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00:0032 women from 13 different countries with unique styles and journeys all with one common goal to
00:15become the winner of the first-ever Mae Young Classic. Tonight we'll break down the brackets
00:29check out the competitors and hear from some of the women that make up this
00:34groundbreaking tournament. This is the Mae Young Classic Bracketology.
00:51Welcome WWE Universe to the inaugural Mae Young Classic. This is your Bracketology.
00:58I'm Corey Graves and joining me this evening is WWE Hall of Famer, one of my closest friends,
01:04the lovely, the talented, Lina. Thanks Graves, it is good to be back working with you. It's been a
01:09minute, yeah? It's been a long time. I don't think they even know this is going down. Yeah,
01:13we just decided to have Bracketology. Me and you were like, let's get together.
01:16It's an excuse to hang out. All right, I like it. But as much as I enjoy hanging out,
01:20let's get right down to why we are here.
01:23Today we will break down the field of 32 competitors hailing from 13 countries,
01:31give you a crash course on the stars that make up the inaugural Mae Young Classic. We're gonna have
01:37all sorts of very special guests from WWE COO Triple H to a number of the competitors. Lita,
01:44I understand you have a very big role in the inaugural Mae Young Classic yourself. You guys are
01:48gonna be calling the action? Who would have thought? I was coming up there for a job interview
01:52and JR hired me and then we're working alongside each other in this tournament. It's crazy full
01:59circle stuff. A couple of Hall of Famers, yourself and Jim Ross also joining us on this very Bracketology
02:04special, Alundra Blaze, 2015 Hall of Fame inductee. It's gonna be awesome. Now, Lita, this tournament is
02:10named after a true icon in our industry, the late great WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young. What does it mean
02:16for yourself and the other women in this tournament to honor Mae Young's legacy?
02:21You know, Mae Young is the perfect figurehead for this tournament. Most of these women,
02:26they've been doing this for so long with no promise of fame or money or even making it here to the WWE.
02:32And, you know, that was Mae. It was just in her blood. This business is in her blood. She spanned
02:37eight decades, you know, touching the lives of all of the women. She's been the glue for all of us,
02:42so it's really special for all of the women here to have her represent this tournament.
02:50The Mae Young Classic features some of the best female competitors in the world. Before today,
02:55most of these women simply didn't have the platform to be seen on a global level.
02:59Someone to keep your eye on is Mercedes Martinez, who has over 16 years of experience competing
03:05all over the world. You may not know her yet, but I think that's about to change.
03:16It's about time that the world sees what Mercedes Martinez is all about.
03:20She is a 16-year veteran who says, this is my validation.
03:25It's time for me to show you who I am. I'm not a high flyer. You step in my face,
03:29I'm going to knock you right back down. This is just a beat down at this point.
03:37The aggression comes from 16 years of being held down in blood, sweat, tears, traveling the world,
03:42getting no pay, sleeping in my car, doing what I have to do to get here.
03:46I will not step to your level. You either step up to mine or step the hell out.
03:53There's no way that any other girl wants this more than I do.
04:03After 16 years, there's just no one who can touch me.
04:06Oh, and she nails the Fisherman Buster on me again.
04:11Shayna and Savoy were part of a crew around the world. If they're stepping my way to get to my
04:18dream, they know that I will hurt them. Business is business. You put friendship aside
04:23for something so prestigious. If they're in my way, I would take them down. I would take anybody down.
04:28You're in my way of my dream, and I'm going to do whatever I have to do to get to the top.
04:39Mercedes Martinez. Folks, I want you to remember that name. In tournaments,
04:44experience can be a huge X factor, and Mercedes has plenty of it. Lita, you had the opportunity to
04:50sit down and get to know her this week a little bit. What are your thoughts on her potential in
04:54this tournament? I feel like this tournament is so special for her specifically because she's been
05:01here for 16 years as far as in that ring, not getting the respect, not getting the credit,
05:06not getting the attention that women are now. And so she almost has more to prove in this tournament
05:13than some of the other girls, more at stake. And I asked her, I was like, hey, you know,
05:16you've kind of done it all at this point. Is this tournament just kind of cream, just something kind
05:20of fun to jump into? And she's like, looked at me like I was crazy. She's like, this tournament is
05:24everything to me. I can't believe I'm here. And she really wants to do her career and her legacy proud.
05:34Mercedes is one of the toughest competitors in the entire field. And what a talented group of women
05:38this is. In fact, the entire roster of Mae Young Classic competitors flew into Orlando just days in
05:44advance of the tournament kickoff and got acquainted with WWE state of the art performance center.
05:50It's a vast and deep roster representing all corners of the globe. And there are so many styles and
05:55personalities at play here. A lot of combustible elements, if you will. I can't wait to see how it
06:01all plays out. Now joining us to give their take on the level of competition in the Mae Young Classic
06:09is a sports entertainment legend. From AWA to becoming a three-time WWE Women's Champion,
06:15and some would say played a pivotal role in the Monday Night Wars. It all came full circle in 2015
06:21when she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Please welcome Alondra Blaze.
06:26Well, thank you. And I'd like to say it's an honor to sit here with you two. I watch you all the time.
06:32Lita, I loved your work. And you're not too bad. I think they actually, we could have like a duo. I mean,
06:37we've got some tattoos going on here. Take this jacket off.
06:42But I mean, what a dynamic team here. And thank you for having me. However,
06:46the Mae Young Classic, someone's going to make history. I mean, they're all making history.
06:51Yeah, we got to talk to them all week long. And I know that it's hard. But do you have your eye
06:57on anyone in particular that you think could go all the way? Well, I'm a little MMA-ish. I used to
07:02do a lot of the kicking. So I'm kind of partial to the tough, fighting, kicking, some royal, you know.
07:09So, Baszler, Savoy, Cottey, also Candice LeRae and Toni Storm. I mean, I'm not saying that these are my
07:18exact favorites, but there's a lot of potential, a lot of power right there within them women.
07:23There you have it here on Bracketology, getting the scoop from Alundra Blaze.
07:26Alundra, I know we're all excited for the Mae Young Classic. The WWE Universe is stoked.
07:30I can't wait to see what happens. We will see you there as part of the broadcast team.
07:34That's pretty cool. Thank you. Thank you.
07:39I'm not gonna back down from anybody. I worked too hard to let this slip through my hands.
07:44I'm in the ring to bring total destruction. They're gonna know that's a legitimate badass
07:52in there. I'm gonna go in full force. And I'm gonna rip them apart.
08:05The Mae Young Classic is not just celebrating the Hall of Fame legacy of Mae Young, but of all women.
08:14The competitors. Those that work behind the scenes. Referees like WWE official Jessica Carr,
08:20who is the first full-time female referee in the WWE. It is truly a celebration for women across the world.
08:29One of the 13 countries represented in the Mae Young Classic is Scotland,
08:33represented by Piper Niven and Kaylee Ray. The Glasgow native Kaylee Ray has a lot of insiders buzzing
08:40as Ray has taken on the independent scene by storm. Now let's take a look at Kaylee Ray.
08:50My name is Kaylee Ray. I am the hardcore dear devil.
08:54I got that moniker because I'm not scared to do anything and just go for it. I've never watched
09:01wrestling and I never thought I would be interested in it. Then I watched my first WWE match and the
09:07decision was made right there and then that this is something that I wanted to do.
09:10From Glasgow Scotland, Kaylee Ray! As a wrestler you get the ultimate highs and you get the ultimate lows.
09:23There's been times after shows where you haven't been paid or there's more people in the backstage
09:28than there is in the crowd. There has been points where I thought, is it worth it? Is this what I want
09:33to do? And every time I always come to the answer and it's yes and I do want to be doing this. And now
09:38I'm here and it's all been a build up to this point. What an exciting night it will be here at
09:44Full Sail University as we kick off the first ever Mae Young Classic. To be with the first group that
09:51were selected to come in here and represent women from all over the world is one of the biggest highs
09:56I could ever achieve. It's truly meant to give me a massive opportunity to showcase the skills that
10:03I've already honed on. An eight-year pro describes her style as hardcore and risk-taking. I'm a daredevil.
10:09I do love the adrenaline rush. Kaylee Ray doing what she does best, going to the high-risk district.
10:14But my strikes, my submissions, it's all just up to scratch. Kaylee Ray with an incredibly impressive showing.
10:21And I just want to go in and absolutely kill it. I can show that I'm here for a reason. And I'm not going
10:27to let this pass lightly.
10:44Kaylee Ray. How can you not dig Kaylee Ray? She's got such a fierceness and like a passionate intensity.
10:51I think Kaylee Ray may win the entire thing. Oh yeah? She's your pick. Yeah.
10:56She's scrappy. So I mean, I guess it's a decent pick. Just decent? I know how you're shifty.
11:03I disagree with you strongly. But if we're talking about people with the strong potential to go very
11:07deep into this tournament, we're going to talk about Marty Bell. Representing the Dominican Republic,
11:11Bell has been all over the globe and had success everywhere she's been. This is a golden opportunity for
11:16her to advance her career in the Mae Young Classic.
11:23Representing the Dominican Republic, Marty Bell.
11:26My parents are both from the Dominican Republic and that's where I spent my formative years.
11:33When I was 70 years old, I moved to New York and that's where I became me.
11:38Marty Bell was just a little girl watching WWE with her grandma and she was hooked.
11:44Wrestling taught me English. I used to watch guys and not understand a word they were saying,
11:49but still connect with them. And I want to do that. I want to have
11:53kids from the Dominican Republic, kids from Mexico, kids from Colombia look at me and go,
11:56wow, I can do it too. Where I'm from, it's in our nature to fight. It's in our nature to succeed.
