...because the matches between Dakota Kai and Rhea Ripley and Jinny and Toni Storm were the best the division's had to offer so far, and some of the best matches aired by the brand.
Ripley's an exceptional heel, and Kai's brave babyface fire and an intimidating size difference provided extra chemistry behind exceptional craft. Kai's partner Tegan Nox suffered her heartbreaking Mae Young Classic injury against her foe here, and the strained connections between the two weren't lost as the match built up to Ripley's eventual victory.
Jinny and Toni Storm kept the fleeting flame of the tournament burning with their own pulsating semi-final. Storm was due a match of this standard on NXT UK after delighting in both Mae Young Classics thus far, and this particular effort was even better than the aforementioned action on the other side of the bracket.
Storm soaked up a standing ovation with her victory, but the applause was almost certainly for both. The women's efforts were far and away the most deserving of the appreciation.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
