WWE NXT Big Board: Updated Prospect Rankings and Analysis for January 23

The chase for the No. 1 contender's spot saw a number of WWE NXT prospects exhibit promise and hint at the height of their ceilings.

Hideo Itami had his best effort at WWE developmental to date. Tyler Breeze showed off his showmanship, Finn Balor stood out and Wesley Blake made sure folks were paying attention to him.

The lead-up to NXT's first live special of 2015 also allowed the audience glimpses of other wrestlers' skills with a mic in hand.

That event is going to afford opportunities aplenty with Kevin Owens entering his biggest NXT match and four Divas all vying for the women's title. In the meantime, prospects made their mark in more subtle ways.

The following is a look at how the NXT talent stacks up after this week's show. Order is based on in-ring performance, mic work, charisma, gimmick and look. Only prospects who have debuted on TV are on the list.

The Superstars

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Sami Zayn	6'1'', 205 lbs	Great connection with the crowd, long list of great matches, good athlete, fun move set.
2.	Adrian Neville	5'10'', 194 lbs	Top-notch athlete, great high-flyer, good build, improving as a talker.
3.	Kevin Owens	6'0", 266 lbs	Compelling brawler, unconventional look, top-tier talker, consistently delivers in the ring.
4.	Finn Balor	5'11'', 179 lbs	Athletic, marketable look, good presence, excellent in-ring storyteller.
5.	Tyler Breeze	6'0'', 190 lbs	Smooth and athletic, works gimmick extremely well, above-average on mic, ring work lacks versatility.
6.	Hideo Itami	5'9'', 182 lbs	Excellent striker, experienced, produced great matches pre-NXT, still adjusting to WWE style.
7.	Baron Corbin	6'8'', 275 lbs	Rare level of presence, great look and size, ring work still raw.
8.	Bull Dempsey	6'2'', 300 lbs	Talented mic worker, solid brawler, surprisingly athletic, gimmick will translate to main roster.
9.	Colin Cassady	6'10'', 276 lbs	Great size, charismatic, good connection with crowd, one-dimensional in the ring.
10.	Kalisto	5'6'', 170 lbs	Top-tier high-flyer, incredibly agile and quick, size is an issue.
11.	Enzo Amore	5'11'', 200 lbs	Poor in the ring, elite on the mic, extremely charismatic and funny, better suited as a manager.
12.	Buddy Murphy	5'11'', 227 lbs	Good build, both powerful and athletic, good energy in the ring.
13.	Simon Gotch	6'1'', 221 lbs	Works gimmick well, charismatic, exhibits high-level showmanship, has yet to have standout match.
14.	Aiden English	6'3'', 215 lbs	Solid but not spectacular in the ring, charismatic, acting background aids him.
15.	Jason Jordan	6'3'', 245 lbs	Athletic, marketable look, smooth in ring, solid technical wrestler.
16.	Scott Dawson	5'10'', 224 lbs	Excellent brawler and ring worker, lacks "it" factor.
17.	Chad Gable	5'8'', 185 lbs	High-level technical wrestler, unproven on mic, size is an issue.
18.	Tye Dillinger	6'3'', 223 lbs	Below-average athlete, good seller, adept at in-ring psychology, lacking gimmick/persona.
19.	CJ Parker	6'3'', 220 lbs	Solid and dependable in the ring, good-not-great talker, works gimmick well.
20.	Wesley Blake	6'1'', 240 lbs	Good overall ring worker, solid athleticism, likable personality.

Prospects just outside the top 20: Mojo Rawley, Dash Wilder, Marcus Louis.

Balor the Graceful Beast

One of Balor's most important qualities is that he is distinct. His theatrical entrance may come off as strange to some, but it most certainly makes an impression.

In a talented group of wrestlers, Balor has quickly moved toward the top thanks to his ability to catch fans' eyes by either his unique style or fun-to-watch ring work.

Up against Curtis Axel, we saw more of how fluid and quick he is. That athletic elegance merges with an aggressive, hard-hitting style to make a memorable combo.

