WWE NXT Stock Up, Stock Down on the Brand's Prospects for Week of July 6

Wednesday's WWE NXT was a reminder that thriving in pro wrestling is so much about making the most of one's moments. 

Roderick Strong turned an NXT Championship match into a highlight on his resume. His loss to Bobby Roode was a showcase of how much of an artist he is between the ropes.

Ember Moon and Sanity's Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain didn't run with their opportunities nearly as well. Moon underwhelmed in a short interview, even getting outshone by a competitor making a cameo. Wolfe and Dain didn't make waves in their tag team match on Wednesday.

An episode light on in-ring action didn't offer much spotlight to stand in. And only Strong maximized his.

Read on for a look at how he, Moon, Wolfe and Dain affected their stocks with their performances on the latest edition of NXT.

Even: Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain

Sanity has largely spun its wheels of late.

Its latest bout continued that trend. Wolfe and Dain represented the stable of the unhinged on Wednesday's NXT against Kassius Ohno and Hideo Itami.

This wasn't a bad match. The heels didn't do anything to hurt their stock, but they didn't do much of note overall.

Dain didn't sell his opponents' offense well. There was too little drama when he was on the defensive.

The big man's own attacks didn't stand out, including an underwhelming senton. 

Wolfe did his best to convey his craziness. He bit the tag rope, and he smiled devilishly after taking a boot to the face. His facial expressions were all fine. He's no Nikki Cross in terms of being a compelling character, though.

Down: Ember Moon

A showdown between Moon and NXT women's champ Asuka is brewing. It's going to be a hell of a match. The path to that clash, though, has been lined with below-average mic work.

Moon is too often flat on promos. She lacks fire, and her words feel recited.

That was again the case on Wednesday when she talked in an interview at the WWE Performance Center about potentially facing Asuka.

This was better than some of Moon's other promos, but not at the level she needs to be.

Ruby Riot interrupted her speech. That tattooed bruiser was more compelling than Moon here. Riot's presence made the scene; Moon couldn't match her intensity.

The verbal side of the game remains her Achilles' heel.

Up: Roderick Strong

Strong shone in his first battle for the NXT Championship.

The champ can be methodical at times, leading to matches that lack spark early on. Not here. Strong provided the heart and the energy to get this bout rolling quickly.

Before the match started, Strong was emotional. He pumped his fist in the air and shouted to pump himself up. This was more personality than we normally seen from The Messiah of the Backbreaker.

Once the bell rang, Strong's crisp ring work was on display.

He hit a series of perfect dropkicks. One of them knocked spit from Roode's mouth high into the air.

When he fell between the ring steps and the ring post, Strong deftly sold the agony of his injured knee. Strong believed he had the match won later on, and his fall-to-the-floor disappointment felt genuine when he realized the truth.

He is still not a lightning rod of emotion or the most charismatic guy on WWE's payroll, but Strong came through here in a big way as a storyteller as well as an athlete.

Progress Wrestling promoter Jim Smallman had high praise for the effort: 

"

It's tonight now - saw this live and @roderickstrong and @REALBobbyRoode tore the house down. Great match. https://t.co/n8Nt8b9zeY

— Jim Smallman (@jimsmallman) July 5, 2017"

In Strong's biggest NXT match, he put delivered his best work. He looked and felt like a legitimate contender. 

You can't ask for much more than that.

Questions remain about how high his ceiling is. Does he have enough charisma to carry him? That's not clear yet. 

But man can he wrestle, and more matches like this will be his key to success at NXT and beyond.