Seattle striker Abbey Laith exchanges fire with the no-nonsense Mercedes Martinez. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

ORLANDO, Fla. — NXT’s Abbey Laith promised to “save herself” in the Mae Young Classic, but unfortunately for her, that agenda simply didn’t mesh with Mercedes Martinez, who set her sights on achieving legendary status in the tournament.

The Latina Sensation blistered Laith with big chops at the start, but the ballerina-turned-brawler bounced back and showed off some of her dance pedigree when she performed a split while simultaneously delivering a jawbreaker to Martinez.  

Renowned for her fearlessness, the self-proclaimed “Crown Jewel of NXT” took a huge risk next, leaping from the top rope onto Martinez on the floor. The scintillating plancha leveled Martinez and brought Full Sail University to its feet, and a subsequent German suplex by Laith nearly caused Martinez’s elimination from the tournament.

Laith then attempted the Alligator Clutch, the same move that gained her victories in the first two rounds, but Martinez demonstrated her wherewithal by rolling through the hold, slapping Laith in the face and then dropping her with the fisherman buster for the victory.