Mae Young Classic 2018: Predicting the path of every participant

The 2018 Mae Young Classic is set to begin taping tomorrow. With the tournament comes an influx of new talent and the chance for WWE to strap a rocket to the people they want to push in their women's division. A year on since the first tournament, we can say that the formula has proven a great success. Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane are set to do battle at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV next Saturday in a rematch of last year's final, only now with the NXT Women's Championship on the line.

Candice LeRae, Lacey Evans, Dakota Kai, and Bianca Belair are more names who benefited from participating in last year's tournament, even if they didn't make it as far.

This year's field is even more stacked than last year's and the tournament promises to be one of WWE's better shows of 2018. Who will build themselves a big platform in the company? Who will go all the way to Evolution? While it's not yet possible to predict who will face who in all the rounds, we should have a good idea of how far each competitor will go. We'll predict all of their chances now!

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#1 Mercedes Martinez

Back again.

One of last year's semifinalists, Mercedes Martinez was a surprising dark horse before being defeated by eventual runner-up and current NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler. She's back in the game this year, but don't expect her to repeat last year's run. There are other veterans in the tournament now with similar longevity, as well as new competitors that are signed to full-time contracts.

Martinez will ultimately be used to make one of them look as good as possible in the first round. She has expressed a desire to work with Io Shirai and Jinny in particular, and it's very possible she'll put one of them over to start the tournament off strong.

#2 Nicole Matthews

From alternate to competitor.

Another veteran of the independent circuit with longstanding experience in the industry, Nicole Matthews will likely be used in a similar capacity to Mercedes Martinez. She'll have a chance to shine but ultimately make one of the newer, full-time competitors - perhaps Kacy Katanzaro, look as good as possible to start their WWE TV career off properly.

#3 Reina Gonzalez

Reina returns.

Though she got to the second round in last year's tournament, Reina Gonzalez hasn't been seen on NXT programming since then. This might suggest that she either needs improvements or the company doesn't have a ton of plans for her at this time.

With a killer lineup this year, there are many more exciting choices to advance to the second round, including other monsters in the tournament who have similar height and size. I expect Reina Gonzalez to be defeated in the first round this time, possibly by Jessie Elaban, who has had some matches with her on the house show circuit.

#4 Mia Yim

Another familiar face.

Mia Yim claims to be coming to this year's tournament with a new attitude. Perhaps it means she'll be working as a heel. However, with her unlikely to be signed, the change might not help her do any better than she did last year.

Indeed, with the lineup the tournament boasts this year, she has a high chance of falling to a Toni Storm or Tegan Nox in the first round, simply because the company might want to give the platform to other women they have bigger plans for.

#5 Killer Kelly

From Royal Albert Hall to Full Sail.

Though she's likely to be one of the mainstays of the NXT UK division, now isn't her time. She might have a good showing with somebody like Toni Storm to open the tournament, but with the triple threat match at Royal Albert Hall in June not impressing too highly, it seems logical that a Performance Center mainstay who will soon be on NXT regularly will be chosen to go to the second round ahead of her.

#6 Isla Dawn

Will she cast a spell on the tournament?

Isla Dawn might benefit from her association with Aleister Black, and as a likely NXT UK mainstay, she might have better chances to advance to the second round of the tournament. However, ultimately I think that the company will want to choose to give the platform to a full-time Performance Center mainstay instead, especially considering that the triple threat match she took part in at Royal Albert Hall, again, wasn't terribly impressive.

#7 Karen Q

Karen Q has a chance to show the world what she can do.

Karen Q's work on the independent circuit has been praised by a lot of people, and it seems that she would be somebody on the company's radar as a potential recruit. If this was last year, I'd have considered her a given for the second round. But this is a stacked tournament, and there's a lot of full-time Performance Center mainstays that could be given a spotlight there opposite world-class talent like Io Shirai, Meiko Satomura, and Toni Storm.

So it's likelier that she gets defeated in the first round, but she is someone to watch in the future. The company might make her an offer.

#8 Madison Rayne

Looking to impact the tournament.

The former five-time Knockouts Champion is a formidable entrant into the tournament, but with her unlikely to be hired by the company, she's also unlikely to get past the first round, especially with other veterans and full-time talent in the tournament. She's ideally suited to work with a newer talent and make that person look great in the first round.

#9 Priscilla Kelly

"Hell's favorite harlot."

At 21 years old, Priscilla Kelly is one of the youngest competitors in the tournament, and she might be on the company's radar for her youth and unique character. All the same, with no contract, reportedly signed at the moment, one thinks it will be likelier that someone else will be chosen to advance into the second round over her. Depending on her performance, though, she might have more matches to come in WWE yet. She might well be offered a contract.

#10 Hiroyo Matsumoto

Lady Destroyer!

