WWE NXT Big Board: Updated Prospect Rankings and Analysis for February 27

As thrilling as the in-ring action is in WWE NXT, the progress of prospects is often just as enthralling.

That was the case during the most recent edition of NXT, as Bull Dempsey further embraced viciousness, Jason Jordan forced fans to pay attention and Becky Lynch showed off her submission skills. Many of the top stars sat out or, in Kevin Owens' case, did their fighting outside of the ring.

This opened the door for guys such as Jordan to snatch the spotlight.

The stories and battles that unfolded at Full Sail University reminded fans of the abundance of athleticism that is there right now. It also provided proof of just how important one's gimmick is. A number of talented wrestlers aren't quite garnering the momentum they need thanks to their personas needing work.

The following is a look at who among NXT's crop of talent is most ready to flourish on the main roster. Rankings are determined by ring work, mic skills, look, size and gimmick. Only prospects who have debuted on TV are considered.

The Superstars

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Sami Zayn	6'1'', 205 lbs	Superb at in-ring storytelling, growing as talker, consistently delivers great matches.
2.	Kevin Owens	6'0", 266 lbs	Thriving as a heel, great brawler, stellar on the mic, very athletic for his size.
3.	Adrian Neville	5'10'', 194 lbs	Top-tier high-flyer, excelling at use of facial expression, average but improving on the mic.
4.	Finn Balor	5'11'', 179 lbs	Extremely smooth in the ring, athletic, okay talker, marketable look, memorable theatrics.
5.	Hideo Itami	5'9'', 182 lbs	Fluid in-ring work, excellent striker, English-language skills improving.
6.	Tyler Breeze	6'0'', 190 lbs	Athletic, works gimmick extremely well, move set is expanding.
7.	Baron Corbin	6'8'', 275 lbs	Yet to have long match, raw but improving in the ring, great presence, excellent look and size.
8.	Bull Dempsey	6'2'', 300 lbs	Aggressive, works heel role well, excellent on the mic.
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	Superb athlete, quick, great high-flying offense, has not shown ability to be a top-level in-ring storyteller.
11.	Simon Gotch	6'1'', 221 lbs	Works gimmick well, high-level showmanship, good use of facial expressions, has yet to have standout match.
12.	Enzo Amore	5'11'', 200 lbs	Fantastic presence, funny, charismatic, unimpressive in the ring, will make better manager.
13.	Jason Jordan	6'3'', 245 lbs	Impressive look, good athlete, picking up nuances.
14.	Solomon Crowe	5'10'', 207 lbs	Strong on the mic, well-rounded in the ring, impressive pre-NXT resume, will be a challenge to fit into WWE landscape.
15.	Buddy Murphy	5'11'', 227 lbs	Powerful, athletic, good build, below-average on the mic.
16.	Aiden English	6'3'', 215 lbs	Charismatic, works gimmick well, acting background aids him, average in the ring.
17.	Scott Dawson	5'10'', 224 lbs	Excellent mat worker, fits better as part of tag team, lacks "it" factor.
18.	CJ Parker	6'3'', 220 lbs	Showing more potential on the mic, solid in the ring, works gimmick well.
19.	Chad Gable	5'8'', 185 lbs	High-level technical wrestler, unproven on mic, size is an issue.
20.	Tye Dillinger	6'3'', 223 lbs	Below-average athlete, good seller, adept at in-ring psychology, lacking gimmick/persona.

Prospects just outside the Top 20: Marcus Louis, Mojo Rawley, Wesley Blake.

Bull Dempsey Getting Nastier

In some of his battles with Baron Corbin, Dempsey seemed to be holding back in terms of strikes. Corbin delivered thunder; Dempsey issued static electricity.

Against Hideo Itami on Wednesday night, however, Dempsey worked stiffer. He pounded Itami's back with hard forearms and had more oomph to his strikes in general.

Dempsey's gimmick is built around being a throwback bruiser. To pull that off, he's going to need to continue to show the kind of aggression he did against Itami. Fans have to buy that he's violent and merciless.

He showed improvement in that area, making Itami suffer and making himself look like a beast in the process.

The more he travels down this road, the more eye-catching his matches will be. Whether he has been studying tape of Vader in action or just made a decision to turn up the intensity, he needs to keep doing it.

Jason Jordan on His Own and Ready to Shine

The partnership between Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan is officially over. The former's refusal to tag out of the match angered the latter, and just like that, the duo was no more.

That's good news for Jordan, as NXT seems ready to give him a push as a singles star.

Expect him to succeed in that role. His impressive physical gifts were on display in a showdown with the Lucha Dragons. As we have seen before, his offense was crisp and smooth. He was also noticeably more aggressive than normal.

Jordan hasn't been on TV much lately. Clearly, he's been busy in the gym instead. The grappler has put on muscle and looks even more toned. That certainly won't hurt as he tries to make his way up the NXT ladder.

He will, however, need to give fans a clear idea of who he is. His persona is all but non-existent. If NXT officials aren't going to bring the Shoot Nation concept to TV, it needs to find a gimmick to have Jordan leave the realm of generic athlete.

Other Notes

Kalisto is not standing out. That's hard to imagine, given how dynamic a performer he is. While his moves are stellar displays of athleticism, he hasn't done much in terms of in-ring storytelling. 

Compiling a list of his standout matches is tough at present. That's not going to stop him from getting promoted, though. He has twice appeared on Main Event alongside Sin Cara. His official move to the main roster is imminent.

Finn Balor had another good match, this time against The Brian Kendrick.

Credit: WWE.com

Scouts watching the action are sure to be more nitpicky than his growing fanbase. They will certainly notice how inconsistent his clotheslines are; sometimes, they are much too soft.

That's something he is going to need to tighten up.

Dillinger continues to show a skill for facial expressions. Whether he is in pain or frustrated, he emotes clearly and powerfully. He has to hope for more opportunities to show off this ability in the future, as he has not been showcased much.

The Divas

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Sasha Banks	5'5''	Top female mat worker, excellent showmanship, gimmick will translate to the main roster.
2.	Charlotte	5'10''	Huge upside, great presence, athletic, excellent in the ring and will continue to get better.
3.	Bayley	5'6''	Great connection with the crowd, good but unpolished in the ring, works gimmick extremely well.
4.	Becky Lynch	5'6''	Excellent mat worker, good athlete, gimmick not clicking.
5.	Carmella	5'5''	Impressive presence, charming, athletic, still raw in the ring.
6.	Alexa Bliss	5'1''	Continues to improve in the ring, athletic, fun energy, marketable look.

Becky Lynch in a Groove

After a fantastic performance at NXT TakeOver: Rival, Becky Lynch came through again in a strong showing against Bayley.

Her offense is exciting. Her footwork, speed and confidence in the ring make her one of the division's best workers.

She has also added a new toy to torture folks with: the Fujiwara armbar. It's a nasty submission hold, one that will have her stand out if she adopts it as her signature move.

Credit: WWE.com

NXT officials would be smart to further play her up as a submission specialist. The head-banger shtick doesn't suit her. Playing a role similar to what Daniel Bryan did early in her career would help elevate her.