WWE Yearly Review: 2018 Superstar Rankings

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Wrestling

WWE Yearly Review: 2018 Superstar Rankings

The following are rankings for the top 50 superstars of the WWE in 2018. These rankings encompass the entire 2018 season of work in determination. Rankings are based on yearly achievements such as memorable moments, championship matches and match of the night nominations. You can check out our 2018 WWE pay-per-view events rankings and our 2018 WWE pay-per-view match rankings below.

2018 Pay-Per-View Match Rankings

2018 Pay-Per-View Event Rankings

WWE Superstar Rankings

Honorable Mentions

Dean Ambrose, The B-Team, Sanity, EC3, Bobby Roode, Bayley, The Riott Squad, Natalya, Mickie James, Naomi, War Raiders, Rey Mysterio, Jinder Mahal, Matt Hardy, Bray Wyatt, and The Usos.

50 – Mandy Rose/Sonya Deville

• Despite the faction known as Absolution breaking up, both women have participated in many historical moments this year. They’ve also been a part of a few memorable moments, such as Mandy Rose eliminating Sonya Deville during the Women’s Evolution Battle Royal.

49 – Lars Sullivan

• Lars Sullivan’s year was overlooked by the stacked NXT roster, however, he is now part of the main roster moving forward. His two big highlights this year came from his participation in the 6-Man Ladder Match for the NXT North American Championship, and his brutal clash with Aleister Black for the NXT Championship.

48 – Shane McMahon

• Shane’s 2018 seemed riddled with memorable moments. From his rivalry with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to his impromptu decision to enter the World Cup Final. The only things keeping Shane from a higher ranking was lack of championship matches and lack of ‘Match of the Night’ nominations. Shane’s role is mainly for memorable moments, however, which is something he does better than anyone else.

47 – Cedric Alexander

• For the few matches Cedric Alexander was in, he delivered. His 2018 highlight came in two different moments, each at big events. The first was when he won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship at Wrestlemania 34, defeating his good friend Mustafa Ali in what was one of the more emotional matches in 2018. He then put on a heck of a performance in dropping the belt to Buddy Murphy. Carve it any way you will, Alexander is a pro’s pro.

46 – Elias

• Walk With Elias! Arguably one of the most popular superstars today, Elias generates buzz anywhere he goes. It’s a shame 2018 wasn’t filled with more match opportunities, as most of Elias’ best stuff was left for cable and not pay-per-view events. Despite the little opportunity on 2018 pay-per-view cards, he did participate in Elimination Chamber as well as perform solidly in his Intercontinental Championship match. Expectations for Elias are high entering the new year.

45 – Drew McIntyre

• McIntyre’s ranking would probably be higher if not for an injury back in NXT. Entering 2019 though, McIntyre seems to be poised for a top-15 ranking. McIntyre saw a ton of memorable moment inclusions during his short time on the main roster in 2018. His participation in some of Dolph and Seth’s ‘Match of the Night’ nominations also warrants consideration when determining his work during the year. With 2019 coming up, Drew can make a ton of noise if utilized throughout the calendar year.

44 – Pete Dunne

• Dunne was only part of two WWE pay-per-view events this year, and still finds a way to crack the top-45. Two reasons are for that, one of which being his participation in the NXT War Games. The other reason was his participation at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Dunne was victim to Undisputed Era, only to avenge the moment in an epic clash almost one year later. Dunne’s story with the Undisputed Era came to full circle in the best way during 2018, which is more impressive when you realize he was only used in two shows.

43 – Buddy Murphy

• Buddy Murphy’s ranking may be considered high for many, but he has a perfect record in pay-per-view’s this year. That means a couple of things, mainly, his only two performances in WWE pay-per-views this year have both garnered ‘Match of the Night’ nominations. Secondly, both matches were for WWE gold along with Murphy winning them. Use any sports analogy you would like: Murphy is batting 1.000, Murphy is bowling a perfect game, etc. They all work. Expect Murphy to appear a lot more in 2019 barring any injuries.

