Stock Up, Stock Down for WWE NXT Prospects for Week of July 21

Charlotte made the most upward movement of all the WWE NXT prospects this week, showing that she's Ric Flair's daughter in more than just name.

Champions were at the center of the latest episode of NXT. For Charlotte and Adrian Neville, that meant displaying a growing toolbox of skills. For The Ascension, though, things stood still thanks to inadequate opposition.

Kalisto and Mojo Rawley went in opposite directions, the former getting a fitting tag partner and the latter getting shoved down the card.

In the race to the main roster, Kalisto moved closer to the front. Neville and Charlotte, meanwhile, increased the distance between them and their peers.

Stock Up: Adrian Neville

Neville is the all-purpose opponent.

Pit him against a lumbering giant like Brodus Clay, a crafty veteran like Rob Van Dam or a speedster like Sami Zayn, and the NXT champ thrives. He proved that once again on Thursday's NXT in a clash with Rusev.

The high-flyer spent much of the action on the mat suffering Rusev's offense.

It was there that Neville showcased his improving selling skills. He created empathy through the way in which his face curled in pain after getting slammed to the ground and how he reached for the small of his back after Rusev kicked it.

These nuances weren't Neville's strengths during his days on the independent circuit. It's clear that the NXT experience has changed that.

As a bonus, ProWrestling.net reports that Neville and Tyler Breeze worked a dark match during Tuesday's SmackDown tapings. That's a sign of the company's confidence in him, offering him and Breeze an opportunity to work on a bigger stage.

He'll be on there in earnest soon. His ever-rising stock promises that.

Stock Down: Mojo Rawley

A prospect who once seemed to be WWE's golden boy has recently been relegated to a low spot on the totem pole.

Rawley used to steamroll his opponents en route to putting together a winning streak. On Thursday's NXT, though, he was the one suffering the steamrolling.

He lasted just seconds against Breeze. That follows Rusev crushing him at NXT Takeover.

It's not that Rawley didn't impress in his short effort against the No. 1 contender for the NXT Championship, it's the fact that the company didn't give him any chance to do so that's most troubling. This downward move would be like WWE suddenly having Rusev lose to Roman Reigns in a one-sided blip of a match.

Rawley is certainly a raw talent, and perhaps WWE is simply holding him back until he is more ready. For now, though, he appears to be a low priority—the prey for hotter wrestlers.

Stock Up: Kalisto

Kalisto joined forces with Sin Cara. That's a major improvement over his previous partner, El Local (a masked Ricardo Rodriguez).

Aligning with the star from the main roster not only puts him in line to contend in the improving NXT tag team division, it offers WWE an option for Raw and SmackDown. Should the masked duo take off at Full Sail University, they would be a ready-made team to call up.

On Thursday's NXT, Kalisto and Sin Cara took on The Vaudevillains. 

In his time in the ring, Kalisto was fluid, fast and thrilling. Even arm drags are electric in his hands.

Credit: WWE.com

He spun in the air, a hypnotizing blue blur. Simon Gotch and Aiden English were fun to watch, but it was Kalisto who commanded the audience's attention.

Stock Even: The Ascension

A lack of competition is hurting Viktor and Konnor. The division is growing around them with The Vaudevillains, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady, and Kalisto and Sin Cara entering the fold. 

While waiting for those duos to compile some momentum, The Ascension is unable to gain any of its own.

The tag team champs faced a pair of no-name competitors on Thursday's NXT. As good as Viktor and Konnor looked stalking their foes, it's not something fans hadn't seen before.

Credit: WWE.com

Without being challenged, it's hard to see what else the team has to offer. Its current path would be like Goldberg taking on Hugh Morris for months and months. 

Too little escalating of The Ascension's level of opposition has the team running on a treadmill.

Stock Up: Charlotte

Charlotte's transformation into a top-tier wrestler continues.

Each week, she seems to gain confidence and looks more and more in control of the action. Summer Rae challenged her for the NXT Women's Championship on Thursday's NXT, giving Charlotte a chance to show off those skills.

When she was on offense, the audience was engaged. Every headlock or armbar exuded swagger. More and more, she looks like she inherited Flair's showmanship genes.

Whether she was mocking Summer's dancing past or lifting knees into her opponent's ribs, Charlotte was the clear star of this match.

The crowd grew restless when Summer's turn as the match's aggressor came.  

Still, it was a solid bout, one that outclassed what fans often see on Raw and SmackDown. Charlotte is continually growing into the role of ring general, upping her stock with each outing.