Ranking all of WWE's current champions (post-SummerSlam weekend)

During a weekend with a TakeOver event and a major pay per view, fans can expect a few title changes. With the dust settling a week later, it's wise to look at the current champions and see where WWE might be headed on the journey to its next major event, Survivor Series, which will take place in Los Angeles on November 18th.

There are 14 champions in the company, scattered across multiple shows. A 15th, the UK women's champion, will soon be crowned.

Champions are ranked according to their ring work, character work, crowd connection, and the prospects for their reigns.

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#14 The B-Team (Raw Tag Team Champions)

Go away already.

Ring work: None of their matches have been particularly inspired. If you haven't been watching them, you haven't been missing anything.

Character work: They play the lovable, clueless loser act very well. Their character work is their strong suit.

Crowd connection: The act appeared over at first, but as the joke has gotten played out, fans have cared less and less.

Prospects: This is what ultimately brings the B-Team down to such a low level. Their character work is also their curse because the gimmick doesn't lend itself to any intriguing feuds in the future. When looking at their potential rivals, it's a desert without hope. The only thing they have left to do in their reign is to be squashed by a superior team, but that won't exactly make for compelling television or an enthralling match.

Ultimately, the B-Team is a "comedy act" that ceased to be funny a while ago. Though they've only been champions for a month, their streak of good fortune already feels played out, and one wonders when the gimmick will finally run its course. Until then, this title reign basically just exists for the sake of existing.

#13 Pete Dunne (United Kingdom Champion)

Hopefully

we see more from the Bruiserweight soon.

Ring work: Top notch. If you aren't watching his matches, you're missing a lot.

Character work: He plays the "Bruiserweight" gimmick fantastically. Pete Dunne isn't a big guy, but he comes across as a gritty street fighter that will tear his opponents limb from limb.

Mic work: Dunne's weakest asset, none of his promos have been particularly memorable. He's not the best talker, but he also hasn't had many opportunities. Perhaps with the launch of the UK division, we'll see more from him.

Prospects: This is ultimately why Pete Dunne is ranked so low. After defeating Zack Gibson twice, he doesn't appear to have any major rivalries in store for his title. When the UK division launches, that should change, but the situation is so murky right now that it's unclear where the UK title is going.

Pete Dunne is currently the longest reigning champion in WWE, having won his title at TakeOver: Chicago in May of last year. He's become a proven commodity and is the right choice to get the UK division off the ground. Let's hope we see much more from him in the next few months!

That's not to say Pete Dunne won't be in an exciting angle over the next few months, either. If you've been keeping up with NXT, you know where he's headed. His title likely won't be involved, however.

#12 Cedric Alexander (Cruiserweight Champion)

A solid, if not the most exciting choice.

Ring work: Alexander can be relied on to deliver a four star match every time he goes out.

Character work: This where Cedric Alexander lacks severely. In all fairness to him, he has no real character to speak of.

Crowd connection: As a result, crowds aren't invested in him as much compared to his peers. Even his long journey to the title was overshadowed by Mustafa Ali in the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament early this year.

Prospects: Cedric Alexander has already defeated two of his most interesting rivals: Buddy Murphy and Drew Gulak. With the top heels in the division already dispatched, one wonders where Alexander's reign will head from here. Perhaps another collision course with Mustafa Ali is in the books, but we have no inklings of that yet, and it's still too soon for Lio Rush to move into title contention, which makes the Cruiserweight division's prospects murky at the moment.

#11: Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women's Champion)

Wrong time.

Ring work: Usually reliable, if not always spectacular, Charlotte's matches deliver when paired with another top opponent. She did a great job in the SummerSlam triple threat and managed to help carry Carmella. She can be inconsistent at times compared to some of her peers, but has proven herself time and again.

Character work: Her promos aren't as good as a babyface as they are as a heel. While she plays off the genetically superior ice queen perfectly, her portrayal as a babyface, much less a sympathetic one, is much less convincing.

Crowd connection: As a heel, crowds invested more heavily into her. As a babyface, it's far more tepid, and she's in danger of being legitimately hated with this current angle with Becky Lynch.

Prospects: This is ultimately the reason Charlotte is currently ranked so low. This really wasn't the time for her to be champion again. Her last reign with the SmackDown women's title was forgettable until Asuka entered the picture, and her alignment as a face with a heel Becky is ill-advised.

The feud with Becky should definitely be a good one, but Charlotte is likely to win it, and could be damaged even more as a result. She'll need to drop her title by the Royal Rumble at the latest, and beyond Becky, her reign doesn't have a lot of pop to it. It feels like it was just done to pad the numbers for her.

#10 Shinsuke Nakamura (United States Champion)

Please don't make him a foreign heel.

Ring work: Inconsistent. While he never bombs, his matches often wind up disappointing people.

Character work: This is where Nakamura is currently excelling. His portrayal as a crazed, deranged heel has been remarkable since WrestleMania.

