Hello dudes & dudettes! Welcome once again to my Pro Wrestling Post Week In Review for 9/9/18! It’s been a busy week news-wise. As usual, I’ve picked a few of the biggest and smallest stories for you to read and catch up on. So sit back and let me educate you on what’s been happening in this crazy world of pro wrestling. Here’s your Week In Review!
Mixed Match Challenge Season 2
WWE announced during the week that the successful Mixed Match Challenge will return for a second season. Beginning on Tuesday, Sept 18. It will be shown once again on Facebook Watch. Although I would expect it to be shown on the WWE Network over here in the UK. Much like it was last season.
This second season will comprise of 14 episodes and the announced teams are as follows –
Week In Review for 9/9/18
RAW
Bobby Lashley & Sasha Banks
Kevin Owens & Natalya
Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss
Finn Balor & Bayley
Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox
SmackDown Live
Jimmy Uso & Naomi
R-Truth & Carmella
The Miz & Askua
Rusev & Lana
WWE Champion AJ Styles & WWE Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair
As you can see, a few new teams there to mix it up and make this second season feel fresh.
Below is WWE’s official press release about this second season
An exciting new season of WWE Mixed Match Challenge that will stream live in the United States and for the first time in Germany, Mexico, Australia, France, Indonesia, Philippines, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 10 ET/7 PT, with a special WWE MMC Pre-Show starting at 9:50 ET has been announced.
The 14-episode series will air on Facebook Watch and feature WWE Superstars from Raw and SmackDown LIVE competing in a round robin-style Mixed Tag Team Elimination Tournament in which all teams will face each other. Each 30-minute episode will feature two matches.
WWE Mixed Match Challenge is a Raw vs. SmackDown LIVE round robin tournament
where male and female Superstars team up to determine which combination of strength, skill, athleticism and experience reigns supreme. Each showdown in the competition will follow traditional Mixed Tag Team Match rules: When tagged, male Superstars face off with the opposing team’s male competitor, and female Superstars battle fellow female competitors.
The teams from Monday Night Raw will include returning tandem Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss as well as new combinations, including Bobby Lashley & Sasha Banks, Finn Bálor & Bayley, Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox and fellow Canadians Kevin Owens & Natalya.
The teams from SmackDown LIVE will include the returning tandems of inaugural WWE MMC winners The Miz & Asuka, Jimmy Uso & Naomi, and Rusev & Lana.
In addition, the competition will see exciting new combinations, including WWE Champion AJ Styles & SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and R-Truth & Carmella.
Each season 2 episode will reflect a progressive approach to production, with elements optimized for mobile consumption, experimentation and social interaction, including the ability for fans to engage with Superstars during the show. Fans will have the opportunity to vote to impact and influence the show for all 14 episodes on Facebook 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 the series across its extensive digital and social footprint, including on the Mixed Match Challenge Facebook Watch Page.
Don’t miss an all new season of WWE Mixed Match Challenge, airing LIVE exclusively on Facebook Watch, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 10 ET/7 PT, with a special WWE MMC Pre-Show at 9:50 ET
Week In Review for 9/9/18
Lita Wrestling At WWE Evolution
Lita returns to in-ring competition next month when she will face long-time rival Mickie James at the all women’s PPV, Evolution.
There was a leaked graphic a few weeks ago that looked like Lita would be facing Askua, but with this announcement, it seems that the PPV isn’t ready for Asuka.
The confirmed card for WWE Evolution is as follows –
Trish Stratus v Alexa Bliss
Lita v Mickie James
Finals of the 2018 Mae Young Classic
WWE Raw Women’s Championship match
WWE SmackDown Live Women’s Championship match
NXT Women’s Championship match
WWE NXT UK Women’s Championship match.
Rumors for other possible matches include Maryse v Brie Bella in a battle of the Reality Wives/Mothers, a possible match for Michelle McCool who would be coming out of retirement, and Nikki Bella taking on WWE Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey possibly for the title too.
Week in Review for 9/9/18
Velveteen Dream Wrestles For EVOLVE
It’s widely known that WWE and EVOLVE have a working relationship and WWE occasionally sends their stars to work a few dates for them and (Sep 7) in Joppa, Maryland, Velveteen Dream wrestled Austin Theory and (Sep 8) he took on Darby Allin.
Dream is certainly no stranger to the Maryland area as he began his pro wrestling career there.
Below is EVOLVE tweeting about the appearance –
Velveteen Dream defeats Austin Theory with Priscilla Kelly in 14:03 in a very competitive match at #EVOLVE112 . Dream now on mic thanking fans. Thank you, Dream! We’ll see you in Queens, NY for EVOLVE 113 tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/ijrv0Mtzwt
— EVOLVE Wrestling (@WWNEVOLVE) September 8, 2018
Darby Allin vs Velveteen Dream now at La Boom! The place is going crazy! #EVOLVE113 pic.twitter.com/VVbB0SDuHD
— EVOLVE Wrestling (@WWNEVOLVE) September 9, 2018
Could we see future EVOLVE talent make their way to WWE? It wasn’t that far back that the newest WWE NXT recruit Matt Riddle was in the promotion.
Week In Review for 9/9/18
HBK To Wrestle Again?
Last Monday on Raw, Shawn Michaels shot an angle with The Undertaker to promote the Triple H v The Undertaker match at the WWE Super Show-Down event in Australia on October 6, and according to The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, HBK could be coming out of retirement.
In the angle, The Undertaker mocked Michaels by saying if staying retired was out of respect of The Undertaker or of fear of The Undertaker.
The report goes on to say that WWE officials want Shawn to re-debut at the next WWE event in Saudi Arabia on Nov 2, as these Saudi shows are bigger than WrestleMania financially.
It’s doubtful that HBK would work a singles match, more likely a tag match of some description. Possibly Triple H and Shawn to team up and take on The Undertaker and a partner. Rumors are that it could be Kane but given that Glenn Jacobs is now the Mayor of Knox County, it’s very unlikely.
Personally I would prefer Michaels to stay retired and not tarnish his fantastic legacy. As he’s said himself in interviews, father time waits for no man. There are things that fans would expect from him that he physically couldn’t do anymore. But if that Saudi money is asking…..
And that folks wraps up this week’s Week In Review for 9/9/18.
Just a quick heads up, there will be no Week In Review on Monday 1st October as myself, my wife and a few of the SEPW family will be attending the biggest UK wrestling show for 30 years as Progress Wrestling will be running Wembley Arena! And it’s also my belated birthday present. I have a feeling that quite a few alcoholic beverages will be sunk. So it’s definitely a case of sorry not sorry! See you in two weeks for your next Week In Review fix!
Adieu!!!
