:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62625582/20181129_Match_Preview_facebook_SD_nologo__43d62af8e46173029021856ddf2b1467.0.jpg)
Season two of WWE Mixed Match Challenge continues tonight (Tues., Dec. 4, 2018) with the latest match-ups in the tournament.
Up next: Asuka & The Miz vs. Naomi & Jimmy Uso and Jeff Hardy & Charlotte Flair vs. R-Truth & Carmella. This is the quarterfinals of the playoff tournament. The winners will meet in the semifinal.
The show starts immediately following SmackDown Live at 10 pm ET on Facebook Watch. See you then!
MMC live blog
Geno here. It’s playoff time, baby.
AJ Styles was helped out by referees as the show was coming on. Michael Cole told us to stay tuned to WWE for updates on his condition, whatever it may be.
We’ll start with the team he was on before being replaced, for some reason. Crowd is absolutely dead now that they’re seeing entrances for the second time tonight.
Charlotte Flair & Jeff Hardy vs. R-Truth & Carmella
For whatever it’s worth, live viewership is already up from last week. I notice this while Truth and Carmella are doing the full rap entrance. What’s up and all.
We’re shown a poll they took on Facebook asking if we’ll get a seven second dance break tonight and 91-percent of respondents said “yes.” Renee Young was upset it wasn’t 100-percent because it’s her favorite thing right now. Cole told her to get a life.
No pre-match shenanigans this time. Instead, Truth and Hardy went collar and elbow into working the arm.
It wasn’t long before a short break in the action and Hardy did some dancing in response to Truth. That got a big pop from the crowd, who also chanted “DELETE” when he worked that gimmick for a few seconds. Then the ladies jumped in. Charlotte went for a chop and Carmella screamed while ducking her head. She was chopped anyway.
They had some fun of their own before bailing out. Then everyone got involved, and after Hardy and Flair went for a slide on the outside, Truth and Carmella jumped back in and proved the 91-percent of respondents correct.
DANCE BREAK!
Naturally, Charlotte used the distraction to club Carmella in the back with a forearm. Then she used a head scissors to throw ‘Mella all around the ring.
I gotta say, the little Facebook “thumbs up” and “heart” icons in a constant stream on the page is super annoying.
Anyway, the guys got in and went after it. The ladies did the same on the outside. Hardy got the edge on Truth and set him up for the Swanton but Carmella laid on top of him so Jeff wouldn’t jump. He didn’t. Finally, Charlotte grabbed Carmella’s leg and yanked her off but when Hardy followed up with the Swanton, Truth moved and then pinned him on the comeback.
R-Truth & Carmella def. Jeff Hardy & Charlotte Flair
Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox cut a promo about winning it all and going on vacation. Jinder says The Singh Brothers are planning to go with and Fox uninvited them.
Meanwhile, Finn Balor and Bayley are planning on making sure they win next week and it will be “too sweet.” Just the most generic promo imaginable.
Cut to Kayla Braxton backstage to interview Carmella and R-Truth. Braxton mistakenly calls him “Jeff Harley,” which is actually pretty great. Carmella is overly excited. Truth says if they win, the all expenses paid trip they take will be to Memphis ..... in Egypt.
That got a couple laughs.
Jimmy Uso rolls up and says “we about to welcome them to the Uso Penitentiary.” Truth responds by saying “I didn’t know you were in the penitentiary” to Carmella.
That got a couple more laughs.
Jimmy Uso & Naomi vs. The Miz & Asuka
Renee’s commentary has been horrendous on this show. She asked Cole about strategy from the number 30 spot in the Royal Rumble — what the winners of this tournament will earn — and he laughed while noting the obvious, that you just get in and throw everyone over the top rope. Young responded with, and I shit you not, “you can’t just get in and throw everyone over the top rope, are you crazy?”
Wow.
The ladies started it out, but quickly tagged out to get Miz and Jimmy in. Viewership was steady on the rise all throughout the show, though the action slowed down quite a bit with Jimmy and Miz in. They did a comeback spot where the crowd hyped Jimmy up doing the “Us-O” chant. Miz snuffed it out but he still couldn’t put Jimmy away.
They showed Miz’s shoes and they were decorated to match Asuka’s gear. He was going to tag out to her but changed his mind. “I don’t trust you anymore, you lost for us,” he told her. She started yelling at him. “Do you realize you’re the one who cost us the match last time? You’re not getting in,” he told her.
“He’s gonna pay for that,” Renee commented.
They did another comeback hype spot and this time Jimmy actually managed to complete it, working his way over to Naomi, who came in and ran wild on Asuka. It turned into a back-and-forth battle of wills, with each landing heavy shots. Eventually, Miz ran in to save Asuka from a tag, only for Jimmy to come in and take him out. Then Asuka took Jimmy off the apron but was hit with the Rearview right after. Naomi couldn’t get the pin, with Asuka rolling through for a cover of her own, but Asuka kicked out. When she did, she was in perfect position for the Asuka Lock, which she threw on to get the tap.
The Miz & Asuka def. Jimmy Uso & Naomi
That sets up the semifinal field for next week.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13602523/updated_bracket.png)
The show ends with Miz and Asuka going back-and-forth over cheering and Miz trying to convince her they’re a team.
See you next week!