WWE Mixed Match Challenge

WWE Mixed Match Challenge
Genre
Created by Vince McMahon
Starring WWE roster
Opening theme "One Chance [Rock Version]" by CFO$[1]
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 14
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 20-25 minutes (first season)
30 minutes (second season)
Production company(s) WWE
Release
Original network Facebook Watch
WWE Network
Original release January 16, 2018 (2018-01-16) – present
Chronology
Related shows
External links
Website

WWE Mixed Match Challenge,[2] also known simply as Mixed Match Challenge, is a seasonal professional wrestling web television series and tournament 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 will consist of 14 30-minute episodes, with each featuring two matches.[9] Episodes of season 2 will air at 10:00pm ET, with a weekly pre-show starting at 9:50pm ET.[9]

Season 1

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] all other charities received $10,000 each. During the second episode, Kurt Angle and Daniel 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

Raw Teams Charities[18]
Alexa Bliss and Braun Strowman[19] Connor's Cure
Sasha Banks and Finn Bálor[20] Special Olympics
Nia Jax and Apollo[21] Susan G. Komen
Asuka and The Miz[22] Rescue Dogs Rock
Mandy Rose and Goldust[17] Hire Heroes USA
Bayley and Elias[23] Americares
SmackDown Teams Charities[18]
Charlotte Flair and Bobby Roode[24] Girl Up
Lana and Rusev[25] Global Citizen
Naomi and Jimmy Uso[26] Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Natalya and Shinsuke Nakamura[27] Make-A-Wish
Becky Lynch and Sami Zayn[28] UNICEF
Carmella and Big E[29] KaBOOM!

Bracket

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 and 11)		 Final
(Week 12)
                                     
Raw Finn Bálor and Sasha Banks Sub  
SmackDown Shinsuke Nakamura and Natalya 12:48  
  Raw Finn Bálor and Sasha Banks Pin  
 
  Raw The Miz and Asuka 12:45  
Raw The Miz and Asuka Sub
SmackDown Big E and Carmella 9:49  
  Raw The Miz and Asuka Sub  
  Raw Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss 11:20  
Raw Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss 11:15  
SmackDown Sami Zayn and Becky Lynch Pin  
  Raw Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss Pin     Raw The Miz and Asuka Pin
 
  SmackDown Jimmy Uso and Naomi 10:35       SmackDown Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair 20:00  
Raw Goldust and Mandy Rose* Pin
SmackDown Jimmy Uso and Naomi* 10:14  
  Raw Finn Bálor and Sasha Banks** Pin  
  SmackDown Bobby Roode and Becky Lynch *** 13:03  
Raw Elias and Bayley Pin  
SmackDown Rusev and Lana 9:38  
  SmackDown Rusev and Lana Pin  
 
  SmackDown Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair 11:02  
Raw Apollo and Nia Jax Pin
SmackDown Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair 10:39  

(*) - Daniel Bryan was the special guest referee for this match after winning a fan vote.

(**) - This team won a Second Chance poll, earning 40% of the votes, to re-enter the tournament.[31]

(***) - Becky Lynch replaced Charlotte Flair for this match after Flair had dental surgery.[32][33][34]

Broadcast team

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

The second season premiered on September 18, 2018 on Facebook Watch. In the second season, teams will compete in a round robin-style tournament throughout the fourteen 30-minute, two match episodes.[9] The finals of season two will take place at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event on December 16.[37][38]

Injuries

Alexa Bliss was originally supposed to take part in the tournament again alongside her partner, Braun Strowman, to reform "Team Little Big." However, due to an arm injury suffered at Hell in a Cell at the hands of Ronda Rousey, Ember Moon replaced Bliss to form "Team Monster Eclipse." If Bliss is cleared to compete before Strowman and Moon are eliminated, Bliss will resume her partnership with Strowman.[39] Sasha Banks was also supposed to take part in the tournament alongside her partner Bobby Lashley, but it was announced on September 21, 2018 that Banks was injured and unable to compete in the tournament. Mickie James replaced Banks as Lashley’s partner.[40] Kevin Owens was originally part of the tournament alongside his partner, Natalya, to form "Team Pawz," but it was announced on October 9, 2018 that Owens suffered an ankle injury the previous night on Raw at the hands of Lashley, leaving Natalya looking for a new teammate.[41] On October 12, 2018, Bobby Roode, who was Charlotte Flair's partner during season one, was chosen as Natalya's new partner.[42]