12:06It's in our nature to want to do great things. And I feel like being a part of the first ever,
12:12you know, women's tournament, the Mae Young Classic is, it's a complete honor.
12:20I'm scrappy. That's the best way I can describe myself. I learned how to fight in New York. I think
12:25I bring that to the ring. I'm a lioness. That's all it comes down to. I don't follow the pack. I lead it.
12:40And at the end of the day, that's exactly what they're all going to see. They're going to see
12:44what a powerful Dominican woman looks like.
12:46Definitely an impressive first look at Marty Bell, but rather than me sit here and drone
12:57on about how wonderful she is, why not hear it from Marty Bell herself? Marty,
13:00thanks for hanging out on Bracketology.
13:01Thank you for having me. And well, what a coincidence because talking about myself,
13:06it's probably one of my favorite things.
13:08Well, you're in luck. How's this experience been for you so far?
13:11It's been truly life-changing. As a little girl, this is something that I used to watch
13:16you on TV. It's mind-blowing to me to be sitting here not only next to a legend,
13:20but also stepping into a WWE ring for the first time.
13:24So when you walk out of this tournament, what do you want people to think about their
13:29seeing you potentially for the first time?
13:32I want people to just remember me. I guess that's the most important thing. I feel like
13:37it's very easy to get out of here and walk away and become unknown again and nobody remember you.
13:41And the most important thing I want to do here is leave a very, very lasting impression.
13:46Is there anything that you feel, you know, you've been here, you've been on the scene for a while
13:51now. Is there anything you feel like you have left to prove to yourself?
13:54I guess as a little girl, I know I said that before, but I was seven years old when I moved to this
13:59country. And my parents sent me here for a very specific reason. It was to learn English and to make
14:05something of myself. And I learned English. So that's definitely, you know, it's definitely a
14:09plus. And now it's just, this is my time. This is my turn to show everybody and show myself that
14:15all the hard work I've put in all these years, it was worth it.
14:18Well, Marty, good luck. We wish you the best, but you definitely have a tall task ahead of you
14:23because the competition in the Mae Young Classic is next level. Some of the toughest females from all
14:29over the globe, including the queen of spades.
14:37I am Shayna, the queen of spades, Baszler. I fought in mixed martial arts for 16 years.
14:44Over a decade of those, I was ranked in the top 10 in the world.
14:48I was one of the first fights that was televised on network TV. I was on the first ultimate fighter that
14:54had women. She is a member of the MMA's for horse women. This was my life. I got into the UFC,
15:05won a fight and then had a bad run of it. A lot of MMA fans, that's all they know. No one knew the
15:11history of what I'd done. The Mae Young Classic and being a part of the WWE and this big historic thing,
15:21it's given me hope to carry my legacy. It's reignited something in me. My style has been developed over a
15:31long career in mixed martial arts. Nothing about that changes now that I'm here. It's just a different
15:36rule set. It's gonna be a lot of things that you'd see if you were to flip on UFC. Get ready for a fight.
15:45It's gonna be a lot of old school submissions. Oh, rear naked choke!
15:50My striking will be more devastating. Head kicked off.
15:54My submissions will be more smooth. Cranking in that pressure.
15:57I have experience at a higher level.
16:01I'm not gonna get amazed by the bright lights and the large crowd. I'm comfortable out there.
16:08When I'm walking to the ring, it feels exactly the same that I always has.
16:12Nothing has to be said before I go out. Everything I show in the ring,
16:16they're gonna know that's a legitimate badass in there.
16:24I'm calling it right now. I'm going all in on Shayna Baszler. You know, I'm a big MMA fan.
16:30I think Shayna is mentally and physically tough enough to win the entire tournament.
16:34I figured she might have been your pick. But, you know, I spoke with her and she has the right
16:39attitude about it. 16 years MMA, like super tough chick. And because she's lived a life,
16:44she has that confidence that she needs to get in there and get the job done. And she might be one
16:49of my picks, too. I'm expecting that. But you had her first. I heard you.
16:53Okay, just so we're all clear that I picked the queen of spades first.
16:56While Baszler may be one of the most dangerous women in the tournament,
16:59if you're talking about the most powerful, you have to look to Germany and Jazzy Gabbert.
17:04My name is Jazzy Gabbert. When I was 10 years old, I found a wrestling book. I was back in Germany.
17:15I was the undertaker, the warrior. They were so perfect, so colorful, and the world seemed so
17:20perfect. But my world was not so perfect. In real life, everybody was so strong and I was not strong.
17:27I always wanted to portray in the ring the woman I wanted to be. I started working out and I started
17:35to become stronger. I saw that the men are intimidated by me. Female were intimidated by me.
17:44Now I'm here and this is like the greatest thing ever.
17:50When I step into the ring, it's kind of like a demon takes over.
17:53I lift people up and throw them down and yeah, it's vicious. I have a strong willpower and I
18:02have a strong body. I had to fight hard for, you know, where I am right now. I want to fight. I'm not
18:11here for having fun. I want that my opponent feel pain. I make it in the most painful way to beat my
18:20opponents. I destroy the little girls. It's my most favorite thing to do. I know what I want and I
18:28usually get what I want.
18:36Let me guess, Graves. Jazzy Gabert, she's your pick.
18:40Yep, I'm gonna go all the way. With that kind of size and power, how can you not pick Jazzy Gabert?
18:45Clearly. You know, listen, someone that lets me speak my mind from time to time, occasionally at least,
18:51Charlie Caruso, who is in the Mae Young Classic Control Center. Take it away, Chuck.
18:57All right, keep those picks coming, Corey. Hey everyone, I'm Charlie Caruso here at the Mae Young
19:03Classic Control Center and here's the deal. I'm going to take you through the field of 32 and
19:08all of the matchups involved. So let's kick things off by taking a look at the left side of the bracket.
19:16Germany's Jazzy Gabert possesses the most strength and power of any woman in the tournament
19:22and she'll be facing Abby Lake, whose finishing move, The Alligator Clutch, is inspired by Mae Young herself.
19:30Moving on down the bracket is Rachel Evers, daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Paul Ellering.
19:35And you gotta wonder, will Rachel's family legacy give her the edge against the tough
19:40Marty Bell, representing the Dominican Republic?
19:45Then there's Princesa Suhey, the masked Mexican sensation,
19:49taking on the hardcore daredevil Hailey Ray, representing Scotland.
19:55In one of the matches I cannot wait to see, China's Xia Li, who has one of the most impressive
20:01offensive skill sets in the entire tournament. She will go one-on-one with Mercedes Martinez,
20:06the toughest nails veteran with over 16 years of experience.
20:11Continuing on, California's Nicole Savoy, the queen of suplexes, taking on Reyna Gonzalez,
20:17a second generation wrestler from the great state of Texas.
20:22Moving on down to Renee Michelle, from Washington DC, who will be facing off against Candice LeRae,
20:27the high flyer out of Anaheim. Sarah Logan, the Kentucky native who trained in Japan,
20:34taking on Mia Yim, whose Taekwondo training makes her a force to be reckoned with in the Mae Young Classic.
20:42And finally, the last match on the left side of the bracket features Zeta,
20:46with a background in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and amateur wrestling, facing off against Shayna Baszler,
20:52the queen of spades in MMA specialist. And that'll do it for the left side of the bracket.
21:01The Mae Young Classic is jam-packed with must-see matches, and it features some of the best talent
21:06from all over the world. Remember, visit WWE.com forward slash Mae Young Classic to print out your
21:13very own bracket, as well as check out the latest news, exclusive footage, bios, photos, and so much more.
21:20The first four episodes of the Mae Young Classic drop Monday, August 28th, exclusively on the WWE Network.
21:31Through the years I've wrestled, I think it's the greatest thing in the world, and I believe that.
21:39Welcome back to Bracketology. And Lita, I know we've been joking the entire time, but it is next to impossible to choose a winner from this field.
22:05It is so stacked. There's so much talent. Yeah, I mean, it is insane from all over the globe.
22:11I mean, the global recruiting effort of the WWE is insane right now, just seeking out talent from all over the place.
22:17I mean, we have virtually unknown women on this tournament to most of our audience, and they're just gonna be, bam, like,
22:23thrusted right into that spotlight overnight. Yeah, women from all over the globe, all walks of life, which actually includes a former United States Marine,
22:32whose toughness and resolve could take her very, very deep in the Mae Young Classic.
22:37My name is Lacey Evans, the lady of NXT. Representing NXT, it means a lot to me.
22:47Oh, a neck breaker here on DeVille. Oh, and look at Evans. Oh, right to the midsection.
22:54Keep your eye on this young lady, Lacey Evans.
22:57I am a wife, mother, military veteran, so I take pride in what women all over the world fight for daily.
23:06The military has definitely gotten me ready for a lot.
23:09She is a former SWAT team member of the United States Marine Corps.
23:13Holding yourself to a higher standard, pushing yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally all at the same time.
23:19The military has just really gotten me ready for anything. I've always pushed myself so much.
23:25I've always been very big on empowering women.
23:28Mama needs a coffee, right?
23:30Yeah, and I need a hot chocolate.
23:32I have a little lady myself. My daughter is four years old.
23:36My daughter will be in the crowd watching everything that I do because I have missed so much.
23:43I've missed dinners and nighttime, and she has had to pay because I have put so much into this.
23:50That's what motivates me because she's watching, and she deserves to see her mother win.
23:56She deserves it.
