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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 August 9:
Also, find out what the number next to each Superstar's name means. Continue...
| This Week | Movement | Superstar | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
BATISTA (9) Not only did The Animal lead him and John Cena to becoming the new World Tag Team Champs on Raw, but it seemed as if he was sending a message to his SummerSlam opponent as well. |
4 | |
| 2 |
TRIPLE H (6) The Game certainly has a big challenge in front of him in the form of the Punjabi Giant at SummerSlam, and after seeing what happened to him on SmackDown this week, things aren't looking too good. |
1 | |
| 3 |
CM PUNK (4) The World Heavyweight Champion did his best, but the odds were stacked a little too high against him. His loss on Raw leaves him having to defend his title against JBL at SummerSlam. |
2 | |
| 4 |
Things seem to be changing with the Rated-R Superstar, especially after his talk with Mick Foley last week. He is probably as ready as anyone can be heading into the Hell in a Cell against Undertaker. |
5 | |
| 5 |
In perhaps the biggest leap in P25 history, The Great Khali lands in the No. 5 spot, but deservingly so. Unfortunately for Triple H, the Punjabi Giant looked to have his number after Friday night. |
NR | |
| 6 |
Matt Hardy has a giant tag team partner on his side next week against John Morrison & The Miz on ECW, but we're not too sure that Mark Henry can be trusted as Matt will be facing him for the title just days prior. |
3 | |
| 7 |
We're glad that the Big Red Machine says he's all better, but we don't believe it. Maybe Raw GM Mike Adamle will shed some light on what's wrong with Kane by revealing what is in his mysterious sack. |
6 | |
| 8 |
Nobody in their right mind would want to step in the ring against he Moscow Mauler, but we guess someone has to, and unfortunately for Jesse, he pulled the short straw this week. |
7 | |
| 9 |
The Jamaican Superstar has everything to lose come SummerSlam when he and Women's Champion Mickie James defend their titles in a Winner Takes All Match against Santino Marella & Beth Phoenix. |
8 | |
| 10 |
The World's Strongest Champion has been zoned-in ever since winning the ECW gold. When it comes to his title defense at SummerSlam, his opponent, Matt Hardy, will really need to put on his game face. |
9 | |
| 11 |
Once again, Y2J remained true to his word and attempted to earn himself a spot in the World Heavyweight Championship Match at SummerSlam, but came up short as JBL got the nod instead with his pin on CM Punk. |
10 | |
| 12 |
SmackDown's Franchise Playa' must really have something against the Hardy name. Now that Matt is on ECW, MVP has been keeping it in the family by making Jeff Hardy's life a living hell. |
12 | |
| 13 |
In a bizarre turn of events leading into their SummerSlam match-up, John Cena & Batista have been crowned the new World Tag Team Champions. The question is, how long will their reign as champions last? |
15 | |
| 14 |
It has been said that when you're champion, you have a target on your back, and for the second week in a row, that seems to be literal as Mickie James was blindsided again on Raw, this time, by Beth Phoenix. |
14 | |
| 15 |
The World's Largest Athlete wasn't on SmackDown this week, and with his lack of representation, we have no choice but to drop him a few spots. |
11 | |
| 16 |
The first live-TV edition of "The Dirt Sheet" didn't seem to go very well for Morrison & Miz, but perhaps next week will be better as they take on ECW Champion Mark Henry & Matt Hardy in tag action. |
13 | |
| 17 |
If it weren't for MVP, Jeff Hardy would have most likely picked up a win this week over Shelton Benjamin, and last week over The Great Khali. At SummerSlam, Hardy will certainly be looking to get even. |
17 | |
| 18 |
In a Six-Diva Tag Team Match, Natalya certainly was sending a message to Divas Champion Michelle McCool as she locked Maria in the Sharpshooter in the center of the ring earning the victory for her team. |
22 | |
| 19 |
They may have been beat by two of the best Superstars today, but losing the World Tag Team Titles is certainly not sitting well with these two young Superstars and they'll surely be looking to get them back. |
16 | |
| 20 | 18 | ||
| 21 |
Beth Phoenix definitely made her intentions known following Mickie James' title defense against Katie Lea Burchill. And thanks to Raw GM Mike Adamle, her and Santino may both be wearing gold after SummerSlam. |
23 | |
| 22 |
The United States Champion was not looking too good on SmackDown, but thanks to MVP interjecting himself into the fray, The Gold Standard wasn't tarnished with a loss. |
24 | |
| 23 |
The youngest-ever WWE Tag Team Champions proved why they are the ones wearing the gold on SmackDown with their win over Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore. |
25 | |
| 24 |
Since winning the Divas Championship, Michelle McCool has seemed to have fallen off the track. She must pick up the slack or her inaugural run as the champion may be over before she knows it. |
21 | |
| 25 |
The young Superstar breaks onto the list again with an impressive win in tag team action against Chavo Guerrero & Bam Neely. Maybe Bourne will use his high-flying skills to soar to the top of the P25. |
NR |
Do You Agree?
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
"How can HBK even be in the Power 25 if he isn't doing anything on Raw?" - Carrie
The Academy replies: Although HBK has dropped consistently in the countdown, even in his absence, he is still talked about and his influence remains prominent on Monday nights.
"I don't think Triple H should be ranked so high after getting his head squashed like a grape." - Mike
The Academy replies: The ranking reflects the overall status of a Superstar, not just his off weeks. The Game has earned every bit of his ranking.
"I think Maria should be No. 1 every week and the rest of the Superstars should just battle for the other 24 spots." - Jamie
The Academy replies: Interesting opinion. We will take it under advisement.
FAREWELL
The following Superstar(s) failed to maintain their position on the P25 this week:
Finlay & Hornswoggle –Although the beloved father-son duo made an appearance on ECW, they did not make a big enough impact to stay on the Power 25.
Umaga – With no sign of the Samoan Bulldozer on SmackDown, he falls off the list this week. When will we see the carnage of Umaga wreak havoc in the ring again?
OTHERS EARNING VOTES
The following Superstar(s) also received votes from members of The Academy:
Santino Marella – The bizarre relationship between him and Beth Phoenix may be paying off handsomely for the Braggadocios Italian Superstar.
Ricky Ortiz – Ortiz has found a strong ally in Evan Bourne and we can see the both of them making huge impacts on ECW.
Armando Estrada – A win in the Land of the Extreme over an ECW Original surely grabs the attention of The Academy.