WWE Mae Young Classic (2018)

Original Airdate: September 5 – October 28, 2018

From Orlando, Florida and Uniondale, New York; Your Hosts are Michael Cole, Renee Young, and Beth Phoenix

Aired September 5, taped August 8

First Round Match: Tegan Nox (Wales) v Zatara (Chile): Ooh, Nox is cute. Feeling out process to start, going pretty evenly until Zatara takes a shot at her. Nox responds with a headscissors takedown and a dropkick to send Zatara to the outside, so Zatara takes another cheap shot at her on the way back in, and she puts her down with a dropkick. She stretches Nox on the mat for a sec, then uses another dropkick for two. Zatara starts going after the knee, and throws a dropkick at the leg, ahead of a modified figure four. Boy, Zatara sure loves her dropkicks, doesn't she? Nox makes the ropes and starts making a comeback, and she's selling the leg like Zatara has spent a half hour working on it, despite it only being a couple of moves. Nox with a flying bodypress for two, but the knee slows down a charge, and Zatara blocks. That allows her a flying dropkick, and a running kneesmash in the corner follows for two. Zatara tries another kneesmash, but Nox dodges this one, and hits a shining wizard at 6:09. This was fine. * ½

First Round Match: Rhea Ripley (Australia) v MJ Jenkins (USA): Ripley looks like a totally different person than the one I remember from last year, now looking like mash-up of Charlotte Flair and Shayna Baszler. She shoves Jenkins around to start, but MJ doesn't take too kindly to that, and starts armdragging Rhea. She tries a springboard, but Ripley throws a dropkick to knock her down to the floor, and rolls her back in to cover for two. Another dropkick gets two, so MJ tries slugging at her from her knees, but that ends badly. Ripley with a clothesline for two, and she unloads in the corner ahead of a hanging vertical suplex for two. Abdominal stretch, but Jenkins elbows free, so Ripley uses a pop-up for two. MJ finally gets some fire and starts making a comeback, managing a springboard flying dropkick for two. Roundhouse kick, but Ripley counters her into a powerbomb at 6:41. Not terrible or anything, but went on for too long for what was basically an extended squash, and dragged. ¼*

First Round Match: Lacey Lane (USA) v Vanessa Kraven (Canada): Kraven is already in her mid-30s, so it's probably too late for her to get a serious shot at this stage. Lane sticks and moves in the early going, but falls on her ass while trying an extended springboard combination, while Kraven falls to the outside. Lane tries a flying bodypress off of the apron, but gets caught and dropped on the apron, then tied in a tree of woe towards the outside. In, Kraven bootchokes her in the corner to set up a somersault bodyblock against the turnbuckles for two, and she uses an overhead backbreaker rack, but Lane escapes. Lane throws kicks to weaken Kraven, but gets caught in a spinning scrapbuster for two. Kraven tries another somersault bodyblock in the corner, but Lane dodges, and hooks a crucifix at 4:50. They tried some interesting stuff, but this was kind of all over the place and amateurish, though short enough to prevent it from turning into a train wreck. ½*

First Round Match: Meiko Satomura (Japan) v Killer Kelly (Portugal): Satomura is also on the older side at 38 (she wrestled in WCW!), but based on the spoilers for this tournament (which I've had no problem reading), it looks like they're on board with her anyway. Kelly mocks her with a bow at the bell, which earns her some kicks. Kelly tries to respond in kind, but she's totally outclassed by Satomura, and ends up on the mat. Kelly manages to counter a hammerlock into a cradle for two, so Satomura grabs a headlock, and they trade holds on the mat for a bit. Kelly with a bicycle kick for two, but Satomura manages to block a surfboard, and she uses a springboard armdrag to get Kelly down for an STF. Kelly makes the ropes, so Satomura pounds her with strikes, but eats a hanging vertical suplex for two. Kelly takes her up for a superplex, but Satomura blocks, so Kelly shifts into a dragon suplex while hanging off the ropes. Cool! Kelly plants a cross corner seated dropkick on her to set up a bridging fisherman suplex for two, but Satomura throws a pele kick to block a German suplex, and hits a death valley driver at 7:41. I don't know if it was the language barrier, or what, but it was like these two were on different planets for a lot of this. I honestly don't see anything in Satomura based on this performance alone. Nice moment afterwards, as a defeated Kelly gives her a heartfelt bow. ½*

Aired September 12, taped August 8

First Round Match: Deonna Purrazzo (USA) v Priscilla Kelly (USA): Two Kelly's in a row, what is this world coming to?!? This one's got a sexy smoke-eye thing going on though, so I'll let it slide. Feeling out process to start, with both gals looking smooth in their execution. Purrazzo goes for a fujiwara armbar, but Kelly makes the ropes before she can get it locked on, and she bicycle kicks Purrazzo for two. Another kick to the chest sets up a dragon sleeper, and speaking of 'chests,' Kelly looks to be one sharp move away from popping out as she wrenches that hold on. Purrazzo comes back with chops, and a seated dropkick gets her two, but Kelly ducks a clothesline, and throws one of her own for two. Purrazzo responds with a Russian legsweep into the fujiwara though, and that's it at 4:28. Felt like it needed a few more minutes to properly get going, but it was okay. * ½