23:57But if any opponent looked at me and thought that I was a pushover at any second,
24:04I would know for a fact that A, they've never been in the ring with me.
24:08B, they've never seen me train because I've never been a pushover in my life.
24:11The only thing I push over are tires whenever I'm working.
24:14I am hardheaded, and I do not give up.
24:17When my name is called and I walk out in that tournament, everything that I work hard for
24:22and everything that I do proves to the world that it's possible.
24:27Wow, with all that power and passion and patriotism, I truly personally believe that
24:35Lacey Evans has exactly what it takes to fight all the way through the tournament and win the Mae
24:39Young Classic. And Lita, I've got to be honest with you, I'm making Lacey Evans my pick.
24:44She's your pick. All right.
24:45I'm just putting it out there publicly. And joining us right now is Lacey Evans.
24:49Lacey, thanks for hanging out.
24:50Thank you for having me.
24:51Your story is incredible. I mean, you're a proud mother, former Marine.
24:56What's the transition been like?
24:58It's been pretty interesting.
25:00Going from a United States Marine where there's so much discipline and
25:05a lot of initiative and just so much structure, and then coming here,
25:09it's pretty much kind of the same because there's still a lot of drive, passion, and structure within.
25:14I saw those drill sergeant videos when you were running those newbies through.
25:17Yes, I have passion. I have passion for life, period. So anything that I do, I do 100%.
25:23So I wouldn't expect anything less of myself coming here, and I definitely don't expect anything
25:28less from somebody trying to come in here. So I take it very seriously. I have passion for
25:34everything I do in life, and this is what I'm doing.
25:37What do you expect to encounter on your path through the Mae Young Classic?
25:43New challenges. I mean, representing USA, I'm very proud of that.
25:48Women are coming in from all over the world. I feel regardless of the outcome,
25:53rather I win or lose, that I'm going to walk away with so much knowledge from women all over the world.
25:59USA will win.
26:00But I can't wait to learn, learn from the different styles that I'm about to get a chance to see.
26:06Watch this one, Lacey Evans. I picked her first.
26:11You did pick her first. I'm backing you up on this one.
26:14Awesome. Well, Lacey, thanks for hanging out. Good luck in the Mae Young Classic tournament.
26:17We expect big things. No pressure. Thank you.
26:24This next female competitor enters the Mae Young Classic with a lot of buzz from sports
26:28entertainment fans all over the world. From the land of the rising sun,
26:32Kairi Sane brings her unique persona and offensive prowess to the tournament,
26:37and has to be considered one of the favorites to take the top prize in the Mae Young Classic.
26:45My name is Kairi Sane.
26:49Before I did a pro race, I played a sport for 7 years.
26:54When I was in high school, I played a champion in the Olympic Games.
26:59And when I was in high school, I played a champion in Japan.
27:02I also played a champion in the Junior Olympics.
27:05So now, I'm a champion of the海賊 character.
27:11今 WWEには新助中村選手そして飛鳥選手
27:20板見秀夫選手そして戸沢選手4人もの選手がいるんですけどどの選手も本当にオリジナリティがあって強いし
27:31本当にその中の一人に私も加われることが嬉しいんですけどやっぱりその4人とも強いし個性がある
27:40私も同じように強さと個性を磨いてその4人に負けないくらいの活躍をしていきたいと思います
27:49WWE Universe Japanの皆さん今回私は一人で日本代表としてこのトーナメントに挑みます
28:08挑むからには必ず優勝を目指してそして必ずこの32人という大勢の中でも詰め終わったをしっかり残したいと思いますので
28:19どうか応援のほどよろしくお願いします
28:21Next we're going to be taking a look at Dakota Kai who like many in this global tournament has wrestled all around the world and that global experience is sure to pay dividends as Dakota Kai brings her talents and abilities to the biggest stage to date in her young career the Mae Young Classic
28:44My name is Dakota Kai I'm from New Zealand I'm Afakasi which is half Samoan representing New Zealand Dakota Kai
28:59No one from New Zealand has been able to break out I'm the first ever New Zealand woman to get here
29:05They've said ladies and gentlemen with WWE radar since 2014
29:10I'm the girl next door I'm friendly but once I get in the ring that's where it all changes
29:23My style is very quick and evasive
29:29I do a lot of strikes
29:33I kick hard
29:35And I use my speed a lot in the ring
29:39Took her face off
29:43I don't think a lot of girls would be prepared for how hard I can actually hit
29:52The athletic side of wrestling was what initially drew me into it
29:56I then started to be influenced by Finn Balor
30:00My finisher move is from the top rope, it's a double stomp
30:02This could be it
30:05You'll be thinking about that rocket launcher double stomp
30:08If I hit that on them
30:09All the way to the top rope
30:11It's game over
30:16They're not getting up
30:17I've spent the last ten years trying to get to this position so to finally be here is such a big deal to me
30:30I'm gonna do everything in my power to win the Mae Young Classic
30:33Graves, you gotta love what Dakota Kai brings to the table
30:38I see what you did there, you love my show on WWE Network
30:43I love it, I can't get out, but actually I'll go one further, I'm gonna pick Dakota Kai to go all the way, she's my pick
30:49That's my thing, I pick everyone first
30:55We are actually going to welcome to Bracketology Dakota Kai joining us now
31:01Hi guys, thanks for having me
31:03Thanks for hanging out
31:04Yeah
31:05How's your experience been so far here?
