WWE Prospects Who Most Impressed at NXT Takeover II

A sound echoed from Full Sail University NXT Takeover 2: Bayley and other WWE prospects stomping their feet on the stage and announcing their presence.

The No. 1 contender to the NXT Women's Championship was one of a handful of wrestlers who most impressed in the ring and on the mic, making the most of their time onscreen. With a wider audience, it was a prime opportunity to up one's stock. Bayley and company did just that.

The second Takeover event, eventually dubbed NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way, saw a brute take to the air and a loudmouth get especially fiery.

From opener to main event, it was an outstanding show. The following wrestlers, though, most stood out.

Bayley

Charlotte remains champion after outlasting Bayley in a tremendous match. The champ was excellent, as she appears to be getting better each week.

However, it was the challenger who provided the emotional foundation for the action.

Before their clash began, Bayley spoke about her chances in a heartfelt prerecorded promo. This was more than just her standard cutesy shtick; there was a blend of determination, courage and charm in this speech.

When it was showtime, she strode in with Randy Savage-like streamers on her arms. Her entrance felt big, her face signaling how much this opportunity meant to her.

As she tried to knock off Charlotte, there was great fire in her forearms and extra oomph in her crossbody.

Her showmanship elevated the match, having it compete with Charlotte's collision with Natalya as the best women's match of 2014. At times, she was desperate to win, other times as focused as a sniper. 

The lasting image from this battle is her struggling to lift her head off the mat, anger and pain painted across her face.

Bayley came away with her masterpiece, even if it she didn't leave with the title. The showing she had points to her winning the strap eventually and proving she belongs on the main roster as much as Sasha Banks and Charlotte.

Enzo Amore

Fans may have thought that they had seen Amore's maximum energy level, but he spent Takeover showing that he has additional gears to shift into.

His Hair vs. Hair match was the worst of the night in terms of wrestling. That's not surprising because neither Amore nor Sylvester Lefort are stellar mat workers.

Amore made his mark with his yapper instead. His rant before the match was one of the funniest moments of his career, rattling off the different types of hair cuts he'd like to give his foe.

More than just his lines, though, there was an increased spark to his delivery.

He has presence that his peers have to be jealous of. He claims to be "the realest guy in the room" but, more accurately, he's the biggest personality in the room.

As for his ring work, there were some good spots, even if the overall match wasn't spectacular.

He slid away from Lefort and hit a nice dropkick. His tap dance on his opponent's back was fun. Grabbing Lefort's tights during his win was a nice touch. 

Judging by how much the crowd responded to his victory, it appears he'll be able to pull off an Eddie Guerrero-like cheating-babyface character. His mic work and personality will have WWE find a place for him, even if his in-ring skills don't improve.

Bull Dempsey

Dempsey was the speeding truck; Mojo Rawley was the roadkill.

With minimal time in a squash match against the sinking Rawley, Dempsey displayed intensity in surplus. Every clothesline and Irish whip seemed to be powered by hatred.

He wore a snarl the entire match, and one could feel his rage burning like a fever emanates from someone's forehead.

When he hit Rawley in the ribs, there was an audible smack each time. It was as if he was drumming on his torso. Dempsey is going to have to pull back a little (Rawley left the match with his face bloodied), but his aggressiveness is the kind that pulls fans in.

Ditching his unremarkable slam finisher, Dempsey opted for a diving headbutt instead.

While there are certainly health issues associated with that move, it's far more aesthetically interesting and is an improvement in terms of looking devastating. Pulling off the flight from the top rope twice showed off surprising athleticism for a man of his size.

Sami Zayn

Each of the four men in the Fatal 4-Way for the NXT title looked great. Zayn just looked the best.

Adrian Neville may be the better athlete and Tyson Kidd the better technical wrestler, but Zayn has them both beat in terms of drawing fans in with his body language and facial expressions. That was evident with something as simple as the staredown he had with Neville early on.

When he was hurt, he stumbled into the ropes. When his foes suplexed him outside the ring, he screeched in what looked like genuine pain.

He showed frustration on his face during the match and was clearly stunned by the defeat in his post-match interview.

All of the wrestlers in the title bout each had their flurries. Zayn's was especially fun. He did the spot where he leaps at his foe past the ring post; Zayn dove out of the ring at Neville and seemed to be ingesting the crowd's energy as he went along.

Neville has been having the string of good matches on NXT each week. Zayn, just like at the first two live specials, saved his best for the biggest moments.

Like Bayley, he left the event empty-handed but as the star who inspired the most post-event chatter.