Mitchell’s WWE Mae Young Classic Report! (8/28/17)

Episode 1: The Opening Round, part 1

Steven Mitchell
Aug 28, 2017 · 11 min read
The inaugural all-women tournament begins!

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Kay Lee Ray VS Princesa Sugehit; Sugehit wins and advances.
  • Vanessa Borne VS Serena Deeb; Serena wins and advances.
  • Zeda VS Shayna Baszler; Shayna wins and advances.
  • Jazzy Gabbert VS Abbey Laith; Abbey wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

From Mae Young to Alundra Blayze to Trish Stratus and Lita, it all lead up to the “revolution” in the Women’s Division. The Greatest Era of Women’s Wrestling becomes even greater with this 32 woman tournament, each participant “celebrating the legacies of those who have paved the way, while showcasing their modern-day virtuosity”, and above all, for the glory, honor and prestige of winning this inaugural tournament.

It’s Scotland VS Mexico in the opening match as the Hardcore Daredevil and the Queen of the Stars, both experienced veterans of the ring, go for broke. Handshakes given before the bell, respect is key to this tournament. Kay Ley calls for a test of strength, but points out the height advantage to get in Sugehit’s head. Kay Lee then gives a stiff chop, but Sugehit responds with a kick and then another kick. Sugehit gets running but Kay Lee drops down, Sugehit kicks her in the chest! TWO, Sugehit dodges and runs, Kay Lee trips her up! Kay Lee walks on her, Sugehit trips her up, TWO, the fans applaud the stand-off. Kay Lee rushes in, rolled up, TWO, Sugehit tilt-o-whirls but Kay Lee blocks her to put her in a widow’s peak torture rack. Sugehit breaks out of it to finish hitting the destroyer!

TWO, Sugehit gets right back on Kay Lee. Scoop slam and a few elbow drops, TWO. Sugehit gets a bit frustrated, but she gets the fans rallying as she goes to the apron. Kay Lee evades the slingshot senton, then avoids the shoulder to kick Sugehit between the ropes. Kay Lee spins and smacks Sugehit with a stiff forearm, TWO. Kay Lee gets Sugehit into a corner and gives her a swift chop. Kay Lee bumps Sugehit into another corner for another swift chop, then to a third corner, but Sugehit counters and unloads chops and strikes. Kay Lee runs out and sweeps the legs, then low running Complete Shot, TWO, into the Koji Klutch!

Sugehit endures as she reaches for ropes, makes it a pin, TWO. Kay Lee stomps on Sugehit, Sugehit revives and gives a chop. Kay Lee storms over but gets more strikes, Sugehit whips but is reversed, flying headscissors! Atomic Drop sit down, rolling rolling rolling rolling rolling bodyscissor pin, TWO! Penalty Kick! Sugehit is fired up, the fans cheer for another, so she gives Kay Lee another Penalty Kick, TWO! The fans rally with Sugehit as she kicks Kay Lee’s leg. Sugehit whips but Kay Lee reverses into a SUPERKICK, Kay Lee runs but Sugehit swings, Kay Lee slips under into backslide position but Sugehit blocks and swings out to kick Kay Lee in the leg again. Kay Lee blocks the next kick and loops around into a reverse wheelbarrow facebuster!

Kay Lee rolls Sugehit to the cover, TWO! Kay Lee can’t believe it but the fans are loving it. Kay Lee gets to a corner and climbs up, takes aim, swanton misses! Sugehit puts her in part of the La Rejilla armbar! Kay Lee endures but taps out! Sugehit wins! The lone luchadora from Mexico, how far will she go from here?