First Round Match: Zeuxis (Mexico) v Aerial Monroe (USA): More like areola, amiright? Not really, but go with it. Zeuxis swipes at her early on, and Monroe flips out that her hair almost gets messed up. That gag works better with male wrestlers, like Honky Tonk Man, or whatever. I mean, I've yet to meet a woman who DOESN'T flip out if you almost mess her hair up, so it's not like it's a unique trait. Whole bunch of nothing to start, as Monroe yells and points a lot between them trading swipes, until Zeuxis takes control by using the hair to slam her around. Zeuxis works an abdominal stretch, but Monroe uses a crucifix to escape for two, so Zeuxis matslams her for two. She slaps on a camel clutch, but Monroe escapes, and starts throwing kicks, so Zeuxis tries a schoolgirl for two. Monroe with more kicks ahead of a DDT, and she's STILL worked up about her hair. Dude, if it's such an issue for you, maybe consider a different career path? They head up, and Zeuxis gets the better of an exchange with a Spanish fly for the pin at 5:07. No. ¼*

First Round Match: Kacy Catanzaro (USA) v Reina Gonzalez (USA): I know it's a fake sport, but they really should have all female referees for this, because watching the male officials awkwardly fumble through the pat downs looks horrible. Reina towers her, so this should be fun. She swings poor Kacy around like ragdoll to start, and dumps her into the corner for some abuse. Kacy slips out onto the apron, and uses a cool handstand on the top rope to dive at Reina, but gets thumped again. Kacy tries a headscissors takedown, but Reina drops her with a backbreaker to block, and ropechokes her from there. Reina with a swinging powerslam for two, and another backbreaker into a backbreaker submission, but Kacy escapes. She tries a wheelbarrow, but Reina easily blocks, and tosses her around some more. Reina with a scoop powerslam for two, and an elbowdrop is worth two, but a charge in the corner misses. She tries another elbowdrop, but Kacy misses the desperation move, and starts chopping the big redwood down with dropkicks. See, 'cause she's got red hair. And she's big. Like a tree. You know. Kacy with a springboard flying dropkick and a somersault legdrop for two, and a victory cradle puts it away at 4:46. Fun little match. * ½

First Round Match: Ashley Rayne (USA) v Mercedes Martinez (USA): I never watched TNA, so this is actually the first time I'll see Rayne work. She looks like everything I imagine when I picture a Jacksonville strip club. Rayne tries to ride her in the early going, but Martinez shrugs her off with a suplex, and ties her up. Rayne manages a cradle for two, but an attempt at a wheelbarrow ends badly when Martinez just fucking drops her right on her head for two. Ouch, that looked nasty. Martinez grabs an inverted full-nelson, but Rayne escapes, so Martinez starts unloading in the corner. She gives Ashley a hanging vertical suplex (with extreme delay), but Rayne counters the shift into another suplex with a cutter for two. Pair of seated clotheslines get two, but Ashley runs into a rotating spinebuster for two. Martinez goes for a suplex, but Rayne slips free, and starts throwing forearms and chops. She makes a comeback, and rolls the dice for two, but a second go gets countered to a suplex - only for Rayne to counter back with a small package for two! Enzuigiri sets up another roll of the dice, but Martinez blocks again, and blasts her with a knee to set up a muscle buster at 7:31. Nothing crazy, but the best match of the tournament so far. ** ¼

Aired September 19, taped August 8

First Round Match: Kaitlyn (USA) v Kavita Devi (India): If they gave her a different name, I wouldn't even realize that's the same Kaitlyn from five years ago. Devi drops her right on her face to win a battle over the initial lockup, but Kaitlyn dusts herself off, and goes right back to it. Devi takes a cheap shot, but Kaitlyn manages a snapmare, and she hits a trio of legdrops for two. Devi fires back with a uranage for two, and a backelbow is worth two. Bodyslam gets two, and she kicks Kaitlyn in the shoulder blades to set up an armbar, but Kaitlyn escapes. Devi tries a fireman's carry, but Kaitlyn slips out of that as well, and starts making a comeback. Devi no-sells her, but Kaitlyn keeps coming, and hits a spear at 4:08. Yeah, this was pretty bad. It had no flow, and just felt like a collage of moves. If I didn't time it myself, I'd be skeptical that it was only four minutes long, because it felt like ten. DUD

