Top 5 ranked performers on NXT this week

With all NXT performers vying for an eventual main roster spot, any act on the roster is in constant competition with each of their peers.

Each week these superstars compete to earn the right to be the one who makes the next jump up to the main roster, move up on the NXT card or simply keep their dreams alive on the brand.

This was a rather weak episode all in all but was saved by a tremendous main event that saw Moustache Mountain put their newly won NXT tag team championships on the line against the former champs Undisputed era.

These are who I felt shone the brightest on the latest installment of the black and yellow brand.

Honorable mentions:

Vanessa Borne - Borne has been used largely as enhancement talent during her time on NXT TV thus far but this week felt like a breakout performance. Borne is a great athlete who is being held back currently by her in-ring work which is still developing.

Her charisma was what shone through in this match as she made a bout with Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane feel as though it was all about her even in defeat. If Borne can continue improving at this rate look for her to rise up the rungs of NXT's women's division.

Kairi Sane - Sane looked competent but not outstanding in her win over Vanessa Borne this week. She's very competent in the ring but this wasn't her strongest showing and it was a bizarre decision to give her mic time after the match as her English is still not at a level where she can deliver a compelling promo.

#5 Adam Cole

Who should challenge Cole for his title next?

While it was nice to see Cole compete in a one-on-one match on NXT this week, it wasn't his best performance. The pace of his match with Danny Burch was quite lackluster and it was only an intense final sequence that earns him this spot on the list.

The match lacked any real tension and one has to think putting Cole's title on the line here might have been an effective way of elevating the importance of the match. Cole was solid as ever but really needs a meaningful feud in the near future.

#4 Roderick Strong

Is Strong the weakest number of the Undisputed Era?

Strong was in my opinion the least intriguing component of the tag team championship match but the fact that the performance still sees him reach fourth place on this list shows just how great this main event was.

The Crow were incredibly into this one and we are seemingly torn between rooting for the two teams. Strong was effective without being outstanding but he played his part well in this brilliant encounter.

#3 Kyle O'Reilly

Has anyone performed as consistently well as O'Reilly in recent months?

O'Reilly has probably been NXT's most consistent performer of late and had another great showing in this one. He's been helped by having regular matches and quality opposition and Moustache Mountain certainly filled that bill this week.

O'Reilly was a constant thorn in the side of the tag team champions and did a great job of viciously targeting Trent Seven's injury in the bout's latter stages. Hopefully we will continue to see Undisputed Era feature in regular matches against strong opposition now they reclaimed the belts.

#2 Tyler Bate

Is Bate a future main roster champion in the WWE?

Bate was made to wait for his time to shine in this match following an extended period on the apron and a number of hot tag teases. When the hot tag eventually came however, Bate exploded into action and displayed his ridiculous strength and agility with ease.

He also showcased his improving character work late in the match as he battled with himself whether to throw in the towel for his injured partner and mentor in Trent Seven. Hopefully dropping the titles here isn't a signal that Bate will be put on the back burner and one has to hope that the Duo will be kept as regulars on NXT TV for the foreseeable future.

#1 Trent Seven

Seven's performance can be separated pretty clearly into four separate stages. At the beginning of the match he was his fun-loving comedic self, entertaining the crowd. Next he was the victim of a targeted assault on his left knee that saw him consistently and compellingly sell this injury for a large portion of the match.

Later, he returned to the ring a wounded warrior, delivering a hot tag-esque sequence without letting anyone think his injury had got even slightly better from earlier in the match. Finally, he heart-breakingly refused to quit despite being isolated and decimated.

Eventually, his partner had no choice but to throw in the tale for Seven as the team were unable to complete their first heroic defense of their newly won gold. This sensational performance earns Trent Seven the number one place on this weeks list.

NXT Rankings Top 10:

#1 Ricochet - 17pts

#2 Kyle O'Reilly - 16pts

#2 Johnny Gargano - 16pts

#4 Tommaso Ciampa - 15pts

#5 Velveteen Dream - 13pts

#6 Only Lorcan - 10pts

#7 Trent Seven - 9pts

#8 Chris Dijak - 8pts

#9 EC3 - 7pts

#9 Tyler Bate - 7pts