, and another awkward Goldberg promo, a lot of fortunes were changed.

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

Stock Up #3: Rhea Ripley

WWE finally got something right with Rhea Ripley on Raw this week (Aug. 2) when she was presented as a clear babyface for a match against Nia Jax. Rhea has spent the last several months not being a clear-cut babyface or heel, and she was never going to get over if things continued along that path.

It would have been better for Ripley to defeat Jax with a more convincing move than a roll up, but she did hit her with Riptide afterwards, which was an emphatic way to stand tall.

Stock Up #2: Damian Priest

It often seems like Raw is running short-handed on talent, which means someone on the roster is pulling double duty to help fill out three hours. Damian Priest and John Morrison were the wrestlers who competed in multiple matches on this week’s episode, and both matches ended the same way - with Priest pinning Johnny Drip Drip. It feels like it’s only a matter of time until Priest goes on to defeat Sheamus for the United States championship.

Stock Up #1: Omos

Who needs Braun Strowman and his big fat contract when you have can instead pay Omos a lot less money to use a similar gimmick?

Omos is in the early phase of the monster heel push where he is unstoppable and easily destroying anybody who stands in front of him. This week’s unlucky opponent was Matt Riddle, who recently got something of an endorsement from John Cena on Raw. That apparently doesn’t mean much, because Riddle was still fed to Omos like a jabroni. It’s good to be a very tall man when Vince McMahon is the booker.

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

Stock Down #3: Eva Marie & Doudrop

This act has been around long enough now where the whole thing feels rather aimless. Doudrop has lost two consecutive matches on Raw, and they are now feuding with a stupid doll. It doesn’t help that Eva Marie can’t really do much of anything in the ring. The Eva-lution could use a bit of a spark; perhaps Eva will eventually turn things around by adding a Sunray to go along with her Doudrop.

Stock Down #2: Karrion Kross

Karrion Kross lost again on Raw this week, and currently has a losing record on the main roster. His struggles on Raw undermine his upcoming NXT championship match against Samoa Joe in the main event of TakeOver 36 on Aug. 22. Given these results and recent rumors, Kross is probably the one who should fall and pray for better booking.

Stock Down #1: Randy Orton, Asuka, New Day

Randy Orton, Asuka, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods have not been on Raw television since Money in the Bank. In Orton’s case, it goes back even further than that.

Kingston and Woods are still wrestling dark matches and doing house shows. It appears that WWE Creative just doesn’t have anything for them on television ever since Kingston was decimated by Bobby Lashley at Money in the Bank.

There’s been no word on what’s going on with Asuka. She helped carry Raw during the empty arena era, but is now a non-factor with the return of live fans.

As for Randy, it was reported that he was moved to WWE’s inactive/disabled list a couple weeks ago. This week’s Raw would have been the ideal time to come back and save his RK-BRO partner from being obliterated by Omos. Orton was even advertised for the show, but he never made an appearance.

There are only two episodes of Raw left until SummerSlam, which is one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. The clock is running out on these wrestlers making the card.

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