First Round Match: Toni Storm (Australia) v Jinny (England): They size each other up some to start, and trade wristlocks as they feel each other out. Jinny slaps her, so Toni kicks her right in the baby maker, and hits a kneesmash in the corner. Another charge, but Jinny counters with a reverse STO into the buckles for two, and she mounts Storm with punches. Jinny with a snapmare to set up a kick to the neck for two, and she bootchokes Storm against the ropes, before picking her up with a vertical suplex for two. Jinny tries an armbar, but Toni slugs free, so Jinny overhead armdrags her into the buckles for two. Back to the armbar, but Storm escapes again, and hooks a crucifix for one. Jinny with a nice takedown into a surfboard, but Toni makes the ropes, so Jinny smacks some sense into her. Charge in the corner hits boot, however, and Storm snaps off a German suplex, and hits a hip attack in the corner to set up a tiger driver at 7:07. Underwhelming, but fine. * ¼

First Round Match: Karen Q (USA) v Xia Li (China): Hey, there's a SECOND female referee this year! We live in wild and crazy times! They not only shake hands, but both bow to each other, so you know it's on. Martial arts showdown to start, but it breaks down when Karen slaps her across the chops, and Li goes nuts on her in the corner. Serves her right! You bowed, and everything! You don't disrespect that, bitch! Karen responds with a running big boot, however, and she mounts Li with punches on the mat. Karen with a handspring forearm in the corner, and an exploder suplex gets her two, so she tries a Boston crab, but Li blocks. Karen tries a suplex instead, but Li blocks that as well, so Karen goes with a full-nelson slam for two. She works a cravat, but Li slugs free, and throws kicks to turn the tide. A spinkick gets two, but Karen fights back with a Samoan drop, only to miss a flying frogsplash. That allows Li a spinning kick, and that's enough at 4:21. ½*

First Round Match: Mia Yim (South Korea) v Allysin Kay (USA): They slug it out to start, with Kay getting the better of it, but Yim trapping her in a cross-armbreaker. Allysin gets the ropes, but misses a charge, and takes a spill to the outside. That allows Mia to charge her with a kick from the apron, and she rolls Kay back in for some mounted punches for two. Kay fires back with a shoulderblock to send Mia to the outside, and Allysin follows with chops, but Yim responds in kind. Yim gets control and dives after her with a tope, but an attempt at a chop against the post ends badly when Allysin dodges, and Mia smashes her hand into the steel! That allows Kay a hotshot on the apron for two, and she puts the boots to Mia in the corner. Kay does some choking, and throws her with a fallaway slam, ahead of a headvice. Mia escapes and goes for the armbreaker again, but Kay manages to keep her hands locked, and she dead lifts her up into a slam to escape. That gets her a two count, and she puts the boots to Mia again, but nearly gets caught in a submission again. Slugfest ends in Mia throwing a knee, but Allysin rebounds off the ropes with a bicycle kick to leave both girls looking up at the lights. Yim recovers first with a trio of dropkicks, and a 2^nd rope missile version is worth two. Piledriver, but Kay backdrops out of it - only to have a gory special countered with a sunsetbomb for two! Yim cracks her with chops, but Kay barrels into her with a clothesline for two, and both women throw simultaneous roundhouse kicks for another double knockout. Two in a match that's under ten minutes long is a bit much. Yim recovers first and heads up, but Kay is on her tail, forcing Mia to change gears with a shoulderbuster off the middle at 9:39. Not without flaw, but good. ** ¾

Aired September 26, Taped August 8

First Round Match: Rachel Evers (USA) v Hiroyo Matsumoto (Japan): Initial lockup goes to a stalemate, so they criss cross, but that goes to a stalemate as well. Matsumoto puts her down with a pair of shoulderblocks, but gets tripped up while trying a follow-up, and Evers dropkicks her for two. Gutwrench suplex follows for two, but Evers misses a charge, and gets her throat snapped across the top rope. That allows Matsumoto to go up with a flying dropkick for two, and boy, she put some extra mustard on that one! Matsumoto whips Rachel around by the hair ahead of a chinlock, but Evers escapes, so Matsumoto goes nuts on her with stomps in the corner. Matsumoto with a running kneesmash in the corner to set up a 2^nd rope pump-kneedrop for two, but Evers blocks a suplex, then ducks a short-clothesline. That allows Rachel a spinebuster, and they slug it out as both get to their feet - won by Evers with a big boot into a cutter. That sets up a senton splash for two, but Matsumoto counters a powerbomb with a backdrop - only to miss a charge in the corner! That allows Evers an STO, and springboard corkscrew legdrop is worth two! Another slugfest, but this time Matsumoto gets the better of it by forcing a criss cross, and throwing a clothesline for two. She goes for a suplex again, but Evers is ready with a small package for two, so Matsumoto gets pissed, and launches her with a German suplex. Evers no-sells and throws a bicycle kick, but Matsumoto absorbs it, and clotheslines her to keep control. That leads to a powerbomb, but Evers counters with a backdrop - only for Matsumoto to sunset flip into the powerbomb anyway! That's enough to allow her to finally hit that saito suplex she's been trying for the whole match, and it's enough to advance at 9:48! This was good stuff, with both girls working really well together. And it didn't feel like the standard cookie cutter matches that everyone else has been having. *** ¼

