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WWE Wrestler Rankings - 8/12/04
By THE TRUTH, MOP Squad Sports Staff Writer
Aug 12, 2004 - 12:06:00 AM |
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Raw Brand Individual Rankings
World Heavyweight Champion - Chris Benoit
1) Randy Orton
After winning the 20-Man Battle Royal on RAW 3 weeks ago, Orton has won the right to challenge Benoit for the World Championship. After an impressive 6 month Intercontinental Championship reign, this is the natural next step for Orton to take in his already impressive career. Orton's shot will come this Sunday at SummerSlam and many, including this reporter, thinks that Orton will be holding the first of many World Championships come Monday morning.
2) Edge - Intercontinental Champion
Edge is ranked Number 2 for the same reason Orton was for 6 months, during the times when there isn't a Number 1 Contender, the Intercontinental Champion should be looked at as the natural contender. Edge is in a deathlock feud with Evolution's Batista and fellow-Canadian Chris Jericho and will defend his Intercontinental Championship against them at SummerSlam but you can expect him to set his sights on the World Championship very, very soon.
3) Chris Jericho
As a contender to the Intercontinental Championship, Jericho is also very close to being back into contention for the World Championship, somewhere he should've been long ago. After SummerSlam, if Jericho isn't the Intercontinental Champion, then I'd be looking for him to set his sights on that beautiful gold by, oh let's say, Survivor Series...could the Elimination Chamber be making a return?
4) Batista
Like Jericho, Batista earns his shot by being a contender to the second title, the Intercontinental Title. Batista, a very powerful and domineering man, should always be looked at like a threat and his connection to Evolution only adds more fear to this man. Like Jericho, I'm thinking Batista could be aiming for the World Championship, if he isn't the Intercontinental Champ, by Survivor Series so I'm thinking that the Elimination Chamber could be making it's second return.
5) Kane
After dominating Maven, Matt Hardy, Chris Jericho and others in recent weeks, it could be considered that Kane is climbing the ranks to get back into the title picture. However, he still seems to be sidetracked with Matt and Lita so, maybe after his 'Til Death Do Us Part Match at SummerSlam, Kane can start concentrating on gold again...but the rumors are that Shawn Michaels's health is taking great strides in improving and that he could be back soon and, when he returns, he'll be looking for the man who took him out, Kane!
6) Tyson Tomko
A young competitor, for sure, but he's been on a streak as of late, and his victory over Rosie last week helps Tyson climb the rankings. Christian's Problem Solver has been getting some big wins and could be growing closer to Trish, Christian's woman, in his absence...maybe the master will be planning to present a new problem to his student when he returns. Either way, although he is slowly climbing the ranks, I wouldn't look for Tomko to be close to the Intercontinetal or World Championship divisions anytime soon.
7) Triple H
Triple H is in a position he isn't used to being in...Number 7. Hunter has lost 4 World Championship matches in a row now (WrestleMania, Backlash, Vengeance, and his RAW Ironman Match) so he is out of contention for the World Title for awhile, and his growing problems with Eugene and William Regal will continue to push him away from the path that leads to the title until he resolves them. Then again, if Hunter finishes with Eugene after SummerSlam...maybe a run at Edge and the Intercontinental Championship would be good for him.
8) William Regal
Although he was savagely beaten at the hands of Triple H last week, Regal held his own against Hunter before that and, 3 weeks ago, administered a vicious beating to the former champion. Regal isn't ready for a World Championship match yet but, when he recovers and finishes his business with Triple H, perhaps he'll set his sights on the Intercontinental Championship, a division that Regal is very familiar with and very comfortable in.
Raw Brand Team Rankings
World Tag Team Champions - La Resistance
1) Tajiri and Rhyno
After an seemingly easy victory over La Resistance on RAW last week, Tajiri and Rhyno should now be considered the Number 1 Contenders. The SummerSlam card looks full but there is still the chance that Tajiri and Rhyno could pick up a match on the Heat Pre-show and score a victory to grab their first set of tag titles together.
2) The Hurricane and Rosie
Rosie has graduated from being the S.H.I.T and the two men have, seemingly, appeared back on the tag division with a new fearosity, something that could quickly lead them into either a shot at the titles or a shot at being the Number 1 Contenders.
