By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Mae Young Classic
Taped August 9, 2018 in Winter Park, Florida at Full Sail University
Aired October 3, 2018 on WWE Network
Mauro Ranallo narrated the video package that set up this week’s matches… The MYC opening aired… The broadcast team of Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, and Renee Young checked in and the brackets were shown…
A video package set up the opening match…
1. Toni Storm vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto in a second round match. The women shook hands before the match. Storm performed a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. The women exchanged strikes. Matsumoto clotheslined Storm and went on the offensive and applied a half crab. Storm reached the ropes to break the hold. Storm came back with a bridging German suplex for a nice near fall. Matsumoto performed some short-arm clotheslines. Storm ducked thte last one and performed a rollup into a bridge for the win…
Toni Storm defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto to advance to the quarterfinals.
Powell’s POV: A good match and it felt like a big win for Storm. I love that Storm acted surprised while Matsumoto yelled in frustration afterward.
2. Kacy Catanzaro vs. Rhea Ripley in a second round match. Ripley blew off a handshake offer and mocked Catanzaro’s small stature. Ripley was dominant early and walked around the ring before putting Catanzaro down with a vertical suplex that resulted in a two count. Catanzaro came back with an around the world DDT for a pop. Cole noted that she’d been training in WWE for less than a year as he and the other broadcasters marveled over the move. Catanzaro followed up with a dive onto Ripley at ringside. Catanzaro botched a springboard move. Ripley kicked her, Catanzaro kicked her back, then performed the springboard move she had planned. Catanzaro went for a head scissors and Ripley stuffed it with a kick and then hit Riptide for the clean win. Ripley shook Catanzaro’s hand and then shoved it aside and motioned for her to leave the ring…
Rhea Ripley defeated Kacy Catanzaro to advance to the quarterfinals.
Powell’s POV: A good match despite the botch. The match played perfectly into the size difference. Ripley looked powerful and Catanzaro had the fun hope spots. Both women have very bright futures in WWE.
3. Taynara Conti vs. Lacey Lane in a second round match. Cole noted that both women are young and that Lane had only been in developmental for a few months. The hometown Lane had the crowd behind her. Lane performed a crucifix bomb for the win. Lane will face Storm in the quarterfinals…
Lacey Lane defeated Taynara Conti to advance to the quarterfinals.
Powell’s POV: A brief match that was fine for what i was. Conti has good heel mannerisms and so it was wise to book her against the hometown girl. I’m happy they kept this one brief to give extra time to the main event.
A video package set up the main event…
4. Mercedes Martinez vs. Meiko Satomura in a second round match. Martinez escaped a head scissors and blasted Satomura with a shot to the head. They got to their feet and Martinez hit her with three more strikes, then Satomura fired back with one of her own. Satomura applied an armbar that Martinez broke by reaching the ropes. Satomura threw some wicked kicks at Martinez, then went up top and performed a frogsplash for a two count.
Martinez came right back with a wicked Suplex for a two count. Satomura rebounded with a pair of DDTs and a handspring into a knee drop for a two count. Martinez caught Satomura with a big boot and a fisherman’s buster for a near fall. Martinez expressed frustration and disappointment after failing to get the win. The crowd got to their feet and cheered. Martinez applied a surfboard that Satomura broke with elbows to the head. Satomura performed a spinning kick and then connected with a kick to the back of the head for the win. The women shook hands afterward. Cole called it an honor to have witnessed the match. Satomura will face Ripley in the quarterfinals.
Meiko Satomura defeated Mercedes Martinez to advance to the quarterfinals.
Cole narrated a recap video to close the show…
Powell’s POV: This was the best match of the tournament thus far. It was physical and they maintained a really good pace from bell to bell. I was actually hoping that Martinez would go deep in the tournament. She’s terrific and I’d love to see her get a main roster run and cash in late in her career. At the very least, I think it would be great to tell a story with Martinez entering the tournament one more time and winning the entire thing next year. There’s quite a story they could tell with her. On a side note, it’s odd that they don’t advertise the matches for the next show since they obviously know what they will be.
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