Csonka’s Mae Young Classic (Ep. 8) Review

Csonka’s Mae Young Classic (Ep. 8) Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– MYC Semifinal Match: Shayna Baszler defeated Mercedes Martinez @ 8:20 via submission[***½]
– MYC Semifinal Match: Kairi Sane defeated Toni Storm @ 14:20 via pin [***¾]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– My Mae Young Classic coverage below…

* Episode 1
* Episode 2
* Episode 3
* Episode 4
* Csonka’s Early Mae Young Classic Takes
* Episode 5
* Episode 6
* Episode 7

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– We get a Mercedes Martinez vs. Shayna Baszler video package.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Shayna Baszler: These two are stablemates in SHIMMER, and for the first time in the tournament, Baszler shakes hands with her opponent. They work a tentative opening stretch, since they know each other so well. Martinez then throws caution to the wind and fires up with strikes and chops. Martinez continues to attack, taking Baszler down and laying in kicks. Martinez grounds the action, but Baszler finally gets to her feet and attacks with a flurry of strikes. The rolling gut wrench suplexes follow, and Baszler covers for 2. Baszler then locks in a heel hook, transitioning to a knee bar and Martinez manages to escape. She then works a Regal stretch, keeping Baszler grounded, but trying to work a more pro wrestling style submission game. They trade strikes from their knees, Baszler gets pissed but then lays in leg kicks. Martinez counters out of a suplex and hits the fisherman’s buster but she can’t cover right away and when she does, Baszler kicks out at 2. Martinez hits a Saito suplex, and another. The German follows, she looks for another fisherman’s buster but Baszler fights that off. Baszler now hits the falcon arrow into the rear naked choke; Martinez fights but has to tap. Shayna Baszler defeated Mercedes Martinez @ 8:20 via submission [***½] This was a very good match, they mentioned that these two are close outside of this competition, and that set the stage for the match they worked. They started a bit tentative, since they know each other so well, until Martinez went for broke early just trying to beat down Baszler. Baszler survived, went into deeper waters with the veteran and once again walked away with the submission victory. I enjoyed the hard-hitting tone they had here as well, both women looked vicious and came across as very believable. It felt like they were really fighting for something. It was also a very different match for Baszler, as she got to show off some versatility.

– Triple H, Sara Amato (Sara Del Rey), and Stephanie McMahon are in the ring to congratulate both women, and to raise Baszler’s hand.

We get a Toni Storm vs. Kairi Sane video package.

Toni Storm vs. Kairi Sane: Despite Lita’s incorrect information, these two have faced off in the past, so this is a smart match up. The winner moves onto the finals against Baszler. They work size vs. speed to begin, Sane looks to take it to the mat but Storm keeps control. We see Baszler watching on from the back. Storm looks to work the arm early, but sane fires back with strikes and heads up top, Storm avoids the attack but Sane hits the dropkick. Storm quickly goes back to the arm, and follows with uppercuts. Sane fires back, but misses a charge and falls to the floor. Storm follows to the apron, Sane slams he back first to the apron and she heads up top and hits a high cross, and her face ate the ramp. OUCH. That may have been where she suffered her concussion. She’s up right away, and back in, covers Storm for 2. She works the Boston crab now. Storm fights and makes the ropes. Storm cuts off the sliding lariat and hits a German. Storm hits a hip attack, but Sane pops up and hits the spear for the double down. Sane’s face is all scratched up from that high cross spot. They trade strikes center ring, they fire up and keep trading but Sane cuts her off with a double axe handle. Sane up top, but Storm cuts her off with a bridging muscle buster for a great near fall. Lita called it strong zero, but that’s Storm’s piledriver. Storm is shocked that Sane kicked out. Storm drags Sane to her feet, blocks the backfist and transitions into the arm bar. Sane’s selling is so good here as Storm cranks back on the arm. Sane screams and struggles as the crowd tries to rally her. Sane escapes into a cradle, Storm lays her out with a forearm smash, Storm up top and hits the leg drop across the back. Sane is clutching her arm, but hits the desperation backfist and locks in a leg lock, and then drops an elbow, She heads up top, clutching a her elbow and HITS it and picks up the win! Kairi Sane defeated Toni Storm @ 14:20 via pin [***¾] This was a very good match, just shy of being great. With Sane’s arm “injured,” that also provides Baszler a target for their finals match next week. Storm tried to take out the arm, but Sane powered through and managed to hit the death blow, connecting with the big elbow. You have the felling that if she missed she would have been done.

– Triple H, Sara Amato (Sara Del Rey), and Stephanie McMahon are in the ring again for the congratulations. Sane is in tears. She and Storm embrace post match.

– Sane & Baszler face off to close the show.

– The finals on September 12th will see Shayna Baszler vs. Kairi Sane to crown the first ever Mae Young Classic winner. I highly anticipate Sane going for the elbow only for Baszler to snatch her out of the air into an arm bar or a choke for a near finish.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.7

The final score: review Good

The 411

With it being a two-match show, they pulled off the best show of the tournament overall, with two very good matches setting the stage for finals.