WWE NXT Big Board: Updated Prospect Rankings and Analysis for Aug. 13

To stand out when WWE NXT is so stacked with talent right now must feel like playing the harmonica while a orchestra blares a symphony on the same stage.  

Credit both Solomon Crowe and Tye Dillinger then for managing to make an impact when given only a short match to work with. While much of Wednesday's NXT was dedicated to hyping the next TakeOver special, these two wrestlers made sure folks were talking about them as well.

Crowe accomplished that through an increasingly inventive set of in-ring weapons. He continues to make it fun to see him go on the attack.

As for Dillinger, the "Perfect 10" gimmick he had been working on in house shows finally debuted on TV. To call it a success is a severe understatement. The new persona changes the arc of his career.

Baron Corbin didn't enjoy the same upward movement. Bayley, meanwhile, added to her collection of impressive performances. The following is a look at how those wrestlers and the rest of the NXT roster stack up in terms of potential to be the next big star on the main roster.

A combination of ring skills, mic work, gimmick, look and charisma determines the rankings. Only wrestlers who have made their in-ring debut are considered. That means no Apollo Crews (Uhaa Nation) until NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

Male Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Finn Balor	5'11'', 190 lbs	Top-tier ring worker, stellar athlete, marketable, serviceable on the mic.
2.	Sami Zayn	6'1'', 205 lbs	Excellent showman, fun move set, good crowd connection, inconsistent talker.
3.	Samoa Joe	6'2'', 279 lbs	Great presence, versatile in the ring, intimidating aura, good mic work.
4.	Tyler Breeze	6'0'', 190 lbs	Excelling as a heel, maximizes gimmick, good athlete, above-average ring work.
5.	Hideo Itami	5'9'', 182 lbs	Showing more charisma, making progress as mic worker, electric in the ring.
6.	Jason Jordan	6'3'', 245 lbs	Good look, aggressive in the ring, solid presence.
7.	Solomon Crowe	5'10'', 207 lbs	Unique move set, good energy, strong sense of character.
8.	Colin Cassady	6'10'', 276 lbs	High-impact ring style, good movement for big man, above-average charisma.
9.	Baron Corbin	6'8'', 275 lbs	Great in-ring presence, underwhelming talker, questions remain about being able to produce in longer matches.
10.	Simon Gotch	6'1'', 221 lbs	Continues to work gimmick into move set, fun ring work, good presence.
11.	Bull Dempsey	6'2'', 300 lbs	Gimmick getting slightly more serious, good brawler, top-notch talker when not playing comedy role.
12.	Tye Dillinger	6'3'', 223 lbs	"Perfect 10" gimmick boosting him, strong showman, strong technical ring work.
13.	Scott Dawson	5'10'', 224 lbs	Excellent in the ring, good intensity, doesn't have much "it" factor.
14.	Enzo Amore	5'11'', 200 lbs	Inconsistent in the ring, top-notch talker, excellent charisma, better suited as manager.
15.	Chad Gable	5'8'', 187 lbs	Making mat wrestling entertaining, showing more energy/personality.
16.	Aiden English	6'3'', 215 lbs	Solid charisma, underwhelming ring work, Gotch overshadowing him.
17.	Blake	6'1'', 240 lbs	Showing more swagger, good athlete, unpolished ring work.
18.	Dash Wilder	5'10'', 222 lbs	Strong/aggression ring work, good build, below-average charisma.
19.	Murphy	5'11'', 227 lbs	Explosive athlete, lacks presence, limited on the mic.
20.	Mojo Rawley	6'4'', 290 lbs	Intense, lots of energy, too goofy at times, one-dimensional as a character.

Prospects just outside the top 20: Elias Samson, Sawyer Fulton, Marcus Louis.

New Gimmick, New Life

Dillinger walked into Full Sail University transformed. Formerly a generic wrestler with some solid skills, he glistened with confidence as he had the crowd buzzing with his hands raised in the air.

His new gimmick is that he believes that he's a perfect 10. He's cocky and insulting, a man who likes to rate others. It's a play on the standard arrogant heel that works extremely well for Dillinger.

Credit: WWE.com

He worked it into his match by smirking at the camera while Crowe was in his grip, he stopped to admire his abs and at every chance he had, he raised 10 fingers in the air.

This well-fitting new persona gives more more opportunities for showmanship. It gives him direction. And clearly it has also energized him.

Dillinger looked to be having fun out there, which in turn made it easier to engage with what he's doing.

A Limit to Corbin's Presence

Wednesday's NXT exposed Corbin.

He looked out of his league in a showdown with Samoa Joe. A man who has such great presence in the ring and during his entrances underwhelmed in that area on the mic. He was mild at best.

As he trash-talked Joe, he was too quiet. This wasn't the scary Jake Roberts kind of quiet either. He was just not powerful enough with his delivery.

Joe blew him away in the segment. It felt like a major league pitcher going up against a batter from Double-A.

WWE can mask Corbin's limitations by making him the silent, brooding type as he did so much at NXT so far, but he's going to have to improve his intensity in these kind of moments. 

Fans are already turning on him thanks to his matches just going a few seconds each time. Not cutting it in the intimidation part of the game will only worsen his connection with the crowd.

Crowe Embracing Being Unique

If you're miles away from the prototypical Superstar mold, it's clearly best to run with that. That's what Crowe has done with his look and his offense, showing himself to be a wrestler like no other.

That was on display going up against Dillinger on Wednesday night.

Credit: WWE.com

He utilized funky, eye-catching offense. He dove at Dillinger's ankles while spinning; he grabbed his foe in a headscissors and proceeded to kick him while doing a handstand.

Crowe mixed those moves in with his usual array of flesh-reddening strikes.

Continuing to be this creative will keep Crowe's stock rising. He's made his bouts intriguing because of his approach to offense, but also because of a spazzy energy.

WWE may not be sure what to do with him, but he will carve out quite the fanbase if given a significant shot.

Female Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Bayley	5'6''	Stellar connection with crowd, top-notch in-ring storyteller, great with facial expressions.
2.	Carmella	5'5'	Showing improvement as a ring worker, strong presence, good showmanship.
3.	Alexa Bliss	5'1''	Solid heel, striking needs work, awkward at times in the ring, good presence.
4.	Dana Brooke	5'3''	Has slightly toned down overacting, raw in the ring, good athlete.
5.	Peyton Royce (formerly KC Cassidy/Cassie)	5'7''	Good striker, strong seller, no real character yet.
6.	Billie Kay (formerly Jessie McKay)	5'8''	Good intensity, given limited opportunities thus far.

More Excellence from Bayley

If Becky Lynch was still on the NXT roster, Bayley would be making the case to pass her in the rankings. At times, she feels like she is just a notch below Charlotte as well.

But with both those women on the main roster, no discussion has to be had. She's the clear No. 1 women's wrestler at NXT right now and a surefire success when she gets called up.

In battling Lynch on Wednesday's NXT, she displayed just how much of a master of facial expressions and body language she is. She ups the drama of each match by generating pathos from the crowd. In that way, she's the Sami Zayn of the women's division.

Lynch worked on Bayley's arm for much of the match, and the bubbly babyface sold the pain that ensued extremely well.

The crowd got behind her on several occasions. It's easy to imagine that same thing happening with a bigger audience.

Bayley is now the No. 1 contender and in line to face Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. Should she become champ, that will be a great test of how she does with the spotlight on her for a sustained amount of time.