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WWE Mae Young Classic 2018 News: Commentary Team, Air Date on WWE Network and More

TJR Wrestling

Here’s some info released from WWE today about the Mae Young Classic. There will be tapings for the 2018 MYC today and tomorrow in Orlando. In the info below, you will learn all about the commentary team, the schedule of when the matches will air and more. Here’s all the info from WWE:

This year’s Mae Young Classic, featuring 32 of the world’s most elite female competitors, will premiere on WWE Network on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 9/8 C, immediately following WWE NXT.

The single-elimination tournament will continue each Wednesday night until only two competitors remain. The finalists will then battle for the Mae Young Classic trophy at WWE Evolution, the first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view, on Sunday, Oct. 28, live on WWE Network.

Calling the action of this year’s Mae Young Classic will be Michael Cole, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix and Renee Young, marking the first time in WWE history that two women are in the announce booth. Phoenix, a three-time WWE Women’s Champion and former Divas Champion, most recently lent her insight at the announce desk as part of this year’s Mixed Match Challenge.

Joining them as part of the Mae Young Classic broadcast team will be Cathy Kelley and Shadia Bseiso, who will conduct backstage interviews with competitors throughout the tournament. Hailing from Jordan, Bseiso is the first woman from the Middle East to be recruited into WWE’s developmental system, training at the WWE Performance Center. Kayla Braxton will serve as the tournament’s ring announcer.

The WWE Universe won’t have to wait until Sept. 5, however, to get an in-depth look at the Mae Young Classic field of competitors. Before the tournament action kicks off, WWE Network will present Mae Young Classic 2018 Bracketology on Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 9/8 C, hosted by Phoenix and the voice of NXT, Mauro Ranallo.

So far, 31 of the 32 tournament competitors have been announced. The final slot will be up for grabs on tonight’s edition of WWE NXT, when two athletes from the inaugural tournament, Vanessa Borne and Taynara Conti, face off in a Qualifying Match.

Check out the list of confirmed competitors below, and don’t miss a second of the action when WWE’s groundbreaking women’s tournament returns to WWE Network on Sept. 5.

Kaitlyn (U.S.)

Io Shirai (Japan)

Tegan Nox (Wales)

Kacy Catanzaro (U.S.)

Toni Storm (Australia)

Jinny (England)

Ashley Rayne (U.S.)

Kavita Devi (India)

Meiko Satomura (Japan)

Rhea Ripley (Australia)

Deonna Purrazzo (U.S.)

Reina González (U.S.)

Lacey Lane (U.S.)

Jessica Elaban (U.S.)

Nicole Matthews (Canada)

MJ Jenkins (U.S.)

Karen Q (U.S.)

Zatara (Chile)

Mia Yim (U.S.)

Mercedes Martinez (U.S.)

Allysin Kay (U.S.)

Hiroyo Matsumoto (Japan)

Xia Li (China)

Zeuxis (Mexico)

Isla Dawn (Scotland)

Aerial Monroe (U.S.)

Rachel Evers (U.S.)

Priscilla Kelly (U.S.)

Killer Kelly (Portugal)

Vanessa Kraven (Canada)

Xia Brookside (England)

The 32nd spot is going to Taynari Conti. She wins a match on NXT to get in the tournament.

The announce team trio of Michael Cole, Beth Phoenix and Renee Young were featured in an article on ESPN talking about being announcers on this show. Here are some of those comments.

Michael Cole: “A few years ago I was put in charge of all of the announcers in the company. My goal when I took over was to have, for the first time, a full-time female commentator on one of our main shows. That is still my goal today and it led to, for the first time, having two women in the announcing booth for the Mae Young Classic. It blows me away that this is happening because as little as two years ago I would not have seen this happening.”

Beth Phoenix: “We’re moving away from the one-dimensional nature for women. It used to be that you were known for one thing — a cultural thing, the way you walk, talk or look. Now everybody is allowed to be a layer cake. We’re hungry for these stories and we want to know more about these people as individuals.”

Renee Young: “To have each of the milestones of the women’s revolution keep building and building and culminating in the first all-women’s pay per view, I think that’s just going to blow everybody away.”

TJR Thoughts: I’m looking forward to watching this and reviewing it every week. I think the announce team will do a good job as well. Good luck to everybody involved with the Mae Young Classic 2018.