Tag: mae young classic 2018

WWE Mae Young Classic results: Ashley Rayne vs. Mercedes Martinez

Posted on by Arya Witner

Welcome to week two of the 2018 Mae Young Classic. We dive further into the first round with four big matches tonight. Let’s get going!

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Deonna Purrazzo defeated Priscilla Kelly in a first round match

Purrazzo is a familiar face to the NXT audience, as she has wrestled a number of times since 2015 on the yellow brand. Kelly, who is not related to Killer Kelly from last week, has wrestled in a number of WWN companies. Samoa Joe was shown at ringside.

They were on different pages early but calmed down and built to a good match. Kelly took over with a pump kick to the face, which almost got her the win. Kelly seemed to be freaking out as she was unable to put Purrazzo away. Finally, Purrazzo suddenly hit a side Russian leg sweep and rolled through with a Fujiwara armbar for the submission!

Purrazzo couldn’t hold in her emotions and began crying. She’ll face the winner of Karen Q vs. Xia Li.

**********

Zeuxis defeated Aerial Monroe in a first round match

Monroe calls herself “The Big Swole” and has competed in Shimmer. Zeuxis has wrestled in both CMLL and AAA. Natalya and Cedric Alexander were both in the crowd here. Alexander is Monroe’s husband.

Monroe had her hair pulled early, so she threatened Zeuxis as to what would happen if she did that again. After another exchange, Zeuxis did just that. The crowd gasped and Monroe backhanded her foe in retaliation. Well, maybe Monroe shouldn’t have mentioned that, because Zeuxis concentrated on pulling her hair in almost every exchange.

Zeuxis locked on the Camel Clutch and yanked Monroe back by her nostrils. Monroe made her comeback and used an STO, but Zeuxis got her on the top rope and won after the Spanish Fly.

Zeuxis mocked the crowd and will now face the winner of Io Shirai vs. Xia Brookside. Alexander was shown hugging his and Monroe’s child, who was crying.

**********

Kacy Catanzaro defeated Reina Gonzalez in a first round match

Catanzaro was on American Ninja Warrior and was shown doing some very impressive things in her video package. Gonzalez mentioned that she was in last year’s MYC and was disappointed about losing in the first round. Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan were sitting ringside. They really usher people in and out of those seats, huh?

Catanzaro got in the ring by climbing up and over the ring post. That is not seen every day. Gonzalez towers over Catanzaro, who started the match by running into a headlock and a giant swing.

Catanzaro used her speed to try to make Gonzalez chase her and tire her, but it wasn’t working early. Catanzaro went for a headscissors, but Gonzalez turned that into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Gonzalez squished Catanzaro like a bug here, but the announcers telegraphed the finish a bit too much.

Catanzaro came back, using a springboard missile dropkick and a senton for a near fall. Catanzaro got the win with a roll-up, to the delight of the fans.

Gonzalez was pissed, but she put Catanzaro on her shoulders in celebration. Catanzaro will meet Rhea Ripley in the second round.

**********

Mercedes Martinez defeated Ashley Rayne in a first round match

Rayne, better known as Madison Rayne, has had a unique seven weeks. She wrestled for the Impact Knockouts Championship at Slammiversary, challenged for the Women of Honor title, wrestled at All In, and now is here in the Mae Young Classic. Martinez was in last year’s MYC, is an 18-year veteran, has wrestled all over the world, and was even on the long-forgotten Wrestlicious. The Undisputed Era bought out seemingly the entire front row just for this match.

Without elaborating on who he was, Beth Phoenix mentioned Rayne’s husband Josh (Mathews, formerly from WWE and now Impact) as Martinez dropped her on her head. Martinez held Rayne up for the Davey Boy Smith vertical suplex, holding her up for close to 15 seconds before dropping her. Rayne finally took over on Martinez with a series of forearms and clotheslines. Rayne hit a flying crossbody and a Roll of the Dice for a two count.

Rayne got caught with a running knee and Martinez picked up the win with the fisherman buster. Martinez will now go one-on-one with Meiko Satomura in round two, which should be tremendous.

So, that does it for another week. Nothing truly amazing, but nothing truly bad this week. See ya next Wednesday!

WWE Mae Young Classic results: The tournament begins

Posted on by Arya Witner

Hey, I’m back!

**********

The show opened with a recap of last year’s tournament, which segued into a video of this year’s competitors.

Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, and Renee Young are the commentary team.

**********

Tegan Nox defeated Zatara in a first round match

In her pre-match video package, the masked Zatara said she was the first Chilean wrestler in WWE history. Nox’s video had plenty of footage from PROGRESS.

Nox was the crowd favorite as they exchanged holds early. Nox got the best of her at the start. Zatara reached out for a handshake, but she betrayed Nox by booting her in the gut.

Zatara began working on the knee that Nox injured before last year’s tournament. Nox tried to shake it off during her comeback, the highlight of which was a diving crossbody off the top rope. Nox kicked out after a running double knees in the corner and picked up the win with a Shining Wizard!

A good, solid match to kick off the tournament. Nox will face the winner of the Isla Dawn vs. Nicole Matthews first round match.

Ember Moon and Alexa Bliss were shown applauding in the audience.

**********

Rhea Ripley defeated MJ Jenkins in a first round match

Ripley said she made a fool out of herself last year, but this is the darker version of her.

Ripley refused the pre-match handshake — and it was on. Jenkins was moving and grooving until she was on the apron and went to jump back in the ring, with Ripley dropkicking her and sending her crashing and burning onto the mats outside the ring. Ripley dominated Jenkins, who did a great job selling. Ripley used the abdominal stretch and dug her elbow right into the ribs.

Jenkins screamed to the heavens as she started her comeback. She hit a high kick and this time connected with the springboard dropkick on Ripley for a two count. Jenkins seemed primed for another big move, but Ripley hit a pumphandle powerbomb for the pin.

Ripley will face the winner of Kacy Catanzaro vs. Reina Gonzalez.

**********

Lacey Lane defeated Vanessa Kraven in a first round match

Lio Rush was shown ringside before this match.

Lane is the hometown favorite. She’s from Winter Park, Florida and has been in wrestling for two years. Kraven, however, is six feet tall and a 14-year veteran from Montreal. She’s competed all over Canada, Japan, and the United States.

Lane may be a foot (or so) shorter, but she can get her foot high, as she kicked Kraven right in the head. She also used an ugly looking multiple-springboard move, but it still did the trick. They ended up outside the ring, but that was for the worse. Kraven caught Lane and hung her upside down from the top rope. Kraven stalked Lane around the ring, using chops and an over-the-shoulder backbreaker.

Lane tried to fight back and kicked out after a Black Hole Slam, which got the crowd chanting for her. Kraven missed a cannonball splash (that she had hit earlier) and got upset when Lane used a crucifix pin for the win.

Kraven couldn’t believe it and neither could the Full Sail crowd. Lane will now face the winner of Taynara Conti vs. Jessie Elaban.

**********

Shadia Bseiso interviewed Natalya, who was really happy to be here and said she was rooting for both Mia Yim and Io Shirai to win.

**********

Meiko Satomura defeated Killer Kelly in a first round match

Want to know how long Satomura has been wrestling? In 1996 and 1997 she lost matches on WCW television, including to Toshie Uematsu on Nitro. Funaki and Tye Dillinger watched from ringside for the main event. Killer Kelly has been wrestling two years but has already competed for NXT UK, Rev Pro, Pro Wrestling EVE, and wXw.

Kelly used her superior speed, but once Satomura got her hands on her, she was twisted like a pretzel. Satomura locked on a single-legged crab and turned that into the best looking STF you’ve seen on WWE TV in 13 years. Kelly was used as a kick pad, as Satomura kicked her in every exposed inch of her body. Kelly came back with a suplex and went for a pump kick, but Satomura used an uppercut. Satomura also used a handspring into a double knee drop.

Kelly got the nearest of near falls with a Perfect Plex, which inspired a “This is Awesome” chant. Satomura was tired of the games and hit a nice looking Death Valley Driver for the pin.

Satomura will face the winner of Ashley Rayne vs. Mercedes Martinez.

So, that does it from night one of the Mae Young Classic. Thank you for reading and I’ll see you again next week!

Triple H discusses injury to Mae Young Classic participant

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Note: The following references results from last night’s Mae Young Classic tapings.

A year after a torn ACL kept her out of the inaugural tournament, Tegan Nox (the former Nixon Newell) suffered an injury to her other leg at last night’s Mae Young Classic tapings.

Nox was facing Rhea Ripley in the quarterfinals when she hurt her left leg on a dive. She tried to continue but wasn’t able to, and the match ended by referee stoppage. Nox was looked at by doctors and was visibly emotional after the injury.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque spoke to the crowd about the situation and initially indicated that Nox had a broken leg, along with a broken heart over not being able to finish what she started. He said it would just be a bump in the road for her. Levesque later did an interview with espnW, noting that Nox was being taken to the hospital to determine the specifics of the injury.

“To come here tonight and be in a position to where, let me just say, it couldn’t have been any more heartbreaking for her,” Levesque said. “Emotionally, just couldn’t have been any more heartbreaking. I don’t know, at this point, what happened. She landed funky on a dive and hurt herself.

“The doctor looked at it and it was so painful at the point that he couldn’t manipulate the disc to see if it was an ACL. So we have her headed over to the hospital now and check what it is.”

Nox had returned to the ring from her 2017 knee injury at an NXT house show this April. She was making her WWE television debut in the Mae Young Classic.

Nox posted a statement about yesterday’s injury on Twitter overnight. She called the past two days the best experience of her life despite what happened, said the support she’s received has been overwhelming, and vowed to come back stronger than ever:

This isn’t how I planned to finish the Mae Young Classic in any shape or form but the last 2 days have been the best experience of my life, despite the obvious! My match with Rhea was something I’ve wanted for a while because, damn that girl is talented (even if she is very moody). Freak accidents happen, it’s part of the job but to hear that she had a killer match with one of the best wrestlers in the world, Io Shirai made my heart swell with happiness.

This is more mentally draining than it is physically but you can guarantee that this isn’t going to keep me down! I have the best friends and support system a girl could ever ask for! 

I worked so hard for over a year to be able to compete in this year’s MYC, so you know for a fact, I’m fighting back stronger than ever!

Every message I’ve received tonight on twitter, Facebook, Instagram, text, etc has been absolutely overwhelming! The fact that my hospital room was full of people really warms my heart and honestly meant the absolute world to me! I said it before and I’ll say it again, everything happens for a reason, so no matter what the full extent of this injury is, I’ll be back and I’ll be Shinier than ever.

WWE Mae Young Classic TV taping spoilers: The finals are set

Posted on by F4W Staff

Night two of this year’s Mae Young Classic tapings took place at Full Sail University tonight, setting things up for the finals at WWE Evolution on October 28.

Second round matches —

– Toni Storm defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto

They had the match of the tournament up until this point, with Storm winning with a bridging pin.

– Rhea Ripley defeated Kacy Catanzaro

Ripley hit a pumphandle forward slam to win a good match. The crowd loved Catanzaro here.

– Lacey Lane defeated Taynara Conti

Lane advanced with a crucifix pin slam.

– Meiko Satomura defeated Mercedes Martinez

Another very good match. Satomura won with a step-up kick to the back of the head after some strong near falls.

– Io Shirai defeated Zeuxis

Knees to the back of the head followed by a moonsault won it for Shirai.

– Deonna Purrazzo defeated Xia Li

Li came off the top and got caught in a Fujiwara armbar for the submission.

– Tegan Nox defeated Nicole Matthews

A cannonball in the corner and a shining wizard got Nox the victory.

– Mia Yim defeated Kaitlyn

Yim kicked out of the spear and won with an ankle lock. The crowd chanted “Thank you Kaitlyn following the match.

Non-tournament match —

– Rachel Evers (Rachael Ellering) defeated Karen Q

Evers hit a spinebuster slam to win.

Quarterfinals —

– Meiko Satomura defeated Lacey Lane

Satomura used a Death Valley Driver for the finish. The crowd was into this one.

– Io Shirai defeated Deonna Purrazzo

This was a really good technical matchup. Shirai advanced with a moonsault.

