Csonka’s Mae Young Classic Review 10.03.18 (EP.5)

Csonka’s Mae Young Classic Review 10.03.18 (EP.5)

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Toni Storm defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto @ 9:19 via pin [***½]
– Rhea Ripley defeated Kacy Catanzaro @ 7:05 via pin [***]
– Lacey Lane defeated Taynara Conti @ 2:40 via pin [NR]
– Meiko Satomura defeated Mercedes Martinez @ 11:40 via pin [****]

---

– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– I did a column, “Where Are They Now, The Cruiserweight Classic Finals Performers” which you can check out at this link.

– You can check out my top 36 matches of SEPTEMBER list at this link.

Toni Storm vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto: They lock up, Toni works slick counters and grounds the action. Matsumoto transitions into a headlock, but Toni is back to working the arm. She grounds things, but Matsumoto escapes and they shake hands until Matsumoto attacks. Matsumoto follows with chops, and then a stunner in the ropes. Matsumoto heads up top and hits the missile dropkick, covering for 2. Toni fires back, but Matsumoto cuts her off with a suplex for 2. More chops follow from Matsumoto, and she follows with knee strikes. Matsumoto lays the boots to her in the corner, but Toni hits a German and she’s fired up. Toni hits an ass attack and fisherman’s suplex for 2. They trade strikes, but Matsumoto lights her up with slaps and a lariat. Matsumoto looks for a powerbomb, but Toni escapes, but Matsumoto transitions into a half crab. Toni makes the ropes, Matsumoto to the ropes and hits the double knees connect for 2. Toni hits a head butt, and German for 2. Matsumoto hits the rock drop for 2. Toni now cradles Matsumoto for 2. Matsumoto hits a clothesline and that gets 2. Another clothesline follows, she hangs on and hits another. Matsumoto looks for a third and Toni counters into a bridging cradle for the win. Toni Storm defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto @ 9:19 via pin [***½] This was very good stuff, with Matsumoto dominating, but Storm surviving her best and coming away with the big win. This was a very good start to the show.

Rhea Ripley vs. Kacy Catanzaro: Kacy picked up the big surprise win in round one, but faces another huge challenge here in Ripley. Ripley overpowers Kacy to begin. Kacy picks up the pace, lays in kicks and Ripley fights off a head scissors but Kacy hits it n the second try. Ripley stuns her off the ropes, and then tosses her around. Kacy gets a small package for 2, but Ripley then cuts her off with a dropkick for 2. Ripley now lays the boots to her, and slams her down and follows with a basement dropkick for 1. Ripley follows with clubbing strikes, and the delayed suplex follows as Ripley walks her around and hits it, covering for 2. Ripley works a cloverleaf variation, Kacy fights, and rolls out. Ripley hits the big boot, covering for 2. Kacy now hits a tornado DDT and both are down. Ripley powders and Kacy hits a tornillo plancha. Back in and Kacy hits dropkicks, clotheslines, and then slips on a springboard attempt (they covered it very well). She fights through and hits a missile dropkick and splash for 2. Ripley cuts her off and finishes her with the riptide powerbomb. Rhea Ripley defeated Kacy Catanzaro @ 7:05 via pin [***] This was a good David vs. Goliath style match, with Ripley’s new character continuing to deliver, while Kacy continues to be a tremendously fun babyface, she has a ton of potential so young in her career.

Lacey Lane vs. Taynara Conti: Conti immediately hits a throw. Lane picks up the pace into a cradle for 2. Conti quickly cuts her off and slams her down. Conti attacks with kicks to the arms, and rolls into a mounted cover for 2. Lane battles back, pulling the hair and then hits a clothesline. Lane follows with strikes into a flatliner for 2. Conti cuts her off with knee strikes, but Lane hits the crucifix bomb for the win. Lacey Lane defeated Taynara Conti @ 2:40 via pin [NR] It wasn’t bad by any means, but it’s good that this was kept short as it was rough and a bit disjointed. Also, you need the occasional short match in a tournament like this.

Meiko Satomura vs. Mercedes Martinez: They lock up, Satomura looks to work the arm but Martinez grounds the action. Back to the feet, Satomura works into counters, and grounds things as she targets the arm. Satomura now lays in kicks, and knee strikes and covers for 2. Satomura now transitions to north/south position, and works a butterfly lock. Martinez fights out and hits a throw, covering for 2. Martinez now looks to ground things, working a side headlock, but Satomura gets a head scissors and but Martinez escapes and follows with slaps and chops. This just angers Satomura, but Martins cuts her off with the tree slam for 2. Martinez lays in elbows and a guillotine. She then follows with strikes, and then uppercuts. She pummels Satomura in the corner, but Satomura counters with a head kick and heads up top and she’s pissed. Martinez crotches her, and hits a draping neck breaker for 2. Satomura counters the fisherman’s buster into an arm bar, Martinez rolls and barely makes the ropes. Satomura now lays in vicious kicks, heads up top and hits the frog splash for 2. Martinez fights back and hits a Saito suplex for 2. She fires up and Satomura counters the fisherman’s buster with knee strikes and a DDT. Spikes her with another DDT, his the cartwheel knees and that gets 2. Satomura looks for a DVD, countered and Martinez hits a running kick and fisherman’s buster for a great near fall. Martinez lays the boots to Satomura, looks for a Romero special but Satomura elbows out and hits a spin kick. The scorpion kick finally finishes Martinez. Meiko Satomura defeated Mercedes Martinez @ 11:40 via pin [****] This was an absolutely great match, with two veterans knowing what to do and more importantly, when to do it. they kept a great pace had a good layout, and also had great drama down the stretch. This was the best match of the tournament so far and I am thrilled that both go to have such a great match on this stage.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.8

The final score: review Good

The 411

As we move into round two, the Mae Young Classic picked up delivered the best show of the tournament so far. While Lane vs. Conti wasn’t anything special, everything else was good to great, with Martinez and Satomura setting the new standard for the tournament.