31:06I don't think it's really hit me yet, to be honest
31:09When I first arrived
31:11Being here is just so overwhelming
31:14Because I've been working for like the last ten years to get to where I am now
31:18Now that I'm here, I just
31:20It's difficult to absorb, but it's amazing
31:23Yeah, you have a lot of experience going into this competition
31:26You seem ready, do you feel like your experience gives you an advantage?
31:30Yeah, for sure, I mean
31:32I've struggled a lot with self-confidence issues
31:35Like a lot of my life
31:37And being able to wrestle for as long as I have, I think it has helped me a lot
31:41And being able to work in countries like Australia, Japan, even here in the United States
31:45And back home in New Zealand
31:47I definitely feel like I have an advantage over a lot of the girls in competition
31:51Just with the experience that I have gained abroad
31:54Yeah
31:56You were on the radar of WWE for a long time
31:58Yeah
32:00You're finally here, do you feel like this is the right time and the right opportunity
32:02for you to make an impression at the Mae Young Classic?
32:05Oh, absolutely
32:07You know, a lot of the girls in the Mae Young Classic
32:09I have also, you know, I've had experience with them in the past too
32:12So, seeing girls like Billy and Peyton, who I used to work, you know, before
32:18And just seeing what they're doing right now
32:20The division right now looks absolutely amazing
32:23There's a lot of talent there
32:25Yeah, it's very impressive
32:26What's one thing the WWE Universe needs to know about Dakota Kai before the Mae Young Classic?
32:31Don't underestimate me
32:33Coming out to the ring, people might not get the impression that I can, you know, throw my kicks a little hard or have that speed in the ring, but yeah, I like to throw it down, so don't underestimate me
32:46We're definitely looking forward to you throwing down in the tournament, good luck to you, thanks for hanging out here on Bracketology
32:53The next competitor we're gonna be taking a look at is Serena Deeb, who some fans may remember performing in WWE nearly seven years ago
33:05It's been a long road back to WWE, so let's take a look at Serena Deeb
33:08My name is Serena Deeb, I began pursuing my dream by going through OVW, went to FCW, I had the intention of becoming the greatest women's wrestler in the world
33:28Serena taking the women's division by storm
33:30I got a chance here in 2010 to be part of a really incredible stable called the Straight Edge Society
33:41I accept Straight Edge into my life
33:45Shaving my head was a pretty memorable way to show my face for the first time on WWE television
33:53I lived a lot of dreams during that short run, but it was cut a lot shorter than I had hoped
34:04I had a personal journey that was full of a lot of ups and downs
34:09Truthfully, I was irresponsibly using alcohol, so the consequences were handed to me
34:16It was extremely hard for me to look myself in the mirror knowing that I ruined an opportunity like that
34:31Since that day, almost seven years ago, it's been hard to think about anything else than the unfinished business that was left there
34:38This tournament is a time of redemption for me
34:48A chance for me to be back as the woman that I dreamed of being
34:53As somebody that I'm very proud to look in the mirror
34:57I got myself back up after I fell, and I'm going to work harder than anybody else
35:02That's what I'm coming to this tournament to represent
35:06Is not just the in-ring, but the whole entire journey of the last 12 years of my life
35:16So that's my real pick
35:18Why is that?
35:20So I have a soft spot years and years before
35:23Serena Deeb was a name that anyone knew
35:26She would drive hours and hours to my autograph sessions
35:30And say, how can I become a wrestler?
35:31I want to become a wrestler
35:33And I mean, there's something about her
35:35Just even at that young age, I was like, I think she could
35:37I think she has a shot
35:39And at the time, our developmental system was in OVW
35:42And I said, you drive down to OVW
35:44And you kick the door in
35:46Until they let you in
35:48Or until they call the cops
35:50And that's what she did
35:51And they finally gave her a contract after five years of being down there
35:56And I have not seen her until this week here again in the tournament
36:01And when I saw her, she was like, hey, I have something to show you
36:04And she pulls out this picture
36:06She's like, I took this out of my scrapbook to show you
36:08And she has a picture of us when I was wrestling
36:12And she was baby Serena Deeb
36:14And I would love for her to be able to have this full circle moment
36:18And go all the way in the competition
36:22So Serena Deeb's your pick
36:24She's my pick
36:25It's definitely possible that Serena can find redemption
36:27Here in the Mae Young Classic
36:29But she's going to have a lot of tough competition in the field of 32 competitors
36:33All vying to be the first to lay claim to the Mae Young Classic
36:40Another performer turning heads with the coaches down here since her arrival
36:43Is Tony Storm who, pun quite intended, plans to take the Mae Young Classic by storm
36:51Oh, you couldn't resist Graves, huh?
