Mitchell’s WWE Mae Young Classic Report! (8/28/17)
Episode 2: The Opening Round, part 2

All images courtesy of the WWE Network streaming service

OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Xia Li VS Mercedes Martinez; Mercedes wins and advances.
- Rachel Evers VS Marti Belle; Rachel wins and advances.
- Rhea Ripley VS Miranda Salinas; Rhea wins and advances.
- Sarah Logan VS Mia Yim; Mia wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Opening Round continues!
Four matches down, another four will happen in this episode, who moves on and who goes home?
Xia Li VS Mercedes Martinez!


A debuting but promising talent goes up against a world-traveled veteran who finally finds her way to the WWE, dreams are coming true but only one dream can continue in this tournament! Mercedes mocks the way of kung-fu with a crane pose, then doesn’t really give the most respectful handshake. The veteran clearly wants everyone to know she isn’t going to take it easy just because her opponent is the new kid on the block. That aside, the bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. Waistlock takeover from Mercedes, Xia Li gets up but ends up in a headlock takeover. Xia gets up again, Mercedes wrenches the arm and snapmares, facelock and float over, Mercedes toys with the rookie. Xia gives Mercedes stiff kicks to the leg, backing the veteran down. Running uppercut, then another, Xia snapmare biels Mercedes then rolls her in a crucifix pin, TWO. Mercedes swings wild but misses, Xia blocks and gives a knee to then throw Mercedes again. Mercedes gets back up and blocks Xia’s kick, she spins Xia but Xia kicks back. With Mercedes down on her knees, Xia spins and kicks her again! Xia drags Mercedes to a cover, TWO. Xia fires up and the fans rally with her, running super punch! Mercedes gets up but gets another kick, Xia gets running but runs into a spinebuster! Xia kicks out at ONE, and Mercedes is shocked! Mercedes drags Xia around, hooks the legs for the surfboard, with dragon sleeper!

Xia taps, Mercedes wins! She won’t be denied her dream, but she’s going up against Princesa Sugehit next round, can the dream survive?

Rachel Evers VS Marti Belle!


The daughter of Paul Ellering looks to make her father proud but she’s up against the Dominican Republic’s street-smart and street-tough Lioness, who moves on to face Abbey Laith in the next round? Handshake honored, though Marti wipes her hand off. The fans duel, cheering both of them on as the bell rings. They look to be tying up but Marti backs off to a corner, the referee keeps Rachel back. Marti stretches and comes back out, but then gets to another corner to back Rachel off again. Marti finally ties up with Rachel, gets Rachel to a corner, and then slips on a headlock. Rachel powers out and puts on her own, Marti powers out and knees Rachel, underhook suplex, Rachel kicks out at one. Marti taunts, saying it was “so close.” Marti goes for a hip toss but Rachel blocks, Rachel throws Marti down and then bicycle boot! TWO, Rachel stays on Marti with a facelock. Marti steps on a toe, but Rachel still blocks Marti’s punch, standing STO! Rachel hops up and somersault legdrop onto Marti!

TWO, Marti crawls to the apron to get a time-out. Rachel drags her up by her hair, so Marti hotshots Rachel back. Marti gets back in, rolling blockbuster, Rachel kicks out at one again, Marti looks frustrated and serious now. She gives Rachel a back kick, a knee, and a couple forearms, then a spinning back elbow into a lariat! The fans duel, TWO, Marti drags Rachel up and bumps her in a corner. The fans keep dueling as Marti bumps Rachel off another buckle, then a third. Marti drags Rachel to the fourth corner but Rachel prevents the full circle. She stares Marti down, Marti puts hands up to keep Rachel calm, Rachel gives her a stiff right hand and then puts her in the corner for many many buckle bumps. Rachel rocks Marti with more right hands and even forearms, Marti is staggered, bicycle boot knocks her down, low enziguri, back senton to top it off! Rachel lets Marti get up, whips Marti and hits a spinebuster!

TWO, but Rachel isn’t frustrated yet. The fans rally as Rachel stands Marti up and hits a third bicycle boot, Rachel gives more forearms and then lifts her up, fisherman powerbomb!

TWO, Rachel feels the frustration now. Rachel stalks Marti but gets yanked into ropes for it, Rachel gasps as she staggers, Marti pounces with the leg-sweep facebuster!

TWO, now Marti is surprised. Marti drags Rachel up, small package surprise! Rachel wins! Rachel shows you can’t let your guard down, can she surprise Abbey Laith in the second round?

WWE takes a look at the week leading up to the tournament.
All 32 participants met with Triple H, where he congratulated each of them for getting even this far. They may have been told they can’t, that the glass ceiling is in the way, but he promised this tournament would be the platform for them all to smash right through it. Only one woman can win the tournament, but all of these women have already accomplished so much to be proud of.
Rhea Ripley VS Miranda Salinas!


The Aussie prodigy and the Petite Powder-keg are both out to defy expectations, who will defeat the other to move forward? Handshake offered by Rhea, honored by Miranda after a moment of contemplation. The bell rings, they tie up and Miranda gets a headlock. Taller Rhea powers out, “Aussie Aussie Aussie! OI OI OI!” Miranda rushes back in, waistlock to headlock, Rhea reverses to an armlock and headlock, Miranda tries to power out but Rhea holds on. Miranda powers out again, and then grabs Rhea’s hair to reel her into a headlock. Rhea powers out, dropkicks Miranda right off her feet!

