Four More Superstars Announced For The “Mae Young Classic”

As the ‘Mae Young Classic’ draws closer, more names are being confirmed from around the world. There have been a range of competitors already confirmed but as the weeks progress, the talent comprising the upcoming tournament appears to be getting much more strong.

WWE have confirmed the latest four participants today for the upcoming ‘Mae Young Classic’ tournament that begins on August 28 this year on the WWE Network.

We at Wrestling Rumors have just learnt of these competitors and have the details here for you, provided by WWE via their website. Here are the four participants:

Kairi Sane (fka Kairi Hojo)

“Twenty-eight year-old Kairi Sane, nicknamed “The Pirate Princess” in her home country of Japan, where she is one of the most celebrated women’s wrestlers of the modern era, announced today that she has signed with NXT and will compete in this summer’s global women’s tournament.

Sane broke the news via a video message that played on the big screen inside Ry?goku Kokugikan Sumo Hall, the site of today’s WWE Live Event in Tokyo.”

Kairi Sane announces that she will take part in the historic #MaeYoungClassic! #WWETokyo pic.twitter.com/LleJ4P9XHN

— WWE (@WWE) June 30, 2017

“Formerly known by the alias Kairi Hojo, Sane has wrestled for five years and was a multi-time champion in the Japanese organization Stardom. Her pirate persona is inspired by her elite background in yachting: Before entering the mat game, Sane competed in the yachting world championship and was considered an Olympic hopeful. Though Sane has often carried a spyglass to the ring, it’s her highlight reel-worthy diving elbow drop — thought by many to be the most beautiful in the world — that has navigated her to many milestone victories.”

Dakota Kai

“Auckland, New Zealand’s Dakota Kai has held titles not just in her native country, but also in Australia, Japan and the United States (including the SHIMMER Tag Titles with NXT Superstar Ruby Riot). The 10-year veteran, also known as “The Captain of Team Kick,” is famous for her wide variety of strikes, including a running Yakuza kick that, in GIF form, has taken on a life of its own among wrestling fans. She ventured into WWE’s orbit once before, in a 2015 loss to Nia Jax on NXT. Two years later, she is now a recruit at the WWE Performance Center and looking to prove she belongs for good this time.”

Piper Niven (fka Viper)

Please note that it has been rumored in a previous article we released that Viper would be joining the ‘Mae Young Classic.’

“Hailing from Ayrshire, Scotland, Piper Niven is an experienced powerhouse who has competed across numerous promotions, including Shine, SHIMMER and Glasgow-based Insane Championship Wrestling. Drawn to sports-entertainment at an early age thanks to the likes of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Chyna, Niven played contact sports in her youth, setting the foundation for her eventual in-ring debut in 2008. She is revered for her high-impact offense, which includes senton splashes, powerslams and a signature Michinoku Driver.”

Bianca Belair

“Bianca Belair, of Knoxville, Tenn., qualified for the Mae Young Classic with a recent victory over NXT Superstar Aliyah. (Watch the match in its entirety, below.) Calling herself the “EST of NXT,” Belair claims to be the strongest, fastest and toughest woman on the Performance Center roster. Before joining WWE in 2016, she competed in track and field at University of South Carolina, Texas A&M and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and she is a regional CrossFit competitor who has been featured in RX Magazine. Prior to making her NXT debut, she shined in last year’s inaugural Performance Center Combine, putting up amazing numbers such as a 400-pound trap-bar deadlift and a 2.07-second 10-yard sprint.”

 

FULL MATCH — Bianca Belair vs. Aliyah: Mae Young Classic Qualifying Match: June 30, 2017

The match above is her qualifying match on WWE NXT against Aliyah to enter the ‘Mae Young Classic’ and it is very worthy of a watch if you’re paying attention to the tournament.

Editor’s Note:

Most people will be excited for Kairi, I would assume. Me, however? I’m most excited to see Kai and Niven because Kai is from New Zealand, just close to Australia where I live, and Niven as I have been a fan of Viper (her previous name) for ages! I can’t wait to see what all four of these women bring to the table in the ‘Mae Young Classic.’

Which of these four girls are you most excited to see perform? Who should win the ‘Mae Young Classic?’ Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page or Twitter account. Additionally, you can find me on Twitter at @SOSNH1995. We also want to remind you that we have a Newsletter you can sign up to. This will allow us to send you the best news in one place via an email. We also have the Wrestling Rumors app that we encourage you all to download to get updates faster than they release on our various pages. It is available on Android and iOS devices.