We are fewer than 10 days away from WrestleMania 33, and after an extended hiatus, the ESPN WWE Power Rankings have returned just in time for us to take stock before the biggest show of the year.
After being unseated from the top spot the last time out, AJ Styles has regained it in the rankings from Kevin Owens. Some might be upset about his WrestleMania opponent in Shane McMahon, but no matter who has been opposite him for more than a year WWE, they've come out smelling far better than they did going in.
A lot has changed in the past month, and the result is the shocking drop of not one, but two women from the Raw roster from this list. In their place, you'll find SmackDown women's champion Alexa Bliss and, thanks in large part to a particularly impressive month, the debut of Triple H.
Without further ado, let's dig in and see where we stand.
Rankings are based upon the perceived value to the on-screen product of the WWE, and determined by the voting of a panel of WWE on ESPN contributors. Number in parentheses ( ) indicates first-place votes.
He's not main eventing WrestleMania, but he's still going to put one heck of a show with Shane McMahon. Styles is indeed the face that runs the place, and while it might not have been the storyline that made sense, or the one everyone wanted, it's still going to be a memorable match in Orlando. (Andrew Feldman)
He's as effective without a title as he is with one over his shoulder. Owens' villainous role in his tension convention with former best friend Chris Jericho has been a masterclass in betrayal. He just brings it night in, night out, and the United States championship match is sure to be highlight at WrestleMania. (Matt Wilansky)
This might be the last we see of Jericho in these rankings for a long time, if WrestleMania truly is his swan song for the foreseeable future, so let's take stock of everything he has been able to do during this tremendously long run with the company. He and Owens absolutely carried Raw during some low moments with their best friendship, and the betrayal that led to their match at WrestleMania will go down as one of the best moments in the history of Monday Night Raw. Unlike previous "good guy" iterations Jericho has had, this one doesn't feel forced or hokey -- and the payoff in Orlando should be worthy of all the work he's put in. (Tim Fiorvanti)
Bray Wyatt heads into his third WrestleMania bout as WWE champion, in what should be the main event regardless of match order. His first two WrestleMania matches have been against unquestionable WWE Hall of Famers in John Cena and The Undertaker, and his third will be against another in Orton. There's a reason he's working with all-time great talent -- his value and ability to create a compelling program is undeniable. (Sean Coyle)
Boo him all you want, but Roman Reigns is yet again part of a top-tier match at WrestleMania. I'll admit, the relentless push to create a legitimate babyface out of him is becoming a bit frustrating, but I challenge you to name a superstar who consistently receives a louder reaction than Reigns. Boos, cheers and everything in between, when his music hits, the crowd erupts. He has overtaken Cena as the most polarizing figure in the company. (Coyle)
It's Hunter season. The promo on this week's edition of Raw was not iconic, but his ability to take control of an otherwise unpredictable crowd and have them in the palm of his hand shows just how sharp he still is. The closing segment of Raw last week was tremendous as we saw shades of the attitude era from him, Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon. Frankly, he is just playing on another level. I have a very good feeling about whatever this HHH-Seth Rollins match turns out to be. (Peter Rosenberg)
The element that made the conflict between The Miz and Daniel Bryan the most compelling element of SmackDown for so long is the light of truth and real life that's leaked in around the edges. Between Cena, Nikki Bella, The Miz and Maryse, there have been many of the same elements in play with Bryan's de facto in-laws, and it's a testament to the commitment they all have toward maximizing upon this opportunity. Cena's wit has been as razor-sharp as ever, and if he proposes in the middle of the ring at WrestleMania, like many expect he will at the conclusion of this match, it'll be a moment we'll never forget. (Fiorvanti)
The vignettes mocking Cena were pure gold, just like all of Miz's other mic work recently. He might not be in the title hunt right now, but he's still a must-see each week and going face-to-face with Cena at WrestleMania is never a bad thing. Don't be surprised to see big things from The Miz in the second half of 2017. (Feldman)
The third wheel in the Reigns-Undertaker feud, Braun Strowman isn't where he should be come WrestleMania. He has done everything right since his slow, thoughtful push toward the top of Monday Night Raw, and there's simply very little value in him appearing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, even if he wins. Still, there's a chance he's going to play a part in the aforementioned match, right? Please? (Wilansky)
I am not exactly sure what the Smackdown women's championship match at WrestleMania is going to look like. But I do know that we are watching the emergence of someone who is going to be around for a while as Alexa Bliss is truly coming into her own. (Rosenberg)
Dropped from rankings: Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, Bayley
Honorable mention: Goldberg, The Undertaker, Orton, Flair, Brock Lesnar, Bayley, The Usos, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries