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WWE Mixed Match Challenge

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WWE Mixed Match Challenge
Genre
Created byVince McMahon
StarringWWE roster
Opening theme"One Chance [Rock Version]" by CFO$[1]
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes25
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time20-25 minutes (first season)
30 minutes (second season)
Production companyWWE
Original release
NetworkFacebook Watch
WWE Network
ReleaseJanuary 16 (2018-01-16) –
December 16, 2018 (2018-12-16)
Related

WWE Mixed Match Challenge,[2] also known simply as Mixed Match Challenge, is a seasonal professional wrestling series and tournament that was produced by WWE, where all matches are mixed tag team matches. Like all professional wrestling events, it is based on scripted storylines and its outcomes are predetermined.[3][4] The 12-episode first season premiered on January 16, 2018 on Facebook Watch.[5] Each episode was 20–25 minutes in length[6] and featured one match.[7] The show filled WWE's 10:00pm ET timeslot previously held by 205 Live. Following the show's premiere, 205 Live began to air at 10:20pm ET.[8] On September 4, 2018, WWE announced a second season of Mixed Match Challenge, with the season premiering on September 18 immediately following SmackDown Live. Season 2 consisted of 13 30-minute episodes, with each featuring two matches.[9] Episodes of season 2 aired at 10:00pm ET, with a weekly pre-show that started at 9:50pm ET.[9]

Season 1

[edit]

The teams, which were made up of both male and female wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brands, were picked by their respective general managers, Kurt Angle and Daniel Bryan.[10] Each team wrestled for the chance to give $100,000 to a charity of the winner's choice,[11] while all other charities received $10,000 each. During the second episode, Angle and Bryan announced that the first week of Mixed Match Challenge received 35 million total engagements.[12] The Miz and Asuka won the inaugural Mixed Match Challenge tournament, earning the $100,000 for the Rescue Dogs Rock charity.[13] Enzo Amore was originally supposed to take part, but was replaced with Apollo Crews after catching the flu.[14] Samoa Joe was originally Bayley's tag team partner after winning a fan vote, but was injured and replaced by Elias, who finished second in the fan vote.[15] Alicia Fox suffered a broken tailbone[16] and was replaced by Mandy Rose.[17] Big E became the partner for Carmella after winning a fan vote between all three members of The New Day.

Teams

[edit]
Raw Teams Charities[18]
Team Little Big (Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss)[19] Connor's Cure
Boss Club (Finn Balor & Sasha Banks)[20] Special Olympics
Apollo & Nia Jax[21] Susan G. Komen
Awe-ska (The Miz and Asuka)[22] Rescue Dogs Rock
Rose Gold (Mandy Rose & Goldust)[17] Hire Heroes USA
Elias & Bayley[23] Americares
SmackDown Teams Charities[18]
Robe Warriors (Bobby Roode & Charlotte Flair)[24] Girl Up
Ravishing Rusev Day (Rusev & Lana)[25] Global Citizen
Glowing Since DAY ONE ISH (Jimmy Uso & Naomi)[26] Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Shinsuke Nakamura & Natalya[27] Make-A-Wish
The Ginger Snaps (Sami Zayn & Becky Lynch)[28] UNICEF
Big E & Carmella[29] KaBOOM!

Bracket

[edit]

The full tournament bracket was revealed on January 11, 2018 on WWE.com.[7] In one of the semifinal matches, fans were able to vote on a Facebook poll, for an eliminated team to be given a second chance in the tournament.[30]

First Round
(Weeks 1-6)		Quarterfinals
(Weeks 7-9)		Semifinals
(Weeks 10-11)		Final
(Week 12)
Raw Finn Bálor and Sasha BanksSub
SmackDown Shinsuke Nakamura and Natalya12:48
Raw Finn Bálor and Sasha Banks12:45
Raw The Miz and AsukaPin
Raw The Miz and AsukaSub
SmackDown Big E and Carmella9:49
Raw The Miz and AsukaSub
Raw Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss11:20
Raw Braun Strowman and Alexa BlissPin
SmackDown Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch11:15
Raw Braun Strowman and Alexa BlissPin Raw The Miz and AsukaPin
SmackDown Jimmy Uso and Naomi10:35 SmackDownBobby Roode and Charlotte Flair20:00
Raw Goldust and Mandy Rose10:14[a]
SmackDown Jimmy Uso and NaomiPin
RawFinn Bálor and Sasha Banks[b]13:03
SmackDown Bobby Roode and Becky Lynch [c]Pin
Raw Elias and Bayley9:38
SmackDown Rusev and LanaPin
SmackDown Rusev and Lana11:02
SmackDown Bobby Roode and Charlotte FlairPin
Raw Apollo and Nia Jax10:39
SmackDown Bobby Roode and Charlotte FlairPin
  1. ^ Daniel Bryan was the special guest referee for this match after winning a fan vote.
  2. ^ This team won a Second Chance poll, earning 40% of the votes to re-enter the tournament.[31]
  3. ^ Becky Lynch replaced Charlotte Flair for this match after Flair had dental surgery.[32][33][34]


