Some places do power ratings. Here at Cageside, we do a stock report.
In this weekly series, we identify three Superstars (or groups of Superstars) that are going up, and three that are moving in the opposite direction. After a busy week that included AJ Styles beating Matt Riddle, Braun Strowman crushing John Morrison, and Randy Orton challenging Big Show to unauthorized combat, many fortunes were changed.
With that in mind, let’s see which stock has increased the most this week:
Stock up # 3: Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler
After months away from RawBianca Belair and Shayna Baszler returned this week (July 13). Belair had a team victory with Ruby Riott, while Baszler hit some ninjas and cut a promotion in the women’s division.
It’s good for both women to return to television on Monday nights, but there are reasons to keep expectations low for now. In Belair’s case, it’s because she may have been a placeholder for Liv Morgan. In Baszler’s case, the writing of her promotion was uncomfortable at times, with phrases like “that the extremities and terror that remain in my path are but a distant memory. It just comes out like reciting a scripted promotion instead of something one would naturally say.
Stock Up # 2: Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens doesn’t have much to do this Sunday (July 19) in Extreme RulesBut that didn’t stop WWE from hiring him to beat Seth Rollins for the week. Raw. Beating Rollins is always a big deal, and it’s an indicator that Owens will be a force to be reckoned with as we move forward from The Horror Show.
Stock up # 1: Bayley and Sasha Banks
Bayley and Banks dominated both Raw and Slap this week, with team wins in each show over Asuka and Kairi Sane (Raw) or Nikki Cross (Slap)
The main story in WWE right now is Bayley and Banks’ quest for all the championship gold this Sunday in Extreme Rules 2020. Considering how well they’ve been pushed lately, becoming the Two Women Power Journey may be the next step for Sasha and Bayley.
Now let’s see which stock has decreased the most this week:
Stock Down # 3: Nikki Cross
There is little reason to think that Nikki Cross will beat Bayley for the Slap women’s championship in Extreme Rules 2020. After being caught by Bayley in consecutive episodes of SlapWWE has even booked Nikki Cross to doubt herself.
Stock Down # 2: Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler has returned to Raw for four weeks now, and he has yet to stand clearly on Drew McIntyre in a physical confrontation.
The first week was a promotion without physical conflict, where his fight for the WWE championship Extreme Rules 2020 became official.
The second week was a contract signing with a brief physical interaction, and then a mixed-tag team match. Ziggler’s team beat McIntyre’s team, but it was because Sasha Banks covered Asuka.
The third week was the return of Heath Slater, where both Dolph and Drew beat Heath up.
Week four was a promotion where McIntyre introduced Dolph with a punch. Later they fought briefly behind the scenes.
WWE hasn’t given Dolph a single moment where it really seems like he can go head to head with Drew McIntyre. That’s a wise decision, because it’s very important to push Drew as the best right now, and being hit by a suitor like Dolph would undermine that goal. But the point remains that Dolph has no credibility in his WWE championship match at Extreme Rules 2020. He couldn’t even beat Mansoor or Otis in pay-per-view earlier this year.
Stock Down # 1: Naomi
Naomi’s reserve was already at a low about three months ago when Dana Brooke prevented her from qualifying for Money in the bank 2020. She hasn’t won a game since February, and she’s now introducing Lacey Evans in a story that revolves around the terrible karaoke.
Naomi hasn’t booked well in years, and that doesn’t seem to change anytime soon.
There you have it, Cagesiders. What action do you think has changed the most this week?
