Feature Promo

WWE.com, in conjunction with The Academy of Wrestling Arts & Sciences (AWAS), ranks the Top 25 Superstars in wrestling each week with POWER 25. The rankings are based on victories, quality of opponents, momentum and overall in-ring dominance, as well as intangibles. Be sure to check back every Saturday for the latest POWER 25. Here are the rankings for July 7:

Also, find out what the number next to the Superstar name means. Continue...

This Week Movement Superstar Last Week
1

JOHN CENA (14)    

Sources in the locker room said The Champ watched Raw’s Beat the Clock competition very closely, taking notes on his opponents. One note to Cena: Never turn your back on Lashley!

1
2

BOBBY LASHLEY (4) 

The former ECW World Champion found a way to beat the clock, earning a head-to-head matchup with Cena at The Great American Bash. Spearing Cena just poured gas on the fire.

4
3

EDGE (1)   

Edge interviewed Kane on The Cutting Edge. What do you ask the Big Red Machine about? His favorite food? It was a no-win for the Rated-R Superstar, as he’ll defend his title against Kane at The Bash.

2
4

BATISTA  

The Animal stepped up to accept The Great Khali’s open challenge at The Great American Bash, leaving the giant (or at least, his translator) speechless.

3
5

UMAGA  

The new Intercontinental Champion steamrolled past the Milan Miracle, Santino Marella, to reclaim the gold. Now, someone should teach the Samoan Bulldozer that titles go around the waist, not in the mouth.

10
6

JOHNNY NITRO

The ECW World Champion dispatched a tough challenge from Tommy Dreamer, but his Pick Your Poison choice did no better as…

9
7

CM PUNK  

…the Straightedge Superstar defeated ECW’s creature of the night, Kevin Thorn. Extreme fans can’t wait to see what happens when Punk and Nitro clash at The Bash.

6
8

MATT HARDY  

Continuing his hot streak, Matt upset the United States Champion MVP on SmackDown, putting himself in prime position for a title opportunity.

5
9

RANDY ORTON 

Orton’s Beat the Clock time was good – just not good enough. The frustrated Legend Killer then frazzled the nerves of Dusty and Cody Rhodes. Will he meet Dusty for an in-ring face-to-face next week?

8
10

MONTEL VONTAVIOUS PORTER    

All great athletes go through slumps, and MVP is no different. He’s lost to Kane and Matt Hardy in back-to-back weeks. Maybe a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover would change his luck.

7
11

JEFF HARDY  

The former Intercontinental Champion couldn’t top the Legend Killer on Raw. But look for the Carolina Superstar to rebound.

5
12

THE GREAT KHALI    

Rule No. 1 when issuing an open challenge: Make sure people can understand what you are saying. Batista was happy to step up to the plate, and take a chance at chopping the giant down to size.

11
13

LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH 

The World Tag Team Champions were inactive this week, but still seek to be pillars of sportsmanship, taking on all comers.

12
14

KANE  

Four words you never want to hear from the Big Red Machine: “I don’t like you.” The Academy voters will be sending Kane a fruit basket to ensure we stay on his good side.

15
15

DEUCE & DOMINO    

With Domino recovering from a broken nose, Deuce faced Eugene in singles action. But the match was cut short as Khali decided to throw his weight – and both competitors – around.

13
16

CANDICE MICHELLE  

Who doesn’t love a good cat fight? Probably not Melina, who got the worst of her post-match scuffle with the Women’s Champion. The battle between the former and current champ is still red hot.

16
17

MARK HENRY 

The World’s Strongest Man was absent from SmackDown this week. We would have loved to see Henry and Khali cross paths in the locker room, just for the belated fireworks.

14
18

PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK   

The high-flyers were overheard talking to Cryme Tyme in the Raw locker room about some good deals on some newly-obtained auto parts.

17
19

CHAVO GUERRERO

The Cruiserweight Champion had a week off as he waits for his next SmackDown challenger.

18
20

KING BOOKER 

A locker room source said the King had already sent for his royal tailor to measure his waist for his future WWE Championship after he won his Beat the Clock match. Was it a royal jinx?

24
21

MELINA    

The paparazzi princess defeated Maria to stay atop the Women’s Championship hunt. But Candice sent her crashing into the ringside barrier post-match when she started a catfight.

22
22

FINLAY

Luck of the Irish prevailed as the Celtic crusher made the 16-time World Champion, Ric Flair, tap out to a leg lock of his own.

NR
23

RIC FLAIR 

The "Nature Boy" was overheard asking Superstars in the locker room if they’d seen a leprechaun around. He was understandably upset at Finlay’s friend for the interference in his match.

20
24

SNITSKY   

The Raw giant is still lurking in the darkness of the locker room.

19
25

JIMMY WANG YANG 

The cowboy convert was another unlucky victim of the Masterpiece’s Master Lock, and then was punished with a powerbomb from The Great Khali. Some days it’s hard to be a cowboy.

21

Do You Agree?

What do you think of this week's POWER 25 rankings?

Send your comments to The Academy now.

Name:

Comments:

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING

"Matt Hardy's just riding off of tag team success. That's not fair!" - Geoff
The Academy replies: Matt was half of that team's success and if you ask us, he looked pretty sharp in the ring with the United States Champion. 

"How is Snitsky still on the P25? He's never even on TV." - Diane
The Academy replies: He may not have been on TV lately, but he's still on the minds of all of Raw's Superstars. He did drop a lot this week, though. Let's see if he can make a surge back up with some appearances. 

"Finlay gets a cheap win against Flair and suddenly he's ranked higher than the 'Nature Boy?' That's just not right." - Chad
The Academy replies: Finlay beat Ric Flair at his own game. When you think about it, it's actually quite poetic.

FAREWELL...

The following Superstar(s) failed to maintain their spot on the POWER 25 this week:

Santino Marella - Good things must come to an end, but we’re pulling for the Milan Miracle to prove he’s not just a flash in the panini.

Boogeyman - Sending worms as gifts to Academy voters just won’t keep you on the POWER 25… unless the voter is a fisherman.

OTHERS EARNING VOTES...

The following Superstar(s) also received votes from members of the Academy:

Super Crazy - The wily Mexican Superstar turned the tables on Mr. Kennedy, scoring one of the fastest Beat the Clock pin falls in history.

Carlito - The Puerto Rican Superstar is still icing down the welt on his forehead left by The Sandman’s Singapore cane.