[APPLAUSE] Ring the bell.
>> [NOISE] So Toni Storm Io Shirai set,
we are underway in a finals,
of the Mae Young Classic, the world,
of course, talking about #WWEEvolution.
So, for Toni Storm, Beth, what does she need to do to knock off the, well,
many call her one of the best in the world, Io Shirai?
>> Well, first of all, Toni Storm has to keep Io on the ground.
Io is called the genius of the sky, because once she gets that top rope,
it's usually the end game.
Toni is an excellent grappler and
I think she's got a stick with that style, and keep you on the mat.
>> Tony storm at 22 years old, she was the first Women's Champion for
the progress promotion in the United Kingdom,
she had wrestled in 13 countries before the age of 20 years old.
And a nice Headlock take down by Toni Storm.
>> For 22 years to have the experience that Tony Storm has.
And Michael Cole you said it best earlier that,
Toni Storm has star written all over her.
>> Yeah no doubt about that.
Toni Storm snap, suplexes, British technical grapling all part of her game.
>> And showing some sportsmanship as well.
>> Beth perhaps.
I don't know, I think it's a little bit of a mind game, Michael, I mean,
Toni really wants to show she's in control.
She made it far on May in the classic last year but didn't get it all the way done.
I mean, there's no room for mistakes this year.
>> Toni didn't get it done last year, but Io wasn't able to compete at all.
So tonight, she finally gets that opportunity in the finals with her best
friend, Cai Resing in the building as well.
>> And when we talk about pressure in there, these layers just keep building.
>> I mean all of the emotions aside,
the fact that one of these women is gonna be able to make a name for
herself on this magnificent platform, speaks volume for their career.
>> Io Shirai was a prize free agent signing by, WWE NXT.
Toni Storm with a few slaps, nice.
>> Nice!
>> Great counter by Storm.
Didn't go over the top, went to the side instead.
Cover now to win the Classic, Kick out by Shirai.
>> This is what I like about Toni Storm, she's so unorthodox with her style.
I mean. >> This is what you're talking about Beth,
usually you'd go up over the top of the side rope to deliver the drop kick.
>> And that totally threw off Io and gave her the advantage, I mean,
Toni Storm has traveled all over the world, she's such a mix and
an amalgamation of styles and she really knows how to use that to her advantage.
>> And how important is that to be able to dip into your artillery,
do you stick Japanese style, or do you go with a strong style,
how do you make that decision, Beth?
>> I think you have to be adaptable, especially with an opponent like Io.
>> And look at Io Shirai.
>> My gosh.
>> Wow. >> Dropkick to Toni Storm.
Toni Storm was mesmerized by the keep up, by Shirai.
>> Everyone's been insanely mesmerized by Io Shirai,
ever since he was announced as participating in the Mae Young Classic.
>> Io Shirai arrive 2015 2016 2017 Tokyo Joshi grand prize winner,
multi time champion in Japan.
And knees right to the midsection.
Cover now, on Tony storm, Storm just gets the shoulder up, and
now Shirai looking for a submission move perhaps.
>> Right into a nice submission version of a full nelson here.
>> Io looks like she's having fun doing this, soak up that moment.
>> [APPLAUSE] WWE universe invested all night long sold out,
and Nassau Coliseum again wherever you're watching us in the world tonight,
the WWE Network, thank you for joining us.
This is the finals of the 2018 Mae Young Classic.
You're looking at a two of the best in the world,
really the future, WWE Io Shirai and Tony storm.
Storm is in trouble survived perhaps looking for a tap out victory.
Toni tries to make it to the bottom row.
>> Shirai wisely following her opponent, rolling with Toni, keeping that hole,
putting the pressure on, really working that maneuver in particular.
Toni's got to the ropes here.
Smart move. >> This is gonna force a break.
[SOUND] Io Shirai.
>> A lot of pressure placed on the pictorial region to really warm her up.
I mean, you use a moonsault as a finisher.
So Beth, let me ask you, the pace right now,
which one of these women does it help?
