Between Raw and SmackDown Live, WWE currently has nine championships floating around, and that's not even counting the three titles in NXT. That may seem like a lot of belts, but it often feels like there aren't enough people getting big title pushes.
While there is an understood hierarchy, it seems like the top champions are nowhere close to being the most interesting or entertaining. Take The Miz for example. He is the Intercontinental champion, which means he isn't supposed to outshine the universal champion on Raw, but he has been one of the strongest performers in the entire company over the past year, so it's hard not to see him as a superior champion to Brock Lesnar.
We are supposed to think of the WWE champion as being the best in the world, and while Jinder Mahal has certainly improved his game in a lot of ways, he isn't even close to being viewed as the top guy.
The Women's Championships on both brands have gone from being almost entirely irrelevant to being some of the most anticipated matches at every pay-per-view event in less than three years.
This slideshow will take a look at every champion on the main roster and rank them based on performance, popularity and their potential to carry the company in the future.
#9 Jinder Mahal
The Modern-Day Maharaja went from total obscurity to being the WWE champion in less than a month. That kind of push doesn't happen very often, especially to a guy who had never held a title in WWE before.
He was thrust into a position every wrestler wants to be in, but few are actually prepared for. Since winning the belt from Randy Orton, Mahal has made great strides in improving his mic skills and character, but he still has a long way to go before he is viewed as a worthy champion by the WWE Universe.
He is a solid wrestler, but his arsenal is somewhat limited. His recent matches have all been similar in the way he focuses on one body part until his cronies distract his opponent long enough for him to hit his finisher.
However, the heat he receives every time he comes to the ring is impressive. As long as he keeps getting the loudest reactions every night, management will continue to book him as a strong champion.
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#8 Brock Lesnar
It might seem surprising to see Brock Lesnar so low on a list ranking every champion in WWE, but there are several reasons why he has been an underwhelming Universal Champion.
For one thing, he has almost no mic skills when he is in front of a live crowd. His pre-taped interviews are usually fantastic, but when he steps in the ring, he doesn't have the same presence. This is why Paul Heyman does all his talking for him. Someone who holds a top title should be able to carry a promo by themselves.
The second reason he ranks so low is the frequency of his appearances. It wouldn't be a big deal if he weren’t the champion, but the belt is supposed to be defended every 30 days. Management has swept that rule under the rug while still bringing it up in regards to other champions.
And lastly, he just isn't that versatile in the ring anymore. He is a powerhouse unlike any other, but his matches typically feature him performing about half a dozen different moves. It's just suplex, suplex, suplex, rest hold, suplex and finisher.
Lesnar is a huge attraction who will always sell tickets, but some fans have grown tired of seeing him treated like the greatest thing since sliced bread while everyone else does the work to carry the company while he goes back to his farm between matches for months at a time.
#7 Naomi
Naomi was long overdue for a Women's Championship win when she finally took the belt from Alexa Bliss, but her reign has been somewhat of a letdown. This isn't her fault. She is just another victim of poor booking.
The biggest problem is that one of her first major title defences came against someone like Lana. The Ravishing Russian did better than expected, but she shouldn't have been given a title shot without any matches under her belt.
Naomi's physical abilities are enviable, and her entrance is always fun, but she hasn't been as strong on the mic as some of her fellow female wrestlers. Whenever she is doing a promo, she always says the same thing about snatching someone bald.
It still feels like she is delivering scripted promos. As a champion, she should be allowed to craft her own speeches so the fans can get a better idea of who she is as a performer and person. Needless to say, she deserves better.
#6 Cesaro and Sheamus
It was hard ranking the two sets of tag team champions because both duos have been doing some of their best work in 2017, especially after turning heel. Cesaro and Sheamus may have started as an odd couple, but they have meshed into a cohesive unit.
Their feud with The Hardy Boyz helped establish them as a top team in WWE, but both men earned the respect of the WWE Universe long before they were ever paired together by Mick Foley, especially among the European fanbase.
Cesaro's power and technical ability are on par with the best in the company, and Sheamus is one of the best brawlers to come along in years. They complement each other perfectly while still maintaining their own unique personalities.
Both men could easily be put into the main event scene once they disband their team, but it's so crowded at the top of the mountain right now that they are better suited staying together and dominating the tag team division.
#5 The Usos
Jimmy and Jey Uso were a popular babyface tag team, but once they turned heel, they transformed into one of the best acts on SmackDown. A big reason why they have been so successful is because they are playing characters closer to their real personalities.
Anyone who has ever watched them on Xavier Woods’ UpUpDownDown YouTube channel knows the twins love talking trash to their opponents, and they were able to bring that fire to television to deliver some great promos.
Their feud with The New Day has already produced some fun matches, and it feels like they just got started. Their chemistry on the mic and in the ring has been great, and with any luck, they will continue to fight for the next couple of months.
#4 Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss has been one of the most consistent performers in the women's division since being called up to the main roster, but she really came into her own after winning her first Women's Championship on SmackDown.
Since moving to Raw and winning a second title, she has gotten even better. Whether she is in the ring or ripping one of her opponents apart with a vicious promo, Bliss makes you want to watch her. You can't say the same thing about every champion in WWE right now.
It's amazing how far ahead of the curve she is. At only 25 years old, Little Miss Bliss has a long career ahead of her. If she continues to improve at the same pace she has been for the past year, she might just go down as one of the greatest women's champions of all time.
#3 Neville
The cruiserweight division has a lot of work to do when it comes to making 205 Live a must-see show, but one thing nobody will argue with is how good Neville has been as the cruiserweight champion.
He is another Superstar who was floundering as a babyface, but as soon as he was allowed to portray a villain, he became one of the most entertaining wrestlers on the roster. His promos are so good because it really feels like he means what he says.
As far as his ring work is concerned, few can touch The Kind of the Cruiserweights. He has power, speed, agility and the kind of technical ability that only comes after working in the business for over a decade.
He is currently the longest reigning champion on the main roster, and with the way things have been going for him recently, it doesn't look like anyone will be taking Neville's title anytime soon
#2 Kevin Owens
When it comes to heels in WWE, Kevin Owens is one of the best. Everything from his mic skills to his wrestling ability is off the charts, and his New Face of America gimmick has gotten him more heat than anyone else on SmackDown.
In fact, he has become the best champion on the blue brand due to Mahal's reign being more of an experiment and marketing ploy by management than anything else. The reason WWE was able to take such a risk with The Maharaja was because it had an awesome midcard champion in Owens.
When KO is involved in a match, there is a good chance it's going to steal the show. He appears to have started a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura, which should lead to even more Match of the Week candidates in the coming months.
#1 The Miz
The Miz is one of WWE's greatest success stories. His passion for wrestling was first displayed when he appeared on The Real World, and despite being bullied by veterans when he was first hired, he continued to pursue his dream by dedicating himself to getting better.
He had a couple of slow years while he was filming movies for WWE Studios, but he came roaring back in 2016 to become the best villain in the entire company. He is a versatile wrestler who can adapt his style to suit any opponents, but his real power comes from his ability to outshine everyone else on the mic.
Not only is he willing to be the butt of a joke if it helps the storyline, but he has proven himself to be one of the funniest performers on the roster. His comedic skills were especially apparent during his feud with John Cena leading up to WrestleMania 33.
He has made the Intercontinental Championship into one of the most prestigious titles in WWE again through hard work, and if management is smart, it will put him in the hunt for the universal title once Lesnar is done keeping it hostage at his ranch.
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