TJR WWE Mixed Match Challenge Review: The Miz and Asuka vs. Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair – Week 12 (The Finals)

This match took place in Nashville, Tennessee immediately following Smackdown on April 3rd. This is the finals of the Mixed Match Challenge. The winning team gets $100,000 for their charity.

The commentary team is Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Beth Phoenix as usual. Rusev and Lana were shown commenting on the match on Facebook while Carmella and Big E were also shown. Lana was in her ring gear for some reason.

Charlotte Flair, the Smackdown Women’s Champion, made her entrance rocking some Smackdown blue attire. Bobby Roode was also wearing some Smackdown blue. They are collectively known as the Robe Warriors. A video aired with Bobby and Charlotte talking about their charity, Girl Up.

Asuka made her entrance first and she was joined by the Intercontinental Champion, The Miz. Their charity of choice is called Rescue Dogs Rock. A video aired with them talking about their charity. The announcers congratulated The Miz on becoming a dad to a baby girl last Tuesday.

The Miz and Asuka vs. Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair

Roode did a “Glorious” taunt to start the match with Graves talking about Charlotte’s eyes sparkling when she looks at Roode with Phoenix questioning that. Miz did his “hand goes up, mouth goes shut” routine. Charlotte joined in with a “WOO” at Miz. Asuka yelled at Miz. Roode tried a DDT early, but Miz escaped and tagged in Asuka, which meant Charlotte had to go in to preview their WrestleMania match. They locked up, then rolled to the floor still in the lockup and had a staredown. When they went back in the ring, Miz tagged himself in, so the ladies had to leave. Roode got a rollup on Miz for two and a backslide for two. Roode was in control with a shoulder tackle followed by a hip toss. Miz tripped up Roode while he was on the apron to take him down. Miz stretched the left knee of Roode and then Miz kicked Roode in the head. Miz stomped away on Roode’s leg. Miz did a Flair strut in front of Charlotte, which was a mistake because Roode came back with a clothesline on Miz.

Charlotte and Asuka got the tag at the same time with Asuka hitting Charlotte with three kicks followed by a running hip attack for two. Asuka got another rollup for two. Charlotte hit a belly to back suplex on Asuka. Charlotte went up top and hit a moonsault. That was a rough landing for Charlotte on her knees, but it looked okay. That got a two count. Asuka rollup got two. They exchanged kicks with Charlotte hitting a kick to the chest. The guys tagged in again with Roode hitting a clothesline followed by a neckbreaker on Miz. Roode went up top and connected with a clothesline. Roode got a rollup for two. Miz came back with a kick to the face. Miz did his weak looking “it kicks” he stole from Daniel Bryan, he missed the final kick like usual and Roode hit a uranage slam for a two count. Miz hit a kick to the knee followed by a DDT for two. The Miz teased a Figure Four Leglock twice, but Roode countered with a cradle for two. Miz hit a shinbreaker. Miz tried the Figure Four Leglock, but Charlotte went into the ring and hit a Spear. The crowd loved that. Charlotte slapped on the Figur Four Leglock and the Figure Eight on Miz. Asuka broke it up with a running kick on Charlotte. Roode with a spinebuster on Miz. Great nearfall there. Roode tried a Glorious DDT, but Asuka kicked him in the back of the head. Asuka kicked Charlotte out of the ring. Miz hit a Skull Crushing Finale on Roode and Miz covered Roode for the pinfall win after about 13 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Miz and Asuka

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a pretty good match that had less comedy than most of the matches in this tournament, which is good. I like that it was the guys involved in the fall and not Charlotte getting beat. The winning team was no surprise since Asuka was involved. The finish was creative with Asuka kicking Roode to stun him, which allowed Miz to get the win for their team.

The replays aired of the match with Cole being really over the top talking about how it was an incredible matchup. It was good like I said, but that’s going a bit far.

The Miz and Asuka were interviewed by Renee Young with Renee noting that Rescue Dogs Rock will win $100,000. Miz said this is for the puppies. Miz talked about how this has been the best week of his life from the birth of his daughter Monroe last week and then their victory tonight. Miz said that they are fighting for the charities while mentioning Connor’s Cure, Girl Up, the Boys & Girls Club and how their goal was to win $100,000 for Rescue Dogs Rock and they did exactly that. The Miz said he’s going to successfully defend the most prized possession in all of WWE – the Intercontinental Championship. Asuka said she will become the Smackdown Women’s Champion. They ended it saying “WE ARE AWE-SUKA.”

Analysis: Good speech by The Miz. It was not heelish at all, which is fine because it was about putting over WWE’s work with charities.

The announcers signed off the show plugging WrestleMania on Sunday.

That’s it for this first season of Mixed Match Challenge. I have no idea if there will be another season. Perhaps there will be next year at this time.

My review of every Mixed Match Challenge match is here in case you missed any of them. Thanks for reading.