WWE April Power Rankings Week One

WWE April Power Rankings Week One

10. The New Day

The New Day staked their claim as the best contenders in the Raw tag division when they stumped Pete Dunne's face and beat the New Catch Republic. The Tag Team Titles need the New Day.

9. Naomi

Naomi has been on a great run since her return to the company, and her match with BFab was no different. BFab stood absolutely no chance. Naomi knocked her out, beat her up some more, and then pinned her. Naomi is a force to be reckoned with.

8. Jade

Jade came out and attacked Naomi after her match, but Naomi got away because WWE Security guards interfered. So Jade just beat up all the security guards. She knocked down grown men like they were nothing. After the brawl, it was announced that she would be facing Naomi at WrestleMania. It's gonna take a lot to stop Jade.

7. La Knight

La Knight defended his IC Championship against Toma Tonga, and even though he had to fight off Solo as well, he still got the job done.

6. The Motor City Machine Gunns

The Machine Guns showed why they are one of the best tag teams in the world. DIY is a decorated and experienced tag team, and it didn't matter. No matter what DIY threw at the Machine Guns, they had an answer. The Guns were reversing reversals. Shelley was awkwardly thrown out of the ring on his leg, so Saban took advantage of the exposed turnbuckle and won the match himself.

5. Gunther

Gunther mauled Jimmy in front of his brother Jey twice. Firstly, he beat him up in the ring so badly that he was picking up Jimmy to force him to kick out and keep getting beaten down. Then he zip-tied Jey to the ring and made him watch as he busted Jimmy open and brutalized him before choking him inches out of Jey's grip. Gunther is in top form heading into Wrestlemania.

4. CM Punk

CM Punk came back to Chicago as a conquering hero, and he left as one, too. He revealed his favor, and it's a whopper. He revealed he would be taking Pual Heyman into his corner at Wrestlemania, and then Paul didn't refuse like Roman asked him to. CM Punk dropped Roman with a G2S.

3. Rey Fenix

Rey Fenix got an emotional and impressive debut win. Rey faced one of the most underrated wrestlers in WWE, Nathan Fraiser. Nathan gave him a run for his money. However, Rey was able to display his one-of-a-kind offense and defeat him. After the match, Rey talked about how he had been waiting his whole life to get into WWE.

2. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes finally went back and forth on the mic with John Cena, and not only did he hold his ground, but he ended the segment by hitting Cena with the Crossroads.

1. Tiffany Stratton

Tiffany had a promo segment with Charlotte, and it was ugly. She destroyed Charlotte so badly that Charlotte didn't even know what to say, and the crowd didn't even care what Charlotte had to say. Tiffany owned the ring and showed all her haters that no one outclasses her.

Match of the Week

Fenix vs Fraiser

Fenix was incredible running along the ropes, kicking Fraiser in the face, and hitting Fraiser with a pile driver so powerful it hurt my neck just looking at it. Nathan Fraser tried his best to upstage Fenix. He showed that he was one of the fastest and most athletic wrestlers by the way he moved and flew around. However, his resilience was most impressive. Several times, it seemed like he should have been done, and he kicked out. Even Fenix was astounded by Fraiser's heart.

Tiffany Stratton Promo of the Week

Tiffany Absolutely Destroys Charlotte

Tiffany called Charlotte the Princess Nepo baby, and she was so flustered that all she could say was that she was the Queen Nepo baby, making it even worse. Tiffany said that no matter how many titles she wins, Charlotte will always be in her father's shadow. This was a new twist on an old favorite. While Charlotte is right that people have brought up her father before, she is wrong that this is the same critique; this is different.

Pointing out that Charlotte has less meaningful reigns than her father is a critique that hits. Then Tiffany got her revenge, saying Charlotte is 0-3 in marriage and not shit outside of the ring, in addition to saying Charlotte was trying to be a volleyball star when she was 25, drinking bears in her father's basement while Tiffany is Wold Champion at 25. Charlotte couldn't even talk. She was so flustered, and the crowd kept cheering for Tiffany over her. I've never seen someone get destroyed on the mic worse than this. People wanted more heat in this feud. Well, Tiffany just delivered a Forrest fire.

Segment of the Week

John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes

John Cena and Cody Rhodes the long-awaited back and forth. So far, Cena has said his piece, and then Cody has said his, but they haven't traded verbal jabs. Not this week. Cody tried to do the 8-mile thing where he said all the things Cena could say before he said them, but it didn't work. John Cena still absolutely wrecked Cody, calling him inauthentic a cheap copy of Cena and every other star he likes. He says Cody is afraid to be himself and doesn't know who he is. Cena called him a mediocre star relying on theme music and nepotism to fool the fans.

These critiques do hit because Cody clearly takes inspiration from Cena, and although he is a fan favorite, we can admit he comes across too rehearsed and polished at times. But then Cody revealed why we like him anyway. He didn't stay down. He kept jabbing back at Cena, calling him his hero but still a piece of shit, saying Cody is the people's choice, and Vince chose and manufactured Cena, and Cena sold out. John Cena was eating him up, but Cody always gave it back. He didn't get run over by Cena. He proved himself again, and it was wonderful to watch.

Special Mention For Kevin Owens Segment

Kevin Owens's retirement speech. Kevin Owens announced he was having neck surgery and would be missing WrestleMania. He didn't announce how long he would be out, but the rumor floating around is 2-5 years. Kevin didn't get super emotional; he must have been shell-shocked. It just doesn't feel real that Kevin Owens has been done for years and maybe forever. The WWE Universe loves Kevin. I wish him well in his injury journey, and I wish him and his family well as they weather this challenging time.

Funny Moment of the Week

Randy RKO's the GM

Randy Orton attacked Nick Aldis with an RKO out of nowhere. Randy was not too happy to find out he had no opponent for Wrestlemania. It appears his crazy Orton character is here to stay. It was a nice moment of levity after Kevin Owen's announcement.

Fit Of the week

Jade

Jade always looks good, but this week, when she came out to attack Naomi, she looked like the lead in an action movie.

NXT Standout of the Week

Kehlani Jordan

Kehlani Jordan is so talented and beautiful, but she's always the runner-up. She's always the one who makes the move of the match but comes up just short. However, things are finally turning around for her. She defeated former NXT Champion Roxanne Perez and earned a spot in the biggest show of the year for NXT, NXT Stand and Deliver.

Show of the Week

WWE April Power Rankings Week One had a very tough competition. There were huge announcements and multiple explosive promos, but in the end, SmackDown stood out the most.