The unspoken rivalry between The Four Horsewomen of WWE and The Four Horsewomen of MMA escalated on Friday during the Mae Young Classic … and the video is pretty awesome!
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Bayley were sitting ringside during last night’s Mae Young Classic taping … and tensions began to flare up during one of Shayna Baszler’s matches while Ronda Rousey, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke were seated on the opposite side.
Things picked up though after Baszler taunted Lynch, Flair and Bayley — leading to an across the aisle face off, where both sides flashed fours at each other.
It remains to be seen what this will lead to, but a few years ago Ronda was interested in working a WWE match at WrestleMania with her friends — could the seeds be starting to plant here?
After weeks of announcements, the full field of 32 competitors for the WWE Mae Young Classic is set.
Below is the 32 competitors:
Shayna Baszler
Whether you know her as “The Queen of Spades” or one of the Four Horsewomen of MMA, Baszler is the latest in a long line of MMA stars to make the jump into the squared circle. She is the current AIW Women’s Champion and helped Nikki Bella develop the Fearless Lock.
Marti Belle
Sure to be a familiar sight to Impact Wrestling fans, Belle is a former Knockout who was a member of The Dollhouse from 2015 to 2016. She has also worked across the independent scene with Evolveand Shine, as well as Shimmer where she is a former tag team champion.
Santana Garrett
Another former Knockout, Garrett is a staple in independent women’s wrestling. Having won titles across America, she is most known for having been a champion in Stardom and Shimmer. She previously worked for NXT as an enhancement talent as well.
Mia Yim
Once known as Jade, Yim was the Queen of the Knockouts for a while. No, really. A former CZW competitor, Knockout Champion and Shine Champion … Yim is nothing short of hardcore. Along with wrestling, Yim is a domestic abuse survivor and works as an advocate for victim services organization Safe Horizon.
Kairi Sane
Kairi Sane — fka Kairi Hojo — is probably WWE’s biggest women’s signing since NXT Women’s Champion Asuka signed back in 2015. Known as “the Pirate Princess,” Sane won almost every possible championship in Stardom and became known worldwide for her elbow drop.
Tessa Blanchard
Tessa — the daughter of 4 Horseman Tully Blanchard — has become a well-known wrestler on the US indie scene and also appeared on NXT in 2016. She’s had success wrestling in Japan as part of Stardom and is one half of the current Shimmer Tag Team Champions.
Toni Storm
Storm was one of the first competitors who was announced. At only 21-years-old, the Australian wrestler has taken the world by … well, you know. She is the current Stardom SWA World Champion as well as the first and current reigning Progress Women’s Champion.
Piper Niven
Niven — aka Viper — is known as “The Vixen of Violence.” Based out of Ayr, Scotland, Niven has competed all over the UK scene … as well as in Stardom. She was the first ICW Women’s Championand appeared in the World of Sport revival that aired in the UK last year.
Abbey Laith
The wrestler formerly known as Kimber Lee was the princess of Chikara when she became the ONLY woman to hold their Grand Championship in 2016. Laith is also one half of the only tag team to hold the tag titles for Shimmer and Shine at the same time.
Sarah Logan
Known on the indies as Crazy Mary Dobson, Logan made various appearances in NXT and on the main roster before officially signing in late 2016.
Bianca BelAir
A former track and field star, as well as a powerlifter, BelAir is a Performance Center trained talent who has become well-known by local Florida NXT crowds. BelAir doesn’t just stand out for her strength and athleticism, but also for the fact she uses her distinctive braid as a weapon.
Dakota Kai
Like a lot of this field, Kai — fka Evie — made early appearances in NXT as enhancement talent before signing a deal and becoming the first Kiwi in WWE. A former tag champion in Shimmer with Ruby Riot, as well as various other titles.
Jazzy Gabert
Once known as Alpha Female, Gabert has certainly earned that title. A champion across Europe and multiple times in Stardom, the German wrestler and MMA star also briefly competed on Impact Wrestling in 2014.
