WWE Mae Young Classic Night 4 Results: Io Shirai Faces Xia Brookside, Taynara Conti, Isla Dawn
Welcome to our live coverage of WWE's Mae Young Classic. We will be providing live ongoing coverage of tonight's show — and while we're doing so, you all can chime in with your thoughts in the "Comments" section below. Please make sure to keep the discussion respectful and relevant!
Keep hitting REFRESH on your browser to get the most up-to-date results.
Final Night of the First Round
Tonight's episode is the final night of the first round — beginning next week, we will be going into the semi-finals.
Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Rachel Evers
Matsumo is someone that's quickly proven her mettle from the minute she stepped into the ring — in fact, it took her landing the shoulder block to finally knock Evers off her feet and turn the tide into her favor.
Matsumo was already the favorite to win, but Evers wouldn't be easily defeated, and only went down for a two-count on this pull.
Evers comes back quickly with a Karelin lift, though, so she came ready to rumble. But Matsumo quickly countered with a hairpull biel, a snapmare, overhead elbow into a rear chinlock with a knee to the spine. That's when Matsumo began pummeling away at Evers, promising to destroy her with every move.
And, ultimately, she did, thanks to a well-placed deadlift powerbomb and a rock drop.
Winner: Hiroyo Matsumo
Time for @hiroyomatsumoto to celebrate. She'll move on to Round 2 of the 2018 #WWEMYC! pic.twitter.com/nHWyfi7loC
? Mae Young Classic (@MaeYoungClassic) September 27, 2018
Jessie Elaban vs. Taynara Conti
Conti is known as a judo master in her native Brazil, and she showed her prowess in the ring as she alternated her judo throws with excellent moves like the waistlock, the standing switch, and the Stinger splash.
Even though Elaban is already signed to the WWE under the NXT umbrella, she was no match for Conti, who swiftly got tossed into a Fujiwara armbar by Conti. Elaban was able to break free and reverse to a pin. But she was no match for Conti, who won thanks to a Black Hole Slam.
Winner: Taynara Conti
If you take aim at @TaynaraContiWWE, she will take you down. #WWEMYC @Jess10YES_ pic.twitter.com/M9q92SZo6O
? WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 27, 2018
Isla Dawn vs. Nicole Matthews
Isla Dawn was going to make it difficult for Nicole Matthews to take home the win, even though Matthews promised to put up a good fight from the jump. Dawn got the upper hand early thanks to a wristlock, but Matthews took her down to the mat almost instantly.
Dawn tried again, but Matthews side-stepped the Meteora charge. And thus began the dance that incorporated the Enzuigiri connects, fisherman suplex, suplex reversed to a short forearm, and a Samoan drop, but still could not let Matthews fall.
That's when Matthews took control of the ring, and pinned Dawn into a half-Nelson. Matthews then rolled Dawn over into a lariat and a liontamer, then claimed the match as her own.
WINNER: Nicole Matthews
WHAT A VICTORY for @nmatthewsninja! #WWEMYC pic.twitter.com/51KXahqEsV
? Mae Young Classic (@MaeYoungClassic) September 27, 2018
Io Shirai vs. Xia Brookside
19-year-old Xia Brookside is the youngest competitor in the Mae Young Classic, and Io Shirai is the most high-profile female signing in WWE history (or so they claim), so this is definitely going to be an interesting match.
The Genius of the Sky has already proven that she's one to watch, and she proved to be the dominant fighter early on. Even though Brookside — the daughter of Robbie Brookside — tried her best with the headscissors and the reversed whip, Shirai delivered nothing but pain with a bulldog and an armtrap. She then responded to Brookside's snapmare with a facebuster, then countered a missed roundhouse kick with a Shotei. After making a double-knee connect, Shirai flipped off from the top rope and pinned Brookside for the count.
Winner: Io Shirai
The #GeniusOfTheSky @shirai_io is advancing to Round 2! #WWEMYC pic.twitter.com/GmrDSaFJoS
? Mae Young Classic (@MaeYoungClassic) September 27, 2018
The next round of the Mae Young Classic airs next Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. EST on the WWE Network.