42 – Baron Corbin

• The transformation Baron Corbin has made over a year’s time has been the most noticeable. Once a long-haired loner to a head-shaven corporate suck-up, Corbin has seen his character go through various historical moments this year. His low match count is the reason for his low ranking, but he was present in many key 2018 moments. Corbin’s most notable moment came at Crown Jewel when he cost Strowman the Universal Championship.

41 – John Cena

• Arguably one of the greatest of all time, seeing John Cena on the list is not a surprise. Even with his part-time status, Cena always makes a splash when he’s on WWE TV. Cena’s 2018 was actually a lot more busy than people may realize. He was part of a somewhat intriguing moment with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 34. Cena also participated in back-to-back ‘Match of the Night’ nominations at Elimination Chamber and Fastlane.

40 – Authors of Pain (AOP)

• The Authors of Pain started the year on a high note, mainly because they were still on NXT. With the calendar year coming to a close, AOP actually finished on a strong note. Their match quality has taken a slight bump since the main roster call-up, but their championship match opportunities have kept them quietly relevant. The sky is the limit for this team, as a full year of usage has the potential to move them in the top-20 next season.

39 – The Undertaker

• It’s quite amazing The Undertaker can only appear a handful of times and still crack the top-40. There are a few reasons for that, most notably his brutal brawls with Triple H this year. His character still managed to make an impact at Wrestlemania 34 throughout the entire night, despite only appearing once for a brief moment.

38 – Kairi Sane

• Three championship matches are a large part as to why Kairi Sane made the top-40. All three matches were high in quality too, but most notably was the Two-out-of-Three Falls battle with Shayna Baszler. Kairi Sane definitely showed she will be just fine in this business and can bring the intensity when needed.

37 – The Bludgeon Brothers

• These two monsters made one of the biggest impacts this year. As usual with superstars who miss time, injuries are the main reason these two aren’t higher. An injury set these two back to begin 2018, and injuries are currently setting them back to end 2018. Everything in between though, pure gold. Any appearance The Bludgeon Brothers made was a memorable moment instantly. It was mainly just the chaos and destruction they caused, but it was stuff that you wouldn’t forget – such as powerbombing Xavier Woods onto steel steps.

36 – Sasha Banks

• The Boss’ ranking is a bit surprising, but then when you look back at 2018 as a whole you realize how strong her early season was. Banks saw many memorable moments, most notably in the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble. She lasted for an incredible amount of time, while also having an epic showdown with one Trish Stratus. She then produced many intriguing moments with Bayley, including kicking her off the Elimination Chamber. Banks’ mid-season was quiet to say the least, but she is back and primed for a solid run in 2019.

35 – The Bar

• The Bar coming in at 35 is a bit disappointing, considering they were in a total of seven championship matches this year. Only one of their matches was considered for a ‘Match of the Night’ nomination too. They were able to garner a few memorable moments, but that was in large part due to Braun Strowman winning the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship with a kid at Wrestlemania 34. Expectations should be higher for these two, especially with the opportunities they have and the track record they possess.

34 – Sami Zayn

• Sami Zayn probably had the best year that went unnoticed. Most of this had to do with an injury he suffered mid-season. However, the impact Zayn made when beginning 2018 healthy was as good as any. Most of it came from the toxic alliance with Kevin Owens, but the villainous duo made the most of their time. Perhaps the most intriguing Zayn moment of the year came at Fastlane when Zayn and Owens were on the verge of a fallout.

33 – The Miz

• The Miz quietly fell down the rankings after an epic 2016 and solid 2017. This is in large part due to his lack of championship matches, as he spent a better part of the mid-season fighting Daniel Bryan. He then focused on the World Cup Final and Survivor Series captain role. It’s kind of a shame to see The Miz’s usage dwindle down, but having a baby may be a large reason as to why. As a WWE champion, your time outside the ring must be dedicated to an ambassador role. That may or may not be a reason for Miz’s lack of championship opportunities in 2018, but either way, he should have a much better 2019 which means more great things to come from one of WWE’s top villains.

