WWE News: Daniel Bryan unveils SmackDown's first ever Top 10 List

What’s the story?

Well, last week, Daniel Bryan revealed on social media that we would be seeing a new feature on this week's SmackDown - a Top 10 list voted for by WWE Superstars.

This week, we finally found out, in the words of Chris Jericho, who made the list!

In case you didn’t know…

SmackDown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan laid down the logic and criteria for the list last week - stating that it will be used by Bryan and the blue brand’s Commissioner Shane McMahon to determine matches and other segments of the show on a weekly basis.

The criteria for voting includes most talented, most athletic skill, and locker room leadership. He added SmackDown Live Superstars will vote for their favourite Superstars, but cannot vote for themselves.

Furthermore, Bryan explained that he and Shane McMahon will not have a vote to ensure a fair vote for the betterment of SmackDown Live.

The heart of the matter

Well, the first ever Top 10 was unveiled on SmackDown tonight and reads as follows.

10. Tye Dillinger

9. Randy Orton

8. Becky Lynch

7. The Usos

6. The New Day

5. Bobby Roode

4. Naomi

3. Shinsuke Nakamura

2. Charlotte Flair

1. AJ Styles

---

Several Superstars took to Twitter shortly after to comment on their placement on the list.

Grateful to be included on the first ever #SDLiveTop10 ... However, this is the first time where being in the 10th position isn't favorable. I'm coming for the top spot. #SDLive

— TEN 🙌🏻 (@WWEDillinger) February 7, 2018

Number 8 on the #SDLiveTop10? You can give me whatever number you like because I'm always under-eighted. #SDLive

— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) February 7, 2018

Top 3 is good, #1 is better. I have plans for the #SDLiveTop10. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず #SDLive

— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) February 7, 2018

The #1 spot on the #SDLiveTop10 is where the #WWEChampion should be. Week in, week out I’m happy to represent #SDLive and fight for my place at the top…no matter how many competitors are thrown my way.

— AJStyles.Org (@AJStylesOrg) February 7, 2018

What’s next?

Well, I guess all that remains is to see what happens next week and who moves up, down, on or off of the list!

I guess we'll start to see if the list affects any decisions from next week.

Author’s take

Well, the reason for the list is apparently to maintain SmackDown Live as the Land of Opportunity and keep the roster happy, but, due to the nature of the list and the "voting", it means it's essentially a power ranking of babyfaces.

The list has no heels on it whatsoever, with some of the biggest names on the roster - Zayn, Owens and Rusev - being left off of the first edition. However, it does only make sense that they're "not popular" - most notably being that no-one should logically vote for The Lone Wolf Baron Corbin.

The first list was always expected to be favourable to champions too. I guess we won't really know how this one plays out until we start to see follow-up rankings and if it affects the booking of talent!