Crowd connection: Nakamura is still very over with crowds, even if he's done his best to give them nothing to cheer for. With his charisma and character work, he's always captivating and demands attention.

Prospects: This is currently the great weakness of his reign. With Jeff Hardy now having been dispatched and becoming fully embroiled with Randy Orton, and Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles also occupied, Nakamura currently lacks a top babyface to feud with for his title. Perhaps Aleister Black could be called up to remedy that situation soon, but right now, the US title picture is murky.

In addition, Nakamura is now calling himself the representative of the "United States of Nakamerica," which sounds dangerously close to the tired old foreign heel trope that was played out 25 years ago. Let's hope his reign doesn't go in that direction.

#9 Ronda Rousey (Raw Women's Champion)

Who will challenge her?

Ring work: Ronda is still very green, but her matches have always delivered. With her raw athleticism and careful planning, we can expect that to continue.

Character work: Ronda isn't good on the microphone at all, but her nonverbal communication is what sets her apart. Although her mannerisms are often cringe and over the top, it all melts away when she steps into the ring. As an in-ring character, she brings an electricity and presence that's hard to teach.

Crowd connection: Ronda Rousey is very hot with crowds right now, which will help her reign.

Prospects: Alexa Bliss will have her rematch, but Ronda Rousey's reign seemingly stalls from here on out. It's very much dependent on when Shayna Baszler gets up to the main roster and how a potential feud is set up between them. No one on Raw currently looks like a threat to her.

While good matches with Ember Moon are a possibility, Sasha and Bayley have been so damaged and are occupied somewhere else, so they don't seem like realistic contenders at this point.

#8 Roman Reigns (Universal Champion)

Let it reign?

Ring work: Roman Reigns can usually be relied on to deliver a solid match, if not a classic. Though he's had his notable failures, particularly this year, his weekly matches are dependable.

Character work: This was and is Roman Reigns' weakest point. There's still not a whole lot of depth to his character or reason for fans to care a whole lot about him. This, combined with his bizarre booking, makes for a disconnect that shatters the illusion of wrestling.

Crowd connection: This is the big inconsistency. At times, crowds could care less about his matches. At other times, they care enough to be enraged. He doesn't connect the way Vince McMahon wants him to, but his controversial character grabs attention and keeps it, which is half the battle.

Prospects: This is ultimately what puts Roman Reigns at a decent rank. His feud with Braun Strowman was last year's best, and if they can recapture some of that magic and book it properly, it can be great again. The alliance between the Shield is surely to divert heat from Roman Reigns, but it does present an interesting dynamic in Roman Reigns' feuds if booked properly.

Showdowns with Drew McIntyre are also probably in order, which should make for a great program if there isn't bizarre booking involved.

#7 Seth Rollins (Intercontinental Champion)

The MVP of Monday nights.

Ring work: Seth Rollins has had a habit of delivering the best match of the night on Raw for months now, and there's no sign that will stop anytime soon.

Character work: Seth Rollins has come into his own as a babyface this year. He's currently the best on the main roster. While not as hot as he was in the spring, and the Shield reunion may indeed put a cap on what he does, he'll still be hot.

Crowd connection: He's one of the most over people in the company. On Monday nights at least, only Braun Strowman competes with him.

Prospects: Unfortunately, this is what's currently holding Seth Rollins down. Beyond the feud with Dolph Ziggler, his being part of a reunited Shield hampers him, because it means the Dean Ambrose heel turn that fans have been clamoring for is unlikely. While he'll likely continue having matches of the night with his open challenges, the prospects for long-term rivalries don't look compelling at the moment. Perhaps EC3 possibly coming to Raw could change that?

#6 The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team Champions)

Your

world-famous

5 time

champs.

Ring work: The New day always put on an excellent match. It seems like they can't go wrong.

Character work: Stale as they may be, there's no mistaking them for anyone else.

Crowd connection: The New Day remains as popular as ever with crowds. They know that when the New Day comes out, a party is in store.

Prospects: SmackDown's tag team division has a lot of depth. There's no question that it's in a better place with the New Day as champions than it was during the Bludgeon Brothers' reign.

If they get time, the New Day can reignite their rivalry with The Bar, have a fresher series of matchups with Gallows and Anderson and can have a proper rivalry with SAnitY somewhere down the line. No one would complain if the feud with The Usos picks up again as well.

There are no bad options at the moment. The only question is whether the New Day will get the time they need to make all these rivalries as good as they can be.

#5 AJ Styles (WWE Champion)

Where now?

Ring work: While AJ's 2018 resume isn't up to par with previous years, none of his matches ever fail. His match with Samoa Joe was the best at SummerSlam, even with the DQ finish, and he's also coming off of two eye-catching contests with Andrade "Cien" Almas and Rusev. His summer has seen him heat up.