Broadcast team

[edit]
Ring name Notes
Renee Young[35] Co-host
Byron Saxton[35] Co-host
Greg Hamilton Ring announcer
Michael Cole[36] Lead commentator
Corey Graves[36] Color commentator
Beth Phoenix[36] Color commentator
Hall of Famer

Season 2

[edit]

The second season premiered on September 18, 2018 on Facebook Watch. In the second season, teams competed in a round robin-style tournament throughout the fourteen 30-minute, two match episodes, in order to qualify for the playoffs.[9] The final of season two took place at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event on December 16, where the winning team would enter the Royal Rumble at number 30 for their respective Royal Rumble matches and an all-expense-paid trip to anywhere in the world.[37][38]

During the tournament, several wrestlers were replaced due to injuries or storyline related reasons. Alexa Bliss was originally supposed to take part in the tournament again alongside her partner, Braun Strowman, however, due to an arm injury, Ember Moon replaced Bliss. Mickie James replaced Sasha Banks as Lashley's partner.[39] Kevin Owens was also originally partnered with Natalya, but he was replaced by Bobby Roode after a surgery in both knees.[40][41] On November 13, 2018, SmackDown General Manager Paige announced that AJ Styles was not going to compete on that night's episode of Mixed Match Challenge following his controversial WWE Championship loss to Daniel Bryan on SmackDown Live, being substituted by Jeff Hardy.[42][43] It was announced that Strowman was unable to compete in the Mixed Match Challenge playoffs after an elbow injury and was replaced by Curt Hawkins.[44] On December 10, 2018, it was announced that Bálor was unable to compete in the Mixed Match Challenge semi-finals, being substituted by Apollo Crews.[45]

Teams

[edit]
Raw teams SmackDown teams
The Monster Eclipse (Ember Moon and Braun Strowman/Curt Hawkins[a])[46][9] Awe-ska (Asuka and The Miz)[46][9]
Country Dominance (Mickie James and Bobby Lashley)[46][9] Day One Glow (Naomi and Jimmy Uso)[46][9]
B'N'B (Bayley and Finn Bálor/Apollo Crews[b])[46][9] Ravishing Rusev Day (Lana and Rusev)[46][9]
Mahalicia (Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal)[46][9] Phenomenal Flair (Charlotte Flair and A.J. Styles/Jeff Hardy)[46][9]
Team Pawz (Natalya and Kevin Owens/Bobby Roode[c])[46][9] The Fabulous Truth (Carmella and R-Truth)[46][9]
  1. ^ Curt Hawkins replaced Braun Strowman in the playoffs after Strowman suffered an elbow injury.
  2. ^ Apollo Crews replaced Finn Bálor in the playoffs after Bálor suffered an injury.
  3. ^ Bobby Roode replaced Kevin Owens after Owens suffered a knee injury.