Miranda crawls out of the ring quickly, Rhea dares her to get back in. Miranda takes her time to compose herself, Rhea lets her in but then rushes at Miranda, drop toehold puts her to the ropes, Miranda yanks her off and covers, Rhea out at one. Another cover, TWO, Miranda drags Rhea over to a corner but Rhea blocks the buckle bump. Rhea chops and shoves Miranda into the corner, then a set of stiff chops. Miranda dodges the third and gives Rhea a chop of her own, but Rhea doesn’t seem that bothered by it. Rhea runs but gets thrown down, Miranda kicks her in the back of the head then runs for a Shining Wizard!

TWO, Miranda is a touch frustrated. She toys with Rhea, Rhea blocks the incoming slap, then ducks the punch to give Miranda a forearm. Miranda fires back with her own forearm, Rhea is not staggered by it at all. Rhea runs Miranda over, and then another dropkick! Miranda ends up in a corner, Rhea comes in with a running boot from the side! Miranda sits down, the fans fire up, Rhea gives her a skateboard dropkick!

Rhea drags Miranda out, cover, TWO! Rhea isn’t frustrated yet, she drags Miranda into position, “Aussie Aussie Aussie! OI OI OI!” as she deadlifts Miranda, but then Miranda slips out and behind to chopblock a leg out. Miranda gets running, tilt-o-whirl small package pin! TWO! Roundhouse rocks Miranda, then the full-nelson slam! Rhea wins! Only 20 years old, Rhea looks ready, can she take the other participants and #RipThemApart?

Sarah Logan VS Mia Yim!


It’s #CountryStrong VS the Unbreakable in this main event, who will prove they’re tough enough to take on Shayna Baszler? Handshake honored, the bell rings and they circle. Tie up, headlock for Mia as the fans cheer her own, Sarah powers out and puts Mia in a facelock but Mia reverses that to an arm wrench. Mia loops around for a hammerlock then waistlock, Sarah throws an elbow to break that. She runs, dosey-do and then Sarah runs Mia over with a shoulder. Things speed up again, arm-drag from Mia and then a dropkick, cover, TWO. Mia kicks Sarah, then again, then again, Sarah gets up and headbutts Mia to the ropes before throwing a knee, cover, TWO. Sarah throws hammer fists but Mia covers up, Sarah covers, Mia kicks out at one. Fans duel as Sarah puts Mia in a modified straitjacket armlock.

Mia endures and makes it a pin, TWO, but a low dropkick from Sarah floors Mia, Mia out at one again. Sarah whips Mia at the ropes, Mia slips out of the scoop to unleash Tae Kwan Do strikes! Pele kick, TWO! Mia keeps focus as she kicks Sarah again and again. Sarah fires up from the kicks, roaring at Mia as she keeps getting kicked. Mia gets Sarah in a corner, gives a swift chop, then backs off to run in, Sarah dodges but then Mia goes up and over, Tarantula!

Mia lets go in time, Sarah staggers away as Mia goes up, missile knee strike! TWO! Mia isn’t frustrated, she just takes aim and runs in, flying guillotine! She holds on to get bodyscissors as Sarah rolls, Sarah endures and reaches, pops out to give Mia a forearm. Mia returns it, Sarah gives another and it’s a brawl! That slap just makes Mia grin, so it becomes a palm strike brawl! Sarah throws in kicks with the heel of her boot, Mia returns some of that, and the two separate. The fans applaud this gritty showdown, Sarah gets a back elbow and chop, stiff right to chop, repeat. Hip toss cartwheel to shining wizard!

TWO, Sarah is a bit surprised. Mia gets up and staggers a bit, Sarah brings her to ropes for the whip but Mia reverses. Saido Suplex! TWO, now Mia feels a bit of the frustration. The fans rally as Mia gets up and stalks Sarah, waistlock and deadlift German Suplex pin! TWO! Mia is getting lost in her frustration and despair, the fans duel for them both. Mia takes aim, starts kicking away again, then arm wrenches but Sarah counters with a roll up, TWO. Mia slaps, Sarah fires up, overhead suplex!

TWO, Sarah is getting frustrated now. The fans rally as Sarah gives double knees to put Mia in a corner, then she hauls Mia up, Fisherman Suplex! TWO! Sarah doesn’t know what to do, but she cries “Off with your head!” She misses her knee drop, Mia gives her a back kick and says “Off with YOUR head!” Eat DaFeet!

Mia wins! Unbreakable indeed, that battle tested Mia, but perhaps that’s what it’ll take to take on the Queen of Spades in the next round.

My Thoughts:
Mercedes moves on over Xia because a 16 year veteran isn’t going to get beat by a first-day rookie, but it was far from burying or jobbing the way Xia got her shots in, the fact she was entered in this tournament is proof enough Xia has promise in the Women’s Division. The match between Rachel Evers and Marti Belle felt a bit sloppier at times, perhaps a sign that Rachel hasn’t been given as much practice or experience as Marti, but both did great in the story elements as Marti played up being an antagonistic Heel a la Kevin Owens or The Miz. Rachel goes over not necessarily because she’s second generation, but because she’s worked hard and will make a great match-up with Abbey Laith. Rhea’s match with Miranda was a touch better, it was fast-paced and hard-hitting, I actually liked that Rhea was no-selling Miranda based on how she was the taller superstar. Being the youngest competitor, it’s clear Rhea has a bright future in the business, she might surprise us with how far she gets in the tournament. And again, the main event was the right match, Mia and Sarah were both great in that match, showing how tough they are and how hard they could hit. It’s alright that Sarah lost, she has plenty going for her already since she’s had time in NXT, and it’s great for Mia to move on given her life story. Mia Yim VS Shayna Baszler sounds like a great match-up already, as do the other second round matches we’re already seeing form.
My Score: 8/10