One was an Arizona Cardinals cheerleader, the other was a follower of CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society, they’re more than just their pasts, determination and redemption collide! Serena and Vanessa shake hands, the bell rings and they tie up. They furiously push each other back and forth, Vanessa rolls Serena but they stay tied up, Serena returns the roll. They get up again, Vanessa arm-drags Serena, the fans applaud the stand-off. The fans rally as the two women tie up again, waistlock slam from Serena, Vanessa works to get up and around, Serena gives her a couple of arm-drags instead. Serena keeps Vanessa grounded with an armlock but Vanessa gets up and whips Serena, Serena reverses. Serena is fired up as she runs in but Vanessa blocks the monkey flip, puts Serena on the apron, and knocks her down with a headbutt! Vanessa drags Serena out to stomp and rain hands on, then ax handles before putting Serena back in a corner. Fans rally for Serena even as Vanessa stomps on her. Vanessa drags Serena up for hammering hands to the chest. The fans cheer for Serena, Vanessa gives her a snapmare and sliding headbutt. Cover, TWO, so Vanessa drags Serena into a chinlock. The fans rally again, Serena works her way out but Vanessa just drags her back down. Serena keeps fighting the hold, the fans rally up again, Serena gets to her feet. Serena lifts and drops Vanessa in a back suplex to get free. Vanessa kicks but is blocked, Serena gives jabs and a heavy right hand. Scoop slam and kick, Serena gives Vanessa a stiff neckbreaker. Cover, TWO, Serena gets Vanessa up in a fireman’s carry, gutbuster! Serena gets space and fires up, daring Vanessa to get up. Vanessa staggers to her feet, but dodges Serena as she charges in, Serena hits buckles hard! Vanessa glares as she drags Serena out and stands her up, swinging neckbreaker!

Vanessa takes Serena on a Moonlight Drive!

TWO! Vanessa is frustrated, she rains heavy rights on Serena. Mounting cover, TWO, Vanessa walks off her frustration. She drags Serena up, fireman’s carry, Samoan Drop! TWO, and Vanessa is furious! She goes for a splash, misses wide! The fans cheer for Serena, she’s up and gets running, SPEAR!

Serena wins! She continues down the road of redemption, will it take her to the finals of the tournament?

MMA comes to wrestling as the Real-life Superwoman and the Queen of Spades go toe-to-toe and hand-to-hand. Handshake not given, this is serious business as Zeda goes after Shayna’s leg. She gets her in the grapevine but Shayna just stands up and slaps Zeda before going for the armbar. Zeda resists, and slips around to a sleeper hold, but Shayna avoids bodyscissors to get up and give more swift slaps. Another attempt at the armbar, Zeda turns it to a pin, Shayna lets go and gets separation. The two circle and Zeda goes in for the leg, Shayna blocks that. Zeda jumps of for the takedown but Shayna blocks that, too. Shayna dumps Zeda down on her butt, goes after legs and gives a kick to the thigh before backing Zeda into a corner. Zeda can only cover up as Shayna throws stiff strikes, but Zeda evades the knee attack to give kicks of her own. Zeda climbs up for corner forearms, then backs up to run in, monkey flip throws Shayna to the center of the ring! Cover, TWO, Zeda keeps on Shayna. The fans cheer for Shayna as she resists the suplex, so Zeda jumps up to get the guillotine. Shayna uses power to change that to her suplex, dropping Zeda into the rear-naked choke!

Zeda taps, Shayna wins! The Queen of Spades has her fellow Horsewomen of MMA cheering her own, can she hit the jackpot that is the finals?