First Round Match: Taynara Conti (Brazil) v Jessie Elaban (USA): They should have just went all in, and called Elaban's character Jessie Night, or something. She's already going full Deschanel, might as well get everything you can out of it. Conti dominates her with martial arts in the early going, and they trade waistlocks until Elaban kicks her down to set up a senton splash for two. Jessie tries a charge in the corner, but Conti dodges, and starts goes after the arm. Legsweep gets two, so Conti wrenches on an overhead wristlock, and starts twisting Elaban's arm into various pretzels. Elaban manages to roll back into a cradle for two, but that just pisses Conti off, and she starts dismantling her again. Elaban manages to dodge a kick and hit a catapult to trigger a comeback, but Conti takes everything she's got, and slams her anyway at 4:43. Way too long for what was a glorified squash. Not worth much as a match, but Conti is interesting. ½*

First Round Match: Isla Dawn (Scotland) v Nicole Matthews (Canada): Matthews is all condescending as they get started, but Dawn gives as good as she gets. She takes Matthews down for a double-stomp, then starts cracking her with kicks ahead of a double-kneesmash for two. Charge in the corner ends badly, however, and Nicole capitalizes with a neckbreaker for two. Matthews is having some issues with her gear here, and should really consider switching to a one-piece. 'Plumber' isn't a good look on anyone, including actual plumbers. Matthews with a backbreaker, and she hammers with chops, but Dawn dodges a charge in the corner, only to get clobbered when she does some needless flippies between moves. THANK YOU, NICOLE! Matthews with a series of kicks for two, and she takes Dawn to the mat with a bow-and-arrow. Dawn starts to escape, so Nicole throws more strikes, but makes the mistake of acting condescending again, and Isla returns fire! Dawn with a side suplex and a roundhouse kick to set up a bridging fisherman's suplex for two, and a sloppy Olympic slam is worth two. Dawn keeps coming, but Matthews manages a clothesline to shake her off, and an elevated crab finishes Isla off at 7:20. Not especially good, but at least it was competitive, and not another glorified squash match. ¾*

First Round Match: Io Shirai (Japan) v Xia Brookside (England): Brookside offers a respectful bow before the bell, but isn't shy about bringing it after. Shirai lands on her feet when Xia tries a headscissors takedown, however, and Shirai goes to town in the corner. Slingshot kneesmash gets two, and Shirai takes her down in a crippler crossface, but Brookside looks to escape, so Shirai kicks her in the damn face! Well, that'll usually work, yeah. Xia fights back and starts mounting a comeback, but misses a roundhouse kick, and Shirai kills her with a running kneesmash in the corner to set up a nice flying moonsault at 3:17. Pretty much a squash, but Brookside is cute, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of her in the future. And that's that for the first round, finally. ¼*

Aired October 3, taped August 9

Second Round Match: Toni Storm (Australia) v Hiroyo Matsumoto (Japan): I sincerely doubt she actually is, but Storm looks stoned as fuck here. Feeling out process to start, until they fight out onto the apron, where Matsumoto gets the better of her with a stunner. Matsumoto heads up with a flying dropkick for two on the way back in, and a vertical suplex follows for two. Backbreaker leaves Storm struggling in the corner, but Matsumoto shows no mercy with a bootchoke - only to have a charge countered with a German suplex! Storm adds a hip attack in the corner, and a bridging fisherman suplex is worth two. They slug it out to a stalemate, so Matsumoto throws a clothesline to take control, and uses a sunset flip for two. Elevated crab into a single-leg crab, but Storm makes the ropes, so Matsumoto punishes her with a 2^nd rope pump-kneedrop for two. Storm fires back with a bridging German suplex for two, and a reversal sequence ends in Matsumoto using a wheelbarrow suplex for two. Looked like she had trouble with Storm's center of gravity on that one. Saito suplex, but Storm counters with a victory cradle for two, so Matsumoto levels her with a lariat for two. Matsumoto uses a few short-clotheslines, but tries one too many, and Toni hooks a double-underhook cradle at 9:18. Yeah, Stormy! Solid work all around. **

