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With the quarterfinals set, Season 2 of the Mixed Match Challenge finally sheds the round robin style tournament for the traditional style.
Ember Moon lost her partner Braun Strowman after the Monster Among Men was taken out of action last week by Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley. In his place...Curt Hawkins, thanks to acting Raw General Manager Baron Corbin. Ember Moon has not exactly been excited about Strowman's replacement, but Hawkins believes that Moon will be the key to ending his losing streak. Tonight, they'll face Team Mahalicia in an effort to break that streak.
In the other match of the night, Finn Balor and Bayley were put against the dominant duo of Country Dominance, Mickie James and Bobby Lashley. James and Lashley's only loss of the tournament came at the hands of Strowman and Moon. With the Monster Among Men out of the way, has Country Dominance found themselves with a walk in the park through the rest of the tournament?
Mahalicia (Alicia Fox & Jinder Mahal) vs Ember Moon & Curt Hawkins
Curt Hawkins came into the Mixed Match Challenge with a 236-match losing streak, hoping to end his run of bad luck with the help of the former NXT Women's Champion Ember Moon.
Moon and Fox began the match. Moon already defeated the former Diva's Champion on Raw last night, so Hawkins was excited to come into this tournament with all the momentum.
Moon sent Fox down with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, forcing Fox to tag in Jinder Mahal. Moon wanted to stay in and fight, and Hawkins had no problem with that. However, the ref eventually forced Hawkins to get inside the ring.
Jinder Mahal immediately took Hawkins to the mat after rocking him with some rough punches and kicks. The Modern Day Maharaja overpowered Hawkins, but the former Tag Team Champion caught Mahal with a dropkick and a clothesline, sending him to the outside.
Hawkins followed him out, but Mahal dove back inside the ring. Hawkins took out both of the Singhs, allowing Mahal to recover and deliver a vicious boot when Hawkins got back up on the apron.
Mahal nearly got the victory back inside the ring, but Hawkins kicked out. Hawkins was tenderized by Mahal for the better part of five minutes before finally catching Mahal with a surprise boot. Hawkins finally tagged in Ember Moon, who came in full of rage and aggression.
A springboard crossbody nearly got the win, as did a superkick from Moon. Moon connected with the Eclipse, but Curt Hawkins tagged in, thinking he could pin Alicia Fox.
Jinder Mahal dragged Hawkins off of Fox and planted him with the Khalass for the victory.
Results: Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox defeated Curt Hawkins and Ember Moon.
Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox will advance to the semi-finals to face off against either Country Dominance or Team B'N'B. Team Mahalicia still have a tough battle ahead of them to advance to the finals at TLC.
Mickie James and Bobby Lashley have been absolutely incredible throughout the Mixed Match Challenge. While they did lose to Monster Eclipse, the only team that has beaten them is now out of contention. It's going to be hard for any team to bring down the gifted team of Country Dominance.
Team B'N'B both have issues with Country Dominance. Mickie James attacked Bayley and Sasha Banks recently, and Finn Balor has been beefing with Lashley, McIntyre, and Corbin for the better part of two months now. Eliminating these two from the MMC could mean big things for Balor and Bayley...maybe even the #30 spots in the Royal Rumbles in January.
Country Dominance vs Team B'N'B
Finn Balor and Bobby Lashley started off the contest. However, the All-mighty One played some mind games, immediately tagging out to Mickie James.
A distraction from Lio Rush allowed James to pick up the early advantage against Bayley. James sent Bayley over with a snap mare followed by a boot to the face, getting a one count.
James sent Bayley into the turnbuckle face first and rammed her into the corner with shoulder thrusts. Bayley tried to fight out but was caught by a neckbreaker from the future Hall of Famer. James kept Bayley in the middle of the mat with some body scissors, but Bayley countered it into a pin. James escaped, then brought Bayley down with a hair pulling mat slam.
Both met in the middle of the ring with double clotheslines, sending them crashing to the mat. Eventually, Bayley made it to her corner, and Finn Balor tagged in. Balor brought Lashley down quick with some clotheslines, followed up by a standing double foot stomp.
Lashley went to the corner to chase Balor, who avoided by leaping over the apron. However, Lashley caught his enziguri kick, clubbing him down then sending him crashing into the announce desk. Back in the ring, Balor kicked out at two.
Lashley repeatedly sent Balor into the barricade. The Dominator then mocked Braun Strowman by running around the ring for a spear. Balor countered with a slingblade neckbreaker. Back inside, Balor went for Bayley, but Mickie James pulled her off the apron.
Lashley drove his shoulders into Balor's ribs. Balor tried to roll up Lashley, but the All-mighty One kicked out, attempting to send his shoulders into Balor's ribs again. Balor avoided, sending Lashley into the turnbuckle.
Balor tagged Bayley, and the former Raw Women's Champion took the fight to Mickie James, dropping her face first on the apron. James ended up back on top with a facebuster followed by a seated senton from the top rope.
Bayley fought out of the DDT, managing to bring James down with a back suplex. As she went for a dive to the outside, Lio Rush tripped her up.
Balor came in and sent Bobby Lashley outside, then Lio Rush. Balor took them both out with a dive as Bayley picked up the win with the Bayley-to-Belly.
Results: Bayley and Finn Balor defeated Mickie James and Bobby Lashley.
Tonight's MMC brought us two upsets, leaving us with an interesting, yet probably predictable semi-final match-up. Team Mahalicia will face Team B'N'B in two weeks ahead of TLC.
Next week, Jeff Hardy and Charlotte Flair will face off against Fabulous Truth, R-Truth, and Carmella. Jimmy Uso and Naomi will go to war with the formerly undefeated Team Awe-ska. The Miz and Asuka look to get back to their winning ways and will look to eliminate Jimmy and Naomi.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
