UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Toni Storm has finally arrived. After a bitterly disappointing semifinal exit from the 2017 Mae Young Classic, the five-tool “Aussie Storm” defeated Japanese icon Io Shirai in a hard-hitting tournament final at WWE Evolution to win the 2018 all-women’s tournament.
In a match that encompassed the entirety of both competitors’ very deep arsenals, Storm came at Shirai looking to keep The Genius of the Sky from taking flight, but Shirai — deservedly counted among the best competitors in the world — surprised her opponent by grounding Storm with submissions. The high-flying came soon enough, however: Storm scaled the turnbuckle, and Shirai capitalized on her position with a dropkick that knocked the Australian to the outside before following up with a gorgeous moonsault.
Toni Storm and Io Shirai battle it out in the 2018 Mae Young Classic Finals: Courtesy of WWE Network.
Storm, however, had a specialty of her own: Suplexes. The Lightning Down Under dumped Shirai on the ring apron with a belly-to-back that slowed her opponent’s momentum … or so she thought. Shirai kicked out of the first Storm Zero of the contest and surged back in a major way, dropping the Aussie with a 619 in homage to Rey Mysterio before stepping over her, Iverson-style, en route to an Asai Moonsault attempt. But Storm got her knees up as Shirai swooped down, and she pounced moments later with a second Storm Zero to win the match and the Mae Young Classic.
The up-and-coming Toni Storm takes down Io Shirai to claim victory in the 2018 Mae Young Classic: Courtesy of WWE Network.
The two competitors embraced in the middle of the ring following the match, while Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Sara Amato presented Storm with bouquets and the Mae Young Classic trophy. Both Storm and Shirai bowed in the middle of the ring, ending the Mae Young Classic with a fitting image. Win or lose, in many ways this night belonged to both. But the future belongs to Toni Storm.
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Toni Storm has finally arrived. After a bitterly disappointing semifinal exit from the 2017 Mae Young Classic, the five-tool “Aussie Storm” defeated Japanese icon Io Shirai in a hard-hitting tournament final at WWE Evolution to win the 2018 all-women’s tournament.
In a match that encompassed the entirety of both competitors’ very deep arsenals, Storm came at Shirai looking to keep The Genius of the Sky from taking flight, but Shirai — deservedly counted among the best competitors in the world — surprised her opponent by grounding Storm with submissions. The high-flying came soon enough, however: Storm scaled the turnbuckle, and Shirai capitalized on her position with a dropkick that knocked the Australian to the outside before following up with a gorgeous moonsault.
Toni Storm and Io Shirai battle it out in the 2018 Mae Young Classic Finals: Courtesy of WWE Network.
Storm, however, had a specialty of her own: Suplexes. The Lightning Down Under dumped Shirai on the ring apron with a belly-to-back that slowed her opponent’s momentum … or so she thought. Shirai kicked out of the first Storm Zero of the contest and surged back in a major way, dropping the Aussie with a 619 in homage to Rey Mysterio before stepping over her, Iverson-style, en route to an Asai Moonsault attempt. But Storm got her knees up as Shirai swooped down, and she pounced moments later with a second Storm Zero to win the match and the Mae Young Classic.
The up-and-coming Toni Storm takes down Io Shirai to claim victory in the 2018 Mae Young Classic: Courtesy of WWE Network.
The two competitors embraced in the middle of the ring following the match, while Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Sara Amato presented Storm with bouquets and the Mae Young Classic trophy. Both Storm and Shirai bowed in the middle of the ring, ending the Mae Young Classic with a fitting image. Win or lose, in many ways this night belonged to both. But the future belongs to Toni Storm.