Second Round Match: Rhea Ripley (Australia) v Kacy Catanzaro (USA): Kacy earnestly tries to get a handshake before the bell, but gets rebuffed. Ripley throws her around, but Catanzaro fights her off by basically using Rhea as the apparatus in a gymnastics routine, until Ripley drops her with a hotshot for two. Suplex, but Kacy manages a small package for two, so Ripley wrecks her with a dropkick for two. Too bad Erik Watts isn't still around, because you don't need much to make a dropkick look good against Kacy. Ripley puts the boots to her between some rag dolling, and a seated dropkick is worth two. That's almost like cheating now. Ripley with a hanging vertical suplex for two, so she tries a cloverleaf, but Kacy manages to flip her off. Like, the literal way, not the Stone Cold way. Rhea keeps coming, but an attempt at a sidewalk slam backfires when Catanzaro turns her into the apparatus again on her way to a DDT. That was awesome! Ripley bails, so Catanzaro dives with a corkscrew plancha, and she hits Rhea with a clothesline and a dropkick on the way back in. Poor Kacy throws a fine dropkick, but only reaches Rhea's midsection. She needs some sort of dropkick handicap, like in golf. Catanzaro tries a springboard dropkick, but slips off the ropes, and has to repeat the spot. A competitive gymnast should know better than to do that. Catanzaro with a twisting splash for two, but a backflip into a headscissors backfires when Ripley turns it into a pump-handle powerbomb at 7:04. That may be the end of her in this tournament, but Catanzaro is unique and has tons of star potential, so hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of her. ** ½

Second Round Match: Lacey Lane (USA) v Taynara Conti (Brazil): Conti dominates with martial arts, so Lane uses speed to hook a schoolgirl for two, and a big boot - only to miss a charge in the corner. That allows Conti to work her over, but Lane manages a matslam, and she makes a comeback. Reverse STO gets her two, so Conti tries to scoop her up, but Lane hooks a crucifix at 2:39. I wasn’t expecting Lacey to go over there. DUD

Second Round Match: Meiko Satomura (Japan) v Mercedes Martinez (USA): Martinez comes out dressed like female Glacier tonight. They trade wristlocks to start, and Satomura takes her down with a legsweep into a kneedrop for two. She works a front-facelock, but Mercedes gets to a vertical base, and northern lights suplexes her way free for two. Martinez grabs her own front-facelock, but Satomura counters to a headscissors, so Mercedes slaps her way out of it. That leads to a slugfest that's won by Martinez, and she drops Satomura with a chokeslam for two. She ties Satomura up in a guillotine for a bit, but a charge in the corner hits boot, and Satomura goes up - only to get crotched. Martinez brings her off the ropes with a swinging neckbreaker for two, but a suplex gets countered with a fujiwara armbar, and Mercedes is left scrambling for the ropes to escape. Satomura is good and fired up now, and she unloads on Martinez with kicks, followed by a flying frogsplash for two. Headlock, but Martinez escapes with a side suplex for two, so Satomura DDTs her - then does it again, just because. Cartwheel kneedrop gets two, but Mercedes dodges a pele kick, and drills her with a knee to set up a muscle buster for two! Crowd is giving them a standing ovation here, for reasons that escape me. It wasn't such a crazy sequence. Martinez goes to a surfboard next, but Satomura elbows her way to freedom, and throws a spinheel kick before finishing with another kick at 11:33. The crowd was feeling this one a lot more than I was. I'm just not seeing it with Satomura. **

Aired October 10, taped August 9

Second Round Match: Io Shirai (Japan) v Zeuxis (Mexico): Criss cross right away, ending in Io dropkicking her to the outside, but she takes too long getting her back in, and Zeuxis blasts her with a rather vicious baseball slide. She really let her have it with that one, wow! Io beats the count in, so Zeuxis welcomes her back with a kick to the brain, and a snapmare leaves Io in a short-armscissors. Into the corner, Zeuxis his a running kneesmash for two, but gets into trouble with Io's speed, and Io hits her own running kneesmash. Zeuxis bails, so Io dives after her with a tope, and she rolls Zeuxis back in to cover for two. Crippler crossface, but Zeuxis powers to a vertical base, and drops her with a smooth pump-handle brainbuster for two! Cool! Zeuxis goes up with a flying moonsault, but Io rolls out of the way, and smashes her skull with a nice dropkick. Io goes up now, so Zeuxis follows, but Io brings her down with a rana off the top, followed by a kneesmash to the back of the head. That sets up a flying moonsault, and Zeuxis is done at 6:06 - despite the move not even connecting. Good match for the most part, but they totally blew the finish. And then they actually bother to REPLAY the missed moonsault after the match! I wish this got more time. ** ¾

Second Round Match: Deonna Purrazzo (USA) v Xia Li (China): What a juxtaposition of names in terms of ease for typing. They trade wristlocks to start, before taking it to the mat to feel each other out. Purrazzo hooks a magistral cradle for two, but Li escapes another wristlock, and starts throwing strikes. Legdrop leads to an elbowdrop for two, and Li dives off the middle rope with a flying sidekick for two. Purrazzo fights back with a hiptoss and a dropkick for two, and she goes after the wrist again, but Li chops at her. Purrazzo manages a kneelift and a Russian legsweep to set up a Fujiwara armbar, but Li cradles for two to escape. Purrazzo responds with a single-arm DDT for two, and she goes back to wrenching at the arm with another wristlock, but Li manages a dropkick to buy time. Both stagger up for a slugfest, won by Li with a roundhouse kick for two, but she misses a charge in the corner. That allows Purrazzo to get the fujiwara again, and this time she ties both arms up until Li taps at 5:44. I appreciated how tenaciously Purrazzo worked the arm throughout, but this was too short to go anywhere overall. **