>> I think this pace favors Io, she's looking for an opportunity, an opening.
>> Toni Storm though ducks underneath it and nails the suplex on Io,
lands right on the back of her neck.
>> Look at the power from Toni Storm.
>> I spoke too soon.
>> Yeah, Toni Storm known for her suplexes, and
that may turn this around for her.
Toni Storm into the corner, backs right up to Io Shirai.
Toni Storm looking to go up high, she is a high flyer as well, not just Shirai here.
Storm can get it done at the top of the ropes.
>> Toni Storm does it all.
And at this level of competition, the shift in momentum.
>> Io Shirai slowly.
And Toni Storm now.
>> Lost her balance, and that slight hesitation caught her, and
allowed Shirai to deliver the drop kick.
>> A little tentativeness.
>> How much can a hesitation throw you, Beth?
>> Huge, nobody wants to make a mistake at this stage of the game.
>> My God, wow.
>> Top rope, moonsault [APPLAUSE] The genius of the sky commence [APPLAUSE].
>> I don't think Sharlotte Flair got eyes on that.
>> Did you see the elevation on that moonsault.
>> It was unbelievable, perfect execution.
>> And Io Shirai after the hesitation by Storm delivers a dropkick.
And this is what she's known for, the moonsault.
>> Text book moonsault, and it looks like Toni Storm caught every bit of it.
>> And Toni Storm now,
trying to prevent Shirai from getting back to her feet as she made it to the ring.
Great defense by Storm.
[APPLAUSE] And now they'll battle out on the apron of the ring.
Toni Storm, Shirai does not want to be out there.
>> Very dangerous spot of the ring.
>> Looking perhaps for the storm zero,
which is the tiger driver that Storm will use to put her opponents away.
And again Io Shirai able to block.
Looking for a back drop of her own, Toni Storm hanging onto the top rope.
A headbutt right to the chin.
>> Bold move.
>> And now a German suplex on the apron.
>> That is the hardest part of the ring,
all of the metal hardware underneath that ring apron, what an impact.
>> Io Shirai is in trouble, and the official will begin the count.
>> You can see that Io's back from that German suplex, what an unorthodox
choice by Toni Storm but that could pay off in a win for her tonight.
>> Yeah i have hardly heard that jolt thud, as Io Shirai hit the apron.
And now, the audience split with the "Let's go, Toni!" "Let's go, Io!" chants.
>> I don't think Io knows where she is right now.
>> The official, as Io Shirai makes it back into the Into the ring to break
the count, Toni Storm perhaps, was looking for a count out victory.
[SOUND] Now, she's gonna go for a pinfall win, and a kick out by Shirai.
>> You think of the grueling pain both of these women put themselves through to get
to this point, they left it all in the ring during the Mae Young Classic.
>> Toni with a forearm.
>> Ooh! >> Blocked.
And Shirai looking to fire up.
>> Again we're seeing that Japanese hard hitting style.
>> A Japanese strong style,
as Io Shirai unloads on Toni Storm and look at Shirai go.
>> Toni can barely keep her arms on the defence.
>> Toni's down.
>> And again Shirai with the right Right, and an upper cut.
>> [NOISE] >> What a palm strike.
>> And Toni Storm, clothesline.
>> Turned Io Shirai inside out.
>> And Toni Storm now perhaps going for, the Storm Zero.
There it is Shoulders down, will Storm do it here?
[SOUND] Toni Storm almost had her, and a kick out by Shirai.
>> The look of disappointment on Toni's face.
Can you believe she kicked out Beth?
>> I cannot, it looks like you seeing stars right now.
>> Io is taking a beating.
>> A good instinctual move by Io to get out of the way, get to the ropes,
take a breather.
>> But Toni Storm gotta get right back on the attack, she cannot get frustrated,
has to do what she can to try to put Shirai away again.
The pace of this match so far has been very methodical.
>> Toni Storm known as the Lightening Down Under,
the Gold Coast of Australia needs to strike again here.
