WWE Mae Young Classic 2018
Episode 8
#WWEMYC
Original Air Date: October 24, 2018
Event Date: August 9, 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 as he talks about the final four in the Mae Young Classic 2018.
Intro Video
“Vicious” by Halestorm
Video
Toni Storm knows it won’t be easy to defeat Meiko Satomura.
Match 1
Mae Young Classic 2018 Semi Final Match
Toni Storm vs Meiko Satomura
(referee: Jessika Carr)
Result: Toni Storm wins via pinfall with Storm Zero
Time: 13:06
Match Thoughts
Great match! Both women dealt a lot of punishment, though as the match went on Storm seemed to absorb more than Satomura. Satomura was fantastic, doing the little things as well as the big things needed to make the match exciting and interesting from start to finish. Satomura looked incredibly strong, and that helped Storm look strong in turn. At times I think Storm’s ability to kick out of almost anything might be a little too much, but it worked well here. The match built to a great finish for both women.
Ring Area
Kairi Sane enters the ring and presents a bouquet to the winner of the match, while on the stage Triple H thanks the woman headed home.
Sarah Schreiber enters the ring and asks the winner how it feels to be headed to Evolution. She thanks everyone for helping her live her dream.
Video
Io Shirai wants to show everyone how great she is, and Rhea Ripley is out to get the gold.
Match 2
Mae Young Classic 2018 Semi Final Match
Rhea Ripley vs Io Shirai
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Io Shirai wins via pinfall after a diving moonsault
Time: 12:53
Match Thoughts
Good match. Surprisingly, Rhea Ripley dominated almost this entire match. She’s quite a bit bigger than Shirai so it makes sense, but I kind of thought Shirai would have more offense throughout the fight. The way the match happened set up Shirai to show how effective and dangerous her moves are. It also helped show that throughout the tournament Shirai can adapt to whatever her opponents bring to the ring. Whether Shirai is dishing out the punishment or taking it, she’s always dangerous in, around, and above the ring.
Ring Area
From the stage, Triple H again congratulates the loser of the match, and in the ring Kairi Sane congratulates the winner. Sarah Schreiber also enters the ring to ask the winner how she feels. She feels confident.
On the stage, Kairi Sane, Triple H, and Sara Amato stand behind the two finalists as the show comes to an end.
Show Impressions
I think this was a great finish to the tournament. The Satomura/Storm match was one of the more emotional matches and maybe the best-fought matches of the tournament. And the Shirai/Ripley match definitely showed a different side of the eventual winner which plays well into the final matchup.
Match of the Night
Toni Storm vs Meiko Satomura
Satomura is probably the standout of the tournament, and Tony Storm isn’t far behind.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/maeyoungclassic/2018-10-24