WWE NXT Big Board: Updated Prospect Rankings and Analysis for June 5

When WWE NXT undergoes the major shifts coming its way, there will be real estate to scoop up on the roster's top tier. Tyler Breeze continues to make his case for sliding into that spot.

Kevin Owens, despite still holding the NXT Championship, has been regularly showing up on Raw and SmackDown, which is as clear an indication as you can get that a promotion is headed his way. Finn Balor is likely to join him before long. The same goes for Sami Zayn once his shoulder heals.

On Wednesday's NXT, Breeze provided further proof of just how much he has mastered his character.

Finding a way to connect with the audience and figuring out how to stand out is key to WWE success. Breeze has that down. Despite not being as spectacular an in-ring performer as the best NXT has to offer, he is among the most intriguing wrestlers competing at Full Sail University.

The latest NXT show also provided a stage for both Jason Jordan and Alexa Bliss to impress. They too are moving in the right direction.

The following is a look at where those prospects and their peers stack up in terms of who is poised to have the most success on the main roster. Rankings are determined by a combination of size, gimmick, ring work, mic skills and intangibles like presence.

Only prospects who have made their in-ring debuts are considered. That leaves Samoa Joe and Uhaa Nation off the list for now.

Note: Owens is still listed as an NXT prospect here despite recent appearances on the main roster. He is expected to officially make the jump soon but is still listed as an NXT wrestler on WWE.com.

Male Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Kevin Owens	6'0", 266 lbs	Elite presence, strong mic work, fantastic in the ring.
2.	Sami Zayn	6'1'', 205 lbs	Excellent showman, fun move set, inconsistent on the mic.
3.	Finn Balor	5'11'', 179 lbs	Smooth performer, good presence, unproven talker.
4.	Baron Corbin	6'8'', 275 lbs	Expanding in-ring repertoire, tremendous presence, plenty of "it" factor, great look.
5.	Tyler Breeze	6'0'', 190 lbs	Good speed, not elite in the ring, works gimmick extremely well.
6.	Hideo Itami	5'9'', 182 lbs	Making progress as mic worker, not as many standout matches as top-tier prospects, electric in-ring work.
7.	Solomon Crowe	5'10'', 207 lbs	Strong character, high-level mic work, unique in-ring style.
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.	Jason Jordan	6'3'', 245 lbs	Stellar athlete, good look, high ceiling.
11.	Colin Cassady	6'10'', 276 lbs	Charismatic, powerful, moves well for his size.
12.	Simon Gotch	6'1'', 221 lbs	Good connection with crowd, standout showman, underwhelming in the ring.
13.	Scott Dawson	5'10'', 224 lbs	Excellent mat worker, good brawler, underwhelming as a heel, lacks "it" factor.
14.	Aiden English	6'3'', 215 lbs	Acting background aids him, works gimmick well, struggling to stand out.
15.	Murphy	5'11'', 227 lbs	Explosive, below-average charisma, impressive bursts in the ring.
16.	Tye Dillinger	6'3'', 223 lbs	Solid 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.	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 the top 20: Marcus Louis, Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton.

Prince Pretty On His Way

His success will largely depend on whether WWE is willing to make him a contender or keep him in comic-wrestler territory. 

Against Adam Rose on Wednesday night, he showed off some reasons the company should take him seriously, goofy pants aside. On offense, he delivered improved strikes. He nailed Rose with fast, realistic punches. 

When Rose was on the attack, Breeze reminded us just how good a seller he is.

In the corner, Rose nailed a clothesline that lifted Breeze's legs in the air, bending his body. Later, the brooding party animal hit him a kick to the head. Breeze snapped back perfectly, falling to the mat as if Rose had hit him with a crowbar.

The match overall was slow and never seemed to kick into gear. This is where Breeze is still lacking. He doesn't have nearly as many standout performances as guys like Balor and Owens have. Rose isn't exactly the ideal opponent to achieve that, though.

It is going to take some A-quality bouts for Breeze to ascend the throne when Owens makes his exit in earnest.

More Jason Jordan Please

Jordan and Marcus Louis faced off against The Vaudevillains. And despite the antics from Simon Gotch and Aiden English, despite Louis being a growling maniac, one's eyes naturally focused on Jordan.

He has untapped potential that officials need to harness.

Few guys on the roster are as athletic as him. Perhaps no one on the roster other than Baron Corbin has a more marketable look. Beyond that, there's an electricity to him that points to his becoming a star at some point.

In the loss against Gotch and English, he showed off plenty of swagger. He made cranking English's neck back an entertaining sight. He carried himself like a cocky heel.

Credit: WWE.com

His offense in general was impressively crisp. His powerslam is perfection.

If this current storyline of his attempts to find a new partner to replace Tye Dillinger gets ample attention, expect Jordan to climb up the rankings.

Other Notes

Gotch is clearly having fun, and the NXT fans are fully behind him. There's uncertainty, though, about whether the act will translate to the main roster.

The big question facing him is: Can he be more than an amusing sideshow?

Louis is putting everything he has into this rabid, unhinged character. He's just convincing at playing the role. He's an actor out of his range. 

Credit: WWE.com

On the other hand, Solomon Crowe is excelling with that part of the Superstar equation. His airtime is slowly increasing, and the more we see of him, the more we see how good a hold he has on his character.

His interviews don't feel forced. His persona feels like an amplified extension of himself.

Female Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Sasha Banks	5'5''	Tremendous in the ring, making big strides as a talker, 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 of late, top-notch ring worker, gimmick still unclear.
4.	Bayley	5'6''	Infectious energy, works gimmick well, improving in the ring.
5.	Alexa Bliss	5'1''	Playing a solid heel, awkward at times in the ring, good presence.
6.	Carmella	5'5''	Great presence, charismatic, raw/limited in the ring.
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.

Alexa Bliss vs. Carmella

Bliss and Carmella have been battling for position on the NXT hierarchy as much as they have been battling in the ring. In the case of the former, it's going to be an ongoing struggle.

Both women have strong presences and are raw, promising prospects. Carmella is the more charismatic of the two, but Bliss is a touch ahead in terms of showmanship.

Bliss is now working as a heel and is just beginning to learn how to play that role. She wasn't as nasty or cowardly as you would like to see. Still, she came off as slimy and carried herself far differently than when she was the glittery princess character.

That shows versatility that Carmella hasn't had a chance to display yet. 

As for Carmella, her anger at Bliss was overdone. Emotions have to be exaggerated in the ring, but hers were too over the top. Toning that down some, though, is far easier than having to crank it up.

Count on these women colliding again, and eventually for one of them to truly separate herself from the other as a star in the making.