WWE Mae Young Classic: Episode 8 Review

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Shayna Baszler def. Mercedes Martinez in a Semifinal Match

Baszler and Martinez have a history from the independent scene, so unsurprisingly, they had great chemistry from the get-go. It was established in her previous three matches that Baszler can lock in a submission out of nowhere and win instantly, so with that in mind, they told a solid story that saw Martinez avoid those submissions at all costs. The effort was excellent and the action was very physical, so this certainly felt like a semifinal tournament match with high stakes.

Kairi Sane def. Toni Storm in a Semifinal Match

This might have been the longest tournament match yet, and rightfully so because they maximized their minutes and delivered an exceptional match. Sane's "injured" arm was once again targeted by Storm, and after hitting most of her signature moves, it looked like Storm had a chance of emerging victorious. Of course, Sane battled back, so the psychology was topnotch I thought. Storm is another individual I wasn't too familiar with prior to the tourney yet I really want to see more of her in WWE. She has a presence about her that forces you to take notice.

Overall Show

With only two matches on this show and both of them being tremendous, there's no way I can't recommend giving it a watch. Sane vs. Baszler should be stellar and I really hope the live crowd gives it the respect it deserves (it will be taped after SmackDown Live on September 11). Also on this episode, Charlotte Flair, Bayley and Becky Lynch confronted Ronda Rousey, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke outside of the area, teasing a future face-off between the Four Horsewomen of MMA and WWE. Definitely look for that to materialize at some point, especially with Baszler coming across like a star in this tournament, regardless of whether she wins or loses in the finals. At any rate, all of these episodes had something special to offer, so if you have the time, binge-watching them or checking them out in increments is strongly suggested.