Also known as "Lady Godzilla" in Japan, she has over a decade of experience and is known for her power. This would perfectly position her to put over a babyface like Xia Brookside in the first round, getting the crowd invested in her success. With Matsumoto unlikely to be offered a contract, her role will be to make a top prospect look great.

#11 Aerial Monroe

A strong first round entrant.

Aerial Monroe is an air force veteran who trained with current Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander. In fact, she's married to him, and one imagines that a contract offer might be coming her way. However, with a stacked tournament, I find it likelier that she'll go out in the first round against somebody like Kaitlyn or perhaps even Zeuxis.

Still, she'll be one to keep your eye on. This is one of those predictions that's harder for me to make.

#12 Allysin Kay

Another Impact veteran.

Another former Knockouts Champion, Allysin Kay seems likely to occupy a similar role as her counterpart Madison Rayne. With a signing unlikely, she'll be chosen to put a Performance Center prospect or future NXT regular over in the first round.

#13 Rachel Evers

Rachel returns.

Rachel Evers, daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Paul Ellering, makes her second appearance in the Mae Young Classic. Rachel Evers got to the second round last year before falling to Abbey Laith.

If she wasn't offered a contract last year, it seems pretty unlikely that she will be this year, especially with a whole new class of recruits having already entered the Performance Center. She'll go out in the first round against a veteran talent like Meiko Satomura.

#14 Xia Li

Xia is back.

Another returning name from last year, Xia Li was defeated by Mercedes Martinez in the first round. She didn't get to show much during that match, but one hopes that she's improved since last summer and will show more this time. She hasn't been featured on NXT TV at all, however, which either suggests that she hasn't improved enough or that there aren't big plans for her right now. I expect her to be in the same spot as last year.

#15 Zatara

Many of us will see Zatara for the first time.

This one is a bit hard to decide. Zatara is young at 26 years old and has years of experience despite her youth. She seems like a candidate that WWE would watch. There's still no word about a possible contract, however, and there's a better-known Luchadora in the tournament. We might see a first-round match between them, but either way, it's likely that Zatara appears in the first round to have a good match and make someone look great.

#16 Vanessa Kraven

Vanessa will put up a fight.

Known as the Mountain, Vanessa Kraven is the tallest woman in the tournament, and with over a decade of experience, she'll be a great hand to put over a babyface in a monster vs. underdog fight. That's ultimately what I expect her role to be in the first round - to help a babyface the company is very high on look as great as possible in victory.

#17 Kaitlyn

Minus the butterfly belt.

The first entrant announced into the tournament, Kaitlyn looks like she'll be in the Serena Deeb role this year. She's the returning veteran who will have some spotlight added to her to possibly get her ready for a bigger comeback. She'll get to the second round in the tournament and then lose to someone that NXT has bigger plans for.

#18 Rhea Ripley

She's back.

Rhea Ripley has tremendous upside. At 22, she's among the youngest competitors in the tournament. She also has the ideal WWE look, has shown a great deal of charisma, and looks promising in the ring. Despite all that, she hasn't been seen on NXT programming since last year's tournament. I believe she'll repeat last year's performance by getting into the second round and then lose to a heel like Jinny.

#19 Jessie Elaban

Jessie will get to show what the hype is about.

Jessie Elaban only came into the company a year ago, but she's already built quite the reputation for herself on the NXT house show circuit. Praised for her tremendous energy and athleticism, her future on NXT appears bright.

This will be the first chance she's had to show herself to a TV audience, and it's very likely she'll get to the second round. She probably doesn't yet get beyond that, but as we've seen with Bianca Belair and Lacey Evans, a second round placement can act as a rocket.

#20 Kavita Devi

She's back.

Kavita Devi lost last year to Dakota Kai in the first round, but WWE is still committed to expanding in India, and Devi has since been chosen to appear, of all places, at WrestleMania.

She took part in the women's battle royal. This was a clear signal that the company has bigger plans for her, and she's likely to get into the second round this year, where she'll act as a monster for a huge name, like Deonna Purrazzo, to overcome.

#21 Zeuxis

Is the famous Luchadora on WWE's radar?

Zeuxis has built up quite the reputation in Mexico. She hasn't been offered a contract yet, but with the company short on Latin stars in its women's division, there's a strong possibility she gets such an offer, particularly since she left her home promotion, CMLL, in May. Zeuxis will have a run in the tournament and make it to the second round, before ultimately falling short to somebody like Toni Storm.

#22 Lacey Lane

Another Lacey is ready.

One of WWE's newest recruits and with a few years of experience already behind her, Lacey Lane seems like somebody the company will want to give more spotlight to in the tournament. It seems likely that she'll get to the second round by defeating somebody like Rachel Evers and then go on to be defeated by the likes of Meiko Satomura.

