Friday 25 August 2017 18:48, UK
Sky Sports meets Piper Niven and Kay Lee Ray, two Scottish stars hoping to make a statement in WWE's 32-woman tournament, The Mae Young Classic.
Piper Niven
The Ayrshire powerhouse is becoming an increasingly big name in Japan after starring on the UK scene.
Backed for success by Nia Jax, Niven insists she's delighted to be given the chance to make a name for herself in WWE's 32-woman tournament.
"It's amazing and surreal to be competing in WWE," Niven told Sky Sports. "It's long been my dream and I feel a step closer given the global platform I've been granted.
"I got to see and speak to the likes of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Shaun Michaels and even Ronda Rousey. HBK was there when we were training at the Performance Center, he's someone everyone's looked up to.
"I compete a lot in Japan, I'm there until October. I'm completely different from anyone there has seen before. One fan was so surprised to see a big, white woman approach the ring he genuinely fell off his chair.
"This is an important stage of my career. I now have an international platform to build on with millions watching on TV. WWE may not be the only route to the top but I would love to work for WWE full-time eventually but for now, we'll wait and see."
Kay Lee Ray
Ray's an energetic high-flyer from Glasgow that faces a tough task in round one of the Mae Young Classic.
She's up against Mexican veteran Princesa Sugehit on Monday night but is confident of fulfilling her dream of becoming a full-time WWE superstar.
"It's been a crazy couple of months that have seen me perform all over the world including in Florida with WWE, in Japan and the UK.
"To have 32 girls of all different styles will work to show people what we can do. To work with this group is a great opportunity.
"Women are well represented on all three WWE shows, their talent takes place in main events and their performers are from all over the world. This has helped me to step up, something I feel is well deserved.
"The British guys of Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Neville, Jack Gallagher and Noam Dar are killing it, even before they got to WWE. To see them do so well and be part of it myself is something to build on as they are the best on the card."
