The march to the Evolution PPV continues, and the Mae Young Classic had its best night yet. Let's talk about it. This is Wrestling Thursday.
People sometimes wonder why I love wrestling. And I get that. Much of wrestling is terrible. But sometimes a night comes along that encapsulates so much of what's great about so-called "sports entertainment." The second night of the MYC was such a night.
Mae Young Classic
Toni Storm vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto
The opener for this night was spectacular. These are two of the best workers in the world. Hiroyo Matsumoto is in her prime, and so very good. Toni Storm is so young, and so freakishly good for her age - and really, for any age. This was hard hitting, and the story told was one where Toni barely escaped with the win. That's a great way to make both women seem strong. Hiroyo Matsumoto remains Lady Godzilla, and Toni Storm is the heroine that prevailed agaisnt the monster by the skin of her teeth.
Kacy Catanzaro vs. Rhea Ripley
This was the match between the young woman WWE seems to think is the future (powerhouse Ripley) and the young woman who I think is the future. Kacy Catanzaro's athleticism is gamechanging. This is a young woman who's been in the Performance Center for months, showing the kinds of moves people with years of experience can't pull off. I'm just so impressed with her. Ripley... well, she's getting better. But Cole calling her the most athletic woman in the tournament when she's in there with Catanzaro is just silly. This is one of the two matches that I knew the finish to going in, and that may have hurt it a bit. Thinking Catanzaro could possibly win would have made much of it more fun. But it would also sting a lot more when she lost.
Lacey Lane vs. Taynara Conti
On many other nights, I'd probably be speaking fairly highly of this match. It's probably the best Taynara Conti match I've seen. And Lacey Lane has tons of upside. But every other match was so great, that this one was just... there.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Meiko Satomura
If you like wrestling, and you haven't seen this match, get yourself a WWE Network subscription right now. It's worth it. I called Toni Storm and Hiroyo Matsumoto two of the best in the world, and that's true. But Mercedes Martinez and Meiko Satomura are legends who can still do all the things that made them legendary. This one had weight. The weight of history and legacy. It was awesome from the moment they shook hands. But the thing is, it just kept getting more and more amazing. My expectations were very high, and this met and possibly exceeded them. Commentary was on the ball, too. Even Cole was giving these legends the respect they deserve, and called it one of the best matches he's ever called.
Previous MYC coverage
The Lost Women's Wrestling Thursday Post: Mae Young Classic Night 4
Women's Wrestling Thusday: Mae Young Classic Night 3
Women's Wrestling Thursday: Mae Young Classic, Night 2
Mae Young Classic: First Round, Part 1
Rethinking the Mae Young Bracket
Overthinking the Mae Young Classic Parade of Champions