WWE NXT: Updated Prospect Rankings and Analysis, Predictions for Week of May 12

The NXT top-tier stars reminded us why they are among the brand's best talents. From Alexa Bliss' predatory exploits to Finn Balor embracing his inner darkness, Wednesday's NXT was a showcase of the superb. 

Bliss put away another second-generation star in a strong showing. Balor displayed his versatility. And Shinsuke Nakamura was simply electric.

Wednesday night featured one of those shows where it's hard to think of NXT as a developmental brand. It is, and it isn't. For every finished product like Nakamura, there is a Jason Jordan, a wrestler still working on tapping into his full potential.

The following is a look at the eclectic mix of talent that is NXT, ranking the top wrestlers by factoring in their ring skills, mic work, look, charisma, gimmick and connection with the crowd. It's a list that will no longer have either Alex Riley or Dana Brooke. 

WWE released Riley last week, and Brooke debuted on Monday's Raw, signaling her move to the main roster.

Male Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Shinsuke Nakamura	6'2'', 229 lbs	Hugely charismatic, excellent striker, big-match performer, unique.
2.	Finn Balor	5'11'', 190 lbs	Rock-star aura, explosive athlete, highly dependable in the ring.
3.	Samoa Joe	6'2'', 279 lbs	Powerful presence, top-notch intensity, excellent in the ring, strong promos.
4.	Chad Gable	5'8'', 187 lbs	Crisp offense, excellent mat skills, infectious energy, growing connection with crowd.
5.	Scott Dawson	5'10'', 224 lbs	Skilled bruiser, excellent striker, improving talker, several top-notch performances on his resume.
6.	Jason Jordan	6'3'', 245 lbs	Growing connection with crowd, fantastic athlete, unproven as singles competitor.
7.	Austin Aries	5'9'', 202 lbs	Crisp ring work, versatile offense, good heel promos.
8.	Hideo Itami	5'9'', 182 lbs	Excellent ring work, highly athletic, mic skills are current weakness.
9.	Eric Young	5'11'', 225 lbs	Entertaining, charismatic, works well against a variety of opponents.
10.	Rich Swann	5'6'', 165 lbs	Out-of-this-world athlete, great energy, size could prove an issue.
11.	Tye Dillinger	6'3'', 223 lbs	Popularity growing, excelling with gimmick, fun presence, solid in the ring.
12.	Johnny Gargano	5'10'', 190 lbs	Good athlete, fun offense, unproven on the mic.
13.	Christopher Girard	6'1'', 199 lbs	Good striker, aggressive, dependable ring work.
14.	Dash Wilder	5'10'', 222 lbs	Best in tag team role, solid bruiser, underwhelming on the mic.
15.	Tommaso Ciampa	5'11'', 210 lbs	Good aggression, solid in the ring.
16.	Murphy	5'11'', 227 lbs	Growing more intense, good athlete, minimal presence.
17.	Alexander Wolfe	6'2'', 231 lbs	Solid bruiser, skilled striker, gimmick needs work.
18.	Sawyer Fulton	6'8'', 285 lbs	Impressive size, limited in the ring, will need right gimmick to succeed.
19.	Blake	6'1'', 240 lbs	Serviceable in the ring, generates solid heel heat, decent athlete.
20.	No Way Jose	6'3'', 245 lbs	Good size, plenty of energy, low ceiling with current gimmick.

Prospects just outside the top 20: Elias Samson, Riddick Moss, Mojo Rawley

Nothing Lost in Translation

It doesn't matter what language Nakamura speaks. His showmanship and charisma is universal, as Total Wrestling magazine eluded to on Twitter:

That was on display in both a weird backstage promo and in the ring against Riley.

The King of Strong Style showed off his usual array of dramatic gestures, taunting Riley and letting his own wild energy flow through him. Nakamura writhes, wiggles and struts in between the ropes. And fans love it all.

Against Riley, he not only had his usual fun in the ring, but he also exuded an aura of danger. It was a reminder that as playful and expressive as he is, Nakamura is also a warrior who excels at whipping his opponents.

