WWE Files Trademark For 'Mixed Match Challenge', New Rumoured Weekly Show
Is WWE about to launch a new show based around mixed tag matches?
WWE has filed a trademark for the term 'Mixed Match Challenge', and is reportedly in talks with Facebook to begin a new weekly show via Facebook Live - according to ProWrestlingSheet.
The trademark seems to imply that the show will be based around mixed tag matches, a rather fresh new step for WWE, who rarely mix the men's and women's divisions. Aside from the WrestleMania 33 clash between John Cena, Nikki Bella, The Miz, and Maryse, there haven't really been many high-profile mixed tag matches.
The only other PPV example that springs to mind is Sasha Banks and Rich Swann vs. Alicia Fox and Noam Dar from Extreme Rules.
The proposed show would apparently air after SmackDown Live each Tuesday, which begs the question: what will happen to 205 Live?
The cruiserweight-only show currently airs live after SmackDown, but would have to move to a different timeslot. One mentioned solution would be to hold 205 Live prior to SmackDown, but this would make the entire run of shows a 4-hour marathon each week - assuming 'Mixed Match Challenge' does indeed last an hour.
It remains to be seen which Superstars will be part of the show, and whether several Mae Young Classic competitors will be signed to boost the women's division (especially with several NXT Superstars having been recently called up to the main roster, including Ruby Riot, Mandy Rose, and Liv Morgan).
If this new show does become a reality, it'll represent an increased desire for WWE to engage with social media, given its proposed platform of Facebook Live. It could also be bad news for 205 Live, given that it'd be taking its existing time slot - and, by extension, perhaps even the cruiserweight division on the whole.
It'll be interesting to see how WWE fans respond to a show based around mixed tag matches, never historically the most highly-emphasised aspect of wrestling in the promotion.
The trademark seems to imply that the show will be based around mixed tag matches, a rather fresh new step for WWE, who rarely mix the men's and women's divisions. Aside from the WrestleMania 33 clash between John Cena, Nikki Bella, The Miz, and Maryse, there haven't really been many high-profile mixed tag matches.
The only other PPV example that springs to mind is Sasha Banks and Rich Swann vs. Alicia Fox and Noam Dar from Extreme Rules.
The proposed show would apparently air after SmackDown Live each Tuesday, which begs the question: what will happen to 205 Live?
The cruiserweight-only show currently airs live after SmackDown, but would have to move to a different timeslot. One mentioned solution would be to hold 205 Live prior to SmackDown, but this would make the entire run of shows a 4-hour marathon each week - assuming 'Mixed Match Challenge' does indeed last an hour.
It remains to be seen which Superstars will be part of the show, and whether several Mae Young Classic competitors will be signed to boost the women's division (especially with several NXT Superstars having been recently called up to the main roster, including Ruby Riot, Mandy Rose, and Liv Morgan).
If this new show does become a reality, it'll represent an increased desire for WWE to engage with social media, given its proposed platform of Facebook Live. It could also be bad news for 205 Live, given that it'd be taking its existing time slot - and, by extension, perhaps even the cruiserweight division on the whole.
It'll be interesting to see how WWE fans respond to a show based around mixed tag matches, never historically the most highly-emphasised aspect of wrestling in the promotion.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