And the woman from Tokyo Japan, Io Shirai, hanging Toni Storm up on the middle rope.
[NOISE] >> And
Shirai a little homage to Rey Mysterio, with a 619,
Rey of course returning to SmackDown Live a couple of weeks ago.
Shirai's hero is Rey Mysterio.
>> Beautiful. >> Sunset flip over the top,
shoulders are down, I thought she had her.
Is storm able to survive now.
>> So close, one of Io's specialties is that spring board,
she can use it in a variety of ways.
And turned that one into a sunset flip, that almost put Toni Storm away.
These women so evenly matched to the Mae Young Classic finale.
>> Mae talked about being part of evolution, she just said I will win,
I'm number one, Keep it simple.
>> Shirai off the double knees,
drags Tony's door back to the middle of the ring, and
it looks like she's gonna go up top, and look for the pat that is a moonsault,
which will put her opponent away here, and perhaps bring her Mae Young Championship.
>> She's feeling it, guys.
>> She is a genius in the sky.
>> Knees up!
>> Knees up, Storm got her knees up.
She's got Shirai in position, once again, Storm zero, shoulders down,
here's the cover [SOUND] Toni Storm, wins the Mae Young Classic.
[APPLAUSE] >> Unbelievable,
what a victory for Toni Storm, put her name on the map,
she has made history amongst all the women in WWE.
>> All of the emotion pouring out,
congratulations to that young lady, she's worked so hard.
>> At 22 years old, to have this notch under her belt, she will surely be
a future champion in WWE >> Other competitors, including,
you saw Rhea Ripley on the left hand side of your screen, who is involved of course
with Toni Storm at the NXT UK show, did not seem too happy, but
nonetheless Toni Storm wins, and we've talked about it, Toni Storm is gonna be
a bona fide star, I don't think there's any doubt about that, she has it all,
she has charisma, tremendous athleticism, she wins the Mae Young Classic.
>> She oozes cool too.
>> Absolutely, everywhere that Toni Storm goes, people watch
>> But let's not forget about Io Shirai,
and what this woman will accomplish here in WWE,
forget what happened tonight, Shirai is one of the best in the world.
>> She's been teaming up before she ever stepped foot here in WWE so
now the doors are blasted wide open for Io Shirai.
The genius of the sky takes to the sky, with a moonsault, right there and there,
we thought Shirai was on her way to a victory.
[MUSIC] >> Here we see Toni Storm taking
advantage, Io taking a huge part of the hardest part of the ring,
this was a turning point for the match.
>> And this is the first Storm zero, and we thought this was it, but somehow,
Io Shirai with a heart, guts to kicked out.
>> Io does what she does best, heads to the top rope, hits a beautiful moonsault,
Toni Storm counters, is able to hook her, for the Storm zero and
wins a history made tonight, and she wins the Mae Young Classic.
>> There is a storm on brewing, Toni Storm.
[MUSIC]
As she hugs Io Shirai here in the Finals, an incredible moment in the ring here.
The man who was responsible for NXT and of course, the NXT UK show and
so many other things in WWE are, CLO Triple H is in the ring,
along with his wife pitcher of Monday Night Raw,
Stephanie McMahon, and there is Sara Amato,
she is the Assistant head coach in NXT, and
the woman really responsible, for the success of all the women, in NXT.
[MUSIC] >> Ladies and gentlemen the winner of
the 2018 Mae Young Classic, Toni Storm.
[MUSIC]
>> And what must Toni be feeling right now?
>> It's literally got to be a thousand things at once, I mean,
this young lady, the sky's the limit, what a moment,
to make history on our history making a review tonight evolution.
>> Must feel so surreal for her right now.
[MUSIC]
>> Remember this tournament and the scope of it,
32 women among the best in the world, from all over the world competed,
and it came down to tonight, Shilai and Storm in a great battle of evolution.
Storm wins the 2018, Mae Young Classic.
>> Congratulations to all 32 women,
who were a part of this event.
[MUSIC]