These four episodes were covered in the WWE TV Week in Review, but now they are here. Together.
The thing about these WWE tournament Round 1 matches is that they aren’t very good. They serve a purpose as introductions and showcases, and they give the losers some experience on this stage, but outside of a few matches these are mostly at best bland enhancement matches en route to the next round.
Out of 16 first round matches, I count 6 of 16 that were Actually Good.
Priscila Kelly and Xia Brookside are youngsters with potential.
Tegan Nox, Rhea Ripley, Deonna Purrazzo, Kacy Catanzaro, Jinny, Allysin Kay, Hiroyo Matsumoto, and Nicole Matthews are all interesting wrestlers I want to see more of.
And Meiko Satomura, Toni Storm, Mia Yim and Io Shirai lived up to the hype, whether from Japan or last year.
Mae Young Classic – Season 2 Episode 1 (9/5/18)
1. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Tegan Nox vs. Zatara
Tegan Nox can work a wristlock. Tegan Nox does armdrags. Tegan Nox does a 619 to tease a dive. What I am trying to say is that Tegan Nox is very good. Her opponent Zatara has this looseless to how she wrestles, like a modern-day less zombie-like Onryo. They told a basic story here and got their shit in. Shiniest Wizard, baby. **
2. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Rhea Ripley vs. MJ Jenkins
It appears that Rhea Ripley is now a Fucking Badass. I like it. MJ took some nice bumps (the dropkick to the floor was wild) and I dug her war cry on the comeback, but this was more about Rhea just being mean and aggressive and stuff. The swat at nothing as she stumbled to setup the missile dropkick and her stalling vertical suplex were highlights. Was very thrown off by the “She doesn’t want to be known as Charlotte 2.0” hard sell though – was that actually a thing? **1/2
3. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Lacey Lane vs. Vanessa Kraven
I am inherently suspect of anybody trained by the Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling. These two probably told the most straightforward story (One’s Big! And One’s Little!) but it wasn’t super well executed. Lane was trying some stuff including that springboard armdrag thing that didn’t work, but needs more polish. *3/4
4. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Meiko Satomura vs. Killer Kelly
Michael Cole: It’s MEIKO TIME! This was fun. I was so into Michael Cole being so into how “tight and hard” Meiko had her headlock on. Meiko has such a confident way about her – even her stance is threatening. The armdrag to half crab to STF was brilliant, and the handspring double kneedrop thing looked like it hurt. Kelly got that cool dragon sleeper in, but this was all about Meiko being on a WWE show and it was very cool. **3/4
Mae Young Classic – Season 2 Episode 2 (9/12/18)
1. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Priscilla Kelly
Kelly’s 30 seconds of offense didn’t quite work but Deonna Purrazzo is the truth. A lot like the Tegan Nox match last week, in that as a complete match it was nothing much but the winner’s performance was excellent. Dug how Kelly’s handshake refusal set the tone, and then Deonna showed off her stuff before the Fujiwara armbar. **
2. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Aerial Monroe vs. Zeuxis
The story of messing with a black girl’s hair started this off well enough but it ended up being a match that did not work. Just a glaring styles clash. Neither seemed to be on the same page early and the later stuff didn’t save it. The Spanish Fly was cool, I guess. Shocked Monroe lost in front of her daughter but the shot of her crying in Cedric’s arm was wild. Still, DUD
3. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Kacy Catanzaro vs. Reina Gonzalez
It was very cool to see Kacy Catanzaro do her thing for the first time. The climb-up-the-ring-post entrance, slingshot HIGH-ANGLE headscissors, and second-rope springboard dropkick were incredible. It always feels a little off when they do these big vs. small matches and the big one doesn’t just try and wreck the small one early, but still. A fun showing. *1/2
4. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Ashley Rayne vs. Mercedes Martinez
This was two capable wrestlers having a not very good match. Mercedes did some suplexes and that was about it. Rayna tried to babyface it up but the crowd wasn’t feeling it. *1/2
Mae Young Classic – Season 2 Episode 3 (9/19/18)
1. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Kaitlyn vs. Kavita Devi
Kaitlyn’s got fire, but there wasn’t much here. Devi still feels awkward. *
2. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Toni Storm vs. Jinny
Oh baby, I am so into the Jinny swagger. This was a good match, and if the rest of this show didn’t happen the best of the tourney. Jinny was real aggressive, while Toni was throwing sweet strikes and looking at the crowd like “yeah we did it guys!” The Japanese armdrag into the corner was a great spot too. I would watch NXT UK for a Jinny/Toni feud. ***
3. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Xia Li vs. Karen Q
Outside of Renee talking about these two breaking out of stereotypes as they respectfully bowed at each other, this was awesome. A match starting with kung fu poses could easily come off as goofy but these guys brought the intensity and made this a credible, awesome wrestling match. Beautifully timed kick dodges, Xia going off on Karen, Karen booting Xia in the face… good times. Such good times. ***1/2
4. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Mia Yim vs. Allysin Kay
Oh man Sienna might be awesome. I dig the trashy character and on top of that she made a Bad News Brown reference. This was a great match – these are two girls who have their shit DOWN and in between the well-done wrestling sequences they took breaks to punch each other in the face. The chop to the post was a great spot too. ***1/2
Mae Young Classic – Season 2 Episode 4 (9/26/18)
1. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Rachel Evers vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto
A Round 1 match where both came out looking better. They brought the physicality and that physicality kept the crowd engaged for what was a longer match by Round 1 standards. LADY GODZILLA working heel was good stuff. ***
2. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Jessie Elaban vs. Taynara Conti
This wasn’t quite ready for prime time, but I’m into developmental judo throws over developmental bodyslams. *
3. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Nicole Matthews vs. Isla Dawn
Nicole Matthews looks pissed off when she walks to the ring and I am into that. She beat some ass and Isla Dawn being a witch was interesting but it had quite a few real dead spots. *3/4
4. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Io Shirai vs. Xia Brookside
God damn, the Io Shirai introduction – complete with the video, I-O chants, and commentary putting her over huge – felt like Kobashi was coming to the WWF in his prime. This was a pitch perfect introduction match. Xia went at Io and threw elbows, Io landed on her feet out of a headscissors and milked the reaction, and then Io dominated with a bunch of fun stuff while Xia peppered in her spunk and it rocked. ***1/4
