WWE Mixed Match Challenge

[The Law]

Hear about this? Streaming on Facebook, Raw vs. Smackdown Mixed Tag Matches.

Announced from Raw: Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox, Asuka, Bayley, Braun Strowman, Enzo Amore, Finn Balor, Goldust, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks and The Miz.

Announced from Smackdown: Becky Lynch, Bobby Roode, Carmella, Charlotte Flair, Jimmy Uso, Lana, Naomi, Natalya, Rusev, Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Winner gets $100,000 for a charity of their choosing.

There's some kind of fan interactive element. So far the fans get to choose which New Day member is in the tournament.

Most interesting thing is WWE doing a Facebook show and how much they're getting paid for it.

[Beer-Belly]

Pretty cool concept. I wish they'd produce more stuff like this for the Network, but Facebook is obviously a massive platform

[Mikey73181]

“Survivor Series the one night a year RAW and SMACKDOWN go head to head in competition” ��

[mth]

Saw this stuff all over my FB feed this morning. Had heard a rumbling about something on Facebook a few weeks ago but WHAMMO, here it is. Pretty interesting, cool idea on their part, good to take advantage of the platform. I dig the charity aspect. Also as a Goldust fan, I'm happy to see him of all people get in on the RAW side. Will certainly be keeping an eye on this.

[MTR]

“Survivor Series the one night a year RAW and SMACKDOWN go head to head in competition” ��

I was thinking the same thing. That was the new drinking game at my house when watching wrestling leading up to and the ppv. They said it so many times each show.

[MTR]

This is in an interesting concept. I wonder how it will go though.

[Beer-Belly]

I was thinking the same thing. That was the new drinking game at my house when watching wrestling leading up to and the ppv. They said it so many times each show.

It's so fucking stupid. What an unnatural bit of branding bullshit to have to keep cramming down people's throats.

[Mikey73181]

I was thinking the same thing. That was the new drinking game at my house when watching wrestling leading up to and the ppv. They said it so many times each show.

If they hadn’t pushed the shit out of “one time a year” then it wouldn’t be so bad, but they forced it CONSTANTLY.

[Donald]

So... "Sorry guys, we can't donate to charity because we marketed Survivor Series as one time a year brand vs. brand, we didn't think this through, we are nixing it"?

[greebull]

I don't really care about them doing RAW vs. SmackDown, I mean it's all WWE to me...

What I'm really interested in is why they decided to have a 12-team format? At some point, you're going to have to have a Triple Threat match somewhere in there...

12 teams.
6 first round matches, which narrows it down to 6 teams.
3 "semi-finals" to narrow it down to 3 teams.
And then that gets you to a Triple Threat final.

[RuneEdge]

Or someone gets a bye, which is how they normally handle these situations.

[Nash Diesel]

What are the odds that Enzo and Nia Jax wind up together?

[Kneeneighbor]

I don't really care about them doing RAW vs. SmackDown, I mean it's all WWE to me...

What I'm really interested in is why they decided to have a 12-team format? At some point, you're going to have to have a Triple Threat match somewhere in there...

12 teams.
6 first round matches, which narrows it down to 6 teams.
3 "semi-finals" to narrow it down to 3 teams.
And then that gets you to a Triple Threat final.

I do love in the NFL when the playoffs start with 12 but in the second round you have to win that triple threat game. Who can forget the epic Packers vs Seahawks vs Falcons game from last year.

[PurePlayer]

I only count 5 guys and 6 women from each roster?

[Nash Diesel]

I only count 5 guys and 6 women from each roster?

1 more remaining for each team. New Day member still hasn't been voted in and I'm sure they'll spin something for Raw. Maybe vote for the Shield member?

[greebull]

I do love in the NFL when the playoffs start with 12 but in the second round you have to win that triple threat game. Who can forget the epic Packers vs Seahawks vs Falcons game from last year.

But why would someone get a bye in this pro wrestling context? What did they do to earn it?

[Kdestiny]

What are the odds that Enzo and Nia Jax wind up together?

Especially after her revealing she wanted to team with Braun, I wouldn't be surprised to see her with Enzo.

Would love to see another Cruiserweight involved though

[PurePlayer]

Braun and Asuka as a team would be wild.