Smackdown Brand Individual Rankings
WWE Heavyweight Champion - John Bradshaw Layfield
1) The Undertaker
Now that the Phenom is back and has his priorities set, he is looking at JBL and the WWE Championship, ready to add a fifth reign to his amazing resume. 'Taker will get his chance at SummerSlam and, will no doubt, put a major whipping on Layfield, more than likely picking up what he's after, the WWE Championship, in the process.
2) Booker T - United States Champion
Booker T is the Number 2 Contender on SmackDown! for the same reason that Edge is on RAW, he holds the brands second championship. Booker is now set to meet John Cena at SummerSlam in Best-of-5 Series for the US Championship, a title that Cena never lost. Once SummerSlam is over and depending on whether or not Booker still has the belt, we could be looking at Booker T aiming for a sixth World Title.
3) John Cena
As the next man in line for the US Title, Cena is also to be considered next in line for the WWE Championship, a title he's sought many times but never attained. After Cena's Best-of-5 Match at SummerSlam with Booker, again depending on if he has the belt or not, look for Cena to possibly step up to the champion with a verbal bitch slap, a champion that will most likely be The Undertaker.
4) Spike Dudley - Cruiserweight Champion
Aside from a brief stint as World Tag Team Champion (with Tazz) and a few Hardcore Title reigns (which all add to under 10 minutes), the Crusierweight Championship is Spike Dudley's only WWE Title, and it is his most significant and Spike could be looking for more! After reuniting with his brothers, Spike could be considered a threat in any division, but he'd have alot of trouble, even with his brothers, in the WWE Title division. If Spike was smart, and I'm not sure if he is, he'd keep happy with his Cruiserweight title or maybe set his sights on the Book Man and the US Title.
5) Eddie Guerrero
The former champion is currently preoccupied with the former General Manager, Kurt Angle, and hasn't had time to look for the WWE Title after he was screwed out of it. Although no real announcement has been made, you could consider Eddie's SummerSlam match with Angle as a Number 1 Contender's match with the winner being immediately boosted back into the WWE Title picture...that is, if they're done with each other at SummerSlam.
6) Kurt Angle
Same deal with Eddie, so, if he wins at SummerSlam and decides he's ready to finish things with Uncle Eddie, you could possibly start looking for Kurt to set his sights back on the WWE Championship, a division he's been out of for almost a year now. Angle is close to being 100% for the first time since he started wrestling in the WWE and should always be looked at as a threat.
7) Rey Mysterio Jr
Mysterio has alot to settle with all 3 Dudley Boys and could be looking to team up with London and Kidman to do that, but when he's done there, who's to say he has to go back to the cruiserweight division immediately? I'm sure Rey-Rey could do some real damage in the hunt for the United States Championship, a title that would do a great deal to boost his already skyhigh career. Then again, rumors have said that Ultimo Dragon could be back this Fall and there has always been a silent rivalry between these two incredible cruiserweights.
8) Orlando Jordan
Hey, this countdown has to be 8-people long and OJ was the only other person to pick up a singles victory on SmackDown! so he made the cut. Then again, the fact that it looks like he is now aligned with the WWE Champion, JBL, could possibly be the move that Orlando needed to move him into a hunt for some gold with the US Title being the most likely candidate. There is also always the chance that a deal was struck between Orlando and JBL, perhaps a little assistance with 'Taker on OJ's half could net him a WWE Championship shot on JBL's half. Only time will tell if we'll be seeing Orlando on a weekly basis or if he'll be back to Velocity duty.
Smackdown Brand Team Rankings
WWE Tag Team Champions - Paul London and Billy Kidman
1) The Dudley Boys
With the bad blood between these men and the current champions continuing to grow, look for the Dudley Boys to finally regain their titles, probably with help from Spike, and be recognized as 19x Tag Team Champions, a feat that could only be compared to the fact that the Legion of Doom is the only tag team to have held the WWE, NWA, and AWA Tag Titles. The Dudley rematch (or rather Dudley match since they lost the rematch) will probably come at the next SmackDown! only PPV.
2) FBI
Although they're still pulling Velocity duty, Johnny the Bull and Nunzio have been on somewhat of a streak as of late and could possibly receive a great chance at the WWE Tag Titles on SmackDown! but I doubt we see a PPV match outta this one.
3) Chavo Guerrero & Jamie Knoble
They're also pulling Velocity duty right now but these two former Cruiserweight Champions have built a very strong tag team and could be called on at any time for a title shot, especially while London and Kidman are still the champs which would, or rather should, give us an incredibly memorable cruiserweight tag match, PPV quality.
Copyright 2007 - MOP Squad Sports
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