Toni Storm Wins Mae Young Classic 2

History was made on Sunday in more ways than one.

The finals of the second annual Mae Young Classic took place in the midst of WWE’s first all-women’s pay-per-view: Evolution. The tournament – known for showcasing lesser known international talent to Western audiences – has become a mainstay of WWE Network programing, drawing anticipation and intense scrutiny with every passing week.

Toni Storm, a 23-year-old native of New Zealand, held most of the offense early on as Io Shirai stayed surprisingly grounded. “The Genius of The Sky” chose to forgo her typical high-flying style, which made the 28-year-old a three-time Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize Champion an international name in pro wrestling. Instead, Shirai focused on keeping the equally high-flying Storm planted to the matt. After a sequence of quick falls and submission attempts reversed back and forth, Storm forced a rope break as well as a change in strategy from Shirai.

The first high spot came as Shirai expelled Storm from the ring with a springboard dropkick off the top rope, then ascended and delivered a picture perfect moonsault, prompting a 10-count from referee Jessika Carr – a trailblazer in her own right.

Congratulations to @NXTUK Superstar @tonistorm_ on winning the 2018 #WWEMYC finals. #WeAreNXTUK #WWEEvolution @StephMcMahon pic.twitter.com/IpCxYel1HA
— Triple H (@TripleH) October 29, 2018

Storm then delivered a German suplex on the ring apron, displaying a level of viciousness that Western audiences seem to balk at in women’s wrestling. Shirai reentered the ring at nine, rolling into a second sequence where she delivered some right hooks before falling victim to the Storm Zero, kicking out at 2.9.

Shirai rolled to the apron as the frustration was painted all over Toni’s face. Shirai then delivered a 619 in homage to her hero Rey Mysterio before transitioning into a springboard sunset flip. The sequence concluded with another impressive moonsault into Storm’s knees. Storm moved her to the center of the ring for another Storm Zero into the small of her back, rolling her up for the three count.

Shirai has become the youngest winner of the Mae Young Classic at 23 years and 9 days old.

A diabolical German suplex from @tonistorm_!
➡️ https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/2OLb7TzEOi
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) October 29, 2018

The emotion was plain on her face as it sunk in that this was not a dream. Not only had she received a huge vote of confidence from the WWE brass after her semifinal loss to last year’s eventual champion Kairi Sane, but she had done so by going over one of the greatest ever. Io and Toni shared a long, happy hug in the ring before Shirai gave her her moment, leaving Storm standing in the ring surrounded by thousands of screaming fans flanked by Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and NXT assistant coach Sara Amato.

If last year’s final is any indication, both of these young women have been firmly placed in the NXT Women’s Championship picture. The victor and runner up of last year’s tournament – Kairi Sane and Shayna Bayzler – have had an impressive feud since then, culminating at Evolution when Bayzler won her title back off of Sane after losing it at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.

Storm’s future remains to be seen, but hopefully we get a lot more action between her and Shirai.