At Evolution, Toni Storm defeated Io Shirai to win the 2018 Mae Young Classic tournament. Along with a trophy and a handshake from Stephanie McMahon and 2017 winner Kairi Sane, Storm earned a title shot at a championship of her choosing.
While she actually announced her plans for that prize about a month ago at a taping in Liverpool, the episode of NXT UK which included her pronouncement finally aired on WWE Network this afternoon (Dec. 26). It came shortly after General Manager Johnny Saint and his assistant Sid Scala gave the fans some news Triple H himself spoiled at the time this was filmed, that the newest brand was getting its own TakeOver event in January of 2019. That’s where Storm plans to challenge NXT UK Women’s champ Rhea Ripley:
Ripley beat Storm in the finals of another tournament to become the first person to wear the NXT UK Women’s belt, and now Toni wants another chance to beat her fellow Aussie. Will she fare better than Sane did when she challenged for the vacant NXT Women’s title at TakeOver: WarGames (Kairi lost when Ember Moon pinned Nikki Cross in a Fatal 4Way that also featured Peyton Royce)? Is this Toni Time in NXT UK?
We’ll find out on Sat., Jan. 12 at TakeOver: Blackpool.
This is the only match officially booked for the show at the Empress Ballroom. For spoilers about others, click here.