Second Round Match: Tegan Nox (Wales) v Nicole Matthews (Canada): Looks like someone else gave Matthews the same advice I had between tapings, because she's rocking a one-piece this time. She tricks Nox into taking her eye off the ball for a sneak attack, but Tegan fights her off, and Matthews ends up on the outside. Nox tries a tope, but Matthews punches her out of the air, and pounds her with kicks to the chest on the way back in for two. Matthews unloads with chops ahead of a corner dropkick for two, but a series of kicks only serves to energize Nox, and she responds in kind. Matthews cuts her off with a series of elbows into a straightjacket, and a short-clothesline leads to a bridging northern lights suplex for two. Matthews is coming dangerously close to popping out of her top here. Nox tries a dropkick, but gets caught in a crab, so she counters with a cradle for two. Senton in the corner sets up a shining wizard from there, and Matthews is done at 3:44. Just a quickie, but Nox continues to be super cute. * ¼

Second Round Match: Mia Yim (South Korea) v Kaitlyn (USA): Yim smacks her with a chop, so Kaitlyn cuts her legs off with a dropkick to the knee, and a trio of legdrops follow for two. Yim hides in the corner, but Kaitlyn is on her with a somersault senton for two, and she grounds Mia in a bodyscissors. Yim tries rolling back into a cradle for two, but Kaitlyn reverses for two, and keeps the hold applied. Yim bails once escaping, so Kaitlyn tries a baseball slide, but misses, and Yim capitalizes by going after the leg. That missed slide looked painful as hell, and Kaitlyn has a nasty red mark on her leg now. Yim with mounted punches, but Kaitlyn fights her off with a wristlock - only to have a bodyslam toppled for two. Yim pops her with a kick for two, but Kaitlyn manages to block a charge with a shoulderblock, and both are left looking up at the lights. Kaitlyn is up first with a backelbow, and she's so happy about hitting that bodyslam on the second try, that she does it again to celebrate. Swinging powerslam gets two, but Kaitlyn misses a charge in the corner, and Mia gives her a modified facebuster for two. Suplex, but Kaitlyn blocks, and throws a spear for two. She takes too long acting all shocked about it not working though, allowing Yim to sweep her into kneebar at 7:10. Kaitlyn looks like she'd be a lot more at home in today's era of the main roster women's division than she was in the one she was originally part of. ** ¼

Aired October 17, taped August 9

Quarterfinal Match: Meiko Satomura (Japan) v Lacey Lane (USA): Lacey's entrance feels like it takes forever. It's only a one hour show, we don't have time for you to play girl Undertaker. Satomura tries to corner her with kicks right away, but Lane is able to evade, and distance herself. Criss cross ends in both women trading strikes, and Satomura nearly gets a takedown, but stops herself short as a taunt. Lane doesn't take it well, so Satomura responds with a flurry of kicks to knock her on her ass, but Lacey slips out of a fireman's carry, and uses her own kick combo for two. Reversal sequence sees Lane hit a sidekick for two, but Satomura returns fire with a roundhouse kick. Again, but Lane ducks, so Satomura shifts to a short-armscissors instead. Lacey gets the ropes, so Satomura punishes her with a swift kick to the chest, followed by a snap suplex. Lane slugs at her to buy time, and manages a high knee in the corner, followed by a springboard flying bodypress for two. Bicycle kick, but Satomura sidesteps that one, and kills her with a death valley driver at 4:34. Criminally short. ** ¾

Quarterfinal Match: Io Shirai (Japan) v Deonna Purrazzo (USA): Feeling out process to start, with Io getting the better of it, and knocking Deonna to the outside with a dropkick. Io dives after her with a nicely executed tope, and she rolls Deonna in to cover for two. Io uses a bodyslam to set up a kneedrop for two, and she takes Deonna into the corner for a slingshot dropkick, but it's dodged. They trade cradles until Io uses a victory cradle as a set up for a wicked looking double stomp, and she pounds Deonna in the corner. That turns into a slugfest, and Deonna lands a hiptoss to set up a seated dropkick, but is too battered to follow up. Both stagger up, and Purrazzo uses a kneelift into a Russian legsweep into the fujiwara armbar (nice combo), but Io turns it into a cradle for two, then slaps on a crippler crossface. Purrazzo turns THAT into a cradle for two, so Io DRILLS her with a European uppercut, and hits a tiger feint kick to set up a springboard flying dropkick for two! She goes up for a moonsault, but Purrazzo rips her off the buckles, and ragdolls her around with a three-alarm rolling German suplex for two. Fujiwara time, but Io cradles for two, and counters into the crossface when Purrazzo kicks out. That was a sloppy transition, unfortunately. And we already saw it earlier, so that better not be the damn finish. Thankfully, Purrazzo escapes, but eats a short-knee, and Io knocks her silly with a running kneesmash in the corner to set up a flying moonsault at 8:43 - though it misses by a mile again. Strong performance overall, but maybe Io should find a new finisher? Maybe one she can, you know, hit? ***