#23 MJ Jenkins

Another Impact alum.

MJ Jenkins is in a similar position as Lacey Lane, being one of the members of the latest Performance Center class. Another independent wrestler with a few years of experience behind her, WWE will want to show off one of their newest stars and give her a platform to boost herself in her NXT career. MJ Jenkins will advance to the second round.

#24 Taynara Conti

Back again.

Taynara Conti has made a few appearances on NXT TV over the past year, most notably with the Undisputed Era. She was also chosen to be a participant in the battle royal at WrestleMania and being from Brazil, a country with a large population that WWE will want to expand into, she's poised to do better in the tournament this year than she did before. She lost in the first round to Lacey Evans last time, but this time, she'll make it to round two.

#25 Kacy Katanzaro

Kazy will make a tremendous impact.

One of the stars with the most buzz heading into this year's tournament is Kacy Katanzaro. The former American Ninja Warrior gymnast has reportedly impressed with her athleticism at NXT house shows, and her participation has the potential for crossover appeal. Out of all the Performance Center rookies, she'll go the furthest, making it to the quarterfinal before falling to Io Shirai, Meiko Satomura, or Deonna Purrazzo.

#26 Jinny

England's fashionista is set to make a scene.

Despite her relative inexperience, Jinny will go far in the tournament. She's likely to be one of the key heels in the NXT UK women's division, and this would be as good a time as any to introduce her to a wider audience. Praised for her character work, she'll have quite the presence.

There's a strong possibility that she'll be competing against Toni Storm for the NXT UK Women's Championship at Evolution, and the tournament would be an excellent way to begin that rivalry. Toni will prevail in their quarterfinal match to get the feud off to a strong start.

#27 Tegan Nox

Competing at last!

The former Nixon Newell is one of the dark horses in this year's tournament. She was slated to compete last year, but a torn ACL prevented her participation. Now she's back and she'll want to make the most of the opportunity. If ever there were a Cinderella story for this year's tournament, hers would be it, and she'll make it this far. Though she likely won't get past the quarterfinals, I wouldn't be surprised if she did.

#28 Xia Brookside

Starting off strong.

The youngest competitor in the tournament at 19 years old, Xia Brookside is the daughter of Performance Center coach Robbie Brookside. Given the combination of her youth and her family, she's a prime candidate for WWE to offer a contract to.

But her upside isn't just in her age or connections. Reportedly no less a name than Io Shirai herself is very high on her, and it's quite possible indeed that the two of them will meet in the quarterfinal, where Xia will be defeated after a big run.

#29 Toni Storm

A star returns.

Toni Storm will be the star of the NXT UK division, and normally that would suggest that she'd make it to the final at least. According to WWE, however, there will be an NXT UK women's title match at Evolution on October 28th.

Toni Storm is almost certain to be in it. The Mae Young Classic final will be held at the same event. Obviously, Toni Storm won't be pulling double duty, so she won't get to the final. Jinny might play a role in her loss to add fuel to the feud.

#30 Meiko Satomura

A run of respect.

Meiko Satomura is the most experienced participant in the tournament, with over 20 years inside the squared circle. She's likely to play the Mercedes Martinez role this year as the hard-hitting veteran who's getting her due for her years of devotion to the industry. She's also going to go far because she's one of the best wrestlers in the world and can make whoever she shares the ring with look great.

Meiko Satomura explicitly expressed a desire to meet Io Shirai in the finals of the tournament, and while that won't happen, a semi-final clash will be the next best thing. Ultimately she'll put Io over in what will probably be the best match of the tournament.

#31 Deonna Purrazzo

The Virtuosa has arrived.

Deonna Purrazzo will defeat Toni Storm in the semifinals and punch her ticket to Evolution. Triple H is supposedly tremendously high on her, and she's come a long way since those earlier appearances on NXT where she was squashed by Asuka.

The Virtuosa is going to be a big deal in NXT, and she's going to make herself known by getting to the finals of the tournament as the quintessential babyface within it. For someone who was only an alternate last year, it's going to be a monumental accomplishment.

#32 Io Shirai

Mission 1: Accomplished.

The idea of two Japanese winners back to back would at first appear unlikely, but this isn't just another Japanese wrestler. Io Shirai has widely been considered the best female wrestler on the planet for the past four years. The tournament was actually hers to win last year before her injury delayed her arrival at the last minute.

Io Shirai was determined to prove that she should have been the star as soon as she saw Kairi Sane announce her participation last year. Winning the Mae Young Classic would indeed be step one in proving that she "was the wrestler who should have been in the video."

Her victory will accomplish her first mission and put her on the road to accomplishing her second - becoming NXT Women's Champion after a fierce rivalry with Kairi Sane.