NXT UK star Toni Storm will compete in the forthcoming WWE Mae Young Classic tournament, Mirror Sport can exclusively reveal.

The Australian made it to the semi-finals of last year's 32-woman competition, but wants to eclipse that result second time around and last the distance.

She defeated Ayesha Redmond in the first round, then Lacey Evans in the second round and Piper Niven in the quarter-finals, before losing to eventual winner Kairi Sane.

The Mae Young Classic 2018 will be filmed at Full Sail Live in Orlando, USA on August 8 and 9, before it streams on WWE Network later next month.

(Image: © WWE)

But prior to that, Storm, who moved to Liverpool as a teen to pursue her wrestling dreams, hopes to spearhead the women’s division of WWE’s newest brand.

The 22-year-old will be part of NXT UK's first TV tapings this weekend, at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29.

The former PROGRESS Wrestling Women's Champion will be joined by the likes of WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Trent Seven, Noam Dar, Mark Andrews, Zack Gibson, Joe Coffey, Jinny and Charlie Morgan.

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Storm spoke exclusively to Mirror Sport's Tony Quant about WWE announcing an all-women's pay-per-view, dealing with pressure and nerves, her independent scene success and WWE ambitions.

(Image: © WWE)

You will be part of the second Mae Young Classic tournament. Talk to us about what it means to be involved in the contest for a second time?

It’s just strange because I feel like my brain still hasn’t let it sink in yet that I am associated with WWE. I have strived for it for so long and dreamt of getting into WWE from being a kid and I have never let it go. It’s completely surreal, a lot of the time I kind of don’t even think i have got there.

Do you think a reason you feel like that is because you currently still work for other promotions as well as WWE?

Yeah, I mean I enjoyed the journey. It's been great having PROGRESS behind me. I really have to thank them for me getting there. I don’t think I would have been considered if it wasn’t for them and I feel like they had a lot to do with it. I am very grateful for every company I have worked for and learnt from.

(Image: © WWE)

Something else you are expected to be a huge part of is the WWE NXT UK brand, which launches this weekend in Cambridge. What a time this is for you.

It is so surreal and I am so nervous about it. I just forget how incredible it is and have to pinch myself. The UK has a division and I am one of the first to be a part of that. The pressure keeps on rising and there is a lot to push for.

As an Australian native, who has spent such a long time in the UK, do you feel as though you have been well received by British fans?

I always felt part of it [the UK] growing up with a British family and I definitely feel like the UK has adopted me as one of their own. The UK is home for me now and where I will continue to stay. I feel very accepted and part of it, which is great.

(Image: © WWE)

Another monumental moment was when WWE returned to the Royal Albert Hall over two nights last month. How was that experience and how honoured were you to have the opportunity to challenge Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship on the second evening?

It was so incredible, it is probably the most beautiful building I’ve ever been in. Then you take into account the amount of history it holds. Again it was very surreal. It was incredible to wrestle for the title because not so long ago I wrestled Shayna in Japan for Stardom. Fast forward a year and we are competing in a WWE ring for the NXT women's title. So much can change in such a small amount of time and again, it's something I thought I could never achieve. Although I didn’t win, I was proud to have a title shot in front of everyone including my family. It is something I will always look back on with a smile.

As a performer who seems so confident inside the ring, I was surprised to read that prior and during the first Mae Young Classic you felt very nervous. Having been through one tournament already, do you feel that you will be less nervous second time round?

It is strange because you think the more you do something, the more comfortable it gets. But for me, it gets worse with every match if I am honest! The pressure grows more and more to strive and be better. It helps me though, to push myself to be better. The saying goes 'the moment you stop getting nervous is the day you should quit'.

(Image: © PROGRESS Wrestling)

Is this a pressure that you put on yourself, or is it pressure because you are doing so well and getting all of these big opportunities?

The better I do the more I need to maintain and improve where I am at. I do put lot of pressure on myself though. This is all I’ve got and it has been my life since I was a child. There are no other options for me, my life depends on making it.

There was a huge announcement this week on WWE RAW, when Stephanie McMahon revealed an all women’s pay-per-view, Evolution which will take place at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York on October 28, 2018. How did it feel to hear that announcement?

I was just so happy because there has been so much hard work from girls across the world. We all wanted better opportunities and we have all worked so hard to get it. So many girls have put in so much effort. so it's emotional to see these things going on now. It is going to give us more opportunity to shine and put even more eyes on us. As much as pro wrestling is a competitive industry, I am very proud of all the girls who have worked to get us to this point.

Having accomplished so much in such a short amount of time and ticking off most of your goals, including signing with WWE, what is the main goal for you in your career now?

Well, since I was little my goal was always to make it to WrestleMania. I will be happy when I finally get my title shot at WrestleMania! It was such a childish dream, but that is it.

Toni Storm will be competing in the inaugural NXT UK tour, starting this weekend in Cambridge. Tickets for the NXT UK tour are still available from: https://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/wwe-nxt-uk-tickets