Princesa Sugehit
With 20 years of experience, Sugehit is the oldest participant in the Mae Young Classic. Don’t get distracted by that though, because Sugehit is one of the most well-known luchadoras in Mexico. Along with being the current Mexican National Women’s Champion in CMLL, Sugehit also has a collection of masks claimed from other opponents.
Sage Beckett
Recruited in the same class as Riot and Laith, Beckett will be familiar to Impact Wrestling fans who saw her as Rosie Lottalove. The Team 3-D Academy Graduate had worked briefly as Lana’sbodyguard at NXT house shows, but this will be her first time competing full time in WWE.
Lacey Evans
If you watch NXT regularly, you may recognize Evans as one of the new faces in the women’s division. A former military police officer in the United States Marine Corps, Evans traded her combat boots for cuban heels when she became The Lady of NXT after signing in 2016.
Rhea Ripley
The youngest competitor in the MYC, 20-year-old Ripley — fka Demi Bennett — is something of a phenom in the Australian wrestling scene. A former soccer player who has competed across the world, Ripley is also a two time Riot City Wrestling Women’s Champion.
Kay Lee Ray
Having competed in Shimmer, Shine, Impact Wrestling, and even NXT in the past … Ray currently holds the women’s titles in ICW and WhatCulture Pro Wrestling.
Vanessa Borne
A former cheerleader and sports reporter, the newcomer Bourne — fka Danielle Kamela — did technically win one of her first matches in NXT … but only because Nikki Cross beat her so badly the referee had to reverse the decision.
Ayesha Raymond
Known in the UK as “The Amazon Ayesha Ray,” Raymond is a powerhouse who has been wrestling since she was 15-years-old. Trained by British legends Robbie Brookside and Johnny Saint, Raymond has competed across the world — including for Stardom and IPW.
Taynara Conti
Conti is another recent talent signed and trained by the Performance Center. A black belt in judo, the Brazilian star made her live debut during Wrestlemania Axxess as Taynara Melo. The Mae Young Classic will be her first appearance on WWE TV, so it will be interesting to see how she fares.
Kavita Devi
A world class weightlifter and a trainee of The Great Khali, Devi has already made history before even stepping foot in the ring for her first match by becoming the first Indian woman to compete in WWE.
Candice Lerae
Lerae is one of the most popular independent wrestlers in North America, she was a regular in PWG and competed against the likes of The Young Bucks, Adam Cole and Kevin Owens. Along with being one half of the World’s Cutest Tag Team with Joey Ryan, Lerae is also married toJohnny Gargano.
Serena Deeb
Deeb’s return to WWE has been a long time coming. A four time OVW Women’s Champion, Deeb was briefly a member of The Straight Edge Society before her release in 2010. She actually retired from wrestling in 2015, so this return in the Mae Young Classic is significant in more ways than one.
Xia Li
One of WWE’s recent Chinese recruits, Li — fka Zhao Xia — is a skilled martial artist and fitness competitor who has competed in the Nike Challenge Competition and the Second World Traditional Chinese Wushu Championship. The Mae Young Classic is her official in-ring debut.
Rachael Evers
Daughter of Paul Ellering, Evers — aka Rachael Ellering — is an up-and-comer on the US independent circuit. She has previously competed in NXT before, working enhancement in several matches across 2016 and 2017. She is the current Lady of the Ring Champion for WrestleCircus.
Nicole Savoy
Calling herself the “Queen of Suplexes,” Savoy is another bright talent on the US independent scene. She was the first Heart of Shimmer Champion, where she held the title for 462 days.
Reina Gonzalez
The daughter of independent wrestler Desperado, Gonzalez is a former basketball player and recent WWE recruit. She previously auditioned for Tough Enough and appeared on NXT earlier this year.
