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What's the story?
Alundra Blayze, one of the women who paved the path for women's wrestlers of today (much like Mae Young did) returned to WWE once again, as an announcer in the Mae Young Classic. After a long and estranged association with WWE, where she was critical about the direction of women's wrestling (during the bra & panty match period), she returned in 2015 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She's back in a much bigger capacity now, as a backstage announcer for the Mae Young Classic. The actual announcer's desk is manned by Jim Ross and Lita.
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In case you didn't know...
Madusa is one of the most controversial characters from the Monday Night Wars, notorious for dumping the WWE Women's Championship into a trash can during an episode of Nitro. After the closure of WCW, she retired from wrestling for good, because of the non-PG nature of the content of women's wrestling in 2001. Blayze has been full of praise for the women of today, and is a staunch supporter of their skills and future potential.
The heart of the matter
Even though Blayze may not be at the commentary desk, she was a part of Bracketology, in addition to conducting interviews with the tournament participants. So far, since her Hall of Fame induction, her only association with the company has been a 'Table for 3' episode. We wonder what her role will be, in the episodes that follow.
What's next?
There are four more episodes of the Mae Young Classic Tournament before the final round is broadcast live on the WWE Network on September 12. Judging from the first round, the action should be absolutely breathtaking indeed.
Author's take
Madusa/Alundra Blayze is awesome and we are glad to see her give her stamp of approval to such a prestigious tournament. Her very presence is a huge deal, and should bolster the confidence of the participating women, who've presumably looked up to a legend like her. Maybe she can become a permanent fixture at the NXT Performance Center, maybe in a trainer's role, after the tournament concludes.
