WWE announces more participants for Mae Young Classic
Nearly half of the lineup for this summer’s Mae Young Classic has now been confirmed.
WWE added four more participants to the 32-wrestler field today. Three of the new additions are returning from last year’s Mae Young Classic, while the other is a newcomer to the tournament.
Mia Yim, Mercedes Martinez, and Kavita Devi will be back this year. Yim and Martinez aren’t under WWE contract, but both made it past the first round in 2017. Martinez, a veteran indie wrestler, lost to Shayna Baszler in the semifinals. Yim was formerly known as Jade in TNA/Impact Wrestling and was defeated by Baszler in the second round.
Devi is from India and lost to Dakota Kai in the opening round last year, with WWE’s clip of their match on YouTube currently having nearly 30 million views. Devi is under contract to WWE and appeared in the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal this April.
Killer Kelly was the other wrestler announced for the tournament today. Kelly is from Portugal and wrestled on both of WWE’s United Kingdom-brand shows at Royal Albert Hall last month.
UPDATE: WWE originally announced a wrestler named Crystal, who made her in-ring debut in 2016 and calls herself the “Queen of Philippine Wrestling,” for the tournament before removing her from their article. She took part in a WWE tryout in Manila in 2017 and currently wrestles in Southeast Asia. She may be announced at another point as WWE continues their rollout of this year’s participants.
The 2018 Mae Young Classic will be taped at Full Sail University on August 8 and 9. Here’s the updated lineup:
- Kaitlyn
- Rhea Ripley
- Io Shirai
- Nicole Matthews
- Jinny
- Kacy Catanzaro
- Deonna Purrazzo
- Tegan Nox (formerly known as Nixon Newell)
- Jessie Elaban
- Reina Gonzalez
- Taynara Conti (won a qualifying match at NXT TV tapings)
- Mia Yim
- Mercedes Martinez
- Kavita Devi
- Killer Kelly