– Toni Storm defeated Mia Yim

One of the better matches of the tournament. Storm used the Tiger Driver to win it, and the crowd chanted “Please sign Mia” after the match.

– Rhea Ripley defeated Tegan Nox

Ripley won by referee stoppage when Nox injured her non-braced leg on a dive. Nox tried to continue, but it gave out and she was tended to by doctors before being taken away crying. A devastating moment to witness.

Non-tournament matches —

– Xia Brookside, MJ Jenkins & Jessie Elaban defeated Allisyn Kay (Sienna), Vanessa Kraven & Reina Gonzalez

Kraven and Gonzalez turned against Kay with a double chokeslam before Brookside hit a crossbody to win.

– Aerial Monroe & Candice LeRae defeated Jinny & Killer Kelly

Monroe connected with a ripcord forearm for the win before celebrating with her daughter and husband (Cedric Alexander) at ringside.

– Triple H came out to talk to us and received a “Please sign Mia” chant, to which he said “Okay.” He mentioned that Nox had a broken leg before hyping up the final two matches for tonight.

Semifinals —

– Toni Storm defeated Meiko Satomura

They had an excellent match — the best of the tournament. They each kicked out of each other’s finishers and went for new moves as the crowd elevated. Storm finally hit the Tiger Driver a second time to earn her place in the finals.

Kairi Sane, last year’s Mae Young Classic winner, brought flowers out to Storm after the match.

– Io Shirai defeated Rhea Ripley

They had a back-and-forth match that got hot down the stretch. Shirai advanced to face Storm in the finals after hitting a moonsault. She received flowers from Sane, celebrated with the crowd, and had a photo op with Storm and Triple H.

WWE Mae Young Classic TV taping spoilers: First round matches

Posted on by F4W Staff

The first night of tapings for this year’s Mae Young Classic took place at Full Sail University tonight. They’ll continue tomorrow, leading into the finals being held at WWE Evolution on October 28.

Pre-show —

Triple H welcomed the audience and thanked them for being there. He introduced Renee Young and Beth Phoenix, who were joining Michael Cole on commentary.

– Britt Baker defeated Tesha Price in a dark match (non-tournament)

Baker submitted her with a crossface.

First round matches —

– Tegan Nox defeated Zatara

The former Nixon Newell used a shining wizard to pick up the win.

– Rhea Ripley defeated MJ Jenkins

Ripley advanced with a pumphandle slam.

– Lacey Lane defeated Vanessa Kraven

Lane won with a crucifix slam and pin.

– Meiko Satomura defeated Killer Kelly

Great match here. Satomura won with a Death Valley Driver.

– Deonna Purrazzo defeated Priscilla Kelly

Purrazzo used a Fujiwara armbar for the submission.

– Zeuxis defeated Aerial Monroe

The crowd loved Monroe, but she was pinned after an impressive Spanish Fly off the top by Zeuxis.

– Kacy Catanzaro defeated Reina Gonzalez

The former American Ninja Warrior standout used a roll through for the pin.

– Mercedes Martinez defeated Ashley Rayne (Madison Rayne)

– Kaitlyn defeated Kavita Devi

For the finish, Kaitlyn hit a spear on Devi.

– Toni Storm defeated Jinny

– Xia Li defeated Karen Q

A spinning kick got the win.

– Mia Yim defeated Allysin Kay (Sienna)

The crowd loved this match.

– Hiroyo Matsumoto defeated Rachel Evers (Rachael Ellering)

Great match, with the crowd loving Evers. Matsumoto won with a powerbomb and backdrop suplex.

– Taynara Conti defeated Jessie Elaban

– Nicole Matthews defeated Isla Dawn

Dawn tapped out to a Liontamer.

– Io Shirai defeated Xia Brookside

Shirai hit a moonsault to close out the first night of tapings.

VIDEO: The 2018 Mae Young Classic Parade of Champions

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Above, you can see tonight’s Mae Young Classic Parade of Champions starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time, where the full roster of women competing in this year’s tournament will be officially introduced. The first set of tapings is set for tonight at Full Sail University and will continue tomorrow.