36:53From the Gold Coast of Australia, we give you Tony Storm
37:01My name's Tony Storm
37:03I've got one hell of an attitude
37:05It's like a rock star energy
37:08Representing Australia
37:10Tony Storm
37:14When I come out, everything just kind of goes out the window and I just don't care
37:18It's really important to me
37:21Giving younger girls good role models to look up to
37:24That's the thing that's always kind of motivated me
37:28A few years ago, women's wrestling didn't get as much publicity
37:32And now that we're having a tournament with girls from all over the world coming in, getting to compete
37:36It's pretty unreal for me and to be a part of that, that's ridiculous, I never thought I'd get to that point
37:42I don't think they realise quite the experience that I have
37:46I started wrestling when I was 13 years old
37:49I left my mum, my sister
37:51And I moved to England so that I could get better opportunities
37:55I've travelled the entire world
37:57Just trying to get better, just trying to get stronger
38:00Trying to become who I am now
38:03And I'm here to win it
38:08I just don't think people realise what's inside of me
38:13In this tournament it's just all going to come out
38:16People are really going to see who I am and what I can do
38:20Toni Storm is physical, she's hard hitting
38:24I'm hard hitting, I don't care, I just go in there
38:27And I take heads off
38:29When I look across the ring and I see my opponent standing there
38:33I can say anything to them
38:35It's, I'm just sorry in advance for the damage that I will be causing you
38:39What, you didn't like it? Maybe it wasn't my best joke, it was fine, it was totally acceptable
38:51Alright, pass
38:53On to more important things, let's pass on to things such as a superstar who has competed in 13 countries
39:00Before reaching the age of 20, joining us here on Bracketology, Australia's Toni Storm
39:05How's it going? How are we all?
39:07Everything's great, I need to ask you, you're here in Orlando, Florida
39:10Inside the WWE Performance Center, sitting next to one of the greatest female superstars of all time
39:16What's going through your mind?
39:18Well, all I can think of is it's a bit different from the industrial shed that I started in, in front of four moms and dads
39:24It's quite, it's quite the upgrade I must say
39:28You are a woman after my own heart, a pirate soul going after your dreams
39:3513 countries before the age of 20, um, you gotta, you gotta be a pretty adaptable human for that, huh?
39:42Yeah, I mean, uh, it hasn't been easy, I mean, it's been fun, but it most certainly hasn't been easy
39:47I've, uh, left my mom back at home, I haven't seen my family in ages
39:51I've just been putting my life into just getting here
39:55Made all the sacrifices, and I'm gonna call my mom after this and I'm gonna say, hey, I did it
39:59And, uh, hopefully she'll be, she'll be quite happy, she won't let me do as many chores
40:04It'll be good
40:06I hope your mom's happy, I'm sure she'll be proud either way
40:09You can earn a day off
40:11Well, so let's take, you got me off my game here talking about your mom, I'm sorry
40:16Sorry
40:18Let's throw it back to Charlie Caruso in the Mae Young Classic Control Center
40:21Thanks Corey and Lita, the Mae Young Classic features 32 of the best female athletes and performers from all over the globe
40:32Earlier, we went through the left side of the bracket for the Mae Young Classic
40:36So now, let's take a look at the right side of things
40:41A fan favorite heading into this tournament representing Japan
40:45The high-flying, hard-hitting Kairi Sane
40:47Who will be facing off against Tessa Blanchard
40:50The daughter of one of the original four horsemen, Tully Blanchard
40:54This match could potentially steal the show in round one
40:58Next, a battle of USA competitors
41:02The physically imposing Sage Beckett taking on Bianca Belair
41:07Whose hair is a not-so-secret weapon you might want to keep an eye on
41:12And one of my favorites, Dakota Kai
41:14The New Zealand native with devastating kicks in her arsenal
41:18Who will be taking on Kavita Devi
41:20Who is the first female from India to ever compete in a WWE ring
41:25Moving down the bracket to Rhea Ripley
41:28The young and free-spirited Australian who is determined to make a mark against Miranda Salinas
41:34Who was trained by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T
41:37Then there's the gorgeous and the athletic Vanessa Bourne
41:42Challenging former WWE Superstar Serena Deeb
41:46Who is looking to make her way back to the top
41:49And who can't get behind the Mae Young Classics version of Wonder Woman, Santana Garrett
41:55She faces Scotland's Piper Niven
41:57Whose size and power make her one of the favorites in the field
42:00Over to Tynara Conte
42:03The Brazilian beauty with a martial arts background
42:06Going one-on-one against the former United States Marine, Lacey Evans
42:11And finally, there's London-born Aisha Raymond
42:15Who will face off against the experienced and well-trained Aussie, Tony Storm
42:19Wow, this is going to be such an incredible tournament
42:2532 competitors, single elimination and only one winner for the inaugural Mae Young Classic
42:32Remember, visit WWE.com forward slash Mae Young Classic for all the latest news, exclusive footage, bios, photos and so much more
42:41The first four episodes of the Mae Young Classic drop Monday, August 28th, only on the WWE Network
42:49Thank you so much, Charlie, I know I can't wait to fill out my brackets
42:54You can download and print your very own brackets, just head over to WWE.com forward slash Mae Young Classic
43:01This has been Bracketology, I know I've had a great time
43:04But before we leave, I'd like to introduce you to our final guest
43:07The man responsible for putting this entire thing together, Triple H
43:11Not the entire thing, there's a huge team that works on this
43:14A big chunk of it
43:15No, maybe conceptually, but like, there's a massive team
43:18And I'd like to thank them all for this, first of all, because this has been a huge undertaking
43:23And it's been awesome to see this team come together and make this whole thing work
43:26But the women deserve the credit, because that's where it's coming from
43:29Let me ask you this, why is this tournament so important to you, to our industry, and why now?
