With the Mae Young Classic set to begin taping next month, WWE has started to announce participants for the tournament.
The first four names for it were revealed today. Notably, PROGRESS and Stardom’s Toni Storm was listed among the wrestlers. She recently became PROGRESS’ first Women’s Champion over their Super Strong Style 16 weekend last month.
Given PROGRESS’ close working relationship with WWE, the women’s tournament won’t be the first time that Storm has wrestled for the company. She took part in matches at WrestleMania Axxess in Orlando earlier this year.
Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Storm was a name that had been mentioned for the tournament. She was born in New Zealand and later lived in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Another interesting name from international wrestling was among those announced, with CMLL’s Princesa Sugehit confirmed for the tournament. She is 36 years old and is CMLL’s current Mexican National Women’s Champion after winning the title in February.
Two wrestlers from within NXT rounded out the list, with Lacey Evans and Sarah Logan set to take part. Evans is a veteran of the United States Marines Corps and has a four-year-old daughter. Logan was formerly known as Crazy Mary Dobson and wrestled under her real name (Sarah Bridges) in NXT before being given a new in-ring last name.
Full Sail University will host the first two days of tapings for the Mae Young Classic on July 13th and 14th. It will feature a 32-competitor field. The winner will later be crowned at a live special.