The tournament will start airing on the WWE Network on September 5. It will air weekly leading into WWE Evolution on October 28, where the finals will be held. The commentary team for these shows will consist of Michael Cole, Renee Young and Beth Phoenix, with Phoenix and Mauro Ranallo hosting a bracketology show on August 29.

Here are the list of competitors for this year’s tournament, as well as the country they will be representing:

  • Aerial Monroe (United States)
  • Allysin Kay (United States, formerly Sienna on Impact Wrestling)
  • Ashley Rayne (United States, formerly Madison Rayne)
  • Deonna Purrazzo (United States)
  • Hiroyo Matsumoto (Japan)
  • Io Shirai (Japan)
  • Isla Dawn (Scotland)
  • Jessie Elaban (United States)
  • Jinny (England)
  • Kacy Catanzaro (United States)
  • Kaitlyn (United States)
  • Karen Q (China/United States)
  • Kavita Devi (India)
  • Killer Kelly (Portugal)
  • Lacey Lane (United States)
  • MJ Jenkins (United States)
  • Meiko Satomura (Japan)
  • Mercedes Martinez (United States)
  • Mia Yim (South Korea)
  • Nicole Matthews (Canada)
  • Priscilla Kelly (United States)
  • Rachel Evers (United States)
  • Reina Gonzalez (United States)
  • Rhea Ripley (Australia)
  • Taynara Conti (Brazil)
  • Tegan Nox (Wales)
  • Toni Storm (Australia)
  • Vanessa Kraven (Canada)
  • Xia Brookside (England)
  • Xia Li (China)
  • Zatara (Chile)
  • Zeuxis (Puerto Rico)

Commentary team, broadcast schedule set for Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With the first night of tapings taking place today, WWE has revealed a few additional details about the 2018 Mae Young Classic.

It will begin airing on the WWE Network at 9 p.m. Eastern time on September 5. The episodes will air after NXT every Wednesday, leading into the finals being held at WWE Evolution on October 28.

There will be a three-person commentary team for the tournament, with Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, and Renee Young calling the action. Cathy Kelley and Shadia Bseiso, the first Arab woman to sign with WWE as a wrestler, will be the backstage interviewers, and Kayla Braxton will be the ring announcer. Bseiso also has experience working in television.

“A few years ago I was put in charge of all of the announcers in the company,” Cole said in an interview with ESPN. “My goal when I took over was to have, for the first time, a full-time female commentator on one of our main shows. That is still my goal today and it led to, for the first time, having two women in the announcing booth for the Mae Young Classic. It blows me away that this is happening because as little as two years ago I would not have seen this happening.”

Young has expressed renewed interest in doing commentary recently if the opportunity were to present itself. She was previously part of the NXT team. Phoenix also called WWE’s Mixed Match Challenge alongside Cole and Corey Graves.

A bracketology special hosted by Phoenix and Mauro Ranallo is set to air on the WWE Network at 9 p.m. Eastern on August 29.

Tapings for the Mae Young Classic will continue tomorrow and set things up for the finals. Here’s the full list of participants:

  • Kaitlyn
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Io Shirai
  • Nicole Matthews
  • Jinny
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Tegan Nox (Nixon Newell’s WWE name)
  • Jessie Elaban
  • Reina Gonzalez
  • Taynara Conti
  • Mia Yim
  • Mercedes Martinez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Killer Kelly
  • Zeuxis
  • Isla Dawn
  • Lacey Lane
  • Karen Q
  • Toni Storm
  • Meiko Satomura
  • Ashley Rayne (Madison Rayne)
  • Priscilla Kelly
  • Xia Brookside
  • Hiroyo Matsumoto
  • Aerial Monroe
  • Vanessa Kraven
  • Allysin Kay (Sienna)
  • Xia Li
  • Rachel Evers (Rachael Ellering)
  • MJ Jenkins
  • Zatara

Full lineup set for WWE Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

All 32 wrestlers have been confirmed for this summer’s Mae Young Classic.

The final five participants were announced for the tournament today, with Sienna, Xia Li, Rachael Ellering,  MJ Jenkins, and Zatara rounding out the lineup. Tapings for the tournament will be held at Full Sail University next Wednesday and Thursday, leading into the finals taking place at WWE Evolution on October 28.

