- 09/05/2018 (9:48:00 am)
- Bob Mulrenin
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Facebook and WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced that the in-ring series, Mixed Match Challenge™, will return for season 2, streaming live exclusively on Facebook Watch on Tuesday nights beginning September 18 at 10 p.m. ET. The series will be available in the U.S. and, for the first time, now stream live on Facebook Watch in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam. Fans can follow the Mixed Match Challenge Facebook Page to add episodes to their personal Watchlists.
New elements for season 2 include: 14 episodes, each 30 minutes in length; a round-robin elimination format; two matches in each show; and an interactive pre-show beginning at 9:50 p.m. ET. In addition, the season 2 finale will take place during WWE’s TLC pay-per-view event on Sunday, December 16.
“We’re excited to partner with WWE to bring back Mixed Match Challenge for a second season and introduce the series to fans in 10 new countries,” said Devi Mahadevia, Facebook North America Live Sports Programming Lead. “This season will build off the success from the first one, with fresh interactive elements designed to bring fans even closer to the action and their favorite Superstars.”
“We’re thrilled to expand our strategic partnership with Facebook, which reflects our innovative approach to content distribution and fan engagement,” said Jayar Donlan, WWE Executive Vice President, Advanced Media. “Season 2 of Mixed Match Challenge will continue delivering live action-packed, family friendly entertainment our passionate fans are accustomed to while offering more opportunities for our fans to engage with WWE on Facebook.”
Mixed Match Challenge Participants
Mixed Match Challenge season 2 is a round-robin mixed tag team tournament, where male and female Superstars from Raw and SmackDown Live team up to determine which combination of strength, skill, athleticism and experience reigns supreme.
Monday Night Raw | SmackDown Live | ||||||
| Alexa Bliss™ and Braun Strowman® | AJ Styles® and Charlotte Flair® | ||||||
| Alicia Fox® and Jinder Mahal™ | The Miz® and Asuka™ | ||||||
| Kevin Owens™ and Natalya® | R-Truth® and Carmella™ | ||||||
| Bayley™ and Finn Bálor® | Jimmy Uso™ and Naomi® | ||||||
| Bobby Lashley® and Sasha Banks® | Rusev® and Lana® | ||||||
Each season 2 episode will reflect a progressive approach to production, with elements optimized for mobile consumption and social interaction, including the ability for fans to engage with Superstars during the show. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote on different aspects that directly impact the action for all 14 episodes on Facebook Watch throughout the season.
The unique storylines for Mixed Match Challenge season 2 will continue between episodes across WWE’s Facebook Pages with short-form videos and social content. WWE will also promote and recap each episode across its extensive digital and social footprint, including on the Mixed Match Challenge Facebook Page.
Mixed Match Challenge season 1 generated more than 35 million views in the U.S. alone, and resulted in WWE Superstars The Miz and Asuka winning $100,000 for their team’s charity, Rescue Dogs Rock.
WWE is a powerhouse on social media with nearly 1 billion followers globally. WWE has nearly 500 million likes across all Facebook Pages and WWE’s main Facebook Page has more than 39 million likes. WWE Superstar John Cena® is the #1 most-followed active U.S. athlete on Facebook with more than 44 million likes.
