As noted, it was announced today that WWE will premiere a new weekly in-ring series, called WWE Mixed Match Challenge, on Tuesday, January 16th at 10pm EST for the Facebook Watch platform.
The mixed teams will be revealed on Thursday, January 4th but WWE has already announced that the red brand will be represented by RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox, Asuka, Bayley, Braun Strowman, WWE Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore, Finn Balor, Goldust, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, The Miz, and a Superstar chosen by the Final Fan Vote, while the blue brand will be represented by Becky Lynch, Bobby Roode, Carmella, SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso, Lana, Naomi, Natalya, Rusev, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, and a Final Fan Vote (member of The New Day).
WWE also confirmed that the 12-episode series will see the winners of the single-elimination mixed tag team tournament win $100,000 to support a charity of their choice. Storylines for the mixed matches will be built using videos and other content across the various WWE social media pages. Each 20-minute episode will be filmed in the same venue that WWE SmackDown is taped each week, after SmackDown goes off the air, and will rely on heavy interaction with fans online. We’re still waiting for updates on the status of WWE 205 Live and will keep you updated.
Variety reports that Facebook has secured exclusive rights to the new series and they are paying WWE for the distribution rights but WWE will have the option to distribute the series as VOD content on the WWE Network after an unspecified amount of time.
The episodes on Facebook will have no commercials or advertisements. Facebook is still testing ad insertion for their live programming and they expect to eventually sell advertising on content that streams via the new Facebook Watch platform but there’s no word yet on when that would begin.
Variety also noted that while Mixed Match Challenge will be filmed in the same venue as SmackDown each week, it will have its “own look and feel” as WWE 205 Live and WWE Main Event do. The filming of the show will also use “tighter shots of the action, bolder, brighter graphics and 360-degree video.”
There are so many possibilities, but @NiaJaxWWE knows who her ultimate partner would be in the upcoming @WWE Mixed Match Challenge! More info: https://t.co/sDTNLw6UuB #WWEMMC pic.twitter.com/oNs5siQQ07— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2017
2 Becky’s??!!! That could be a winning team. Hmm @MmmGorgeous ? #MixedMatchChallenge pic.twitter.com/4ePgnvK3hb— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) December 13, 2017
— KALISTO (@KalistoWWE) December 13, 2017
.@WWE is absolutely everywhere. So excited for the #WWEMMC and to find out who my partner is. We could even get matching robes! (Or steal the ones @RealBobbyRoode stole from me!!) 😤😤🤷🏼♀️ https://t.co/7ld9T3wQyh— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) December 13, 2017
The ARTIST known as @ShinsukeN is pumped for @WWE Mixed Match Challenge! Who do YOU want to see him team up with?! More info: https://t.co/sDTNLw6UuB #WWEMMC pic.twitter.com/SR0zOsVUj3— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2017
No male competitor on the #RAW roster is safe from the critical eyes of @SashaBanksWWE and @itsBayleyWWE ahead of #WWEMMC! pic.twitter.com/I7mFnqRt2n— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2017
What would make my Christmas purrfect is teaming with @WWEBigE in the #mixedmatchchallenge … because like me, he is just the BEST… 🦄🦄🦄 https://t.co/GIv42x5FSQ— Nattie (@NatbyNature) December 13, 2017
Who will be my leading actress in the #WWEMMC ? @SashaBanksWWE ? #ShatteredDreamsProductions @facebook LIVE. Where’s my casting agent?— Dustin Rhodes (@Goldust) December 13, 2017
Mixed match challenge you say??!!! Why the options are endless! I have a few ideas…. but who would you like to see me pair up with?! https://t.co/ScWl2nVWoo— Becky Lynch (@BeckyLynchWWE) December 13, 2017
Hmm 👨🏽and 🤡? This is new fun!New matches, new partner! #WWEMMC https://t.co/4vF8qJBQzd
— ASUKA / 明日華 (@WWEAsuka) December 13, 2017
Hmmm… I’m thinking FABULOUS & GLORIOUS would make a great team. Hi @REALBobbyRoode 🙋🏼♀️ https://t.co/rcNfSwhOYM— MS Money in the BANK (@CarmellaWWE) December 13, 2017
Please please please please please please please please please please
Let @itsBayleyWWE be my partner in the #WWEMMC @WWE pic.twitter.com/xZ6SCdniMe— Finn Bálor Forever (@FinnBalor) December 13, 2017
Let’s be honest with ourselves….who would REALLY be able to stop @BraunStrowman & I in the #WWEMMC?? Go ahead….I’ll wait https://t.co/taF5dyKJwS— Nia Jax (@NiaJaxWWE) December 13, 2017
Mixed MACHKA challenge ! It’s time for The Rusev family to dominate. Happy #RusevDay https://t.co/s5Pokie59r— Rusev (@RusevBUL) December 13, 2017
I don’t know Nia. I think #BlissAndBraun sounds like a good team name… ?? #WWEMMC @NiaJaxWWE @BraunStrowman pic.twitter.com/fiGEvjZl9G— Alexa Bliss (@AlexaBliss_WWE) December 13, 2017
.@FinnBalor As tag team partners, we would dominate that show! #WWEMMC @WWE pic.twitter.com/0dy91WUrcB— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) December 13, 2017
#TheNewDay has a LOT to say about @WWE Mixed Match Challenge…
Which member will compete? Which female competitor will he be paired with?!@WWEBigE @TrueKofi & @XavierWoodsPhD examine the burning questions! https://t.co/sDTNLw6UuB #WWEMMC pic.twitter.com/yb1V6Hq43i— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2017
— Dustin Rhodes (@Goldust) December 13, 2017
I can wear my purple outfit again https://t.co/co4kNLy2oH— $asha Banks (@SashaBanksWWE) December 13, 2017
— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) December 13, 2017
There isn’t a person who wouldn’t want to be my partner or a team that wants to compete against us. #WWEMMC— Braun Strowman (@BraunStrowman) December 13, 2017
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