We are halfway through the first round of the Mae Young Classic and the action keeps heating up. Four more women look to join the Sweet Sixteen, with Ayesha Raymond vs. Toni Storm, Dakota Kai vs. Kavita Devi, Bianca Belair vs. Sage Beckett, and Santana Garrett taking on Piper Niven.
Ayesha Raymond (United Kingdom) vs. Toni Storm (Australia)
Kicking off this episode is the Amazon going up against the rock star. Toni Storm has quickly ascended to the top of women’s wrestling throughout the world, including Progress Wrestling. She faces another powerhouse in the tournament in Ayesha Raymond, the London native who has trained with some of the best England has to offer.
While Ayesha Raymond has Toni Storm down and out, she goes to the top rope to put an exclamation point on the match, but she gets distracted by the booing crowd. This gives Storm an opportunity to roll away from a Superfly Splash and to roll Raymond up to capitalize on a mistake and pick up the victory. Storm advances to the second round, where she will either face Taynara Conti or Lacey Evans.
Dakota Kai (New Zealand) vs. Kavita Devi (India)
This match is probably the most uniquely diverse matches in the Mae Young Classic. Dakota Kai is a veteran wrestler out of New Zealand and is known for her incredible kicking ability. Also, she is a former tag team partner of Ruby Riot. Kavita Devi is the first woman from India to ever compete in a WWE ring, so she has already made history by just starting the match. Devi is trained by former WWE World Heavyweight Champion The Great Khali and she is an accomplished powerlifter.
Devi has an impressively diverse move set for a powerhouse (including lucha libre rope-based maneuvers) and it shows because she dominates for most of the match. After waiting just too long to follow-up on Kai, Devi eats a running boot in the corner. Kai then finishes Devi off with the Coup de Grace to pick up the win and advance to round two, where she will face fellow kicking expert Rhea Ripley. Winner: Dakota Kai | Eliminated: Kavita Devi
Bianca Belair (USA) vs. Sage Beckett (USA)
Two NXT Superstars face off here, but only one has been featured on NXT television before. Bianca Belair won a televised qualifying match to compete in the Mae Young Classic, while Sage Beckett’s NXT career has primarily been on house shows. Beckett competed for a while in the late 2000’s and after taking some years off to focus on weight issues, the Dudley Boyz-trained Superstar is back and better than ever. Belair is relatively new to wrestling, but she has an impressive track and powerlifting background.
Beckett takes too long to attempt a splash from the second rope and Belair rolls out of the way. After using her braided hair as a whip, she takes out Beckett with an impactful spear. In the second round, Belair will either face Kairi Sane or Tessa Blanchard. Winner: Bianca Belair | Eliminated: Sage Beckett
Santana Garrett (USA) vs. Piper Niven (Scotland)
It seems like every match in the first round has a powerhouse now and this time, it is Piper Niven. Niven is a very successful Scottish wrestler who has competed in ICW, also home to United Kingdom Championship Tournament competitor Wolfgang. Santana Garrett is widely regarded as one of the best women’s wrestlers going today and the “Wonder Woman” of the Mae Young Classic will have to use her technical prowess to overcome the strength disadvantage.
As Lita mentions, it is hard to speed up the pack against Piper Niven because while Niven is the biggest woman in the tournament, she is also surprisingly quick. Niven uses this unexpected combination to get Garrett in the Michinoku Driver and once Garrett is driven into the mat, it is over. Niven will advance to the second round to face returning WWE Superstar Serena Deeb. Winner: Piper Niven | Eliminated: Santana Garrett
