WWE NXT Rankings: Shore continues to rank the rookies as the first vote approaches

This article ranks the NXT rookies based upon how well they are doing with what they have been given, and my perception of how WWE officials would rank them. It is not an attempt to pick the winner as it is obviously a worked competition. The first number is my personal ranking, and the final number is where I believe WWE officials would rank the rookies.

According to Matt Striker, the first pro vote occurs in two weeks. Striker implied that someone(s) would be leaving the show after that vote. If that is confirmed next week, I will add my predictions for who I think will be cut. Let's get to the rankings…

1. Daniel Bryan (mentor The Miz): The fact that he is now 0-3 means nothing. I fully expect him to keep losing against monster opponents, or due to Miz’s interference for the foreseeable future. They may change it up on the first show where the pros vote, but even then I would not be surprised if they held off his first win until the end of NXT, and had his contract riding on beating the Miz. WWE Ranking: 1

2. David Otunga (mentor R-Truth): Even though we didn’t get to see big Dave as a participant on this week’s show, there was an expansive video package on him, not to mention all the mentions on the main shows. All signs still point to WWE, and me, being high on him. WWE Ranking: 2

3. Darren Young (mentor C.M. Punk): Young did very well in his match with Hardy and Gabriel. He did most of the work, and even got the pin on Hardy, albeit with Punk’s help. His post match beating ensures that WWE has plans for him and Punk. My guess at this point is he turns heel and embraces straight edge instead of turning on Punk. But that’s mostly from Bryan already having the turn against the pro storyline. Young needs to get that hair off of his head, but I’m not sure if shaving it is the way to go. He already looks like Cena, do you want them to be twins? WWE Ranking: 4

4. Wade Barrett (mentor Chris Jericho): He didn’t have the greatest match this week, thus the one place drop, but I still see star written all over him. It doesn’t hurt that he has Jericho screaming at the announcers and exuding awesomeness that he can feed off of. WWE is definitely high on him as he has been in two of the four main events. Look for Barrett to be the number one heel coming out of this show. WWE Ranking: 5

5. Justin Gabriel (mentor Matt Hardy): I thought Gabriel did a nice job with his match this week. He oversells a little, but selling is the toughest thing to learn. Most new guys over or under sell, and his is too egregious. He still bores me a little with his character, but he seems to have completely ditched the look he had when he debuted, which is smart. I think he is the bubble guy for WWE and will have to work hard to stay on the roster and be more than the new Evan Bourne. WWE Ranking: 6

6. Heath Slater (mentor Christian): In the perplexing category, we have Slater as the only undefeated rookie in NXT. Of course he beat what’s his name, and then got beat down, so I’m not exactly impressed. For the life of me I cannot figure out why WWE still loves this guy. I think the next week or two will be watershed moments for him. I just don’t see the continued push if he continues to look like a tool. But for now, he remains high on WWE’s list, and low on mine. WWE Ranking: 3

7. Skip Sheffield (mentor William Regal): I hate to give Powell credit for anything, but he’s right. Sheffield and Regal have one of the more interesting relationships and it is fun to watch them interact. However, his in ring skills are still very rough, and I wonder how long his comedy shtick can get or keep him over. His ranking is more of a result of not being as good as those above him than it does with being as bad as those below him. But it doesn’t change the fact that he is on the bottom rungs of the ladder. WWE Ranking: 7

8. Michael Tarver (mentor Carlito): I still forget this guy every time I try to list the rookies, and tonight showed why. He lost to the hair flip fool, and the post match beat down did very little to get him over. He needed this win, or at the very least the post match beating should have included the 1.9 second punch. Josh Matthews said people would be talking about Tarver this week. He would be wrong. WWE Ranking: 8