[lotjx]

A team could get a bye. I just don't understand the charity part. Unless they are going legit beat each other people for their charities, WWE is going to determine a charity they deem worthy over the other charities. It would be better as a charity event and all proceeds go to that one charity, they already really really like.

[MTR]

But why would someone get a bye in this pro wrestling context? What did they do to earn it?

You just do a random draw. You don't always have to do something to earn a bye. My daughter spars in tkd tournaments and if they have an odd number of people in the division at the local level they do the byes randomly. Now at the national level in the black belt divisions they do have a few seeds and they would get any byes but before she was a black belt even at the national level it was random when they had odd numbers. There are other sports and activities were sometimes the byes are random and not earned. So easy enough to just say they had a random draw or something.

[Kneeneighbor]

A team could get a bye. I just don't understand the charity part. Unless they are going legit beat each other people for their charities, WWE is going to determine a charity they deem worthy over the other charities. It would be better as a charity event and all proceeds go to that one charity, they already really really like.

I feel like heels cant win now. Heels do not donate to charity.

[Nash Diesel]

They could if they're paired with a babyface. That could be the catalyst for a feud. Heel gets pissed that Face didn't keep the money and run.

[BGMaverick]

This is a no-brainer move for WWE. It's also smart to show NBC Universal that there are other fish in the sea that are interested in them.

[Kneeneighbor]

They could if they're paired with a babyface. That could be the catalyst for a feud. Heel gets pissed that Face didn't keep the money and run.

Umm its co ed. I dont think WWE is doing male vs female anytime soon.

[Nash Diesel]

Umm its co ed. I dont think WWE is doing male vs female anytime soon.

I disagree. Nia Jax is being advertised as the only female for a 205 Live show isn't she? Special ref but still. I mean, you say they're not doing it anytime soon. Shows how good your memory is where not even a month ago they did just that....

[Badger]

I think Nia/Enzo is just going to be short term comedy value to be honest.

However, a mixed tag team championship or even a man and woman becoming tag team champs I've felt is an interesting story act that could be explored better by WWE. After all, Chyna and Jericho were co-IC champs at one point.

I kinda feel the same about trios championships. Lucha did it. You got Shield, The New Day, Sanity, Undisputed Era (when the later two are caled up) plus other you could throw into trios. Trios championships could be interesting.

[mr sabu]

regins will be the last raw person



cause it's reigns and you know


reigns

[Badger]

I hate the way Reigns carries the IC belt. It's not Santa's sack, putit around your waist man!

[mr sabu]

id also like to add


who ever teams with asuka will win this thing

[NWo4LifeOr2Years]

I feel like heels cant win now. Heels do not donate to charity.

Money for prizes is always pretend in wrestling.

Or there would be lots of millionaires from all those hundred thousand dollar battle royals back in the seventies...

Vince is paying the charity, he needs the deduction lol.

[Kneeneighbor]

No shit. But kayfabe wise heels should donate to charity.

[Badger]

Vince was kinda doing that until he got Rickrolled then had the sign droppe on him.Ungrteful bstards!

[Bluegunn]

I feel like heels cant win now. Heels do not donate to charity.

Titus O niel did a ton while heel

Also no one said it was Smackdown vs Raw. Nak and Asuka could team for example

As for 12 teams i say do 3 semi finals and winners of each bracket do triple threat

[MTR]

It says Raw vs Smackdown...

[mth]

Kurt Angle is replacing Enzo Amore.

Anyone been watching the video clips of folks trying to recruit partners? Pretty fun.

[Dr_Seldon]

Sad Goldust after being informed that he was not ready for Asuka was fantastic.

[mth]

Pairings are being announced. First revealed is Alexa Bliss and Braun Strowman.

[PurePlayer]

are they all being announced? where can i follow?

[Kneeneighbor]

Pairings are being announced. First revealed is Alexa Bliss and Braun Strowman.

This gives me happiness.

[PurePlayer]

Roode and Charlotte are the 2nd team announced.

[Nash Diesel]

Roode and Charlotte are the 2nd team announced.

I'll be honest, this would be the perfect choice if they ever wanted to do a Edge-Lita type pairing again. Or Triple H-Stephanie.

[PurePlayer]

I have a feeling Balor and Bayley will be a team considering the friendship they have.