Sienna was announced by her real name (Allysin Kay). She is a former two-time Knockouts Champion in Impact Wrestling and recently left the company when her contract expired while she was out of action with blood clots in both of her lungs.

Li and Ellering are both returning from last year’s Mae Young Classic. Li is from China and made her in-ring debut in the 2017 tournament, losing to Mercedes Martinez in the first round. She’s under WWE contract and wrestles on NXT house shows in Florida.

Ellering is again going by “Rachel Evers,” which is a reference to her trainer Lance Storm’s real last name. She defeated Marti Belle in the first round last year, with Dave Meltzer reporting that WWE changed the finish midway through after Belle had originally been booked to win. Ellering lost to Abbey Laith in the second round and has wrestled outside of WWE since the tournament.

Jenkins was signed by WWE as part of the most recent group of wrestlers to report to the Performance Center. She wrestled on the indies before joining WWE and was formerly part of the Impact Wrestling roster.

Zatara is a masked wrestler from Santiago, Chile. She is 26 years old and started wrestling in 2008.

The full Mae Young Classic 2018 lineup is listed below. Taynara Conti won a qualifying match at July’s NXT television tapings but has yet to be officially announced by WWE.

  • Kaitlyn
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Io Shirai
  • Nicole Matthews
  • Jinny
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Tegan Nox (Nixon Newell’s new WWE name)
  • Jessie Elaban
  • Reina Gonzalez
  • Taynara Conti
  • Mia Yim
  • Mercedes Martinez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Killer Kelly
  • Zeuxis
  • Isla Dawn
  • Lacey Lane
  • Karen Q
  • Toni Storm
  • Meiko Satomura
  • Ashley Rayne (Madison Rayne)
  • Priscilla Kelly
  • Xia Brookside
  • Hiroyo Matsumoto
  • Aerial Monroe
  • Vanessa Kraven
  • Allysin Kay (Sienna)
  • Xia Li
  • Rachel Evers (Rachael Ellering)
  • MJ Jenkins
  • Zatara

Meiko Satomura confirmed for WWE Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Following the announcement of Toni Storm, another huge addition is set for WWE’s Mae Young Classic.

Meiko Satomura has been officially confirmed for the tournament. Her involvement was first reported by Tokyo Sports last month.

The 38-year-old Satomura has over two decades of experience in the ring and is one of the standout wrestlers of her generation. She started her career with GAEA Japan before its closure, founded and wrestles for the Sendai Girls promotion, and makes fairly regular appearances on the United Kingdom indies for places like Pro Wrestling: EVE and Fight Club: PRO.

After winning it from Chris Brookes earlier this year, Satomura currently holds the Fight Club: PRO Championship.

There are now 11 participants left to be announced for the 32-wrestler tournament, which will be filmed at Full Sail University on August 8 and 9. The finals will then take place at WWE Evolution in Long Island, New York on October 28.

Here’s the updated Mae Young Classic lineup:

  • Kaitlyn
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Io Shirai
  • Nicole Matthews
  • Jinny
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Tegan Nox (formerly known as Nixon Newell)
  • Jessie Elaban
  • Reina Gonzalez
  • Taynara Conti (won a qualifying match at NXT TV tapings)
  • Mia Yim
  • Mercedes Martinez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Killer Kelly
  • Zeuxis
  • Isla Dawn
  • Lacey Lane
  • Karen Q
  • Toni Storm
  • Meiko Satomura

WWE announces Toni Storm for Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

As expected, Toni Storm will be returning for this summer’s Mae Young Classic.

WWE announced via The Mirror today that Storm will be taking part in the tournament for the second straight year. She made it to the semifinals in 2017, losing to Kairi Sane.

Storm signed a United Kingdom contract with WWE earlier this year and appears set to be positioned as a top star in NXT UK’s women’s division. She won a triple threat match on night one of June’s Royal Albert Hall shows and advanced to unsuccessfully challenge for Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship the next night.

“It’s just strange because I feel like my brain still hasn’t let it sink in yet that I am associated with WWE,” Storm told The Mirror. “I have strived for it for so long and dreamt of getting into WWE from being a kid and I have never let it go. It’s completely surreal, a lot of the time I kind of don’t even think i have got there.”

