10 Things We Learned From WWE's Mae Young Classic First Round
6. Diversity Is Key
Despite the talent pool's noticeable inconsistencies, the Mae Young Classic's impressive diversity cannot be denied. WWE have packed this tournament with a wide array of different styles and personalities, and while a couple of the more interesting wrestlers were eliminated in round one, the company deserve commendation.
Shayna Baszler, Zeda, and Jazzy Gabert all work with heavy MMA influences, but utilise them in completely different ways. Dakota Kai shone through expert selling, and her Bayley-esque ability to get the Full Sail crowd behind her. Toni Storm is a master technician. Piper Niven works with a quickness that belies her powerful moveset. The list goes on.
While many of the competition's less experienced participants are still finding their feet as wrestlers, the likes of Lacey Evans and Zeda showed more than enough personality to compensate. Many wrestlers stood out, with the pre-match video packages shedding light on potentially unfamiliar characters, and while a few of the matches could've benefited from a longer runtime, most were lengthy enough for each participant to get their styles over.
The first four episodes were a complete success in showcasing the full breadth of women's wrestling in 2017, and this should continue throughout the later rounds.