[Spudz Mackenzie]

I'd love to see Balor and Asuka as a team, but that would mean one of them would have to drop the fall or their team would have to win the whole thing. So, yeah. Finn jobbed enough in 2017. Dude needs to start winning in 2018. And there's no way Asuka should be losing for her team in a throwaway gimmick tournament like this.

[PurePlayer]

Finn didn't really "job" that much in 2017.

[Spudz Mackenzie]

Finn didn't really "job" that much in 2017.

No, not really.

But that big loss to Kane in like 5 minutes on free TV and his go-nowhere feud with Bray Wyatt didn't do him any favors.

He needs to be reemphasized a little in 2018. Maybe protected a little more. No more losing to old guys.

[NWo4LifeOr2Years]

I'll be honest, this would be the perfect choice if they ever wanted to do a Edge-Lita type pairing again. Or Triple H-Stephanie.

More like Mark Henry and Mae Young in reverse.

[Donald]

Yep, Bobby Roode is so old, he was a waiter at the Last Supper.

[OD50]

What does that make me, the chef at the first supper..?

[mth]

Kurt Angle is replacing Enzo Amore.

Apparently this was misreported as Angle is taking Enzo's spot but he just meant that as GM, he will have to name a replacement for Enzo.

[Donald]

What does that make me, the chef at the first supper..?

I suppose.

[PurePlayer]

No, not really.

But that big loss to Kane in like 5 minutes on free TV and his go-nowhere feud with Bray Wyatt didn't do him any favors.

He needs to be reemphasized a little in 2018. Maybe protected a little more. No more losing to old guys.

I think Rollins and Ambrose lost to Kane as well.

[Donald]

They have to make Kane look credible against Strowman and Lesnar. By beating young guys it shows he still has it. Finn hasn't exactly been portrayed as a jobber. He's upper mid card in my view and will be fine.

[mth]

Next team announced: Finn Balor and Sasha Banks

[Kneeneighbor]

Next team announced: Finn Balor and Sasha Banks

[PurePlayer]

Would be cool to see Rusev and Lana on a team.

[Rip]

Next team announced: Finn Balor and Sasha Banks

[PurePlayer]

I have no issues with Banks and Balor.

[Donald]

Is this going to be on the Network at some point?

[PurePlayer]

facebook

[Nash Diesel]

Listen to these nerds. Finn Balor and Sasha Banks 2 of the most OVER wrestlers. Fun to watch and will probably dish out some sweet combo moves.

[virms]

Bayley sent out a tweet. She's not happy about it.

[Ringo]

Would be cool to see Rusev and Lana on a team.

It's official:

http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-mixed-m...?sf178181167=1

[Kneeneighbor]

Listen to these nerds. Finn Balor and Sasha Banks 2 of the most OVER wrestlers. Fun to watch and will probably dish out some sweet combo moves.

Sasha Banks makes me want to gouge my eyes out every time she is on screen. Instead I settle for turning the channel.

[Nash Diesel]

Bayley sent out a tweet. She's not happy about it.

Bi Bayley needs to realize that she can't have it all. She needs to let up on Sasha for the time being.

Sasha Banks makes me want to gouge my eyes out every time she is on screen. Instead I settle for turning the channel.

Oh man she's fantastic. Promos are on point, she has the look, one of the top women on the roster with what they do in the ring. I honestly don't know what there is to gouge your eyes out over but I also don't really know your taste in wrestling.

[PurePlayer]

I would imagine Jimmy Uso and Naomi are also a team.

[Kneeneighbor]

Oh man she's fantastic. Promos are on point, she has the look, one of the top women on the roster with what they do in the ring. I honestly don't know what there is to gouge your eyes out over but I also don't really know your taste in wrestling.

Its the gimmick. LEGIT! BOSS! The stupid glasses. The $5 dye job.

[Nash Diesel]

Its the gimmick. LEGIT! BOSS! The stupid glasses. The $5 dye job.

Oh that's just a straight up weave, a horrible one.

I think the gimmick is watered down lately.

[Donald]

Sasha Banks is all sorts of awful. Worst of the Revolution for sure.... I take that back, Bayley is the worse, then Sasha.

[Donald]

Bayley sent out a tweet. She's not happy about it.