Storm was born in New Zealand, grew up in Australia, and has held titles in PROGRESS Wrestling and Stardom. She’s also the current wXw Women’s Champion.

The Mae Young Classic will be taped at Full Sail University on August 8 and 9 before the finals are held at WWE’s Evolution pay-per-view in Long Island, New York on October 28. Twenty of the 32 participants for the tournament have now been announced:

  • Kaitlyn
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Io Shirai
  • Nicole Matthews
  • Jinny
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Tegan Nox (formerly known as Nixon Newell)
  • Jessie Elaban
  • Reina Gonzalez
  • Taynara Conti (won a qualifying match at NXT TV tapings)
  • Mia Yim
  • Mercedes Martinez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Killer Kelly
  • Zeuxis
  • Isla Dawn
  • Lacey Lane
  • Karen Q
  • Toni Storm

Four more participants set for WWE Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With four more participants being announced today, 19 of the 32 wrestlers for this summer’s Mae Young Classic have now been confirmed.

Zeuxis, Isla Dawn, Lacey Lane, and Karen Q were added to the lineup for the Mae Young Classic during the most recent round of announcements. The tournament will be taped at Full Sail University on August 8 and 9, with the finals taking place at WWE’s Evolution pay-per-view at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York on October 28.

Zeuxis is from Puerto Rico and recently left CMLL. She defeated Princesa Sugehit, who made it to the second round of the inaugural Mae Young Classic, in a mask vs. mask match at last year’s CMLL anniversary show.

Dawn is Scottish and is part of WWE’s United Kingdom division. She wrestled on the first night of last month’s WWE UK shows at Royal Albert Hall, losing a triple threat match that saw Toni Storm win and go on to unsuccessfully challenge for Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship the next night.

Lane was introduced as part of the newest group of WWE Performance Center signees earlier this month. She played division two basketball while in college, was trained at The Dudley Boyz’s Team 3D Academy, and is a former Women’s Champion for The Crash Lucha Libre.

Karen Q currently wrestles on the indies and is part of ROH’s Women of Honor division. She took part in a WWE tryout at the Performance Center last October.

Here’s the updated list of participants for the 2018 Mae Young Classic:

  • Kaitlyn
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Io Shirai
  • Nicole Matthews
  • Jinny
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Tegan Nox (formerly known as Nixon Newell)
  • Jessie Elaban
  • Reina Gonzalez
  • Taynara Conti (won a qualifying match at NXT TV tapings)
  • Mia Yim
  • Mercedes Martinez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Killer Kelly
  • Zeuxis
  • Isla Dawn
  • Lacey Lane
  • Karen Q

WWE announces more participants for Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nearly half of the lineup for this summer’s Mae Young Classic has now been confirmed.

WWE added four more participants to the 32-wrestler field today. Three of the new additions are returning from last year’s Mae Young Classic, while the other is a newcomer to the tournament.

Mia Yim, Mercedes Martinez, and Kavita Devi will be back this year. Yim and Martinez aren’t under WWE contract, but both made it past the first round in 2017. Martinez, a veteran indie wrestler, lost to Shayna Baszler in the semifinals. Yim was formerly known as Jade in TNA/Impact Wrestling and was defeated by Baszler in the second round.

Devi is from India and lost to Dakota Kai in the opening round last year, with WWE’s clip of their match on YouTube currently having nearly 30 million views. Devi is under contract to WWE and appeared in the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal this April.

Killer Kelly was the other wrestler announced for the tournament today. Kelly is from Portugal and wrestled on both of WWE’s United Kingdom-brand shows at Royal Albert Hall last month.

UPDATE: WWE originally announced a wrestler named Crystal, who made her in-ring debut in 2016 and calls herself the “Queen of Philippine Wrestling,” for the tournament before removing her from their article. She took part in a WWE tryout in Manila in 2017 and currently wrestles in Southeast Asia. She may be announced at another point as WWE continues their rollout of this year’s participants.

