‘WWE Mixed Match Challenge 2×02’ Review
Welcome to this week’s Mixed Match Challenge review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a couple more matches to cover and another new team that’s coming in at the last minute. Yee Haw!
Match #1: Bobby Lashley & Mickie James def. Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Country Dominance lived up to their team name, as they reigned supreme over Mahalicia in the second week of WWE Mixed Match Challenge Season 2. In the opening moments, Jinder Mahal challenged Denver’s own Bobby Lashley to a push-up contest with their respective partners on their backs. It didn’t go as planned for The Modern Day Maharaja, however, as he and Alicia Fox soon found themselves toppled to the canvas when Mahal disciple Sunil Singh decided to pile on. Friends Mickie James and Alicia soon took over, trading momentum until outside interference from Jinder brought about complete disorder. Then, in the height of the action, Mickie and Alicia collided inside the ring, and Lashley’s hype cohort Lio Rush took out Sunil Singh on the outside, clearing the way for The Rocky Mountain Machine to drive The Modern Day Maharaja into the canvas with an earth-shattering Standing Stalling Suplex for the three-count.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was a tepid bout that served to establish that Lashley and James can work well together. Mahal and Fox are being teased as dysfunctional, with Sumil Singh as their cuckold, of sorts. The action was good but never reached the next level, if you catch my drift. Over-all, this was good enough for television, but you won’t go telling people about it from the mountains.
Match #2: Main Event – The Miz & Asuka def. R-Truth & Carmella
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Team Awe-ska has officially set out on their quest to become two-time WWE Mixed Match Challenge competition winners with an impressive triumph over the unlikely pairing of R-Truth & Carmella. Prior to the opening bell, chants of “Truth TV” echoed throughout the arena. The Miz and R-Truth kicked off the action, but The Fabulous Truth initiated a good old-fashioned dance break that included not only themselves, but Asuka as well. And when Miz decided to add his own mock moonwalk into the mix, he soon felt the hard Truth of a boot to the face. Truth soon chased Miz around the ring, opening the door for The A-Lister to gain the advantage. Asuka and Carmella tagged in and engaged in a furious exchange, but when Miz broke up a pin attempt by The Staten Island Princess, all-out bedlam ensued. And though the melee concluded with Princess Mella knocking Miz out of the ring, Asuka took advantage of her opponent’s back being turned and hooked in the Asuka Lock to make the former SmackDown Women’s Champion tap out for the all-important win.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – There was a bit more comedy than there should have been, but at least the crowd was happy with the match. R-Truth had a really good night here, as the crowd picked him as the star of the fight. Miz and Asuka may have been the more established team, but Truth kept the crowd’s attention. Speaking of Miz and Asuka, the former Mixed Match Challenge Tournament winners are still undefeated, which is a nice tradition to have for this tournament, as it establishes that winning is actually important. Over-all, like the opener, you aren’t going to go nuts over this, but it did what it needed to do.
News Of The Night:
- Finn Balor and Bayley fight Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox, next week.
- Rusev and Lana fight Jimmy Uso and Naomi, next week.
Final Verdict: 2.5 out of 5 – This is perfectly ephemeral television, with no desire to be any-thing but fluff. It’s not ambitious, but it’s not terrible either. Mixed Match Challenge is a simple way to kill a little time.