The German Alpha Female and the Heiress of the Alligator Clutch come in to win, no matter what, but only one can move one step closer to winning it all. Handshake given, but Jazzy gets right in Abbey’s face with it. The bell rings and Abbey unloads forearms, Jazzy shoves her back and roars at her. Abbey runs back and gives more, Jazzy again shoves Abbey and they both roar! Abbey tries a third time, but Jazzy shoves her down now, then drags her up as the fans are fired up, beal toss! Jazzy drags Abbey up and throws her again, the fans like it. Jazzy runs, Abbey slips under but her kick is blocked, Jazzy throws her down and Abbey just does the splits to say “not gonna happen.” Jazzy swings a kick but Abbey ducks under, Jazzy grabs Abbey but Abbey gives a jawbreaker. The fans are fired up again, Abbey whips Jazzy but is reversed, Abbey slips around but Jazzy blocks the arm-drag with pure strength. She whips Abbey and runs her over with a shoulder. Jazzy covers, TWO, Jazzy drags Abbey up into a seated Abdominal Stretch only to hammer crossface punches into Abbey’s chest. Cover, TWO, Jazzy hammers on Abbey again, TWO again. Jazzy gets Abbey’s arm, Anaconda Vice! Abbey endures the squeeze from Jazzy, Abbey goes for a headscissor counter but can’t hold it, Jazzy keeps the squeeze up. The fans rally as Abbey gets that headscissor, Jazzy just drags Abbey into position for the sleeper hold and bodyscissor. Abbey endures as fans rally, Abbey makes it a pin but Jazzy lets go and kicks out. Jazzy is right on Abbey and she powers her to a corner before throwing in shoulders to the stomach. Jazzy then unloads fast and furious body shots that sit Abbey down, Jazzy grinds a boot into her chin. Snapmare brings Abbey out, back to a chinlock, the fans rally. Abbey feeds off the power, getting to her feet, and fights out with elbows. Jazzy just swings her out for a STIFF forearm!

Abbey is on jelly legs as she gets to a corner, and she manages to boot Jazzy away. Abbey climbs up, jumps but is caught, scoop slam and flexing pin, TWO. Jazzy toys with Abbey now, puts her in powerbomb position but Abbey slips out and gets to a corner. Jazzy runs in, Abbey hops up and puts on a rope-assisted butterfly lock!

Abbey has to let go before 5, Jazzy is a bit dazed now. Abbey throws a shoulder into Jazzy, then kicks away, but the enziguri only brings Jazzy to her knees. Abbey keeps kicking away, “YES! YES! YES!” Jazzy goes down, cover, TWO! Abbey won’t let herself get frustrated, she drags Jazzy over and then climbs up. Jazzy revives and stops Abbey on the top, then pulls Abbey into dominator position. Abbey spins and arm-drags Jazzy, then a pair of bicycle boots back Jazzy down, low dropkick blasts her into a corner. Jazzy is in position again, Abbey goes up, the fans are cheering her on, Swanton!

It hits! Cover… TWO! Abbey is shocked! But Jazzy is firing up, as are the fans. Lariat! And a rain of lefts and rights on the ground! Jazzy drags Abbey up, powerbomb position, then into dominator, but Abbey revives and sunset flips! Alligator clutch cover!

Abbey wins!! She stuns the Alpha Female and the Full Sail crowd as she uses the signature of Mae Young to move on! Can the legacy of Mae Young carry her through to the end?

One thing is for sure, she won the respect of her opponent, as the two shake hands and even hug it out. The spirit of competition is alive and well in just this opening round of the tournament.

My Thoughts:

What a great opening hour to this tournament, from start to finish. Kay Lee Ray and Princesa Sugehit were a great opener with the bit of stiff shots early, each woman having a submission up their sleeve, it was logical to let the more experienced Sugehit go over and it keeps the lucha libre fans interested as she’s the only competitor from Mexico in the field of 32. Serena Debb and Vanessa Borne had a good match, Vanessa showing her natural strength but Serena using her toughness to overcome, and this really is a good story for her, being that she’s back in the WWE after that odd first run was ran into the ground, I personally hope she does get back to the main roster so she and the WWE can make up for that. Shayna Baszler putting Zeda away rather quickly definitely builds credibility in the WWE, there’s a lot of potential for her and the Four Horsewomen of MMA in the company. That main event was definitely worthy of the spot, Abbey the underdog overcomes Jazzy but no hard feelings about it. It’s a bit of a shame such a match-up happened so soon, Jazzy is such a great talent herself that she could’ve easily been part of the second or third round if brackets were just a bit different. Either way, both she and Abbey have bright futures, I’m sure we’ll see more of the Alpha Female in the WWE/NXT.

My Score: 8/10

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