32 – Triple H

• Much like The Undertaker, it’s surprising to see a superstar who only appears a few times listed this high. Besides the already mentioned war with Undertaker this year, Triple H’s mark this season came much earlier. In fact, it started in February when he and his wife signed Ronda Rousey to the WWE. Triple H would then be part of one of the most iconic contract signings in WWE when Ronda puts him through a table. Stephanie would slap Ronda, setting up what was arguably the most entertaining match of Wrestlemania 34.

31 – Carmella

• What a year the Princess of Staten Island had. Carmella successfully cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to become the first female to accomplish that feat, while winning the championship. “Mella’ is Money,” became her catchphrase, and even used a past alliance to help her through her title reign. Carmella is still able to make memorable ring moments without her belt, ready to break out into a dance party at any given moment.

30 – Samoa Joe

• Many would expect Samoa Joe higher on this list, including me. The truth, however, is that Samoa Joe was only utilized once this year. That came in his months-long rivalry with A.J. Styles. Before that, Joe was dealing with injuries. He missed Wrestlemania for a second straight year and missed time well before that. Joe did finish 2018 on a very strong note, but his consistency being available has been his only downfall to date. His promos and presence are arguably among the best, so seeing him outside the top-25 is a bit of a gut check.

29 – Ember Moon

• Ember Moon’s usage in 2018 was sporadic, to say the least, but each time she fought she made the most of it. There wasn’t a match Ember Moon was part of where she didn’t do something amazing. From her rivalry with Shayna Baszler to her Royal Rumble WWE debut, and to her amazing performance in the Money in the Bank Match, Ember Moon has ‘blue-chipper’ written all over her.

28 – Rusev

• Happy Rusev Day! Rusev had a sneaky good year in 2018, piling in championship matches along with various emotions of memorable moments. Rusev Day was funny, riveting and disappointing – a true emotional roller coaster. What’s more interesting is the success Rusev had in 2018 also saw Aiden English garner incredible usage in the WWE. Hopefully, the separation of Rusev Day won’t hurt either superstar moving into 2019.

27 – Finn Balor

• Another workhorse in the WWE, Finn Balor has become one of the more reliable workers today. Sure, he was injured the night he won a championship, and WWE probably has every reason to be cautious with him. In fairness to Finn though, Seth Rollins was injuring everyone at the time and Finn has done nothing but produce since coming back. He was only in two championship matches this year, which both came at the beginning of 2018. Although he hasn’t seen championship opportunities since early-2018, Balor has been part of some big moments. He had arguably the best performance out of anyone in the Men’s Royal Rumble and usually found himself in big-time matches such as Money in the Bank or Elimination Chamber.

26 – Andrade Cien Almas

• It’s a bit surprising to see Almas ranked outside the top-20, especially with the performances he put on at NXT TakeOvers. However, once called up to the main roster his year at the top began to dwindle down. Not taking anything away from Almas though, as he has impressed during the cable programming when called upon. However, WWE will need to commit to Almas from a booking standpoint in order for this well-deserving star to shine next year.

25 – Asuka

• It’s amazing how high Asuka would be ranked if she held the Women’s Championship at all. Asuka made her first mark in January by winning the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble. She was then on the wrong side of a trademark moment when Charlotte snapped her streak at Wrestlemania. Unfortunately, some of Asuka’s best moments moving forward were at her expense. However, she ended the final month of 2018 winning the Smackdown Women’s Championship which brings nothing but optimism moving into the new year.

24 – Jeff Hardy

• What a sacrifice this man made in 2018. Jeff’s earlobe probably deserves this ranking as much as Jeff Hardy himself. Hardy was a huge victim in 2018, participating in many memorable moments at his own expense. The brutal Hell in a Cell against Randy Orton should be enough to garner a top-25 ranking. That match was filled with memorable moments you didn’t want to remember, such as a screwdriver or a piece of skin hanging from a leg. The brutal rivalry with Orton, along with multiple championship matches, sees this solid veteran easily secured in the top-25.

