WWE NXT Big Board: Updated Prospect Rankings and Analysis for May 22

Clearly some WWE NXT prospects get better when the stage gets bigger. At NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, with fans roaring and expectations set high, a trio of wrestlers delivered their top performances to date.

Enzo Amore made a statement that he is not just a wizard on the mic; he can go between the ropes better than most fans believed. Baron Corbin had his longest, most well-rounded match. Becky Lynch outdid her personal best, looking like a champion in waiting.

With the elite of WWE's developmental brand poised to move to the main roster, those three competitors will be among those vying for their spots. Amore and company showed why they deserve to be in the discussion of NXT's best.

They continue to make their case to up the ladder. The following is a look at the scramble up those rungs, at which of NXT's talents are most ready for a call-up and who would most flourish afterward. A combination of look, gimmick, charisma, mic work and ring acumen determine the rankings. 

Only those prospects who have had their debut match are considered. So no Samoa Joe just yet, then.

Male Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Kevin Owens	6'0", 266 lbs	Commanding presence, NXT's top talker, skilled brawler.
2.	Sami Zayn	6'1'', 205 lbs	Master of facial expressions, fun move set, inconsistent on the mic.
3.	Finn Balor	5'11'', 179 lbs	Smooth performer, high-level showmanship, unproven talker.
4.	Baron Corbin	6'8'', 275 lbs	Expanding in-ring repertoire, tremendous presence, plenty of "it" factor, great look.
5.	Hideo Itami	5'9'', 182 lbs	Making progress as mic worker, not as many standout matches as top-tier prospects, electric in-ring work.
6.	Tyler Breeze	6'0'', 190 lbs	Maximizes gimmick, a step below top-tier prospects in the ring.
7.	Solomon Crowe	5'10'', 207 lbs	Top-flight striker, skilled seller, good energy, standout look, well-rounded.
8.	Enzo Amore	5'11'', 200 lbs	Showing improvement as a wrestler, highly charismatic, great presence.
9.	Bull Dempsey	6'2'', 300 lbs	Inconsistent intensity, explosive, strong mic work, good brawler.
10.	Colin Cassady	6'10'', 276 lbs	Charismatic, powerful, moves well for his size.
11.	Jason Jordan	6'3'', 245 lbs	Good athlete, marketable look, solid ring work, becoming more aggressive.
12.	Simon Gotch	6'1'', 221 lbs	Works gimmick well, high-level showman, good use of facial expressions, has yet to have standout match.
13.	Aiden English	6'3'', 215 lbs	Charismatic, works gimmick well, acting background aids him, average in the ring.
14.	Buddy Murphy	5'11'', 227 lbs	Explosive, below-average charisma, impressive bursts in the ring.
15.	Scott Dawson	5'10'', 224 lbs	Excellent mat worker, underwhelming as a heel, fits better as part of tag team, lacks "it" factor.
16.	Tye Dillinger	6'3'', 223 lbs	Good showman, solid ring worker, gimmick beginning to come together.
17.	Mojo Rawley	6'4'', 290 lbs	Great athletic potential, very raw and limited in the ring, one-dimensional on the mic.
18.	Wesley Blake	6'1'', 240 lbs	Gimmick needs work, inconsistent striker, good athlete.
19.	Dash Wilder	5'10'', 222 lbs	Strong ring work, good build, below-average charisma.
20.	Chad Gable	5'8'', 185 lbs	Strong technical skills, size is an issue, in need of gimmick after end of Shoot Nation.

Prospects just outside of the top 20: Marcus Louis, Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton.

Enzo Makes a Statement Minus a Mic

The knock against Amore has always been that his ring skills have been several steps below what he does with a mic in his hand. He didn't transform into Kurt Angle on Wednesday night, but he showed marked improvement.

Competing for the tag titles, he showed off smoother ring work than we have yet to see from him.

Credit: WWE.com

He hit an impressive running crossbody, delivered a crisp dropkick and wowed the crowd with a tornado DDT. There was an added snap to these moves. Whether that was born from added confidence or hard work behind the scenes, it changed what he brought to the match.

Usually, he's just the goofy sidekick. This time around, he helped make the action more excitement.

Continuing on this current trajectory is going to have him climb up the big board in a hurry. His presence and comic timing are so good that he only needs to be solid rather than great in the ring to be a top star.

More Room for The Lone Wolf to Work

After seeing only glimpses of Corbin at work, his match against Rhyno revealed what he can do in a longer bout.

As usual, Corbin was convincingly menacing. He was vicious when he went on the attack. He most certainly looked like a star in there.

With more time to fill, he maintained his intensity and did well to keep fans interested. Improved strikes helped. Hitting the gas at the right time did as well.

One of his clotheslines rocked Rhyno and altered the energy of the bout. 

Corbin did well to convince NXT officials to give him extended action like this more often. Seeing what he could do against a ring general like Sami Zayn would be mighty revealing. 

Owens on Top

For the first time, Owens pushes his way to the top of the rankings. He may not stay there long as the main roster appears to be calling him.

After getting in John Cena's face on Monday's Raw, the two are set to battle at Elimination Chamber. That seems to point to a promotion coming his way before long.

NXT will miss him. At Takeover: Unstoppable, he once again had fans worried for Zayn's health. He made it easy to forget that the violence onscreen was scripted, that he was not actually this unfeeling monster he played on TV.

Owens' presence was clear during that beatdown, his face-to-face with Cena and his showdown with Samoa Joe to close the show. No matter the stage, no matter the opponent, Owens feels like a star.

The level that one gets chills at the idea of him facing Joe or Cena is a sign of what he can become. Zayn doesn't have that, at least not to the extent that the NXT champ does.

Female Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Sasha Banks	5'5''	Tremendous in the ring, thrives as heel, complete prospect.
2.	Charlotte	5'10''	Great athlete, high ceiling as in-ring performer, commanding presence, less polished than Banks in the ring.
3.	Becky Lynch	5'6''	Shooting upward as of late, top-notch ring worker, gimmick still unclear.
4.	Bayley	5'6''	Infectious energy, works gimmick well, improving in the ring.
5.	Carmella	5'5''	Great presence, charismatic, raw/limited in the ring.
6.	Alexa Bliss	5'1''	Ring inexperience showing, good energy/presence, solid talker.
7.	KC Cassidy	5'7''	Good footwork, skilled seller, currently without a gimmick.
8.	Dana Brooke	5'3''	Impressive athlete, unpolished showmanship, overacting during interviews.

The Best of Becky Yet

Hats off to Lynch and Sasha Banks for a stellar match for the NXT Women's Championship. While the champ certainly played her part in composing that thriller, a big part of the bout's greatness came from Lynch maximizing her opportunity.

She compelled on the offensive, becoming a snarling pit bull looking to tear some flesh off. When Banks was in control, she sold extremely well, seemingly welling up at the pain she suffered.

Her ring psychology was top-notch, going for moves that made the most sense in each moment. You would look to see some of the exchanges be a bit smoother, but the passion and energy she exuded mostly made up for that.

The big question with Lynch remains: just who is she?

After going from a dance-happy Irishwoman in green to a headbanger in flannel, she showed up to the latest live special in steampunk attire. She wore ruffled, silver shorts and a pilot's goggles. It distracted from who she's been telling she is in the past.

Her persona remains in flux. Her character is not as distinct as it should be.

Figuring that out is her last hurdle to top of the women's division.