WWE Mae Young Classic 2018
Episode 1
#WWEMYC
Original Air Date: September 5, 2018
Event Date: August 8, 2018
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Kayla Braxton
Video
Mauro Ranallo narrates a look back at last year’s classic and a look forward to this year’s tournament.
Intro Video
“Vicious” by Halestorm
Video
Getting to know Zatara and Tegan Knox.
Match 1
Mae Young Classic 2018 First Round Match
Tegan Knox vs Zatara
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Tegan Knox wins via pinfall after a shining wizard
Time: 6:11
Match Thoughts
Good match. I liked this as an opener to the tournament. I don’t think the finish was any surprise, but I mostly liked how the match progressed. Zatara worked on Knox’s previously injured knee for most of the match, and that allowed her to dominate. Knox persevered, but it seems clear that her knee is going to be a problem going forward. I do wish her knee had caused her to adjust her style (she finishes with a shining wizard after all), but maybe that will come later as she deals with more punishment.
Ring Area
Ember Moon is in the crowd. So is Alexa Bliss.
Video
A quick look at Rhea Ripley and MJ Jenkins.
Match 2
Mae Young Classic 2018 First Round Match
MJ Jenkins vs Rhea Ripley
(referee: Jessika Carr)
Result: Rhea Ripley wins via pinfall after a sit-out pump handle powerbomb
Time: 6:40
Match Thoughts
Good match. Jenkins started quickly which put Ripley on the defensive. Ripley used her size and strength to come back and dominate the middle portion of the match. Jenkins had a burst of offense toward the end which including some strikes and a springboard dropkick, but Ripley only needed one big move to turn things back to her favor. I liked the size versus speed aspect of this match.
Video
Profiling Vanessa Kraven and Lacey Lane.
Ring Area
Lio Rush is in the crowd.
Match 3
Mae Young Classic 2018 First Round Match
Lacey Lane vs Vanessa Kraven
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Lacey Lane wins via pinfall with a pinning crucifix bomb
Time: 4:49
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. The size difference between Kraven and Lane was pretty big, and I think they played off that fairly well. Lane was quick and agile, and even though she didn’t hit everything like she wanted to, she looked good. It did look kind of obvious that Kraven was standing around and leaning into some of Lane’s attacks, but overall this was a fun match.
Backstage
Shadia Bseiso is with Natalya. Natalya is excited to be back and watching so many powerful women who love wrestling as much as she does. Natalya is also picking either Mia Yim or Io Shirai to win.
Video
Introducing Meiko Satomura and Killer Kelly.
Ring Area
Funaki and Tye Dillinger are hanging out in the crowd.
Match 4
Mae Young Classic 2018 First Round Match
Killer Kelly vs Meiko Satomura
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Meiko Satomura wins via pinfall after a Death Valley Driver
Time: 7:40
Match Thoughts
Good match. Satomura is a lot of fun to watch. She begin the match by picking Killer Kelly apart. Kelly didn’t have an answer for Satomura’s strikes and holds for the first few minutes. Eventually Kelly took advantage of a moment when Satomura was vulnerable on the ropes, and that led to a sequence of offense from Kelly. Satomura wasn’t down long though, and she finished the match with relative ease. I think this was a very good match for Kelly. She was clearly outclassed, but being in the ring with someone like Satomura can only raise her game. The fact that Kelly held her own at times was nice to see.
Show Impressions
This was a good first show. There weren’t a lot of surprises (as in, not any surprises), but the matches were entertaining for a first round. I’m sure the matches will get longer as the tournament progresses, and that can only help make things even better than they already are.
Match of the Night
Killer Kelly vs Meiko Satomura
Tonight, Satomura showed exactly why she is so respected.