WWE Mixed Match Challenge 2018: Ranking each team's chances of winning 

The WWE's second ever Mixed Match Challenge tournament kicks off tonight, and while excitement is hardly at a fever pitch, the event still promises to be a ton of fun.

The inaugural tournament, which was broadcast live on Facebook, turned out to be an excellent way for superstars to let their hair down and show off their characters. The likes of Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss, and The Miz and Asuka helped boost the show's viewership with their impressive social media work, and the show was regularly referenced on regular programming.

The second tournament, like the first, will feature 10 different teams, five from Raw, and five from SmackDown, and the tournament final will take place at the TLC PPV, which will take place in December.

The first competition was won by The Miz and Asuka, but the duo will face some stiff competition if they are to retain their crown. Let's take a look at all ten of the teams, and rank them in terms of their chances in the tournament.

#10 Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal

Mahal and Fox feel as though they are just there to put others over

Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal really feel as though they are here just to make up numbers.

Neither superstar has done anything of any note on TV as of late. Fox is currently escorting former women's champion, Alexa Bliss to the ring. While Jinder has a little bond with Kevin Owens and Baron 'Constable Corbin'.

Their first-round opponents have not been announced yet and both superstars are newcomers to the tournament. Don't expect this pair to get past the first round.

#9 Naomi and Jimmy Uso

Naomi and Jimmy Uso have tough first round opponents

Naomi and Jimmy Uso got through to the quarterfinals of the first tournament but sadly for them, it seems likely that their run will end in the first round this time around.

The duo are confirmed to be taking on the team of AJ Styles and Charlotte Flair in the tournament's first round and while everybody loves an underdog, let's face it, these two have absolutely no chance here.

While Flair may no longer be the SmackDown's Women's champion, she is still arguably the top female on the SmackDown roster, and AJ is considered to be the face of SmackDown at present.

Jimmy and Naomi will no put up a valiant effort on the tournament's first night, but they almost definitely won't be returning in the next round.

#8 Carmella and R-Truth

Carmella and R Truth have been an amusing double act

The comedy relationship between Carmella and R-Truth in recent weeks on SmackDown has been surprisingly amusing, and the duo almost feels like the main-roster representatives for the tournament.

That being said, neither wrestler is considered to be a serious threat in their respective divisions, and it seems unlikely that anybody will be putting them over.

There is the chance that the WWE might feed them Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox in the first round, and then have them go on a Heath Slater and Rhyno/B-Team inspired run in the tournament, but it seems unlikely they will get past any of the big competitors.

#7 Natalya and Kevin Owens

Natalya and Kevin Owens will have to overcome Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss

Like Jimmy Uso and Naomi, Natalya and Kevin Owens will be in action in tonight's opening matches and their opponents are one of the most popular acts from the original tournament, Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss.

Strowman and Bliss were absolute gold together in last year's tournament, and it would be quite foolish of the WWE to eliminate the duo this early in proceedings.

Kevin Owens is currently wrapped up in a feud with Bobby Lashley on Raw, so there is a very slim chance that the WWE might want this team to go through, so that they can meet Bobby Lashley and Sasha Banks in the next round, but given the popularity of Braun and Bliss, I wouldn't count on it.

#6 Lana and Rusev

Lana and Rusev are one of the most popular double acts in the WWE

Lana and Rusev have to be considered dark horses for this tournament. The duo were eliminated by Charlotte Flair and Bobby Roode in the quarterfinals of the inaugural tournament but were undeniably one of the most popular duos on the whole show.

Despite terrible booking, Rusev's popularity with the WWE fanbase has persisted, and the WWE could finally decide to award that by allowing the former US champion and his wife to have a long run here.

With Rusev currently not involved in any sort of program on SmackDown, the WWE might decide to push him quite far here, especially with him probably not having any commitments at TLC, where the final is set to take place.

#5 Finn Balor and Bayley

Finn Balor reached the semi-finals of last year's tournament

Finn Balor's partnership with Sasha Banks proved to be one of the success stories of the inaugural Mixed Match Challenge tournament, with the duo being voted back into the semi-finals by the fans in an online poll.

Balor showed a real knack for working with Banks, and the two shared a great chemistry. The WWE will be hoping that Balor can replicate that success in this tournament with Bayley.

Given the fact that the final of this event will take place at TLC, there is every chance that the WWE may book a Balor and Bayley Vs Banks and Lashley final, especially given the long-running narrative between Bayley and Banks.

#4 Sasha Banks and Bobby Lashley

Both Sasha Banks and Bobby Lashley are in need of a big victory

If the WWE does decide to go down the route I mentioned on the previous page, then I'd probably bank on them giving the victory to Banks and Lashley in the final.

Both Banks and Lashley should be sniffing around their respective title scenes but a series of bad booking decisions has seen them both slip further down the card.

While winning the Mixed Match Challenge may not be considered that big of a deal, a PPV victory for both of these superstars would be welcomed, and it could send them into the new year with a bit of momentum on their side.

#3 Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss

Strowman and Bliss were the stars of the inaugural tournament

The partnership between Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss was arguably the biggest success story coming out of the first Mixed Match Challenge, and the WWE has made a smart move by reuniting the duo.

While Braun may have turned heel on Raw, there is no reason why he can't revert back to the lovable, goofy persona that he displayed on last year's MMC. After all, the storyline between the two was they were clearly smitten with each other, so if that is the case, why would Braun act horribly?

The two would be considered favourites if it wasn't for the fact that the final is taking place at TLC, and rumours are suggesting that Braun is probably going to the team up with The Show at the event to take on The Shield.

#2 The Miz and Asuka

The Miz and Asuka are the reigning champions

The Miz and Asuka won the inaugural tournament, and while Asuka's aura may have diminished somewhat over the last 8 months, it's difficult not to consider them as one of the favourites for this tournament.

The duo had an incredibly difficult run on their way to victory earlier this year, having to defeats teams that featured the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, Charlotte Flair, Braun Strowman, and Finn Balor.

The duo's first-round opponents have not been announced yet, but they seem like a safe bet to get to at least the semi-finals.

Depending on how much emphasis the WWE wants to put on the tournament this year, the final could even feature The Miz or AJ Styles wrestling as the WWE champion, with The Miz potentially becoming the number 1 contender for the belt in Australia next month.

#1 AJ Styles and Charlotte Flair

AJ Styles and Charlotte Flair have to be considered the favourites

The Mixed Match Challenge has featured some pretty impressive teams thus far, but no team has a pedigree as impressive as AJ Styles and Charlotte Flairs. The duo has held numerous champions and both considered the top competitors in their respective divisions on SmackDown.

While there is an argument to be made that having the two compete in the final on a PPV could be a bit of a waste, if the WWE is serious about making this an annual thing, then their presence in the final will definitely be enough to get the fans interested.

Flair reached the final of the event with Bobby Roode as her partner earlier this year, and there is every chance she will be able to go one further now that Roode has been replaced with Styles.