TJR WWE Mixed Match Challenge Review: Apollo and Nia Jax vs. Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair – Week 6

This match took place in Phoenix, Arizona immediately following Smackdown on Tuesday, February 20th.

We were welcomed to the show with Michael Cole calling this the “most interactive show in the world.” Cole was at ringside with his commentary partners Corey Graves and Beth Phoenix. Graves demonstrated how to comment and react. There was a shot of Jimmy Uso and Naomi sitting backstage on their phones reacting to the show.

Charlotte Flair, the Smackdown Women’s Champion, made her entrance in a red robe. Bobby Roode, the US Champion, made his glorious entrance also in a red robe. They are called the “Robe Warriors.” A pre-match promo from the duo aired. They are competing for the charity Girl Up.

Nia Jax made her entrance because she’s not like most girls. Apollo (no more Crews) made his entrance with Titus O’Neil and Dana Brooke of Titus Worldwide. Jax wasn’t thrilled about that. Their charity is Susan G. Komen.

There was a nice moment with Charlotte telling Dana it was good to see her since Dana used to be the protege of Charlotte.

Apollo and Nia Jax (w/Titus O’Neil & Dana Brooke) vs. Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair

Roode did a Flair strut, so Charlotte showed him how to do it the right way. Roode did a snapmare followed by a “glorious” taunt. Roode with a shoulder tackle on Apollo, but Apollo came back with a hip toss followed by an arm drag. Roode worked over Apollo with a chop. Cole was really pushing the comments from people watching the show as Apollo hit a dropkick on Roode. Charlotte tagged in, so Jax had to go in against her. Jax missed a corner charge, Charlotte went for a boot and Nia moved out of the way to avoid it. Jax told Roode to shut up. Charlotte with a kick to the face. Brooke held the foot of Charlotte and Jax hit a clothesline. Jax told Brooke to stay out of her business. Charlotte sent into the turnbuckle a few times followed by a dropkick that knocked Jax out of the ring. Charlotte did a “Glorious” taunt. Jax tripped up Charlotte when she went back into the ring. Jax splashed Charlotte against the turnbuckle followed by a toss across the ring. Charlotte blocked a suplex, she nailed Jax with knees Charlotte flipped over the turnbuckle and landed on the apron. Brooke distracted Jax, so Jax knocked Charlotte off the apron. Jax rolled Charlotte in the ring and yelled at Brooke, who told her she was trying to help. When Jax got back in the ring, Charlotte hit a dropkick. Charlotte fought out of a Samoan Drop with elbows followed by shoulders to the back of the knee to knock down Jax. Charlotte slapped on the Figure Four Leglock on Jax and Jax managed to break free.

Apollo got the tag, so Roode went after him with a back elbow, running forearm and a corner clothesline. Roode hit a neckbreaker. Roode up top and he jumped off with a clothesline. Roode went for the Glorious DDT, but Apollo rolled him up for two and Apollo with a running kick for two. Apollo with a sunset flip into a two count. Roode with a spinebuster and Jax broke up the pin attempt. Charlotte went up top, Jax went after and Charlotte shoved Jax down. Apollo nailed an enziguri kick on Roode, but his standing moonsault was blocked by Roode getting his knees up. Charlotte with a moonsault off the top, it looked like she overshot Jax and went for a cover even though she wasn’t the legal person for her team. Roode hit the Glorious DDT on Apollo and pinned him to win the match for the team. It went about 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair

Analysis: **1/4 The match was pretty average. They did some comedy spots in there early and once the girls got in there the action picked up. I liked the intensity of Charlotte when she battled against Nia Jax. They could have a very interesting feud as two of the biggest women in WWE since Jax has the power and Charlotte is one of the tallest women. The ending was no surprise with the team featuring two champions beating the team without a title. I doubt anybody watching this thought Roode and Charlotte might lose.

Next week is the first matchup in the quarterfinals: Finn Balor and Sasha Banks vs. The Miz and Asuka. Promos aired from both teams.

Roode and Charlotte were interviewed in the ring by Renee Young after the match. Charlotte did a “woo” and then Roode did a “woo” of his own that wasn’t very good. They celebrated the win. That wasn’t much of a promo. They left the ring. So did Renee.

Nia Jax grabbed the microphone and said she had something to say. Jax said she had something to say to Titus for so long, so Titus took off his jacket. Jax yelled at Titus telling him he’s not a coach and told Brooke she’s not a statistician. Jax told them they are nothing but a couple of zeroes. Jax said they disrupted their training, strategy and they disrupted the match. Jax mocked the “Titus Worldwide” and shoved O’Neil over Apollo, who was picking up O’Neil’s jacket. Jax picked up Brooke and dropped her with a Samoan Drop. Jax left to her music.

The show signed off with a reminder that the quarterfinals begin next week: Balor/Banks vs. Asuka/Miz. That’s all for this week.

Here are the brackets.

It’s Balor/Banks vs. Miz/Asuka, Strowman/Bliss vs. Jimmy Uso/Naomi and Rusev/Lana vs. Roode/Flair. I picked the first six winners correctly as I’m sure most people did because you can just tell based on the teams. I’m going with Miz and Asuka to win the whole thing.

That’s all for the MMC for this week.

Check out the Mixed Match Challenge Review archive here.