NXT Weekly Rankings & Evaluation
By George Chiverton, PWTorch specialist

March 21, 2012 - Week 55

Rookie: Derrick Bateman
This Week's Performance: -
Gimmick: 7
Last Week's Rank: #1
Rank: #1

Comments: Bateman was back on the sidelines this week and played an exceptionally marginal role around Curtis and Maxine's capers. When he was on-screen, Bateman was also unlucky enough to be standing next to Kaitlyn, so I'd be lying if I said he had my full attention. However, he's still the best Rookie, he's the best in the ring (when that does occur), he's the best on the mic, and he's the most entertaining. It's that simple. Why move him elsewhere?

***

Rookie: Titus O'Neil
This Week's Performance: -
Gimmick: 2
Last Week's Rank: #2
Rank: #2

Comments: Pretty much wasn't on the show. Second position is a very slippery position at the moment.

***

Rookie: Darren Young
This Week's Performance: 6
Gimmick: 2
Last Week's Rank: #3
Rank: #3

Comments: Darren was Darren again: good receiving offense, but somewhat dull on the attack. The formula needs switching up a bit, but he is improving.

***

Other Comments: So, here we are: Mania.

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said by my colleagues so I'll simply give predictions: Rock, Taker, Punk, Sheamus, Orton, Cody, and Laurinaitis. Divas match? No one will win from that.

This week on NXT, Tyson Kidd vs. McGillicutty was excellent and the pre-match build-up video was so simple and yet so effective. It was very-well-handled all around.

In the build-up video, there was a short appearance by the Usos (McGillicutty claiming he was greater for being a second generation Superstar), which got me thinking about the Hall of Fame ceremony. With the Usos inducting Yokozuna, will they acknowledge Yoko was Samoan or maintain the Japanese facade that they built his character on? Jim Ross's article on WWE's website was the first to acknowledge it, and I'm feeling that the Usos will do the same given the importance of their Samoan heritage. Personally, I feel that would be the best way to go.

Otherwise, at the Hall of Fame, the applicants are all very welcome additions with my particular stand-outs being Edge and Ron Simmons. Although their influence is painfully obvious, I'm not old enough to have appreciated the Horsemen. Simmons is someone who, following cameos, I've taken great interest in and his career belongs in the Hall of Fame. Seeing him inducted by JBL will be excellent and I'm predicting a highlight of the night. Edge and Christian needs nothing said, and using Mike Tyson to add a final push for WrestleMania leaves everyone a winner. Finally, Mil Miscaras is another man who I know little about, which WWE should have addressed for the general audience, but his pop in Mexico as well as five minutes on YouTube told me everything I needed to know. Plus, Alberto Del Rio will be back on the telly, and put in context of his Luchador roots. Winners all over the shop on that one.

Finally, I was thinking (it doesn't happen often, so please bare with me) about WWE's apparent lack of star-building over the last couple of years. Although there are some clear faults, how much can the WWE be to blame for this? Specifically on the Royal Rumble, which perhaps is WWE's biggest star-maker, winners have gone on to establish themselves as top tier stars to the extent that their rub can make an up and comers, just up. Rey Mysterio and C.M. Punk can be used as evidence for this. If you cross this idea with Rumble winners of the past decade, then perhaps a shallow roster can be explained. Lesnar - gone, Edge - gone, Batista - gone, and, of course, Benoit. You could even argue that Del Rio's crowning moment at WrestleMania was cut off too due to unfortunate circumstances with Edge. Sheamus's ascent, or otherwise, will perhaps be the best evidence to come.

Anyways, let's do some WrestleMania-ing shall we?

[Torch photo (c) PWTorch.com]

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