Bracket

[edit]
Raw Moon
Strowman 		James
Lashley 		Bayley
Bálor 		Fox
Mahal 		Natalya
Owens/Roode 		SmackDown Asuka
Miz 		Naomi
Uso 		Lana
Rusev 		Flair
A.J. Styles 		Carmella
R-Truth
Moon
Strowman 		— Moon
Strowman
11/13[47] 		Moon
Strowman
10/9[47] 		Moon
Strowman
10/30[48] 		Moon
Strowman
9/18[49] 		Asuka
Miz 		— Asuka
Miz
10/23[50] 		Asuka
Miz
10/16[50] 		Flair
Hardy
11/13 		Asuka
Miz
9/25[51]
James
Lashley 		Moon
Strowman
11/13[47] 		— James
Lashley
11/6[48] 		James
Lashley
9/25[51] 		James
Lashley
10/16[50] 		Naomi
Uso 		Asuka
Miz
10/23[52] 		— Naomi
Uso
10/2[53] 		Flair
Styles
9/18[49] 		Naomi
Uso
11/6[48]
Bayley
Bálor 		Moon
Strowman
10/9[47] 		James
Lashley
11/6[48] 		— Bayley
Bálor
10/2[53] 		Bayley
Bálor
10/23[52] 		Lana
Rusev 		Asuka
Miz
10/16[50] 		Naomi
Uso
10/2[53]		 — Flair
Styles
10/30[48] 		Carmella
R-Truth
11/20
Fox
Mahal 		Moon
Strowman
10/30[48] 		James
Lashley
9/25[51] 		Bayley
Bálor
10/2[53]		 — Fox
Mahal
11/20 		Flair
A.J. Styles 		Flair
Hardy
11/13 		Flair
Styles
9/18[49] 		Flair
Styles
10/30[48] 		— Flair
Styles
10/9[47]
Natalya
Owens/Roode 		Moon
Strowman
9/18[49] 		James
Lashley
10/16[50] 		Bayley
Bálor
10/23[50] 		Fox
Mahal
11/20		 — Carmella
R-Truth 		Asuka
Miz
9/25[51] 		Naomi
Uso
11/6[48] 		Carmella
R-Truth
11/20 		Flair
Styles
10/9[47]		 —
Overall standings
Raw SmackDown
Moon/Strowman 4-0 Flair/A.J. Styles 4-0
James/Lashley 3-1 Asuka/Miz 3-1
Bayley/Bálor 2-2 Naomi/Uso 2-2
Fox/Mahal 1-3 Carmella/R-Truth 1-3
Natalya/Owens/Roode 0-4 Lana/Rusev 0-4

Playoffs

[edit]
Quarterfinals[54]
Mixed Match Challenge
November 27 and December 4 		Semifinals
Mixed Match Challenge
December 11 		Final
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
December 16
         
1 Curt Hawkins and Ember Moon
4 Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox Pin
4 Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox Pin
Raw
3 Apollo Crews and Bayley
2 Bobby Lashley and Mickie James
3 Finn Bálor and Bayley Pin
4 Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox 5:50
4 R-Truth and Carmella Sub
1 AJ Styles and Charlotte Flair
4 R-Truth and Carmella Pin
4 R-Truth and Carmella Pin
SmackDown
2 The Miz and Asuka
2 The Miz and Asuka Sub
3 Jimmy Uso and Naomi

Aftermath

[edit]

R-Truth and Carmella won the final of Mixed Match Challenge Season 2, earning themselves the #30 spots in the 2019 Royal Rumble matches and an all-expenses-paid vacation, which R-Truth chose to be the WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. At the Royal Rumble event, Carmella (along with Bayley) eliminated Alexa Bliss from the Women's Rumble match before getting eliminated by eventual runner up Charlotte Flair. R-Truth however did not participate in the Men's Royal Rumble match, as he was attacked by Nia Jax (who took the #30 spot) during his entrance. As a consolation prize for having his spot stolen, he was awarded a WWE United States Championship match against new champion Shinsuke Nakamura on the January 29, 2019 episode of SmackDown, which he won becoming a two-time champion.[55]

Broadcast team

[edit]
Ring name Notes
Kayla Braxton Pre-show co-host
Vic Joseph Pre-show co-host
Color commentator[49]
Mike Rome Ring announcer
Renee Young Color commentator[49]
Michael Cole[49] Lead commentator