I'm not happy with her promo skills but you don't see me tweeting about it.

[virms]

Sasha voice is the only thing that annoys me. When she is talking backstage it's fine but when she gets on the Mic and starts talking louder she has a hideous accent.

Her weave is due to a hair loss issue. She has some sort of medical problem.

[Nash Diesel]

Sasha voice is the only thing that annoys me. When she is talking backstage it's fine but when she gets on the Mic and starts talking louder she has a hideous accent.

Her weave is due to a hair loss issue. She has some sort of medical problem.

I never knew that about her hair. I just figured, like 99% of the black women I know who can't grow their hair out for shit, was wearing a weave/wig. Naomi is the only black woman on the main roster who doesn't seem to have any issue but Alicia and Sasha have their shit too far back on top, makes them look like when my daughter tugs on her Barbie's hair too much.

[soxfanatic]

They have to make Kane look credible against Strowman and Lesnar. By beating young guys it shows he still has it. Finn hasn't exactly been portrayed as a jobber. He's upper mid card in my view and will be fine.

It's 2018. Wouldn't the better solution be to just not have Kane in the title match at all?

[Nash Diesel]

It's 2018. Wouldn't the better solution be to just not have Kane in the title match at all?

DING DING DING

And I also don't like the whole "He deserves it due to his time in the company" No, he got other shit early on due to that. He's been in the company 20 years, that's not exactly justification to give someone World title pushes. He's not exactly The Rock. I don't remember the World title push for King Kong Bundy back in 1996.

[Sasori]

Sasha voice is the only thing that annoys me. When she is talking backstage it's fine but when she gets on the Mic and starts talking louder she has a hideous accent.

Her weave is due to a hair loss issue. She has some sort of medical problem.

My problem with Sasha is she's always talking about this "Mia" chick. I mean, it's been years and we still don't know who she is. The suspense is killing me

[Donald]

It's 2018. Wouldn't the better solution be to just not have Kane in the title match at all?

I don't disagree with this at all, I think Kane should have retired 5 years ago. I'm just saying that if the WWE were going to push Kane as a legitimate threat in a world championship match, having him lose to Balor, Ambrose, Rollins, etc. wouldn't give him any credibility.

Why they couldn't have put someone like Rusev, Big E, hell just about anyone else in Kane's role I will never understand.

[Nash Diesel]

I think Kane's one of those characters who didn't need to beat FINN BALOR to look credible. Even at his age. It's the character. They could have had him squash lower tier guys, mix it up with Braun and Brock, basically everything they've done with him just not against the top tier babyfaces like The Shield and Balor. Especially when you know you're not going to do shit with him.

The scariest part is I can actually see Kane winning the belt at the Rumble.

[NWo4LifeOr2Years]

So what is the actual deal here?

How does the tourny work? Single elimination?

[Nash Diesel]

So what is the actual deal here?

How does the tourny work? Single elimination?

Single elimination. Winning team gets fake money to donate to a fake charity.

[Bluegunn]

Thinking with 12 teams there be a bracket for Smackdown and one for raw. Angle and Asuka probably winning anyway if they team assuming he is replacing Enzo. Bliss will take the fall so Braun does not lose.

[virms]

Single elimination. Winning team gets fake money to donate to a fake charity.

Hoping Rusev and Lana win and the 100k goes to Bulgaria to start a nuclear program. Bulgaria proclaims RUSEV DAY EVERY DAY!

[Kneeneighbor]

Single elimination. Winning team gets fake money to donate to a fake charity.

[Nash Diesel]

Thinking with 12 teams there be a bracket for Smackdown and one for raw. Angle and Asuka probably winning anyway if they team assuming he is replacing Enzo. Bliss will take the fall so Braun does not lose.

I guess the wording of Angle's tweet was misunderstood. He wasn't saying he himself was replacing Enzo physically, he meant he as the GM has to find a replacement for Enzo.

One has to think....Asuka has never lost, at all. She's never been on the losing team of anything, never in a triple threat or fatal fourway where the other person took the fall. What a weird mark on her record it'd be to have her first loss in the WWE ever be on this weird FB tournament. Then again, that's the type of thing that will make you tune in for sure when she wrestles in this thing.

