WWE Superstar of the Week for May 23

WWE had an extremely busy week with Payback on May 17, Raw the following night, NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable and SmackDown.

With all that wrestling goodness packed into just five days, it should come as no surprise that several different Superstars and Divas churned out memorable performances.

Payback certainly featured some great moments, but many would argue that TakeOver was a better show overall. NXT has made a habit out of making its live specials better than most pay-per-views, and this was no exception.

Before we get to the main event, so to speak, let's take a look at some of the people who deserve recognition.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Owens

It could easily be argued that the person who had the best week was the NXT champion, Kevin Owens. He had not one but two memorable moments.

First, he made a surprise appearance on Raw during John Cena's United States Championship open challenge. He didn't wrestle for the title, but he did leave Cena laying in the middle of the ring.

Sami Zayn and Neville both received big boosts from their matches with Cena, but Owens made a statement. He kept pace with Cena on the mic and ended the segment standing tall.

To make things even more interesting, Owens was granted his request to face Cena at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view later in the evening, making him the first person to earn a title shot on the main roster while still holding a championship in NXT.

As if his week weren't already going well, Owens would then be a part of a memorable main event against Sami Zayn at Unstoppable. It was a brutal encounter that may not have ended the way many would have liked, but it left an impression nonetheless.

Some will dismiss Owens because of his look, physique or style, but anyone who follows NXT knows better. He has all the necessary tools to be a major player on the main roster; he just needs to capitalize on the opportunities he has been given.

Honorable Mention: Samoa Joe

There have been some amazing debuts in NXT over the past year, but none made as big an impact as the first appearance of Samoa Joe.

Joe came to Zayn's rescue when Owens was delivering another career-threatening beating, and he sent the NXT champion out of the ring with one glare.

The fact that the announcers addressed him by the name Samoa Joe and made it seem like it was a big deal that he was even in NXT shows that he will have a promising future in WWE.

Triple H runs NXT a little differently than Vince McMahon runs WWE. When someone debuts on the main roster, it's almost like he is treated like a rookie.

When someone with some credibility is brought into NXT, he is treated like the veteran he is. Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe are just a few examples of people who were brought in with a lot of hype.

Whether Samoa Joe will be with the company full-time or if he is just working a temporary deal, every wrestling fan should be happy just to see him in a WWE ring.

He is in much better shape than the last time we saw him in TNA, and he knows the sport better than most. Joe will be a valuable asset in the future if he is booked at the level he deserves.

Honorable Mention: The Women of NXT

We'll start at the beginning with the tag team match featuring Charlotte and Bayley taking on Dana Brooke and Emma.

While not as long as some had hoped, this bout allowed all four women to shine in different ways. Brooke is the newest of the bunch, but she has managed to establish herself as a heel with great potential.

Emma is acclimating nicely to her new role, even if there hasn't been much storyline development behind her heel turn.

The real stars of the match were Charlotte and Bayley. These two could not be more different, but they work well as a team because they have been both partners and opponents many times in the past.

Emma's main roster debut was poorly designed, but she thrives in NXT. All four of these women represented both the division and the brand very well at Unstoppable.

Two other future Divas who played big roles at the last live special were Alexa Bliss and Carmella. The big news from their interaction is that Bliss has officially turned heel.

The former cheerleader joined forces with Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy, helping them retain the tag titles by attacking Carmella and pushing Enzo Amore off the top rope before he was pinned.

Bliss' turn kind of came out of nowhere, but giving her something to do while she waits for her chance to chase the Women's Championship will help develop her character.

Bliss got the most attention for her actions, but we can't forget about Carmella. This is a woman who is so good at playing her character that she doesn't even have to say anything to make a strong impression.

She is overflowing with charisma and personality, and that will benefit her as both a valet and a wrestler. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch her career develop over the next few years.

Superstar(s) of the Week for May 23: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch

The women's division was represented very well at TakeOver, but the two who stole the show were Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch. Owens vs. Zayn may have been the closing match, but Banks and Lynch had the best encounter.

Banks has become such a great representative for NXT and all of women's wrestling. Her athleticism, technical ability and charisma are miles ahead of many who have already made it to the main roster.

Then you have Becky Lynch. She is a skilled veteran with over 10 years of experience and every possible attribute WWE officials could want in a Diva.

"

I don't even know what to say... #NXTProud @SashaBanksWWE @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/hq1DhRWTEM

— Triple H (@TripleH) May 21, 2015"

They put together a nearly perfect match Wednesday night. They told a story in the ring, consistently focused on targeting certain body parts and pulled out all the stops to make their performance memorable.

The women's division has been producing great content for a long time, but this might be the first time that they put on the best match at one of these TakeOver live specials.

It's encouraging to see two talented wrestlers being booked to their fullest potential. Let's hope WWE doesn't mess it up when they eventually get called up to the main roster.

What do you think? Did Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch steal the show at Unstoppable? Who would you have picked for the Superstar of the Week? Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.