Every single episode of MYC is getting better and better, and at the same time every episode is best for itself, even as a standalone!
Episode 03 started with a really psychological and emotional charge and ended with amazing battle for success. Really amazing and for me there is no loser practical.
Let's dive into it!
Let's dive into it!
ROUND 1
EP03. MATCH #01
AYESHA RAYMOND VS. TONI STORM
Really good opening match. With a lot of mind games and athletic performances from both Ayesha Raymond and Toni Storm.
The audience was totally behind Storm. At the beginning (you know that the handshake is a really important pre-match action), Raymond refused a handshake. At the start of the match Toni return the favor, by making a fake handshake (as you can see on the image)! There were a lot of armlocks at the beginning. The Deathlift Suerstar form UK dominated with slams and knees in the back. We saw a lot of innovations and modifications of moves and Storm's Backstabber exeuted while her opponent was hanged up at the turnbuckles, was one of these memorable moves. Toni used the moment when Ayesha was distracted to argue with the audience to return in the match.It happened after Raymond performed a stunning top rope takedown. At the end Toni just performed an unexpected small-package for the 3 counts and win the both.
I personally enjoyed the psychological aspect of the match.
WINNER: TONI STORM (AUSTRALIA), via pinfall
ROUND 1
EP 03. MATCH #02
KAVITA DEVI VS. DAKOTA KAI
I know that the fans were so into Dakota Kai, but in the course of the match you can't deny that Kavita Devi was amazing, too.
Dakota was warm welcomed by the crowd, while the reaction to Kavita's entrance was kind of reaction of confusion. Well, there are always several people (like me) who clapped when the Indian first female in WWE, entered the ring.
Kavita Devi dominated the whole match. She made several rope-walk arm-drags, that Lita noticed "there is no way she can learned that from The Great Khali". I think that she is very perspective wrestler with solid sports background. Her devastating Military Press Slam took me back in the time when women like Beth Phoenix and Chyna, perform that move! Eh, nostalgia! Really great performance by Devi! I hope that we will see more form her!
Dakota was great. It's not easy to sell moves and to get beaten down all the time. Kai was amazing in this hard position for everyone. There is no doubt that her future in NXT is bright and with great booking, you know, she will accomplish more. Actually at the end she grab an opportunity i.e. she capitalize on her opponent's mistake. Beautiful kick in the corner followed by Double foot stomp to end it all! That was the Kai's great moment in the match!
WINNER: DAKOTA KAI (NEW ZEALAND) , via pinfall
ROUND 01
EP.03. MATCH #03
BIANCA BELAIR VS. SAGE BECKETT
Two hot NXT perspectives! Two amazing talents - one the EST of NXT, with limited wrestling experience and a veteran who feels like home in the ring. I want to noticed that I am glad that we learned more about Sage Beckett's character in WWE NXT, at the beginning promo. She was sort of enigmatic to most of us. We know that she is dominant heel, and nothing more. Now we learned that she is something like Avatar anime's character - someone who is dealing with the mystical 4 elements, like enchantress! Interesting where this image will take her. I am looking forward to this!
Bianca and Sage were heels, everyone of them satnding for herself. While Belair was the fans favorite heel, kind of soft version of vileness, I don't think that Sage was more vicious- just a little bit! Beckett was the pure force in that match, while Belair was the athletic EST! Even at the beginning Sage displayed her intentions to dominate by pulling Bianca's hand at the handshake hand, to bring her closer t her face in a sign of domination!
The match was full of position exchanging - at one moment Sage was over, at the other Belair was topping the fight. Beckett execute a picture perfect sitout - spinebreaker , she connected wit slams, dropkcik, running knee to the face and stunning Tree of Woe smash, But as the heels before her she lost some time taunting and posing, preparing her next attack at the end.
That was the moment were Bianca Belair used her braid as a whip (as she did with Aliyah). Then she nailed a desperate but successful Spear and stole the victory! Really good match and a good preview of what to expect for these two amazing women in the future in NXT!
WINNER: BIANCA BELAIR (US), via pinfall
ROUND 01
EP.03. MATCH #04
PIPER NIVEN VS. SANTANA GARRETT
Don't let be fooled by Piper Niven's, known as Viper at the indies scene (in tribute to Randy Orton), size and cute face! She's only 26, but she is as dangerous as her high-flying, model-like opponents! I love the way that this young woman breaks the wall of the stereotypes in the wrestling. She is so impressive so she headlined one of the Japan's biggest stages for wrestling. And she deserve it.
When I first read the results, a month ago, I was not surprised because I watched Viper in SHINE and on several other matches. But as I have said before - to read just a name of the winner, and to watch how she won are two different things. That match, guys, were amazing and it keep the level of stunning main events series from the previous two episodes.
