12 Days of WWE’s Best: Mixed Match Challenge Is Good, Plain Fun

Today on my list of WWE’s Best of 2018, this year we saw the introduction of WWE’s Mixed Match Challenge, pairing mixed-tag teams against one another for charity, and the result was nothing but good ole’ fashion fun.

I think one of my least favorite things about WWE programming as a whole is that sometimes, it tends to take itself too seriously. Of course, there’s drama (it is a TV show after all) and of course there’s pain, but sometimes I think we tend to forget that wrestling by and far is supposed to be fun.

Both seasons of the WWE Facebook Live Series Mixed Match Challenge acted as an outlet for that sense of “fun”. WWE superstars were paired together and were allowed to take their similarities and differences and run with it.

It made for some hysterical and adorable couples, and even though we knew it mostly enhance storylines on Raw and SmackDown in any way, it was terribly entertaining to watch some of these couples interact.

Let me remind you of some of your favorites:

• Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss, who had a lot more chemistry than any of us would have expected.
• Charlotte Flair and Bobby Roode, who were bound by their love of the robe. I wonder if Bobby ever nailed his “woo”s.
• Bayley and Elias. This is of course when Elias was heel, so watching Bayley desperately trying to be his friend was both funny and kind of sweet as well. He’ll come around, Bayley!
• Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal. This was a team I never knew I needed. Jinder’s inner shanti mixed with Alicia’s fiery attitude sounds like a recipe for disaster, but these two pulled it off all the way through the finals!
• Rusev and Lana. Let’s not forget that this is where “Lana is the best, Lana number one!” was born.
• Big E and Carmella. I mean, do I need to explain. These two released skits along with the rest of the New Day that had me crying laughing, and they were my vote for the redemption shot!
• Finn Balor and Bayley, I mean hell-oo! Hugs for everyone, am I right?
• Curt Hawkins and Ember Moon. Never in my life has I ever seen Curt Hawkins so happy and Ember Moon so pissed off.
• Miz and Asuka, who could barely communicate with each other, but only needed to agree on the fact that they were both the best in order to pull off their season 1 win.

The Mixed Match Challenge is wonderful because it’s a great opportunity for the performers and for us as viewers to just blow off some steam and enjoy wrestling, because let’s be honest, sometimes it’s a little hard to do that.

For all the fun, enjoyment, and laughs you brought us this year, Mixed Match Challenge, we surely hope to see some more of you in 2019.