[chatty]

I guess the wording of Angle's tweet was misunderstood. He wasn't saying he himself was replacing Enzo physically, he meant he as the GM has to find a replacement for Enzo.

One has to think....Asuka has never lost, at all. She's never been on the losing team of anything, never in a triple threat or fatal fourway where the other person took the fall. What a weird mark on her record it'd be to have her first loss in the WWE ever be on this weird FB tournament. Then again, that's the type of thing that will make you tune in for sure when she wrestles in this thing.

She did a few times in NXT I believe, just hasnt been pinned or submitted.

[lotjx]

Asuka/Goldust maybe a thing.

[mth]

God I hope Asuka and Goldust happens.

Surprised at the Sasha hate in here. Always thought she was pretty well regarded.

[NWo4LifeOr2Years]

Bulgerian referee switch with a fast count for the win....

[Bluegunn]

She did a few times in NXT I believe, just hasnt been pinned or submitted.

She lost a battle royal which Carmella won, and a fatal 4 way where she was not involved in decision at a house show where Bayley defended her title. Also a tag match also at a house show again not pinned

[Spudz Mackenzie]

I know they're not on the same brand, but I would've dug a Charlotte/Curtis Axel partnership. Just a throwback to Ric Flair's partnership with Mr. Perfect. But hey, Roode/Charlotte could be a WWE "power couple" if they decided to keep them together. They're a great combination.

Braun Strowman/Alex Bliss is just too much fun. Considering Alexa is the Women's Champion and Braun is an indestructible, fire breathing monster whose pushed Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns to their limits and who's walking into a World Title match at the Royal Rumble soon, they're probably the most "protected" potential team of the whole tournament. They're my prediction to win.

Finn Balor and Sasha Banks is fairly...eh? I don't think they'll win. But it feels like WWE would be willing to throw Finn on the fire to protect Sasha. Is this an interbrand tournament? Maybe we'll get lucky and get something badass like Finn/Sasha against Nakamura and whoever his partner winds up being (I'm pulling for Becky Lynch, personally).

Rusev and Lana? Eh, remember when Ru-Ru was in the 'ol WWE doghouse for Tweeting his wedding photos when Lana and him were on the outs in that awful Rusev/Dolph "Single White Female" storyline? He's sure dug himself a nice niche on Smackdown! with Aiden, hasn't he? I don't see them winning. They'll probably drop the first round. Hopefully, WWE will have the common sense to have Lana drop the fall. Because she's terrible and barely an actual wrestler. It won't hurt her as much.

[Ringo]

Really hope Rusev sings that for the duration of the tournament.

[PurePlayer]

She lost a battle royal which Carmella won, and a fatal 4 way where she was not involved in decision at a house show where Bayley defended her title. Also a tag match also at a house show again not pinned

I really don't think he is talking about house shows.

[mth]

Next team announced: Nia Jax and Apollo Crews (who appears to be Enzo's replacement).

[virms]

Yuck.

[RuneEdge]

Really hope Rusev sings that for the duration of the tournament.

Well, its catching on...

[virms]

Jimmy and Naomi announced as well.

[BGMaverick]

Monogamy is very in right now in WWE.

[greebull]

So we have half of the 12 teams announced:

RAW:
-Finn & Sasha
-Braun & Bliss
-Apollo & Nia

UNPAIRED MALES FROM RAW: Goldust, Miz, and either Joe / Elias / Jordan (Fan Vote)
UNPAIRED FEMALES FROM RAW: Asuka, Alicia, Bayley

---

SMACKDOWN:
-Bobby & Charlotte
-Rusev & Lana
-Jimmy & Naomi

UNPAIRED MALES FROM SMACKDOWN: Nakamura, Zayn, and a member of New Day (Fan Vote)
UNPAIRED FEMALES FROM SMACKDOWN: Becky, Carmella, Natalya

[Dr_Seldon]

I assume that the Braun and Alexa pairing was mainly put together for the vast size difference.

[TooCool]

Seems like the only reason Enzo got replaced even though it doesn't start until Jan 16 is because they pre-taped all the team pairing on RAW and Smackdown. Go figure.

[Bluegunn]

I really don't think he is talking about house shows.

I know but those are the only ones she did not win.

[Bluegunn]

I vote Elias and woods