Quarterfinal Match: Tegan Nox (Wales) v Rhea Ripley (Australia): It's been a good night for Japan so far, can we expect the same from Australia? Ripley refuses a handshake, so Nox knocks her to the outside with a dropkick, and pelts her with a tope. She legitimately messes up her knee on the landing though, and has trouble getting back inside. She guts it out, but can barely move, and has trouble taking a pop-up flapjack for two. The referee's seen enough and calls out the trainers to check on her (with poor Nox vocally refusing to quit), and they eventually allow her to continue. Ripley destroys her, of course, but Nox guts out some fiery chops before Rhea creams her with a dropkick, and the referee stops the match at 3:15. That's unfortunate, and I really hope Nox recovers and comes back in the future, because she was great. What a brave performance, too. She's still a kid, so hopefully that's not the end of the road for her. ¼*

Quarterfinal Match: Toni Storm (Australia) v Mia Yim (South Korea): Yim pounds her down out of the initial lockup, but Toni catches her with a big boot coming out of the ropes, and hits a running kneesmash in the corner for two. Snap suplex gets two, and Toni starts to go after Mia's wrist. Storm with a pair of uppercuts to set up the tiger driver, but Yim throws a kick to block, and she puts the boots to the Australian in the corner for two. Yim grabs a chinlock to wear Storm down for two, then ties her up in a Mexican surfboard, but Toni topples her for two. Yim cuts her off with a dropkick for two, and she works a front-facelock into a guillotine choke, but Storm plants her with a spinebuster to escape. Unfortunately for Toni, Mia is ready with a drop-toehold into another chinlock before Storm can capitalize, and Yim drills her with a series of kicks for two. Another kick combo ending in a pele kick gets two, so Yim goes to a third kick combo, but Storm throws a desperation headbutt to fight her off - resulting in a double knockout spot. That leads to a slugfest, which devolves into a slap fight, and Storm gets the better of it with a German suplex. She adds a hip attack in the corner to set up the tiger driver, but Yim counters with a bridging saito suplex for two! Powerbomb gets two, so Storm grabs that wrist she damaged earlier, and forces a German suplex to knock Mia silly for the tiger driver at 8:26 - giving us two Australia/Japan Semifinal matches! Kind of underwhelming as a match, but not bad. This whole round was really underwhelming, with no one getting any real time out there. * ¾

Aired October 24, taped August 9

Semifinal Match: Meiko Satomura (Japan) v Toni Storm (Australia): Both are wearing red and black gear, but Satomura is also has gold trim on hers - a decided advantage. Feeling out process to start, keeping things basic, but doing a great job in the execution department. Satomura takes the first strike with a kick, so Storm tries to slow things down again with a headlock, but Satomura whips her into the ropes. They trade shoulderblocks, so Satomura tries a charge, but Storm blasts her with a big boot for two, and Toni puts the boots to her. Pair of headbutts get two, but they seem to rattle Toni as much as Meiko. Storm stays in it with a suplex for two, but Satomura throws a kick to the leg to avoid a whip into the ropes, and she pounds on the part to put Toni down. Satomura slaps on a modified figure four, but Storm keeps slugging at her, so Satomura shifts to a heel hook. Toni gets the ropes, so Satomura punishes her with boots in the corner, but Toni manages to block the saito suplex. Satomura throws a spinheel kick before Storm can follow up, however, and she drills her with European uppercuts - only for Storm to pop off a backslide for two! She follows up with a reverse STF, and they're doing a great job of selling the hold, the struggle, and the drama here. Satomura makes the ropes, so Toni charges with a hip attack in the corner, and quickly follows up with a bridging fisherman suplex for two. Series of kicks sends Satomura bailing, so Toni dives after her with a tope, and MAN she just DRILLED her with that one! Looks like she banged up her elbow, too. I've said this before, but it's worth repeating... why don't they just, you know, shorten the damn ramp to help people avoid crashing into it every time they do a dive? I get why they dive out on that side of the ring (most space), but I'd rather take my chances with the guardrail than that ramp. Just seems like such a simple fix, and I have no idea why they seemingly haven't thought about it. Storm with a shining wizard for two on the way back in, but Satomura starts getting fired up, and no-selling everything. She drops Toni with a DDT to set up a handspring kneedrop, and the death valley driver gets a dramatic two count! Satomura keeps coming with a kick, but Storm catches the leg, and rolls it into a German suplex. Tiger driver looks to finish, but Satomura gets a shoulder up at two! Well, you knew she'd have to repay that finisher kick out before we get done here. Storm tries the move again, but Satomura counters with a pele kick for two, and she clobbers Toni with another kick to the head for two. Satomura is visibly frustrated now, and powers her up for a trip to death valley, but Storm counters to the tiger driver, and it's enough at 13:06! Really good stuff here, and probably would have gotten over the four-star hump with another five minutes. Turned out to be the best match of the tournament, though. *** ½