Teams

Raw teams SmackDown teams
The Monster Eclipse (Ember Moon and Braun Strowman)[43][9] Awe-suka (Asuka and The Miz)[43][9]
Country Dominance (Mickie James and Bobby Lashley)[43][9] Day One Glow (Naomi and Jimmy Uso)[43][9]
B'N'B (Bayley and Finn Bálor)[43][9] Ravishing Rusev Day (Lana and Rusev)[43][9]
Mahalicia (Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal)[43][9] Fenomenal Flair (Charlotte Flair and AJ Styles)[43][9]
Team Pawz (Natalya and Kevin Owens/Bobby Roode)[43][9] The Fabulous Truth (Carmella and R-Truth)[43][9]

Bracket

Moon
Strowman		James
Lashley		Bayley
Bálor		Fox
Mahal		Natalya
Owens/Roode		Asuka
Miz		Naomi
Uso		Lana
Rusev		Flair
Styles		Carmella
R-Truth
Moon
Strowman		 —Moon
Strowman
10/9		Moon
Strowman[44]
9/18
James
Lashley		 —James
Lashley[45]
9/25		10/16
Bayley
Bálor		 Moon
Strowman
10/9		 —Bayley
Bálor[46]
10/2
Fox
Mahal		 James
Lashley[45]
9/25		Bayley
Bálor[46]
10/2		—
Natalya
Owens/Roode		 Moon
Strowman[44]
9/18		10/16—
Asuka
Miz		 —10/16Asuka
Miz[45]
9/25
Naomi
Uso		 —Naomi
Uso[46]
10/2		 Flair
Styles[44]
9/18
Lana
Rusev		 10/16Naomi
Uso[46]
10/2		—
Flair
Styles		 Flair
Styles[44]
9/18		—Flair
Styles
10/9
Carmella
R-Truth		 Asuka
Miz[45]
9/25		Flair
Styles
10/9		—

Broadcast team

Ring name Notes
Michael Cole[44] Color commentator
Renee Young Lead commentator[44]
Vic Joseph Color commentator[44]
Pre-show co-host
Kayla Braxton Pre-show co-host
Greg Hamilton Ring announcer

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 8th Streamy Awards Subject – Sports WWE Mixed Match Challenge Pending [47]

References

  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 18, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on November 18, 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. 1 2 "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. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Superstar teams revealed for an exciting new season of WWE Mixed Match Challenge, debuting Sept. 18 on Facebook Watch". WWE. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  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. 1 2 "WWE's Twitter". WWE.
  18. 1 2 "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.
  20. ↑ "Kurt Angle pairs Sasha Banks and Finn Bálor for the WWE Mixed Match Challenge". Facebook.
  21. ↑ "Apollo Crews to team with Nia Jax in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE.
  22. ↑ "The Miz to team with Asuka in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". WWE. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  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. 1 2 Callicutt, Chris. "WWE Mixed Match Challenge (1/16): Finn Balor & Sasha Banks Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Natalya". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  36. 1 2 3 "Beth Phoenix announced for WWE Mixed Match Challenge commentary team". WWE. WWE.com. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  37. ↑ Middleton, Marc. "WWE MMC Finale To Take Place During PPV, Asuka Returns (Video), RAW Stars Work SmackDown Dark Match". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  38. ↑ Pritchard, Bill. "Mixed Match Challenge Finals To Take Place At WWE TLC; New Tournament Rules, Show Format, More". Wrestle Zone. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Bliss suffers arm injury; Moon to team with Strowman in first week of WWE MMC". Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  40. ↑ "Sasha Banks suffers injury; Mickie James to team with Bobby Lashley in first week of WWE MMC". WWE. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Kevin Owens out of Mixed Match Challenge, next week's matches set". 10 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  42. ↑ "Bobby Roode to replace Kevin Owens at Natalya's partner in WWE Mixed Match Challenge". wwe.com. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Mixed Match Challenge team names revealed: WWE Now". WWE. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Trionfo, Richard (September 18, 2018). "WWE MIXED MATCH CHALLENGE REPORT: FIRST TWO MATCHES OF SEASON TWO". PWInsider. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  45. 1 2 3 4 "WWE MMC results, Sept. 25, 2018: Team Awe-ska and Country Dominance seize their first WWE MMC victories". WWE. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Trionfo, Richard (October 2, 2018). "WWE MIXED MATCH CHALLENGE REPORT: DANCE FEVER AND MORE". PWInsider.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  47. ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (September 25, 2018). "Streamy Awards Unveils Nominations; YouTube Named Distribution Partner". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
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