NXT Rankings
In honor of the second Pro’s poll being revealed tonight on NXT, I am going to play along and show my own rankings for all the wrestlers. My list doesn’t deviate too far from the first Pro’s poll, but there are some differences. I came up with my rankings based mainly off of which wrestlers stood out the most and which I would like to see in the WWE in the future.
1.Daniel Bryan
Something about Daniel Bryan just clicks with me. Like the fact that he’s awesome. When I first heard about Bryan Danielson and his personality/ mic skills I thought he was going to be like The Great Khali on the microphone (without the accent), but he’s impressed me so far on all levels on the show. Now if only they’d let him win a match…
2. Wade Barrett
Out of all of the NXT Rookies, Wade Barrett strikes me as the one who could most likely wind up as a main eventer. He’s just got all the right elements in terms of size and personality, and has enough unique elements about him (he’s British!) in order to stand out.
3.Darren Young
So why is the Pro’s 8th ranked superstar number three on my list? When people talk about a good heel as being someone you would pay to see beat up- that’s what Darren Young is to me. Additionally, his interactions with CM Punk and the Straight Edge Society are one of the things that keep me interested in NXT.
4.Justin Gabriel
Honestly, rankings four, five, and six were a bit of a mix up for me and I kept switching them around until settling for this. As far as high flyers go, Justin Gabriel is big enough to where I think he’d avoid the usual job duty that most high flyers are put on. He’s also pretty over with the crowd and his accent keeps him distinct enough.
5. Skip Sheffield
Skip was probably my least favorite of the rookies when NXT started, but he’s slowly wound up more in my favor. His character and catchphrases are usually the kind of corny over the top thing I hate in wrestling, but Skip does it with such sincerity I can’t help but kind of like them now.
6. David Otunga
I like Otunga’s character and gimmicks, but where as Skip seems sincere to me, I feel like the A-Lister is reading from a script. The writing in his shaved head is unique, and the “A-List” lifestyle is a great gimmick for a heel, but I don’t think he’s doing it as well as the people who have done similar gimmicks in the past (like MVP).
7. Heath Slater
There’s nothing that I really dislike about Heath, but there’s nothing that I really like either. He’s pretty much the textbook definition of a white meat babyface. He’s kind of like the default create-a-wrestler in a video game, and with the same personality as well. I don’t hate him, but there’s just really nothing that makes the one man rock band stand out to me.
8. Michael Tarver
Imagine a pitbull. Now imagine that pitbull getting released from NXT. Seriously, despite his bitchin’ shirts, Tarver hasn’t really done a whole hell of a lot on this show other than… do nothing. If he came to the main roster of RAW or Smackdown I think he’d just blend in with all the other heels on the show.
Shame what happened really. Tarver’s pretty good on the mic too. Kinda Dubya Dubya E’s fault for booking him that way though.
I didn’t see the episode last night, but I heard what happened. Sounds like we have’nt seen the last of Bryan Danielson on WWE. Of course, I wouldn’t complain at all if he came back to ROH.
Wade Barret is going to be something, he’s really good. Only thing is, the man needs a finisher and fast. His current finisher is embarrassingly lame. I really don’t like Darren Young, but really, I can’t get passed his look and character to judge what sort of wrestler he is. Justin Gabriel is good, Skip Sheffield is getting better, Otunga, Slater, and Tarver don’t strike me at all.
I want Wade Barrett to win, not necessarily because he and I are English, but more because he and I are northern! Closest thing I’ve ever had to a home player to cheer for in the WWE.
Shame about Skip Sheffield’s elimination as I was really starting to take to that guy. Can we lose Otunga next? Please? He bores the hell out of me 🙁
William Regal is from Blackpool :p
I’ll be honest- NXT went from my favorite WWE show to least favorite after the first five minutes of the last episode! I’m not ready to ban it completely just yet, but eliminating Daniel Bryan was… questionable at best. I’m not even sure what they’re going to do with the show anymore considering they said they’re eliminating someone else on next week’s episode. Are they really going to keep the show going with just four people?
Hopefully if Daniel Bryan’s exit interview is anything to go by, we’ll see him on Raw as Bryan Danielson… but I’m not getting my hopes up. I’m definitely rooting for Wade Barrett now though.
Aaand what I said has completely changed! Daniel Bryan’s promo on last Tuesday’s NXT was my biggest mark out moment in years. I almost didn’t even watch the show because I (somewhat foolishly) didn’t think he’d be back, but fortunately my wife convinced me to watch it after all. Darren Young’s exit promo was very cringe worthy though!
Danielson’s promo and ensuing beatdown on Cole was great and played up to the people who knew and loved him on the indies. I’ll be happy if Darren Young doesn’t come back, but that’s probably not going to be the case. Also, he looks like John Cena fell asleep in a tanning bed wearing a Troll doll wig.