Zeda
Formerly known as Julia Ho, Zeda was recruited earlier this year along with Riot, Beckett, and Laith. A former model, singer, and MMA star.
Miranda Salinas
Renee Michelle
A DC native who has made her way around the independent circuit, Michelle’s entry into professional wrestling came from an unlikely source: Gillberg. Gillberg encouraged her to give wrestling a try, which carried her to be trained by Chigusa Nagayo in Japan.
Mercedes Martinez
A heavyweight on the US independent wrestling scene, Martinez is a big get for the MYC. A two time Shimmer Champion and one half of the tag team Las Sicarias with Lucha Underground’s Ivelisse, Martinez has won championships all across the US.
One of the biggest free agents in wrestling just made his debut at last night’s NXT TV taping … but those who don’t want to know, be warned, spoilers lie ahead.
According to those in attendance, Kyle O’Reilly wrestled Aleister Black on Wednesday in a losing effort and the match was described as a “good back and forth long match.”
Sources with direct knowledge tell us a WWE deal is imminent, but hasn’t been finalized quite yet.
The “Broken Universe” dispute between Jeff Jarrett and The Hardys isn’t over yet … despite the two sides reaching an agreement last week.
Yesterday in a teleconference call, Jarrett claimed that no deal had been reached with the Hardy family and that GFW still owns The Broken Universe trademark.
Reby Hardy took to Twitter to respond shortly after and said, “I’m going to have to start “clarifying” things by recording phone calls, apparently. Everything out of this loser’s mouth is BS. Why tho ?”
The wife of Matt Hardy continued, “We had agreement terms as of LAST WEEK. Included non-disparagement clause to the tune of 5k every time I tweet something about TNA… …but according to @RealJeffJarrett, there is nothing ? OKAY !”
For now, it appears that the Broken references on Raw this week will remain just that.
Queen Rebecca’s full series of tweets can be read below:
I'm going to have to start "clarifying" things by recording phone calls, apparently. Everything out of this loser's mouth is BS.
WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze (Madusa) noted on Instagram this week that she was involved in The Mae Young Classic in some fashion, as seen in the post below.
Fellow Hall of Famer Jim Ross revealed on the latest edition of his Ross Report podcast that Madusa will be joining he and Hall of Famer Lita for commentary on The Mae Young Classic.
The Mae Young Classic begins taping this Thursday and Friday at Full Sail University. We will have live spoiler coverage on both nights.
Madusa posted the following on the Classic yesterday:
Awesome day at the office !! Working hard putting things together and having a little fun at the @maeyoungclassic @wweperformctr #photo #shooting
Former TNA stars Santana Garrett, Marti Bell, Lei’D Tapa and Barbi Hayden have been added, as have Ayesha Ray, Jessica James, Miranda, Renee Michelle, Mercedes Martinez, Kay Lee Ray and Nicole Savoy. According to Squared Circle Sirens former UFC bantamweight Shayna Baszler, who embarked on a pro wrestling career in 2015, has been added. A Mae Young Classic Parade of Champions to introduce all 32 competitors will take place on Facebook Live this Thursday, while the tournament will be taped this Thursday and Friday at Full Sail University.
Former UFC bantamweight Shayna Baszler, who embarked on a pro wrestling career in 2015, has been added to the Mae Young Classic, according to Squared Circle Sirens.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX with more hype for the July 23rd Battleground pay-per-view.
* What will be the fallout of AJ Styles capturing the United States Title?
* Will Tye Dillinger capitalize on the biggest opportunity of his career against Jinder Mahal?
* Who will gain important SmackDown Tag Team Title momentum in singles slugfest?
* Will the Fashion Police be on the case in The Lone Star State?
* Who will rise about the pack in the Women’s division?
Confirmed for tonight’s SmackDown Live is Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Mr. Money In the Bank Baron Corbin plus highlights from AJ Styles winning the WWE United States Title from Kevin Owens at last Friday’s Madison Square Garden live event.
