Braun Strowman and Ember Moon def. Kevin Owens and NatalyaPoor Owens. He got squashed by Strowman for months and even "quit" Raw (albeit for one week), but apparently that wasn't enough and he had to face off with his former foe again here. That aside, this was a good match and Moon filled in nicely for the injured Alexa Bliss nicely. I do hope we end up getting Team Little Big again if Bliss is cleared in time for the next matchup, but if not, Strowman and Moon have fine chemistry together. AJ Styles and Charlotte Flair def. Jimmy Uso and NaomiStyles and Flair are the perfect partners and gel very well character-wise, whereas Uso and Naomi are always a blast to watch because they're a couple in real life. This was a bit better than the previous match with all four stars having great showings and the intergender stuff was well done without going too overboard. It was definitely different than what you would see on any other WWE program, which is probably what I appreciated the most about it.
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Intercontinental Champion The Miz and Asuka def. Bobby Roode and SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair to Win the Mixed Match ChallengeThey saved one of the best bouts in the Mixed Match Challenge for last, as there were a few different things I really liked about this. Firstly, even though no one truly thought Asuka's undefeated streak was ending here, the crowd bought into a few of the nearfalls down the stretch and the action was entertaining. Secondly, Miz and Charlotte taunted each other a few times and that was a blast. Finally, Asuka and Charlotte weren't in the ring together a ton, but that was smart since that should be saved for WrestleMania. Miz's post-match promo saw him come across as a babyface, but he and Asuka's partnership has been so over-the-top since the start of this tournament that I was fine with it. Overall ShowI don't think many people figured the outcome of this tournament was in doubt from the moment Asuka was announced for it, but the show has definitely had its moments over the past two-plus months, and I was glad that it closed on a high note with an enjoyable final match. The episode might have had the highest live viewership yet, so it will be interesting to see whether it is renewed by Facebook for a second season eventually and/or if the company will continue to produce original programming for them.
Bobby Roode and Becky Lynch def. Finn Balor and Sasha Banks in a Semifinal MatchUnfortunately, it was announced Charlotte Flair suffered an injury and had to pull out from this match. As I much as I love their pairing, the dynamic between Roode and Lynch was interesting as well. They had great chemistry with their opponents Balor and Banks as well. Balor vs. Roode was fresh, while Banks and Lynch always work well together. It's rare stuff from Raw and SmackDown Live carries over onto this show, but Banks' apparent heel turn was furthered here with her frustration ultimately costing her and Balor the match. Kurt Angle appearing afterward was a nice treat for the live crowd considering he's a Pittsburgh native, and he announced Charlotte will be back next week to reunite with Roode to take on The Miz and Asuka in the finals. Overall ShowAlthough I was looking forward to what was originally advertised, Lynch filling in for Charlotte turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The match we got instead was excellent and everyone played their parts to perfection. I didn't think Balor and Banks would win considering they lost to Miz and Asuka earlier in the tournament, but I enjoyed the action, nonetheless. Next week's finals should be fun.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz and Asuka def. Braun Strowman and Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss in a Semifinal MatchIt should come as no surprise that, once again, Strowman and Bliss had one of the best matches of the tournament so far. Their opponents Miz and Asuka had a lot to do with this being a great match as well because both duos have such strong chemistry together. Miz and Asuka are a hilarious unit and Asuka's undefeated streak added suspense to the nearfalls, while fans go nuts for any tease of romance between Bliss and Strowman. Here's hoping they'll continue to interact on WWE TV despite being knocked out of the tournament. Overall ShowThe one-match format of Mixed Match Challenge continues to be a breeze and this was one of the most entertaining installments yet. I believe Bliss and Strowman have been a part of the editions with the highest viewership so far, and this was no exception. Their dynamic is as great as Miz and Asuka's is, so as expected, this was a blast. Also, it was revealed at the end of the episode that Charlotte Flair and Bobby Roode will take on the returning pairing of Sasha Banks and Finn Balor next week, as voted on by the WWE Universe.
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