23 – Nia Jax

• Nia is not like most girls indeed, mainly because she went from one of the most loved to one of the most hated. When 2018 began, Nia Jax was a top babyface ready to take her throne among the women’s division. She had a great match at Extreme Rules with Alexa Bliss and was the victim of a Money in the Bank cash in. As the year came to an end, Nia turned heel and became public enemy number one after breaking Becky Lynch’s face. Nia has already proven a solid producer when booked as a top babyface. With the amount of heat she’s getting from the fans right now, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Nia top her 2018 ranking if WWE elects to book her as a top villain.

22 – Daniel Bryan

• Daniel Bryan would probably be listed higher if he didn’t spend his time in a rivalry with Big Cass. Furthermore, his rivalry with The Miz wasn’t exactly filled with a ton of memorable moments. The SummerSlam match was fine, but the mixed tag team match at Hell in a Cell was a missed opportunity along with the pull out at Crown Jewel. However, he recently won the WWE Championship and should enter 2019 with not only more championship match participation, but also a much better booked year overall. His matches with A.J. Styles and Brock Lesnar to close out the year helped inch him closer into the top-20.

21 – Alexa Bliss

• It’s amazing how we can take things for granted, such as Alexa Bliss performing as an in-ring competitor. Watching Bliss perform throughout the year was a true honor because she is such an iconic character. The back end of the year wasn’t so kind to Little Miss Bliss, having to sit out with an injury. Hopefully, we see Bliss back in the ring for most of 2019. She was in many championship matches this year, including one of the biggest moments when she won and cashed in Money in the Bank. Her lack of ‘Match of the Night’ nominations is also responsible for her current ranking, but getting her healthy again will be the main focus moving forward.

20 – Brock Lesnar

• Making the top-20 for a part-time employee is pretty solid. Lesnar’s five championship matches this year, along with creating an epic moment in one he was not fighting in, is a large part for the high ranking. His match with Daniel Bryan at Survivor Series also helped in inching him into the top-20, as it was his only ‘Match of the Night’ nomination. Lesnar’s productivity is mainly based on championship matches and memorable moments in those matches. Any nominations for a top tier match is just cherry on top of the cake.

19 – Randy Orton

• Randy Orton had a somewhat eventful 2018. He won the United States Championship to become a Grand Slam Winner, along with participating in an epic rivalry with Jeff Hardy. The rivalry with Hardy provided Orton with a ton of memorable moments to take advantage of, most notably Jeff’s earlobe. In what was the most brutal match of 2018, Randy Orton actually stuck a screwdriver through Jeff’s earlobe. It was as disgusting as it was symbolic of the hell Orton and Jeff put each other through this year.

18 – Kevin Owens

• This man is a natural treasure, probably making the most memorable moments out of every situation he is in. From bringing New Day pancakes to being thrown off the top of a cage, Kevin Owens is the ultimate superstar. His injury did set him back the close out the 2018 season, however, his year was filled with memorable moments that included Sami Zayn, Daniel Bryan, Shane McMahon, and Braun Strowman.

17 – Shayna Baszler

• Six championship matches this year for Shayna Baszler. That’s impressive, considering NXT only had five events. The sixth came at Evolution, and although she didn’t win cleanly, her match with Kairi Sane was solid overall. Baszler’s large amount of championship matches is the main reason she’s right outside the top-15, along with many memorable moments in those matches. She produced moments with Ember Moon, Nikki Cross, and Kairi Sane. It’s safe to say that Baszler can work with just about anyone, and has the ability to become a true star. After all, she did become the first ever two-time NXT Women’s Champion, winning both times this year.

16 – Velveteen Dream

• The two biggest moments from the Dream this year was his participation in the NXT North American Championship Ladder Match, and his NXT Championship bout with Tommaso Ciampa. Dream did produce nicely in his non-title matches, but his charisma alone allows for memorable moments to be produced at any point of time in a match.

15 – Ricochet

• Ricochet made his impact immediately, dominating the North American Championship Ladder Match. He didn’t win, but he accomplished his goal in creating a name for himself within the WWE. To see Ricochet this high on a list with minimal match participation is quite alarming. Not in a bad way, but it definitely rings the bell for anyone who can see a future star. All his matches were ‘Match of the Night’ nominations, including what may have been ‘Match of the Year’ at NXT TakeOver: War Games. He also holds a championship, all this accomplished just under a year’s time.

