The second WWE Mae Young Classic is due to take place on August 8th and 9th at Full Sail University in Orlando. Last year Viper (as Piper Niven) and Kay Lee Ray represented Scotland in the tournament. Ray went out in the first round whereas Viper made it past Santana Garrett and Serena Deeb to the quarterfinals before losing to Toni Storm, who is another favourite to return to the 2018 tournament.

Back in April, Adam had his say on five picks (here). Last year I ran down five picks to be included in this years tournament (here). A lot of the same names, okay all the same, but all still valid inclusions for the 2018 edition, so let’s go through them:

Sammii Jayne

‘The Main Event Empress’ Sammii Jayne is currently out with injury but as one of the premier belt collectors in the UK she has to be a shout to represent the United Kingdom in this tournament. Jayne is one the more recent wrestlers from Scotland to make the trip to Japan and with the absence of Nikki Storm (Cross), Viper and Kay Lee Ray, to the WWE and overseas, she has grown as a performer to be one of the best Scotland has to offer.

Five Matches To Watch (On YouTube)

Isla Dawn

With Isla Dawn’s recent appearances at the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament and the general clues that Isla will be part of the NXT UK roster once it is established it’s pretty much a done deal at this point you would think. Dawn has been making her way around the United States and United Kingdom, is well-traveled and has certainly been putting in the work to make her a viable option.

Five Matches To Watch (On YouTube)

Nikki Cross

Cross has been tearing it up in NXT, as part of SAnitY and now striking out on her own. The winner of the Mae Young Classic will go on to face the NXT Women’s Champion, who is currently Shayna Baszler, Nikki Cross narrowly missed out on taking that title recently at Takeover and will surely find a way to get back into the title picture, this is one way to do it.

Five Matches To Watch (On YouTube)

Kay Lee Ray

Last year Kay Lee Ray made it into the tournament but was eliminated early on by Princess Sugehit in a shock to many. Ray has been travelling around UK, Japan and Europe still maintaining her status as one of the best wrestlers in the country taking on all comers.

Five Matches To Watch (On YouTube)

Viper/Piper Niven

Mae Young Classic 2017 Quarter finalist Viper has been on the absolute role of a lifetime since the tournament. She’s won titles in Japan and around the world, has been featured in the BBC documentary ‘Fight Like A Girl’ (- a must watch, check the BBC iPlayer) a highly talented and respected wrestler.

Five Matches To Watch (On YouTube)

It’s highly likely we’ll see the likes of Toni Storm, Jazzy Gabert and new faces like Killer Kelly and Charlie Morgan, two that appeared at the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament weekend.

Who would you like to see in the 2018 Mae Young Classic?