He hit Riley with a number of overwhelming strikes. The sound of his knee hitting Riley's gut echoed through Full Sail University.

This combination of violence and histrionics will allow Nakamura to connect with crowds, even if he only rarely speaks English.

Jordan Is Electric

The tag team champs steamrolled over Corey Hollis and John Skyler on Wednesday. In the process, Jordan looked to be having a blast. He seems energized by being a part of this team and being showcased as a co-titleholder.

His offensive contributions were eye-catching. He threw Hollis high into the air. He charged around the ring with a pulsing energy.

Jordan has continued to turn up the volume on his personality in the ring, and it's helping him catch up to Chad Gable in terms of popularity.

We will need to see what he can do in longer matches to get a better idea of how good he can be. Can he thrive in more than just bursts? Can he carry a bigger load in a major match? Those questions need to be answered before Jordan can be talked about as one of NXT's best.

The Darker Side of Balor

Losing the NXT Championship is allowing Finn Balor to explore his character.

On Wednesday night, he showed a more angry and unhinged version of himself. In a strong promo early in the show, he did well to express disappointment with his eyes. The Irishman was convincing when he talked about how obsessed he was about the title he lost to Samoa Joe.

Up against Elias Samson, Balor was his usual explosive self. 

Although he wisely saved his high-flying moves for the match's bigger moments. This is key to making those moves feel more significant. Balor has never been a guy who just moves from spot to spot, instead focusing on telling a story.

Balor isn't sticking around NXT for educational purposes. He is a part of that brand to give it star power and a reason to tune in. 

Female Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Asuka	5'3''	Strong connection with crowd, top-notch ring work, great presence.
2.	Bayley	5'6''	Excellent in-ring storyteller, stellar connection with crowd, Daniel Bryan-like aura on the mic.
3.	Alexa Bliss	5'2''	Superb heel, vicious, magnetic presence.
4.	Nia Jax	6'0''	Becoming more comfortable with monster role, fierce, powerful, good presence.
5.	Carmella	5'5''	Great energy, athletic, has refined her ring work.
6.	Aliyah	5'2''	Eye-catching intensity, highly athletic, comfortable as a heel.
7.	Eva Marie	5'8''	Marked improvement in the ring, star presence, still a work in progress.
8.	Liv Morgan	5'4''	Showing lots of potential, good energy, strong showmanship.
9.	Peyton Royce	5'7''	Improving presence, better sense of character, good aggression.
10.	Billie Kay	5'8''	Solid in the ring, underwhelming presence, gimmick still in progress.

Bliss Needs First-Rate Foes

Rachael Ellering played Bliss' latest victim. Bliss continued her recent winning streak, dominating the newcomer.

In the process, her mastery of villainy was on display. Bliss is so excellent at being dismissive of the crowd as she heads to the ring. She looks legitimately disgusted by the audience and her opponent.

Sean Ross Sapp of Wrestling Inc. is among those impressed with what Bliss has been doing:

During the match, she focused on Ellering's arm, attacking it with an almost unsettling level of aggression. She slammed her foe's arm down to the canvas and pounded on it as if she was tenderizing meat. 

The expressiveness in her eyes and face is fantastic.

Still, Bayley and Asuka remain higher in the pecking order. While Bliss has shown she can thrive as a heel, she doesn't have as many great matches on her resume. It is going to take some high-profile matches against marquee opponents to allow her to reach her ceiling.

Predictions

The reactions are only going to get worse for The Drifter. The crowd drowned out Samson's song about Balor with boos. This feels far more like go-away heat than WWE would like.

With as much as Samson has struggled to connect and how much airtime he has received of late, the jeering for The Drifter will soon reach Eva Marie levels.

As much as Bayley would flourish on the main roster against the likes of Becky Lynch and Paige, she isn't going anywhere for a long time. Expect her feud with Asuka to keep going and for her to battle Nia Jax again soon.

NXT needs stars like her to sell out arenas when it travels. WWE was already struggling to maintain balance in booking the women's division on the main roster, and that was before Dana Brooke came aboard.