14 – The New Day

• Many may see New Day’s high ranking as unjust, but the numbers speak for themselves. While enjoying time on Smackdown Live, New Day have participated in a ridiculous eight championship matches. Add that with the number of memorable moments the fun-loving faction makes outside of the ring, it’s hard to top the pancake power. From Money in the Bank to the Royal Rumble to quirky entrances – the New Day definitely earned their keep inside the top-15.

13 – Aleister Black

• Three ‘Match of the Night’ nominations and two championship matches is quite a lot for the NXT event schedule. Black managed to make every match he was in a classic in some way, shape or form. His injury was a minor set back, and probably what’s keeping him out of the top-10 this year. With a main roster call-up almost certain at this point, the future seems anything but black for this breakout star.

12 – Dolph Ziggler

• 2018 may arguably be the best year in Dolph Ziggler’s career. He did it without winning Money in the Bank or having an authority figure in his corner. Yes, Dolph did have Drew McIntyre with him most of the year. However, the reason Dolph is ranked so high has more to do with the number of high-performance matches he put on with rival Seth Rollins. Ziggler saw a total of six ‘Match of the Night’ nominations in WWE pay-per-view events this season. Add that with the fact he won two championships, made a World Cup Final appearance and entered the Royal Rumble at 30 – it’s safe to say Dolph Ziggler was one of the best performers in WWE this year.

11 – Ronda Rousey

• Ronda Rousey’s resume in 2018 is actually quite incredible when looking at it from a distance. It all started at the first main roster event of the year at Royal Rumble. It trickled to Elimination Chamber during her epic contract signing, to putting on the best match at Wrestlemania 34. From there she won the WWE Raw Women’s Championship, as well as being at the expense of some of the most memorable moments (the Charlotte beating and Bliss cash in). If 2018 was just Ronda testing the waters, the sky is the limit for where WWE can take her in 2019.

10 – Roman Reigns

• The unfortunate set back of leukemia is one of the reasons Roman fell to the 10th spot. The unfortunate illness has seen him miss a good chunk of time recently, ending 2018 with unfinished business. Prior to the news though, Roman was part of four championship matches with memorable moments every night. It did seem that once Roman won the WWE Universal Championship, his year was going to pick up heavily. He spent most of the early season chasing Brock Lesnar around with underwhelming results. When Roman comes back, expect a much more iconic character to produce much better moments to remember.

9 – Shinsuke Nakamura

• Nakamura has quietly been successful this year, despite not taking the WWE Championship from A.J. Styles. That’s okay though because that rivalry was able to bring out some of the most memorable moments we’ve seen since Nakamura has been in the WWE. He hit a low blow onto Styles at Wrestlemania to everyone’s surprise, along with allowing the cowardly ordeal to become part of his character moving forward. This generated many more memorable moments, including the way he won his first WWE title. He secured the United States Championship, putting him among the top WWE superstars in 2018 with championship matches.

8 – Undisputed Era

• It should be noted that this ranking includes the efforts of all four members (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roddy Strong & Bobby Fish). The amount of success in this faction is too long to list, but just know that each time a member of Undisputed Era hits the ring that something memorable is bound to happen. The star power, ring awareness, and athletic talent this group possesses are truly uncanny. They once again performed in one of the best matches all year in NXT War Games, and have countless championship matches between them. Their main roster call-up may be the most epic in recent memory, as they have performed as one of the best factions in NXT history.

7 – Braun Strowman

• The Monster Among Men produced more memorable moments in 2018 than any other superstar in the entire WWE. Strowman was vicious and scary, just ask Kevin Owens when he was tossed off both a ladder and cage by Strowman. He was also caring, just ask the little boy he picked out of a Wrestlemania crowd to win a championship with. Braun was memorable from his war cry to his brutal assaults on opponents, as there isn’t a dull moment when Braun is being shown. It does seem that Strowman may finally be the top ‘monster’ the WWE Universe has been waiting for when 2019 rolls around. Time will tell.