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 8th Streamy Awards Subject – Sports WWE Mixed Match Challenge Nominated [56][57]
2018 6th Cynopsis Model D Awards Best Sports-Related Live Series or Event WWE Mixed Match Challenge Won [58]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WWE: One Chance (Mixed Match Challenge) - Single by CFO$ on Apple Music". www.itunes.apple.com. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. ^ Staff, WWE.com. "Facebook and WWE to launch LIVE in-ring series, Mixed Match Challenge, exclusively on Facebook Watch". WWE.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  3. ^ Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Spangler, Todd (2017-12-13). "Facebook Nabs WWE Live Show Featuring Face-Offs Between Raw, SmackDown Talent Rosters". Variety. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  6. ^ "WWE News: WWE officially announces Mixed Match Challenge". 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  7. ^ a b "Mixed Match Challenge first round match-ups and full tournament bracket revealed". WWE.
  8. ^ Csonka, Larry (December 13, 2017). "205 Live Getting a New Temporary Start Time in January". 411 Mania. United States: 411 Mania, LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
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  10. ^ "WWE Superstars are fantasy booking their Mixed Match Challenge partners". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  11. ^ Chiari, Mike. "WWE Announces Mixed Match Challenge for Charity in January on Facebook Watch". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  12. ^ "WWE Mixed Match Challenge Results (1/23): Miz & Asuka Vs. Carmella & Big e - WrestlingInc.com". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  13. ^ "Rescue Dogs Rock, NYC – Rescue Dogs Rock, NYC is a 501c3, volunteer & foster based rescue". rescuedogsrocknyc.org. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  14. ^ Angle, Kurt. "@real1 has the flu and thus I must replace him in the Mixed Match Challenge. #WWEMMC". Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Samoa Joe Injured". PWInsider. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  16. ^ "ALICIA FOX INJURY UPDATE | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  17. ^ a b "WWE's Twitter". WWE. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "WWE supports 12 charities with new Facebook Watch show: WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  19. ^ "Kurt Angle reveals Raw's first WWE Mixed Match Challenge pairing". Facebook.
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  21. ^ "Apollo Crews to team with Nia Jax in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE.
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  23. ^ "Elias to partner with Bayley at WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  24. ^ "Bobby Roode to team with Charlotte Flair in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  25. ^ "Rusev to team with his wife Lana at WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  26. ^ "Jimmy Uso to team with his wife Naomi at WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE.
  27. ^ "Shinsuke Nakamura to team with Natalya in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  28. ^ "Sami Zayn to team with Becky Lynch in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  29. ^ "The WWE Universe selects Big E to team with Carmella in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  30. ^ "WWE Mixed Match Challenge". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  31. ^ "WWE Mixed Match Challenge". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  32. ^ "Charlotte pulled from tonight's WWE TV due to minor dental surgery". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  33. ^ "A fan vote will determine who will replace Charlotte Flair on WWE Mixed Match Challenge tonight". WWE. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  34. ^ "WWE Mixed Match Challenge". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  35. ^ a b Callicutt, Chris. "WWE Mixed Match Challenge (1/16): Finn Balor & Sasha Banks Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Natalya". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  36. ^ a b c "Beth Phoenix announced for WWE Mixed Match Challenge commentary team". WWE. WWE.com. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  37. ^ "Winning WWE MMC Season 2 team to receive huge Royal Rumble advantage and trip anywhere in the world". Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  38. ^ "WWE® MIXED MATCH CHALLENGE™ RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON ON FACEBOOK WATCH". WWE Corporate. September 4, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  39. ^ "Sasha Banks suffers injury; Mickie James to team with Bobby Lashley in first week of WWE MMC". WWE. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  40. ^ "Kevin Owens out of Mixed Match Challenge, next week's matches set". Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Bobby Roode to replace Kevin Owens at Natalya's partner in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". wwe.com. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  42. ^ "WWE MMC results, Nov. 13, 2018: Strowman & Moon remain undefeated; Hardy helps Flair do the improbable". WWE. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  43. ^ Middleton, Marc. "AJ Styles Replaced On WWE Mixed Match Challenge, Week 9 Winners, Next Week's Matches, Viewership". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  44. ^ "Curt Hawkins to replace Braun Strowman as Ember Moon's partner for the WWE MMC Playoffs". WWE. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  45. ^ "Crews to replace Bálor as Bayley's partner in WWE MMC Semifinals against Mahal & Fox". WWE. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Mixed Match Challenge team names revealed: WWE Now". WWE. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
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  51. ^ a b c d "WWE MMC results, Sept. 25, 2018: Team Awe-ska and Country Dominance seize their first WWE MMC victories". WWE. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  52. ^ a b Trionfo, Richard (October 23, 2018). "WWE MIXED MATCH CHALLENGE REPORT". PWInsider. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  53. ^ a b c d Trionfo, Richard (October 2, 2018). "WWE MIXED MATCH CHALLENGE REPORT: DANCE FEVER AND MORE". PWInsider.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  54. ^ "WWE reveals Mixed Match Challenge playoff bracket". Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results. 20 November 2018.
  55. ^ Keller, Wade (29 January 2019). "1/29 WWE Smackdown Results: Keller's report on Royal Rumble fallout, Becky Lynch comes out after Ronda Rousey confrontation at Raw, Bryan, Miz & Shane, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
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  58. ^ "WWE and UpUpDownDown win two prestigious Cynopsis Model D Awards". WWE.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
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