Character work: This is currently AJ's weakest spot. His run as a babyface champion hasn't equaled his first reign as a heel. AJ's character doesn't have a whole lot to invest in, although the angle with Samoa Joe which has him as a fighting family man is changing this.

Crowd connection: AJ Styles' weak character work hasn't stopped him from connecting with crowds. He remains one of the most over people in the company.

Prospects: To say AJ Styles' title reign has gotten long in the tooth is an understatement, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have life left to it, even if it would ultimately be for the best for Styles to drop the title at this point.

Still, his feud with Samoa Joe holds a lot of promise and is beginning to pick up, but if, as seems likely, he successfully gets by the Samoan Submission Machine, what then?

A feud with The Miz seems in order, as hinted by the Super Showdown event in Australia. Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan also await as potential contenders. So while Styles' title reign is stale, that doesn't mean it's without merit.

#4 Kairi Sane (NXT Women's Champion)

Kairi's journey could be one of the most memorable ever.

Ring work: Kairi Sane is coming off of a match with Shayna Baszler which was one of the best women's matches all year. She actually hasn't had many opportunities to display all that she's capable of in NXT, but that should soon change.

Character work: Sane is one of the purest babyfaces on the roster. Her match with Shayna Baszler was a perfect clash of opposites, with Sane playing the scrappy, never-say-die fighting babyface so perfectly that not a soul in Brooklyn was rooting against her. That kind of unanimity of support is a rarity. Sane's expressions, mannerisms, and lovable demeanor overcome language issues.

Crowd connection: Kairi Sane's lovable persona and scrappy fighting style endears her to crowds, which want to see her win.

Prospects: If everything goes right, Kairi Sane could have one of the greatest NXT Women's Championship reigns ever. If recent developments are taken into account, she might currently be embroiled in a war with Shayna Baszler and her allies, the other UFC "four horsewomen," fighting alongside her longtime friend, Io Shirai.

Once the rematch with Shayna Baszler is behind her, a collision with the fast-rising Bianca Belair is inevitable, and beyond that, a rivalry with Io Shirai heading into WrestleMania season, which has potential to be the best women's title feud since Sasha and Bayley. If that is indeed the direction NXT is heading in, expect Sane's place to only go higher in the next few months.

#3 Ricochet (NXT North American Champion)

How high will the new champ go?

Ring work: Ricochet can do things no one else can. If you haven't seen his match with Adam Cole from last week, do yourself a favor and go watch it now.

Character work: This is currently Ricochet's weakest point. He isn't the most charismatic guy around, but thankfully, he has his incredible ring work to make up for some of this. With a unique spectacle on display in his matches, character work becomes less important.

Crowd connection: While not as over as some others on the NXT roster, he still wows everyone in attendance. People always look forward to his matches.

Prospects: The new North American Champion will be busy right away, with matches with UK champion Pete Dunne already scheduled. Beyond him, Adam Cole will certainly be looking to win his title back.

With the emergence of Keith Lee in NXT, and Matt Riddle not far behind him, Ricochet's challenger list certainly won't be decreasing, and each challenger will bring something special in a match with him.

#2 The Undisputed Era (NXT Tag Team Champions)

For the first time in a year, the Undisputed Era is under threat.

Ring work: Arguably no one has delivered more consistently world-class performances on big stages in 2018 than the Undisputed Era. Their reign guarantees more classic matches.

Character work: The play the part of arrogant jerks exceedingly well.

Crowd connection: Despite being heels, the members of the Undisputed Era are possibly the most over people in NXT.

Prospects: After retaining their titles against Moustache Mountain, a collision with War Raiders at some point is inevitable, though the decisive battle might not be on the way just yet.

Moustache Mountain and War Raiders are both lingering, and Orcan and Burch also have unfinished business with the Undisputed Era after they appeared to have had the titles won in Chicago, only to be screwed over.

Exciting wars await NXT's resident troublemakers. The walls might finally be closing in on them after the year of havoc they've wrecked on the yellow brand.

#1 Tommaso Ciampa (NXT Champion)

There was never any doubt.

Ring work: Tommaso Ciampa has been in no less than four match of the year candidates. Expect that number to grow even more.

Character work: 2018 has seen him become the best heel in the entire business. In an era where fans often cheer for heels, he's brought the legitimately hated heel in kayfabe back to the fore. Fans clamor for him to lose any match he's in, and when he winds up slipping by, they're broken-hearted.

Crowd connection: When he speaks, people listen. When he moves, people watch his every gesture. Crowds hate him, but he owns them.

Prospects: Tommaso Ciampa might well be in store for the best NXT title reign of all time. Rivalries with Velveteen Dream and possibly Aleister Black look to be in the works. Each of them will be unique, with a probable match of the year candidate to go with them.

Ultimately it will all lead up to the most cathartic moment in NXT history when Johnny Gargano finally dispatches him and achieves his lifelong dream, but it wouldn't mean nearly as much without Tommaso Ciampa holding the title first.

The next 8 months in NXT could well be the brightest of all.