The 2018 Mae Young Classic will be taped at Full Sail University on August 8 and 9. Here’s the updated lineup:

  • Kaitlyn
  • Rhea Ripley
  • Io Shirai
  • Nicole Matthews
  • Jinny
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Deonna Purrazzo
  • Tegan Nox (formerly known as Nixon Newell)
  • Jessie Elaban
  • Reina Gonzalez
  • Taynara Conti (won a qualifying match at NXT TV tapings)
  • Mia Yim
  • Mercedes Martinez
  • Kavita Devi
  • Killer Kelly

Four more participants confirmed for WWE Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has confirmed four more participants for the 2018 Mae Young Classic.

After reporting to the Performance Center this week, Deonna Purrazzo has been officially announced for the tournament. Tegan Nox (the former Nixon Newell), Jessie Elaban, and Reina Gonzalez were also confirmed for the Mae Young Classic today.

Purrazzo was one of the alternates for the first Mae Young Classic and was included in a dark match at last year’s tapings. She wrestled for Ring of Honor, Stardom, and independent promotions both in the United States and internationally before signing with WWE. She was originally scheduled to wrestle at All In this September, but her going to WWE means that she won’t be able to be on the show.

Nox is from Wales and wrestled on the UK indies and internationally before signing with WWE in 2017. She was supposed to be in the first Mae Young Classic, but a torn ACL prevented her from being in the tournament. She returned to the ring at an NXT house show this April and recently got her new WWE name.

Elaban and Gonzalez are both signed to WWE and regularly wrestle on NXT house shows. Gonzalez lost to Nicole Savoy in the first round of last year’s tournament.

Kaitlyn, Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai, Nicole Matthews, Jinny, Kacy Catanzaro, Purrazzo, Nox, Elaban, and Gonzalez have now been confirmed for this year’s tournament. It will feature 32 participants and will be taped at Full Sail University on August 8 and 9.

Io Shirai, three more confirmed for WWE Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With four more wrestlers being announced today, the lineup for this year’s Mae Young Classic continues to take shape.

As expected, Io Shirai will be one of the participants in the tournament. After it was reported that she was signing with WWE, Shirai departed Stardom in June and then made an appearance at a WWE house show in Tokyo, Japan, where it was announced that she would be joining NXT this summer.

Shirai finished 10th in the “Most Outstanding” category in last year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.

Nicole Matthews, an indie wrestler from Canada who was an alternate for the first Mae Young Classic, will be an entrant this year. She began her in-ring career in 2006 and has long been a regular for Shimmer in the United States and ECCW in Canada.

Jinny, who recently signed a United Kingdom-brand contract with WWE, will also be taking part in the Mae Young Classic. She’s PROGRESS Wrestling’s current Women’s Champion.

Rounding out today’s announcements, former “American Ninja Warrior” standout Kacy Catanzaro has been confirmed for the tournament. She made her debut at an NXT house show in April after signing with WWE in 2017 and reporting to the Performance Center this January.

Kaitlyn, Rhea Ripley, Shirai, Matthews, Jinny, and Catanzaro are the first six wrestlers to be announced for the tournament, which will be taped at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida on August 8 and 9. There will be 32 participants in total.

Kaitlyn returning to WWE for this year’s Mae Young Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The first entrant has been confirmed for this summer’s Mae Young Classic.

WWE announced via ESPN.com today that former Divas Champion Kaitlyn (real name Celeste Bonin), who was previously with the company from 2010-2014, will be taking part in the tournament. She retired in 2014 to focus on her fitness apparel business and marriage but returned to the ring this February for Coastal Championship Wrestling.

“Since I came back, I had the opportunity to work backward and really nail down the fundamentals and the basics — things that I really lacked during my first run with the WWE,” Bonin told ESPN. “Now I am bringing these newly honed and developed skills that I have acquired recently and I am combining that with my fearless attitude. And because I don’t have this rookie vibe about me, now I can really concentrate on surprising the WWE universe with all the things I have learned.”

Dave Meltzer reported last month that Bonin was backstage at the set of NXT television tapings that took place on June 21 and that there was talk of her returning.

Bonin has a YouTube channel where she’s documented her return to the ring, her life after getting divorced, and overcoming addiction issues after getting addicted to what she described as a legal research chemical.

This year’s Mae Young Classic will be taped at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida on August 8 and 9. There will be 32 wrestlers in the tournament.