It's getting hot in here!
The Quarterfinals gave us some bitter-sweet taste in our mouths, but overall they were really great and really amazing. 8-women fought on maximum of their skills. 4-women (amazing and favorite) left MYC! 4-women continued to the Semi-Finals!
Let's remind ourselves what happened!
EPISODE 07. ROUND 3: QUARTERFINALS
MATCH #01
MERCEDES MARTINEZ VS. ABBEY LAITH
Really intensive and really well build match. These two women prove why they are respected names in the independent scene. I enjoyed Laith's dominance at some point, her amazing diving crossbody, outside the ring through the ramp. The strategy of both women were to finish the other, quick as it's possible, because both of them realized how dangerous is the other one. Abbey tried to lock her Alligator clutch pin several times and was someho in a hurry, while Mercedes always block it, even with a nice roll-through!
At the end Martinez grabbed the opportunity to end the things her way and the Fisherman's buster was too much for the ambitious Laith!
But the most interesting and real challenge is what lays in front of Mercedes, at the Semi-finals!
WINNER: MERCEDES MARTINEZ (US), via pinfall
EPISODE 07.ROUND 03:QUARTERFINALS
MATCH #02
SHAYNA BASZLER VS. CANDICE LeRAE
Mercedes Martinez faith was quickly determined in the following match!
Shayna Baszler continued with her arrogant behavior, refusing handshake and acting like a beast in the ring. She build a really nasty character and this match add more heat to her villainous persona.
Actually Candice LeRae was so close to win at several point's that it really hurts, to see her not winning the both. Guys, I have never seen DDT performed after a Suicide Dive!!! It was really amazing and I was 'WOW! She's amazing'. The crossface submission and the Octopus hold were really good attempts for Candice, and she really get some advantage thanks to them.
At the end when the stage/ring was set for the Wild Ride, by Mrs. Wrestling, Shayna Baszler used her sneaky tactics to transition the move into her rear-naked choke!
But that was just the beginning... Baszler continued to lock the submission even after LeRae tapped out! It was a really brutal way to establish Shayna as a top heel! She even kicked the dizzy Candice's legs in the presence of her husband Johnny Gargano, who entered the ring to check on his wife.
Now Baszler will face her mentor and this is going to be devastating!
WINNER: SHAYNA BASZLER (US), via submission
EPISODE 07.ROUND 03:QUARTERFINALS
MATCH #03
PIPER NIVEN VS. TONI STORM
That was the match with a real personal story! Two best friend who traveled the world together, trained together and fight together or against each other, had to decide who will continue to the Semi-finals and who will leave the tournament!
I can't say which loss was the hardest for me! I think that Piper's loss was the biggest loss, LeRae was the saddest, and Abbey Laith is somewhere in the middle because she is NXT signee.
I really love the way the audience supported Piper Niven, from the beginning. No matter how many of them watched her fight before, they respected her. She is charismatic, not just a powerhouse. Her skills and professionalism were really great! I think that all of us want to see more from Niven in the future...
Crossbodies, Piper Driver, Splashes! How did Toni Storm survive it all? The fact is that she did and with one second rope stunning back suplex, she set the scene for the final cut, and it was a simple diving leg drop, that crossed the line and cost Niven the match! Storm - The Women's Wrestling Rockstar, emerged victorious and she looked ready for what the future hold in the semifinals!
Overall I enjoyed the sportsmanship of this match, the warm handshake, the show of respect during the match and the sad goodbye hug - all of these were just a small details added to a great fight, but they made it really emotional for all of us!
WINNER: TONI STORM (AUSTRALIA), via pinfall
EPISODE 07.ROUND 03:QUARTERFINALS
MATCH #04
DAKOTA KAI VS. KAIRI SANE
Dakota Kai met someone who was on her physical level! Both young women really tear the house down and create a real art of wrestling! The fans were more into Sane, this time! But the most important thing was that both women were allowed to work at full capacity, running, kicking and fight each other!
Really good match in every way! Kai hit her most devastating kicks, and almost finished the Japanese sensation. There was that double foot stomp in tree of woe position that let her down. It worked on the more lager Rhea Ripley,on the previous round, but Kairi was able to avoid the move and to prepare for her perfect Diving elbow!
I realize that she performed it this way, on opponent laying down on this angle, since day one. She flew over the full length of Kai's body and landed on her chest - really brutal and beautiful act of self control! I really hope to see her winning this tournament, becaus it's easy to be nasty former MMA submission specialist with disgusting attitude, but it takes a lot to be a honorable contestant, who has this high level of body control and didn't harm her opponents... Oh and at the end there was this usual form of respect - handshake and thanking your opponent for being there for you all the time!
Deep respect and admiration for both of these two young talents!
WINNER: KAIRI SANE (JAPAN), via pinfall
OVERVIEW:
(chant)'WOMEN'S WRESTLING! WOMEN'S WRESTLING! WOMEN'S WRESTLING!'
As I said: amazing, emotional, bitter-sweet episode and round! At the end we are having four amazing talent on the two side of the specter - two heels, mentor and student, facing each other (Baszler vs. Martinez) and two faces and fan favorites on the other hand (Sane vs. Storm). It looks like we are going to have an really intriguing semi-finals episode!
TOP 5 PICKS
There will be no top 5 picks, today guys!
I got tired of trying to pick only 5 women from every episode, when all of them deserve to be #1! Because this is more than one-on-one booked battle, this is a work of art, where the opponent is your biggest friend and must always be there for you, elevate you to your maximum of your own skills!
May Yong Classic made me love the women's wrestling beyond my possibilities! Beyond my borders! Yeah, we started with a drop of disappointment (you know that Deonna Purrazzo thing), but that drop became smaller and smaller!
Now I will honoring every single one of the 8-women who participated in the Quarterfinals, with sort of a personal message!
Shayna Baszler. The Queen of Spades! You don't need anyone's approval or respect, evil B***h! 😀 I am not going to giving it to you, don't worry!
Look where you are? Semi-finals! After brutally smash of two of the best in the world and my favorite! I can't wait to see how you will end this thing and be sure, that you are already on your way to become a legend!
Nothing can express my deepest sorrow, about your loss, my dear Scottish High-Flying, Stereotypes Smashing, Viper! 😢 Piper Niven, I desperately hope that this is just the beginning of your path in WWE, because you, Mia Yim, Jazzy Gabert. etc. really deserve a big stage! Stage that challenge you to change it and you and the other MYC, are the tool to accomplish that and even more - You are part of these "Women's Wrestling Revolution", long before that episode of RAW (where Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks debuted). You was always there, you and your fellow indies - working to elevate the art of women's wrestling, to break barriers! Respect and love!
We really hope to see you in WWE, soon!
You are young and positive person, someone who knows the ropes and who knows her craft/kicks better than many others! I am 'thirsty' to see more from you! I can't wait to see you shaking that NXT with your fellows and one day standing as NXT (even WWE RAW or SmackDown) Women's Champion! Because you are working hard and put your soul and heart into wrestling, so you need to be awarded! For now you have the biggest award - our, the fans love and respect!
#DakotaKaiIsKickingA*es
I said, about you that my only fear is that you may reach the plateau of your skills! Whatever, I think that this will not happening soon! You are amazing inheritance of Asuka's legacy and you will accomplish a lot in NXT and WWE!
I just wish you to take care of yourself as much as it's possible, to avoid injuries, because your body is your weapon, but it's also your life! Keep yourself healthy girl! The rest will follow!
