WWE NXT: Updated Prospect Rankings, Analysis, Predictions for Week of March 23

The art of thrashing a foe with a well-timed strike was on full display on Wednesday's WWE NXT.

The heavy hitters were the stars of the show, using forearm shots and kicks to the head like a painter uses a brush. Andrade "Cien" Almas outlasted Oney Lorcan in an excellent slugfest. Killian Dain impressed as he bowled over his foes. Asuka laid waste to her opponent in compelling fashion.

Ahead of NXT TakeOver: Orlando on April 1, these performances offered the latest evidence that Almas is among the developmental brand's most promising talents.

Defeat may be awaiting him at the upcoming live special, but the former La Sombra has shown himself to be a wrestler deserving of added spotlight.

Dain continues to look good in the early part of his NXT run. As for Asuka, she has long ruled the kingdom.

The following is a look at how all those wrestlers and their peers stack up against each other as prospects for the main roster. Their ring work, mic skills, charisma, look and gimmick determined the order. 

Note that Ruby Riot won't be considered for the rankings until she makes her official in-ring debut.

Male Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height/Weight	Notes
1.	Shinsuke Nakamura	6'2", 229 lbs	Great seller, elite showman, top-notch in-ring performer, language barrier biggest weakness.
2.	Scott Dawson	5'10", 224 lbs	Skilled striker, top-tier tag team work, believable heel on the mic.
3.	Bobby Roode	6'0", 235 lbs	Ring general, thrives as heel, highly experienced, great entrance.
4.	Johnny Gargano	5'10", 190 lbs	Natural babyface, likable, excellent ring work, athletic.
5.	Andrade "Cien" Almas	5'9", 222 lbs	On fire in the ring of late, fast, great striker, heel role suiting him well.
6.	Kassius Ohno	6'5", 255 lbs	Excellent striker, top-notch in-ring performer, good size, solid charisma.
7.	Tye Dillinger	6'3", 223 lbs	Great connection with crowd, improved matches in recent months, developing as a talker.
8.	Eric Young	6'0", 224 lbs	Vicious, compelling aggressiveness, strong storyteller in the ring, Sanity gimmick a great fit.
9.	Tommaso Ciampa	5'11", 210 lbs	Strong striker, intense, average mic work.
10.	Hideo Itami	5'9", 182 lbs	Has to regain momentum after latest injury, skilled striker, excellent in the ring, highly athletic.
11.	Dash Wilder	5'10", 222 lbs	Dependable in the ring, excellent tag team psychology, lacks presence as talker.
12.	Roderick Strong	5'10", 211 lbs	Beautiful ring work, varied move set, charisma remains issue.
13.	Shane Thorne	6'1", 200 lbs	Injury will stall momentum, athletic, good presence, marketable look, not yet an elite babyface.
14.	Oney Lorcan	6'1", 190 lbs	Excellent in slugfests, OK presence, good aggression.
15.	No Way Jose	6'3", 245 lbs	Goofy gimmick holding him back, inconsistent striker, gifted athlete, high ceiling.
16.	Killian Dain	6'4", 322 lbs	Impressive movement for his size, intimidating, big potential.
17.	Elias Samson	6'0", 217 lbs	Grating heel, good aggression, working gimmick well, serviceable in the ring.
18.	Alexander Wolfe	6'2", 231 lbs	Good bruiser, solid striking, Sanity gimmick working well.
19.	Rezar	6'4", 308 lbs	Strong intensity, impressive power, solid presence, unproven in the ring.
20.	Tucker Knight	6'2", 282 lbs	Powerful, good acceleration, plenty of intensity.

Prospects just outside the top 20: Nick Miller, Buddy Murphy, Akam

Almas Rising

Almas and Lorcan's underrated feud rolled on Wednesday night with the bully blasting his way to a victory.

This rivalry has resulted in a number of hard-hitting moments where spit flew and chests were left red. That was true again in their latest clash. Almas flourished within the violent framework of this slobberknocker.

The luchador also showed good speed, springing around the ring with ease. 

Almas sneered throughout the battle. He was the cocky predator licking the blood from his lips. More and more, he has grown more believable with his NXT persona.

Those elements helped he and Lorcan produce another quality contest together. Denny Burkholder of CBSSports.com praised the bout:

And while Lorcan held his own in a match heavy with hard shots, Almas showed more presence than his opponent. NXT would be foolish to not continue to push Cien up the ladder. He increasingly looks like a major player in the making.

A Monster Honing Its Craft

Sanity's resident monster is showing plenty of potential.

In a six-man tag team match against Tye Dillinger, Roderick Strong and No Way Jose, Dain was one of the most compelling elements, a human battering ram on a tear.

Dain's footwork was good throughout. He displayed nice speed for his size. And his aggression made his offense fun to watch.

His combination of power and acceleration looked a bit Bray Wyatt-esque.

It's too early to tell if Dain can follow in Wyatt's footsteps, but he has been a valuable addition for the Sanity faction. He was one of the stars of a crowded match and has made steady progress up the NXT ladder thus far.

Female Wrestlers

Rank	Wrestler	Height	Notes
1.	Asuka	5'3"	Top-notch presence, great striker, excellent showmanship.
2.	Ember Moon	5'2"	Excellent athlete, powerful striker, fast, intimidating, underwhelming talker.
3.	Nikki Cross	5'1"	Skilled brawler, great energy, standing out in Sanity faction.
4.	Billie Kay	5'8"	Plays a heel well, flamboyant, good energy, sometimes awkward in the ring.
5.	Peyton Royce	5'7"	Solid ring work, inconsistent striking, working heel gimmick well.
6.	Aliyah	5'2"	Strong striker, ample energy, high ceiling.
7.	Mandy Rose	5'4"	Progressing in the ring, strong presence, has star quality.
8.	Daria Berenato	5'7"	Inconsistent ring work, learning to harness gimmick, good intensity.
9.	Liv Morgan	5'3"	Remains awkward in the ring, quick, good energy.
10.	Danielle Kamela	Not listed	Unproven, raw, solid selling.

Asuka Remains The Queen

Priscilla Zuniga found out what the rest of NXT has known since Asuka's arrival—the Japanese warrior is a bruiser extraordinaire.

The NXT women's champ steamrolled Zuniga. Asuka's kicks, her presence, her dangerous aura all shone through the screen. She did well to make a squash match something worth talking about.

CBSSports.com writer Brian Campbell saluted her afterward:

Her English-language skills, though, remain her weak point. It was hard to understand her angry proclamations on Wednesday night. That won't bother some fans, but one has to believe WWE will want her to fine-tune her pronunciation. 

One solution is to assign her a manager, as bookers have previously done for The Great Muta and others.

Predictions

Aleister Black's arrival is now official. NXT announced on Wednesday that the Dutch predator will make his debut against Almas at TakeOver: Orlando.

That match will be a show-stealer. Almas has been on a tear of late, putting on his best work since signing with WWE. And Black is a hell of a performer, something Orlando fans will see from up close come April 1.

Riot (formerly Heidi Lovelace) stormed into the ring near the close of Wednesday's NXT to attack Nikki Cross of Sanity.

The tattooed grappler will be a great addition to the women's division. As she and Cross go to war, they will be the talk of NXT. Look for them to engage in a groundbreaking feud, one marked by No Disqualification matches and brawls in the stands.