Today (August 28), WWE uploaded the entire first round of the Mae Young Classic to the WWE Network and broke the action up into four episodes. This is the last episode of the first round and it fills out the second round of 16 incredible women that are left. Matches featured are Renee Michelle vs. Candice LeRae, Lacey Evans vs. Taynara Conti, Reina Gonzalez vs. Nicole Savor, and Kairi Sane vs. Tessa Blanchard.
Renee Michelle (USA) vs. Candice LeRae (USA)
Here is another veteran vs. rookie match. Renee Michelle is new to the squared circle and has pretty much no highlight footage before the match begins. Candice LeRae, however, is a very experienced wrestler. LeRae has been wrestling since she was 16 years old and she has wrestled among the best women and men that the world has to offer, including bouts against Kevin Owens and her husband, Johnny Gargano.
After Renee Michelle misses an attempt at a springboard moonsault, Candice LeRae quickly takes advantage. From the second rope, Lerae hits a swinging neckbreaker entitled “Ms. LeRae’s Wild Ride” that took her into the second round, where she will face the either Reina Gonzalez or Nicole Savoy. Winner: Candice LeRae | Eliminated: Renee Michelle
Lacey Evans (USA) vs. Taynara Conti (Brazil)
Both of these women are relatively new to professional wrestling, but they are both worthy of competing in the Mae Young Classic. Lacey Evans has sparingly appeared on NXT and shown that she has plenty of potential. Evans is a former member of the United States Military, as well as the only woman to serve on the Marine SWAT Team. Taynara Conti was just signed to the WWE Performance Center within the last year, and while she is new to this style of combat, she has 15 years of fighting and judo experience behind her.
Taynara Conti tries to counter a fireman’s carry into a sunset flip, but Evans keeps the legs trapped and drives Conti straight down into the mat. Evans has the unenviable task in the second round of taking on Australian rock star Toni Storm. Winner: Lacey Evans | Eliminated: Taynara Conti
Reina Gonzalez (USA) vs. Nicole Savoy (USA)
Here we have a second-generation wrestler taking on the self-professed Queen of Suplexes. Nicole Savoy is known for her smash-mouth style and she may overthrow Brock Lesnar as Mayor of Suplex City. Reina Gonzalez is a six-foot tall competitor who claims that she may surprise viewers with her athleticism. She is the daughter of famed Texan wrestler Ricky Gonzalez.
Savoy cannot figure out a way to suplex the bigger opponent Reina Gonzalez, but she is able to still pick up the victory. Savoy counters what appears to be a Samoan Drop attempt into a cross armbreaker, forcing Reina Gonzalez to tap out. Savoy appears to have hurt her leg during the match, so her second round match against Candice LeRae might be even tougher than normal. Winner: Nicole Savoy | Eliminated: Reina Gonzalez
Tessa Blanchard (USA) vs. Kairi Sane (Japan)
If there was a “money fight” for the first round of the Mae Young Classic, this is it. In one corner there is Tessa Blanchard, a third-generation wrestler whose family heritage is just an asterisk to her incredible in-ring ability. In the other corner is Kairi Sane, the Pirate Queen from Japan who is not only regarded as one of the best female wrestlers in the world but also one of the best wrestlers in the world, period. Sane is the frontrunner to win the Mae Young Classic, and this is just the start to her three-year long WWE contract.
Both Tessa Blanchard and Kairi Sane put on a hell of a match, going tit for tat at every opportunity. Like Jim Ross mentions at the end of the match, it all comes down to one small mistake for Kairi Sane to get the lead. Sane plants Blanchard on the mat and the crowd erupts as she heads up to the top rope. Sane flies off of the turnbuckle to hit the best elbow drop in wrestling history to cap off an incredible first round, and moves on to face Bianca Belair in the second. Winner: Kairi Sane | Eliminated: Tessa Blanchard
