WWE News: Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler react to their Mae Young classic final

What’s the story?

On Tuesday night, Kairi Sane defeated Shayna Baszler in a historic finale, to win the first ever Mae Young Classic tournament held by the WWE.

After the final, both Shayna and Kairi were interviewed backstage by Cathy Kelly, who got the reactions of both the finalists after their gruelling battle in the final match.

In case you didn’t know…

The Mae Young classic was a tournament contested between 32 female wrestlers from NXT, the Independent circuit and various other promotions.

The tournament tapings began back in July, but was initially aired on 28th August. The final was held in Las Vegas, between Sane and Baszler, both of them were part of Japanese promotion Stardom, before coming to WWE.

The heart of the matter

Shayna gave full credit to Sane for winning the match fair and square and also admitted that the night didn’t belong to her. Baszler then added that she could make excuses that it was her injury that prevented her from giving her 100% in the final, but it was not the case because at the end of the night it was Kairi who got her hand raised.

She then had high praise for her friend Natalya, who greeted Shayna backstage before her final match.

“I’ve been in the combat sport long enough to know that the friends that stick by you in your losses are the real ones, everybody wants to stand by you at the top of the hill,” said Baszler.

Shayna was also pleased by the fact that the current Smackdown Live Women’s champion is a close companion of her in the WWE.

Natalya and Shayna Baszler

Cathy Kelly then interviewed the winner of the Mae Young Classic, Kairi Sane. Sane who will receive an NXT Women’s Title shot at Takeover: Houston said that she was surprised as well as excited for this opportunity and that she will give her best to become the next NXT Women’s champion.

What’s next?

Kairi Sane will join the NXT roster, which recently lost their biggest star in the women’s division -- Asuka. Asuka had to relinquish her women’s title due to injury and has now signed a contract with Monday Night Raw.

Sane does have big shoes to fill but the former World of Stardom champion is more than capable of becoming the top star in the NXT women’s division.

As for Shayna Baszler, she is still under contract with Stardom, but much like Sane, she will most likely jump ship to WWE and sign a full-time contract.

Author’s take

The best decision for WWE's NXT promotion would be would be to put the NXT Women’s Title on Sane. As for Shayna, if she decides to sign for WWE, then we will get a step closer to a match between the Four Horsewomen of WWE and the Four Horsewomen of MMA.