6 – Becky Lynch

• If WWE pulled the trigger on Becky much sooner than August, we would probably see her ranked higher than six. In the short amount of time that Becky Lynch has been given the keys to the women’s division, she has gone zero to 60. The slap and beatdown at SummerSlam began what would be the best and most successful transformation any WWE superstar has gone through in recent memory. Her rivalry with Charlotte Flair is arguably among the best in WWE, and her Last Woman Standing Match proved she belongs at the very top of the WWE food chain. Not just the women’s division, but ALL the WWE.

5 – Charlotte Flair

• Despite losing the rivalry to Becky Lynch, Charlotte’s accomplishments in 2018 occurred well before the infamous Becky turn in August. Charlotte’s first big achievement came in April when she dethroned Asuka. Many thought it was a sure lock that Asuka would take her rightful throne at the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’, but it wasn’t the case. Charlotte shocked the world at the biggest event in WWE. Even after Becky’s rivalry Charlotte still produced memorable moments, most notably destroying Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series. It’s safe to say the women’s division saw a huge rise in 2018, and both Charlotte and Becky were a big reason as to why.

4 – A.J. Styles

• Despite the top-5 ranking, it’s a bit disappointing he isn’t higher. Styles saw more championship matches in 2018 than any other WWE superstar with 12. In fact, he was the only superstar with a double-digit championship match total. With the spotlight on him 12 times in the calendar year, only three times was an A.J. Styles match nominated for ‘Match of the Night’. A large part is due to the fact that Styles’ match results were usually inconclusive. Styles dealt with disqualifications, count outs, and low blows. It’s becoming a bit frustrating to see the WWE Champion not be able to win a bunch of consecutive matches on their own. From Styles to Mahal, to Bray Wyatt, to Kevin Owens with the WWE Universal Championship, and even Seth Rollins with the Authority – an ongoing issue with the belt is that the title holder has a lack of consecutive wins with any conviction. However, that shouldn’t take away from the workhorse Styles was this year and the fact he was available the whole season. His pure athletic talent and wrestling skill make his matches must watch, but the booking for many of his end results was underwhelming.

3 – Seth Rollins

• It’s safe to say Seth Rollins had the best year out of anyone on the main roster. It began at Wrestlemania when he won the Intercontinental Championship to become a Grand Slam Winner. From there, it was all clockwork. Rollins went on to put on multiple ‘Match of the Night’ nominations, many of which were with Dolph Ziggler. He saw a total of seven ‘Match of the Night’ nominations actually, along with being in nine championship matches total. What’s scary to think about is that Seth Rollins isn’t really close to his full potential yet, which is something that could propel him to number one at the end of next year.

2 – Tommaso Ciampa

• Project Ciampa – one half of the best rivalry in all of WWE this year. Ciampa finds himself among the top WWE superstars, in large part thanks to an epic rivalry with one Johnny Gargano. In all three matches with Gargano, Ciampa saw an abundance of memorable moments for fans to enjoy. From solid wrestling moves such as a White Noise or to the act of removing Gargano’s wedding ring and throwing it, Ciampa was the perfect embodiment of WWE’s top villain. The matches were epic, the moments unforgettable, and then he went and won himself an NXT Championship. Ciampa proved he didn’t need Gargano to put on a great match, as he found himself in an epic battle against Velveteen Dream to close out the year. Project Ciampa no more, as he is now Champion Ciampa.

1 – Johnny Gargano

• The other half of WWE’s greatest rivalry of 2018 is the rebel heart of Johnny Gargano. What makes Gargano’s character so interesting in 2018 was the uncertain direction of his spirit. Gargano won an emotional and beautifully written match against Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. From there, his character pretty much hit rock bottom. He lost two matches to Ciampa, one for the championship before turning into a villain by attacking Aleister Black. His character change also showed in his match with Black, hitting an emotional point for those once Gargano fans who felt betrayed. Gargano’s emotional high and low in 2018 is the best symbolism of life, something we all experience. Now take away all emotional layers of Gargano’s character and take the man for his pure athletic talent and wrestling skill. He’s top notch. It’s safe to say that despite the win-loss record, Johnny Gargano is the most intriguing character in all of WWE and isn’t a future star of the company – because he already is a star.

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