43:34I just think that the timing is right, you know, I've always thought it, I don't understand why the women don't have the same, you know, aren't viewed the same way in the industry
43:45They train just as hard, they do the same thing, they take the same risks, they're there for the same level of entertainment as the men
43:50I understand that the opportunities weren't always there, because there weren't enough women maybe
43:54But the time is right now, because of women like Lita, because of women like Alundra Blaze, Chyna, Mae Young, Moolah, you know, all those women that came in the past
44:05They're the ones that set this template and created the example that made all these girls want to be doing what they're doing
44:11They were the spark that lit their dream, and there's enough of them out there, when we started this process, we talked about doing a 16-woman tournament
44:20And as I started to dig, I realized, oh, I can easily do a 32-woman tournament, and beyond, if we needed to
44:27It's out there, they don't necessarily have the opportunity to showcase it, but they're out there
44:32And against all odds are digging, scratching, and clawing for that dream
44:36So, why is it important for me? Because I feel like I have the opportunity at this point in my career, in my life, to put that opportunity in front of them
44:45And say, you want to live your dream just like the rest of us did? Great, here's the chance to go do it
44:50You mentioned the possibility of this tournament a long time ago to me, and I just kind of held my breath and kept my fingers crossed
44:57Hoping that we would be sitting here, and it's still surreal to be sitting here knowing that it's happening
45:03And to see these women and talk to them, and knowing how hard they've worked to get to this moment, it's really happy for them
45:10Yeah, I am too, and I think that's the thing, is to work that hard
45:15Not even knowing that there's a, you know, a light at the end of that tunnel
45:20Not even knowing that there's the treasure buried anywhere, you know what I mean?
45:24To be able to continue to work that hard, just on that whiff of that dream
45:27To be able to now put that opportunity in front of them, give them that spotlight
45:32So they can do what they do, and what they've dreamed of doing their whole life
45:35But for the world, you know, that's really cool
45:38It's been a long time coming, because at the end of the day, this is also a business, right?
45:41So, like to your point, we talked about it a long time ago, and now it's slowly taking time
45:46But here it is, and that opportunity is now
45:48And, you know, I've said it to the girls that are here, whether they're in the tournament
45:54If they get eliminated first round, second round, or whether they're even alternates that are waiting
45:58To see if something happens and somebody gets hurt along the way
46:01This opportunity is massive for them, and it doesn't end here
46:04This is just a launching pad, and it's the start
46:07We're at the, you know, all the work you guys have done, it's like base camps, right?
46:11Now we're going for the summit, but we've still got a long way to climb, but this is just the start
46:14Well, it definitely is just the beginning
46:19I know I'm excited, the entire WWE Universe is excited to be part of the inaugural May Young Classic Tournament
46:26The first four episodes will be available on demand August 28th exclusively on WWE Network
46:33So for Triple H and Lita, I'm Corey Graves, we will see you at the May Young Classic
46:38I'm not going to back down from anybody
46:44I worked too hard to let this slip through my hands
46:47I'm in the ring to bring total destruction
46:53They're going to know that's a legitimate badass in there
46:56I'm going to go in full force
46:58And I'm going to rip them apart
47:00I am a victim
47:04I am a victim
47:07I am a victim
47:09I am a victim
47:11I am a victim
47:13I am a victim
47:15I am a victim
47:17I am a victim
47:19I am a victim
47:21I am a victim
47:23I am a victim
47:25I am a victim
47:27I am a victim