The crowd was logically divided (sorry but here I will not use my notes, that I wrote during the match). Santana Garrett was amazing in her offense and defense. She is amazing devoted and really athletic fighter. She was always there on time for her opponent - receiving or delivering a hit or move. I am glad that she was not portrayed as a weaker contestant, next to powerful Niven. She survived big spalsh and performed many athletic variations of my favorite Headscissors moves (Frankensteiner, handstand and etc.). For me this is one of the greatest Santana's matches in her career and ...GIRL, you are awesome and for me, and I hope for many others, you are winner, too! WWE sign that woman for the All-women WWE Network show!
Piper Niven! My out-of the stereotypes and yet cute-face, indie idol! I'm so happy that she continues to the next round (despite that I am sad about Santana). I enjoyed and was WOW, when she sell that handstand hedscissors, so perfectly like she was some girl who weights 121 lb (55 kg) - so perfectly, so flawless, destroying the myth that the heaviest women can't perform aerial attacks or selling that kind of moves. She continued to break myths with her sentons, dropkick. She was stunning whe she sell a top rope Frankensteiner to Garrett! Nive survived a Sweet chin music and escaped Santana's signature rope-rebound handspring moonsault! The end was powerful - Michinoku Driver for 3!
These two women really torn down the house! Sign them! It will be a crime against the Universe, if you miss them, WWE!
WINNER: PIPER NIVEN (SCOTLAND), via pinfall
OVERVIEW:
This episode... it can't be compared! As I said every single one of these episodes is good at its own! From the opening, that is always intriguing, to the grand finale! And this one, Main event was really "grand"! No, this is not a stupid joke about oversize people! It's just an honest description and paying respect to these two women, who are amazing talents and showed us that 'David vs. Goliath' like battles, can be so intensive, dynamic and powerful... and Goliath to win! Well deserved win overall!
Really good matches, really powerful storytelling via matches! It just make you to want to see more from all of these girls!
Respect, 32- Lucky Pro-Wrestling Stars! Respect, WWE!
TOP 5 PICKS
That is the most hard top 5 picks. I insist to remind you that all of these women deserve #1 spot, for one or another reason! But this top 5 pick is the radest, because I can't put two women on one position! I was threatened with a scandal if I did so by Toni Serano (she's dangerous like Toni Storm, believe me)!
So here they are:
#05: BIANCA BELAIR
Bianca was one of my favorite PC trainee, involved in this tournament. I have no doubts about her involvment, and I think that she is a future NXT and WWE Raw/SD Women's Champion. But, for me she is still someone who need to go through the TV roster of NXT and to build a character. She has the ability and the possibility to do it!
#04: KAVITA DEVI
She is powerful not only physically, she is powerful as a spirit! I am not underrating Dakota Kai's work, but Kai will have her bright moments in MYC and NXT in the future, while Kavita may not be seen in WWE (please, prove me wrong)! So she deserve this spot not only because she is from India and she is another stereotypes breaker, but because she was amazing performer in the ring!
#03: TONI STORM
Damn! I wanted all of the women charted, opponent vs. opponent! Ayesha Raymond's role in Toni Storm's success was not smaller that any other women who lose match, before her! Without Raymonds strong heel character and athleticism Storm would not be where she is - going to the second round!
Toni Storm, just prove that the Australian wrestling scene is like a factory for ultimate talents. She was innovative and so well concentrated on every spot in the match, on every sell, on every taunt. We are happy for her success and can't wait to see her in the next round!
#02: SANTANA GARRETT
Santana Garrett prove that she is ready for every challenge. Showed us that she is putting her heart in her matches. Just like Mia Yim, she is someone, who always is busy on the wrestling scene. Someone you can see competing, almost without a rest, just because she love what she is doing and because she has that mystical bound with the wrestling itself!
Her match with Nive is one of those great main events of the first round! For me - she, Sarah Logan and Jazzy Gabert, are winners on their own and won a lot more respect from their appearance in MYC!
#01: PIPER NIVEN
It was a (professional) love from the first sight! I watched her teaming with Rhia O'Reilly at SHINE 35. She was Viper, and even as her team lost the match, the crowd at The Orpheum, Ybor City, FL, was chanting her name. I am sorry that this was her only appearance for that promotion.
When I saw her as part of the 32-women Parade of the Champions I was on cloud nine, the same way I was excited about Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, Marti Belle, etc. appearance. Piper Niven rocks! She is writing the history of the Scottish wrestling Superstars and their trail in WWE and worldwide! Real walking legend! She is my symbol of dream chasing and barrier breaking! That is one of the many reasons why she is my #1 Pick!
#GoScotlandGo!