Semifinal Match: Rhea Ripley (Australia) v Io Shirai (Japan): Believe it or not, Ripley was booked to job in the Quarterfinals, but due to Nox's real life injury, she's made it to the Semi's. Sorry, had to. She tosses Shirai around at the bell, so Io starts doing some flips around the ring, and throws a dropkick. Ripley stays focused with a pop-up flapjack for two, and she grounds Shirai in an armbar, but Io keeps slugging at her, so Rhea goes to a bodyscissors instead. Shirai keeps fighting, so Ripley takes her for a ride with a hanging vertical suplex, but it only gets two. And, worse, Rhea may have broken a nail! Oooh, now she's pissed! Another bodyscissors wears Shirai down, but Io manages to throw a flurry of fists to fight free, so Ripley tries another pop-up, but Shirai is ready with a rana for two. Dropkick sends Rhea wisely bailing for the outside, but Shirai dives with a tope on the ramp, since of course. Also, forget about the stupid ramp for a second and tell me, is the tope literally the only dive any of them know? Shirai tries to hustle back in, but Ripley cuts her off, and leaves her out there to eat the countout. Io beats it in just in time, so Rhea hammers her, and tries another suplex, but Shirai slips free this time. That just triggers Ripley, so Shirai slugs her into a tiger feint kick, and throws a nice flying dropkick for two! Shirai goes back up for the moonsault, but Ripley follows her up with a vertical superplex for two! Ripley keeps coming with a pumphandle-slam, but Shirai shoves her into the corner to block, and charges with a running kneesmash. That sets up the flying moonsault, and bitch actually sticks the landing this time for the pin at 12:52! This one took a while to get properly off the ground, but it was really good once it got into the last leg. ** ¼

Aired October 28

WWE Mae Young Classic Tournament Final Match: Toni Storm (Australia) v Io Shirai (Japan): I've had spoilers in front of me for the entire tournament, but I'm going into this one blind. Betting on - and pulling for - Toni. Feeling out process to start, with both evenly matched. Nice criss cross see's Storm outsmart her by changing directions ahead of a dropkick for two, but Shirai tags her back by using gymnastics to get the better of another criss cross. Shirai ties her up in the rings of saturn, but Toni makes the ropes, so Io tries a charge, but Toni lifts a boot to block. That allows her to snap off a German suplex to set up a hip attack in the corner, and Toni goes up for a dive, but Shirai knocks her to the outside with a springboard dropkick. Shirai does a dive of her own in the form of a flying moonsault press, but both suffer the effects of that one, and fight to beat the count in. They end up on the apron, where Toni tries the tiger driver, but Shirai keeps blocking. Storm responds by cracking her with a headbutt, and she drops her on the apron with a wild German suplex! That leaves Io down on the outside for the count, but she manages to make it back in just in time, so Toni hooks the leg for two. Storm is fired up, and starts unloading on her with rights, but Shirai returns fire, and beats poor Toni into a pile of blonde. She goes for the kill, but Storm is ready with a clothesline to shake her off, and quickly follows up with the tiger driver for two! Enough with the shock and tears whenever someone kicks out of a signature move already! It's not 1995 anymore, it happens in almost every match of every show! Shirai capitalizes on the shock with a tiger feint kick to set up a springboard flying sunset flip for two, and she charges Toni with a running kneesmash in the corner. That adequately sets up the flying moonsault, but Storm lifts her knees to block, and the tiger driver finishes at 10:01. Wait, that's it?! They have a three and a half hour show and they can't give them more than ten minutes for this? It felt like they were just getting started! Good match, with both women busting out stuff they hadn't yet tried in the earlier rounds, but definitely a disappointment overall. I honestly feel really underwhelmed after investing so much into the tournament. *** ¼

BUExperience: I wouldn’t call it a ‘classic,’ but a fun tournament, with a few very good performances, and some interesting workers. The final left me really cold though, and felt like an incredibly underwhelming climax after asking you to invest week after week into these characters. I do feel that the right person won, though apparently it was originally supposed to be Tegan Nox before her horrific injury in the Quarterfinal round, which would have been great, too.