WWE Power Rankings: Raw Brand
Brand new Power Rankings for WWE Raw as the company builds to SummerSlam!

The name Power Ranking may imply the strongest, or most skilled, or even the most over. These lists will highlight the Top 5 wrestlers who are not only doing good work in the ring, but progress their characters well, sell merchandise and are generally seen as a bright spot/draw during the show. Moving forward, I will be keeping an eye on if the cream really rises to the top, or if it gets stuck at the bottom of the mug called RAW.

- Brock Lesnar — It’s hard to argue that the primary champion isn’t the top man on a brand. With that being said, Brock Lesnar has been billed as a monster since breaking the Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania 30 and finally overcoming Goldberg at WrestleMania 33. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, IWGP Champion and multiple time heavyweight champion in the WWE; even if people are waning on his part time appeal…his legitimacy and big fight attraction can’t be questioned

2. Braun Strowman — The man has interjected himself into the Universal Championship scene since Royal Rumble, usually to destroy Roman Reigns but, still forcing his way in. This week has been no different seeing that Kurt Angle rewarded his rampage on Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns by making the SummerSlam match a Fatal 4-Way. Braun gets the chance to prove if he can hang as a main eventer, or if he’s just the guy that kills Roman Reigns.

3. Samoa Joe — After working the best storyline of the year against Brock Lesnar, Joe looks to be a serious threat in the Universal title scene. Being technically undefeated against Roman, looking like a legitimate threat in his title shot against Brock Lesnar, as well as only losing to Seth Rollins based off of getting pinned during a submission attempt (AJ Styles can relate), he looks to stay at the top of the card for the foreseeable future.

4. Roman Reigns — After presumably retiring the Undertaker, he’s been on an odd slide. His promos are never consistent (though they are improved), he’s lost more important matches than he’s won, but his match quality has actually been pretty high. Last week against Joe and a few months ago against Seth Rollins are matches that make you happy to wade through the 3 hour schlog that is Raw. Being top merchandise seller for full time wrestlers, top views on their YouTube channel, and the fact that he hasn’t ended up on top of an angle he’s been in since Wrestlemania…we could get a look at a new side of The Big Dog.

5. The Miz — Shouldn’t be too surprising to see him round out the power rankings. With other main event talent currently tied up in useless storylines (looking at you Finn and Bray) or involved in a tag angle with Miz and the Miztourage (Dean and Seth to clarify to those wondering), it’s easy to see why The Miz stands out. He has the ability to garner heat in true heel fashion, he’s building up something special with the Miztourage and bringing a sense of worth back to the Intercontinental Championship. You can’t hate the work he’s putting in; hating the character is fine since he’s a heel, but damn can this man work.
Given the fact we just learned the main event of SummerSlam will be a big bad four way dance…that puts a monkey wrench in Power Rankings for RAW. The next coming weeks will be filled with matches and vignettes of Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, who knows Brock Lesnar might even show up just to keep the match buzz going. This however does lend itself to redundancy, so in the interest of not boring anyone to death, the next RAW Power Rankings will be after the RAW after SummerSlam.
