Some places do power rankings. Here at Cageside, we do a stock report.
In this weekly series, we identify three Superstars (or groups of Superstars) who are on their way up, and three that are moving in the opposite direction. After a busy week that included WWE Champion Cody Rhodes asking questions about Brock Lesnar, NXT star Je’Von Evans answering Sami Zayn’s open challenge for the US title, and a badly botched finish in the women’s championship match on SmackDown, a lot of fortunes were changed.
With that in mind, let’s see whose stock decreased the most this week:
Stock Down #3: Damian Priest
Babyface Damian Priest has been consistently outsmarted and outmaneuvered by Aleister Black during their current feud, and that pattern continued on last night’s episode of SmackDown. After Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson once again complained about Priest’s toxic masculinity in a backstage segment, Aleister appeared from behind and laid out Priest with another Black Mass.
Sure, it’s reasonable to assume Black will get his comeuppance whenever they have a rematch, but it’s hard to see how Priest will leave this feud in a better spot than where he was when it began. Damian looks like a fool more often than not whenever Aleister puts him down, and the only TV time this former world champion is getting lately is in backstage bits with a low carder.
Stock Down #2: Michin
Earlier this month, Michin came up short when she challenged Giulia for the women’s United States championship. Michin was pinned by Giulia again in a tag team match on SmackDown last night, hammering home the point that she no longer deserves to be in contention for that belt.
Stock Down #1: Piper Niven
Niven hasn’t wrestled in over a month and is reportedly sidelined with a serious neck injury. Chelsea Green is actively trying to find a replacement for her in the Secret Hervice. This situation doesn’t sound good at all, with the rumor mill indicating there is concern it could be the end of Piper’s career.
Now let’s see whose stock increased the most this week:
Stock Up #3: Bayley
Bayley’s return to Raw with a split personality is a tricky gimmick to pull off well, but so far it’s working for her. She’s already back in the winners’ column with a victory over Roxanne Perez on this week’s episode, and her interactions with Lyra Valkyria are a lot more interesting now that she can abruptly change between the Hugger and the Role Model.
Stock Up #2: Jacob Fatu
Fatu vanished from SmackDown over the last month after his feud with Solo Sikoa and the MFTs grew stale. He returned this week to kick off a fresh storyline with Drew McIntyre. The matches they have should be much better than anything Fatu did in the MFT angle, and it’s a good opportunity for Jacob to show what he can do in a program with a main event level talent.
Stock Up #1: Asuka & Rhea Ripley
Asuka and Ripley had a fantastic match in the main event of this week’s Raw, where Rhea was received like a huge star by the live fans as she went on to defeat The Empress. Asuka then got a ton of heat for finally turning heel on IYO SKY in a post-match angle where she ordered Kairi Sane to join her in beating up IYO and Ripley.
Asuka hasn’t missed a beat since returning from injury this summer, and her upcoming matches with SKY should be amazing. Meanwhile, Ripley can stick around as part of this story if need be while also preparing to pursue the women’s world championship again.
There you have it, Cagesiders. Whose stock do you think changed the most this week?