He delivered hard forearm shots, nasty kicks and some of the high-flying ability he displayed so often for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Balor also knows how to space out his highlight-reel moments. His matches aren't a succession of big moves; rather, they're in-ring dramas with the right amount of action throughout. 

Credit: WWE.com

Advancing in the No. 1 contender's tournament means he'll get a major chance to make his mark at NXT. He next opposes another man who built his name in Japan—Itami.

Itami vs. Breeze

Itami is still in transition. He hasn't looked like the same compelling warrior that he was in his home country, but his battle with Breeze was the best he's looked in singles competition at Full Sail University so far.

When he went on an offensive flurry, things got electric quick. Diving and kicking at Breeze, he was a hypnotizing force. It's impressive how exciting he made a jumping clothesline, turning the standard move into a highlight.

Still, he's not quite clicking as he did pre-NXT. Learning to work with new opponents, new expectations and having to scale back how hard he kicks is clearly going to take time.

The man he knocked off to move on to set up a date with Itami had a good night as well.

Breeze came off as crafty and dangerous. His collection of good matches on his resume grew thanks to how well he sold Itami's attacks and some creativity as well. 

Prince Pretty hit some sort of crucifix slam that wowed the crowd. Adding a move or two like that will boost him in a big way. For now, he relies a lot on the chinlock and kicks, his bouts begging for variety.

Blake Moves Up

Buddy Murphy has been the member of his team who has stood out so far. Mid-match feats of strength and explosive offense have seen to that. Blake, though, was the bigger star for one night at least.

In that duo's win over The Vaudevillains, Blake hit some eye-catching springboard moves and went on a tear during the typical babyface comeback sequence. The announcers noticed, noting that he was adding sizzle to the match.

Credit: WWE.com

Both during and after the action, Murphy and Blake showed good chemistry together.

They come off as guys who genuinely like each other. They fit together well, both in their look and their personality. That's invaluable for a tag team, especially with how many guys are just tossed into a pairing.

In an interview backstage, Blake was the more personable of the two, a ball of energy with a winning smile.

Other Notes

The crowd reactions for Aiden English and Simon Gotch are going in the wrong direction. Fans usually play along with the villains' antics but didn't seem as into it for this show.

Bull Dempsey gave a quality pre-taped promo. His interviews, like his ring work, have an enjoyable, throwback style.

Being as dependable and consistent as he is on the mic is going to be a huge asset for him.

Kevin Owens looked excellent backstage as he brushed off a new interviewer. He feels like a star already.

A more vicious side of Sami Zayn emerged as the NXT champ beat down Tye Dillinger. Snarling and swinging away, he not only showed off his acting range but also gave a glimpse of what it might look like if he ever turned heel.

The Divas

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Sasha Banks	5'5''	Polished in the ring, thrives as a heel, above-average on mic, best ring worker in the division.
2.	Charlotte	5'10''	Elite presence, natural magnetism, good charisma, very good in the ring, needs to work on strikes, has huge upside.
3.	Bayley	5'6''	Charismatic, works her gimmick well, connects with the crowd, ring work could be crisper.
4.	Becky Lynch	5'6''	Experienced in the ring, solid charisma, athletic, not as much presence as top Divas.
5.	Alexa Bliss	5'1''	Continues to improve in the ring, athletic, fun energy, marketable look.
6.	Carmella	5'5''	Good presence, still raw in the ring, athletic.

An Issue of Aggression 

Charlotte needs to watch some tape of Sasha Banks' strikes. The NXT women's champion is clearly going to be a star and gets better in the ring at an impressive rate, but her chops, punches and clotheslines remain her weak point.

In a short match against Banks, she again seemed to be holding back as she wailed on her foe.

Banks delivered strong right hands mounted atop Charlotte. Charlotte's attacks, meanwhile, were often limp. At one point, she hit her father's trademark knee drop, but it didn't have nearly enough impact.

She's in need of some refining here to go from great to greater. Charlotte is already better in the ring than a good number of women on the main roster, but welcoming aggression will elevate her even further.