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 17, 2018 on WWE Network
Mauro Ranallo narrated a video package to set the stage for the quarterfinals… The MYC opening aired… The broadcast team was Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, and Renee Young… A video package set up the opening match…
1. Lacey Lane vs. Meiko Satormura in a quarterfinal match. Cole went heavy as he spoke about what a huge upset it would be if Lane defeated Satormura. The women shook hands. Satomura went for another handshake early on. Lane slapped her hand away and then Satormura blasted her with kicks.
Lane came back with a nice combination of moves including a kick to Satormura’s face. Later, Lane picked up a near fall off a top rope cross body block. Satormura came right back with a Death Valley Driver for the win. Lane was emotional and hugged Satormura afterward…
Meiko Satormura over Lacey Lane to advance to the semifinals.
Powell’s POV: A brief yet solid match. Cole went above and beyond to tell the story that Lane was an underdog and then raved about her bright future after she lost.
The participants in the next match were shown backstage and then a video package on both women was shown…
2. Io Shirai vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a quarterfinal match. There was a handshake before the bell. Shirai performed a nice roll through into a double stomp early on. Purrazzo came back with an armbar while the broadcast team spoke about what an upset it would be if she won. Shirai escaped the hold. Shirai performed a 619 and a springboard dropkick for a two count.
Shirai went to the ropes, but Purrazzo cut her off and then performed three German suplexes. She mugged for the crowd and then covered Shirai for a two count. Purrazzo applied an armbar. Shirai teased tapping and eventually countered into a crossface. Purrazzo escaped the hold and then Shirai hit her with a knee to the face and double knees to the face in the corner. Shirai performed a moonsault for the win. Cole noted that she didn’t get all of the moonsault and chalked up the pin to the damage she did beforehand…
Io Shirai defeated Deonna Purrazzo to advance to the semifinals.
Powell’s POV: The good match one would expect from these two. Shirai’s moonsault has been a bit off in the tournament and Cole was right to offer up an explanation for it still resulting in the pin. I’d love to see these women work a longer match somewhere down the road. The time constraints of the MYC are understandable to a point, but it would be nice if they had gone with an extra show to give the quarterfinal matches more time.
Tegan Nox and Rhea Ripley were shown backstage and then a video package set up their match. Ripley’s video focused on blowing out her knee prior to last year’s tournament…
3. Tegan Nox vs. Rhea Ripley in a quarterfinal match. Nox offered a handshake, which Ripley blew off. Nox jumped out to a quick start and performed a suicide dive. Nox came up limping on what was her good knee. The ref checked on her and Nox continued the match briefly. A trainer entered the ring and opted to let the match continue. Ripley chopped Nox, who fired back with a couple of her own before running into a dropkick. The referee called off the match. Nox began crying as the referee checked on her. The fans were silent and eventually chanted for her and then applauded loudly when she was helped to the back…
Rhea Ripley defeated Tegan Nox via ref stoppage to advance to the semifinals.
Cole spoke at his desk about how devastating it was. Phoenix spoke about how hard it is to come back from an ACL injury…
Powell’s POV: The crowd could not have been more supportive. Cameras even caught women crying in the crowd afterward. Putting that aside, Ripley was great in that she remained in character by shrugging her shoulders while heading to the back. She reminds me of Pete Dunne in that they have similar facial features and they both have strong facial expressions.
A video package set up the main event. Cole noted that the winner would face Satomura in the semifinals…
4. Mia Yim vs. Toni Storm in a quarterfinal match. Yim had her hand taped to sell her injuries from earlier in the tournament. Yim and Storm shook hands before the match. Yim threw a nice kick early on. Strom came back with a running kick and then a knee in the corner. Yim had the first prolonged stretch of offense. Storm came back with a kick to the bad hand and a headbutt that both woman sold by falling to the mat.
Storm and Yim got to their knees and traded slaps and chops. Storm performed a nice suplex once both women got to their feet. Yim responded with a suplex of her own for a near fall. Yim caught Storm going for a kick and then powerbombed her for another good near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Storm avoided Yim’s finisher and then grabbed her band hand, causing Yim to scream out in agony. Moments later, Storm hit her finisher and scored the pin…
Toni Storm defeated Mia Yim to advance to the semifinals.
Cole narrated a video recap and previewed next week’s show…
Next week’s semifinal matches will feature Ripley vs. Shirai, and Storm vs. Satormura, and the finals will be held at the WWE Evolution pay-per-view…
Powell’s POV: Storm is a star and they made the right call in having her go deep into the tournament. So while they made the right call, it’s disappointing to see the talented Yim out before the semifinals. The good news is that she made a real mark in the tournament and is now under WWE contract. Next week’s semifinals look great on paper and with only to matches on the show it means the women will have a chance to work longer matches.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and former NWA Champion Nick Aldis.
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