Mae Young Classic (2018) Explained

Mae Young Classic
Venue:Full Sail University
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (final)
City:Winter Park, Florida
Uniondale, New York (final)
Event2:Mae Young Classic
Lastevent3:2017
Nextevent3:Final

The 2018 Mae Young Classic was a multi-night special event and tournament promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion, WWE. It was the second Mae Young Classic tournament produced and was constituted by a 32-competitor tournament exclusively for women from WWE's NXT brand division and wrestlers from the independent circuit. The tournament took place at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida and was taped on August 8–9, 2018 and aired on the WWE Network from September 5 to October 4 (round 1, round 2, quarterfinals, and semifinals). The tournament final match aired live as part of WWE's all-female pay-per-view Evolution, which was held on October 28 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The winner of this second tournament was Toni Storm.

Background

In 2017, the American professional wrestling promotion WWE held a 32-woman tournament called the Mae Young Classic. It involved wrestlers from WWE's NXT brand and wrestlers from the independent circuit. The event was named in honor of the late WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young, who is considered a pioneer of women's wrestling.[1] In April 2018, WWE announced a second Mae Young Classic tournament, following up on the 2017 tournament.[2]

On June 22, 2018, WWE confirmed the tournament would once again have 32 competitors from NXT and the independent circuit, with the event being held at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida on August 8–9.[3] On July 12, the first two competitors for the 2018 tournament were announced as Kaitlyn and Rhea Ripley.[4] The tournament final match was scheduled to be held as part of WWE's all-female pay-per-view Evolution, taking place on October 28 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.[5]

On August 8, it was announced that the show would air every Wednesday on the WWE Network immediately after NXT, beginning September 5.[6] Beth Phoenix, Renee Young, and Michael Cole were confirmed as the commentators for the event.[7] In addition, the week prior to the first episode, WWE Network aired a bracketology special.[8]

Participants

WrestlerCountry representing
Aerial Monroe United States[9]
United States
Ashley Rayne United States[10]
United States[11]
Japan
Japan
Scotland[12]
Jessie Elaban United States[13]
England[14]
United States
United States[15]
United States
India[16]
Portugal[17]
Lacey Lane United States
MJ Jenkins United States
Japan[18]
United States
United States
Canada
United States
United States[19]
United States
Australia[20]
Brazil
Wales
New Zealand
Canada
England
China
Chile
Zeuxis Puerto Rico

Broadcast team

Ring nameReal nameNotes[21]
Color commentator
Hall of Famer
Backstage interviewer
Ring announcer
Lead commentator
Color commentator
Backstage interviewer
Backstage interviewer

Tournament bracket

The following time limits were in place:

Aftermath

Performers on the tournament such as Deonna Purrazzo, Io Shirai, Jessie Elaban, Kacy Catanzaro, Kavita Devi, Lacey Lane, MJ Jenkins, Reina González, Rhea Ripley, Taynara Conti, Tegan Nox, and Xia Li already had signed contracts with the company. While Xia Brookside, Isla Dawn, Jinny, Killer Kelly, and winner Toni Storm had signed contracts with the company, performing on the NXT UK brand.

On August 25, 2018, Rhea Ripley started competing on the NXT UK brand, where she would eventually become the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion.[22]

On October 18, 2018, WWE announced that Mia Yim had been signed to a contract, performing on the NXT and NXT UK brand.[23]

In February 2019, WWE announced that Rachael Ellering and Karen Q signed to contract and training at the WWE Performance Center.

In November 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced that Big Swole (Aerial Monroe during the Mae Young Classic) signed with the company.

In January 2020, WWEannounced that Mercedes Martinez signed to contract WWE Performance Center.

On April 15, 2020, Deonna Purrazzo was released from her contract. Two days later, Taynara Conti and M.J Jenkins were also released from their contract as part of budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 20, 2021, NXT announced they had signed Priscilla Kelly, where she would be competing under the new ring name Gigi Dolin.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WWE announces 32-competitor Women's Tournament coming to WWE Network this summer. WWE. April 1, 2017. June 27, 2017.
  2. Web site: Namako. Jason. First official details on the second annual Mae Young Classic tournament, tapings in August. Wrestleview. June 21, 2018. July 19, 2018.
  3. News: WWE's Mae Young Classic 2018 to be held at Full Sail Live, tickets available now. WWE. 12 July 2018.
  4. Web site: First Entrants In The 2018 Mae Young Classic on WWE Network Revealed – Former Divas Champion Included. 12 July 2018. 12 July 2018.
  5. Web site: Stephanie McMahon announces the first-ever all-women's pay-per-view WWE Evolution. WWE. July 23, 2018.
  6. Web site: Mae Young Classic 2018 premieres on WWE Network on Sept. 5. 8 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Mae Young Classic to feature both Beth Phoenix and Renee Young on commentary. 8 August 2018 . 8 August 2018.
  8. Web site: WWE Reveals How and When The 2018 Mae Young Classic Will Air – Bracketology Special and Commentary Team Confirmed. 8 August 2018. 9 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Hiroyo Matsumoto, Aerial Monroe and Vanessa Kraven confirmed for Mae Young Classic. 1 August 2018. 1 August 2018.
  10. Web site: Ashley Rayne, Priscilla Kelly and Xia Brookside join Mae Young Classic 2018. 30 July 2018. 30 July 2018.
  11. Web site: Deonna Purrazzo lands 'dream job' as she enters the 2018 Mae Young Classic. 18 July 2018. 18 July 2018.
  12. Web site: International competitors, new NXT recruit and indie star added to Mae Young Classic. 25 July 2018. 25 July 2018.
  13. News: Four more participants confirmed for WWE Mae Young Classic. Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results . 18 July 2018. 18 July 2018.
  14. Web site: Mae Young Classic field widens with addition of international standouts, "American Ninja Warrior" pioneer . . 13 July 2018 . July 13, 2018.
  15. Web site: Kaitlyn returns to WWE as entrant in Mae Young Classic. 10 July 2018 . 12 July 2018.
  16. Web site: India's Kavita Devi readies for Mae Young Classic return. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018.
  17. Web site: Returning favorites, WWE newcomers added to Mae Young Classic 2018. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018.
  18. Web site: 里村明衣子のWWE参戦決定 女子トーナメントMYCは「優勝しか考えていない」. 27 July 2018. 27 July 2018. 27 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180727181256/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/1076176/. dead.
  19. Web site: Zatara, Xia Li, MJ Jenkins, Allysin Kay and Rachel Evers enter Mae Young Classic. 3 August 2018. 3 August 2018.
  20. Web site: NXT's Rhea Ripley selected for Mae Young Classic 2018. 12 July 2018.
  21. Web site: Satin. Ryan. Mae Young Classic Announce Team Will Include Renee Young And Beth Phoenix. 8 August 2018 . Pro Wrestling Sheet. August 8, 2018.
  22. Web site: WWE NXT UK EPISODE 12 REPORT: THE FIRST NXT UK WOMEN'S CHAMPION IS CROWNED AND MORE. Trionfo. Richard. 28 November 2018. PWInsider.
  23. Web site: Matt Riddle, Mia Yim, Chelsea Green among WWE Performance Center's newest recruits. . October 18, 2018. WWE. December 13, 2018.