After a first list of ten names, some confirmed yet by WWE, some not, WWE released today a new list of participants for the Mae Young Classic Tournament. Here are the 9 women officially confirmed, for the moment, to participate in this 32- women tournament which will be recorded on July 13 and 14 (all infos on the tournament here).
Toni Storm, 21, is the first and reigning UK promotion PROGRESS Women’s Champion. Born in New Zealand, raised in Australia and based in the U.K., the 8-year wrestling veteran worked in 13 countries before the age of 20. She mixes an 80’s rock style aesthetic with a technical and hard-hitting wrestling style.
Lacey Evans, from Parris Island, S.C., joined the WWE Performance Center in April 2016 and already appeared regularly in both NXT TV and live events. Lacey Evans is a former U.S. Marine and member of the Marine Corps SWAT team. “The Lady of NXT” wants to prove to all women of the world, including her 4-year-old daughter, that there are no limits on what you can achieve.
Louisville-born Sarah Logan, aka Crazy Mary Dobson, aka Sarah Bridges, is proud to have been “born in the woods and raised in the mud”. She has been an independent promotions Superstar since 2011 in the USA and in UK. She also worked her craft in Japan with Taka Michinoku. She’s reknowned for not being afraid of fighting against men. She signed with NXT in October 2016 and made her NXT TV debut earlier this year.
The Monterrey-born masked Princesa Sugehit is one of the most esteemed grapplers in Mexico. She’s been involved in the wrestling business since 1996 and will bring a massive experience to the tournament. She worked with Mexico’s top promotions, like AAA and CMLL. Current Mexican National Women’s Champion, she has claimed the masks of numerous rivals over the year, which is considered the ultimate sign of triumph in lucha libre.
Tessa Blanchard, of Charlotte, N.C., may be only 21 but she’s already competed in the U.K., China, Japan and the Maritimes, where she once wrestled 23 nights in a row, since her debut in 2014. Her last name is synonymous with glory as she’s the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer and Four Horseman Tully Blanchard. Tessa decided to follow in the family trade after watching her father’s Hall of Fame induction in 2012. She was involved in the upcoming biopic about Paige and her family produced by the Rock and WWE “Fighting with My Family”.
Seattle-born Abbey Laith, known as Kimberly Frankele and Kimber Lee, may be a master of suplexes and strikes, she’s also an experienced dancer, particularly in ballet, who began training for the ring while working toward a bachelor’s degree in dance education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
She worked for many American federations like SHIMMER, SHINE, Combat Zone Wrestling. Before signing with WWE last January, she was the only woman to hold CHIKARA Grand Champion. She’s a regular of NXT live events and appeared twice on TV last April and May.
Brazilian judo-master Taynara Conti is 22 and a newcomer in the wrestling business. She is a black belt in judo and a blue belt in Brazilian jujitsu. She competed in the 2016 Olympic trials in judo, but miseed the cut for her country. But not for the WWE talent scouts. She signed with NXT in October 2016 but hasn’t debuted with NXT yet. The Mae young Classic Tournament will be her first chance in a WWE ring.
Jazzy Gabert is a German brawler who has wrestled internationally for more than 15 years. She started her career in 2001 with NWA Germany but also other local promotions like PWA and EWA. She worked for French promotion Queen of Chaos from 2006 to 2008. She also took part of 2008 and 2009 American Wrestling Rampage Tours.
She signed with Pro Wrestling: EVE in 2010 and became the first-ever Pro-Wrestling: Eve Champion. Gabert is a multi-time champion in Japan’s Stardom organization, and she is currently a women’s champion for groups in Germany and Switzerland. In MMA, she has fought under the banners of the Rizin Fighting Federation and IFO Europe.
Kavita Devi was trained by former WWE Champion The Great Khali. Hailing from Jind, Haryana, India, the 5-foot-9 Devi is a top competitor in Khali’s Punjab-based organization, Continental Wrestling Entertainment. She gained the attention of WWE talent scouts at a tryout this past April in Dubai. Devi was an accomplished kabaddi player in high school and is also a competitive powerlifter. Inside the ring, Devi has racked up victories using a head-caving roundhouse kick.
All pics courtesy of WWE.