Tonight during the debut of WWE’s Mixed Match Challenge, Sasha Banks and Fin Balor took on Natalya and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Banks and Natalya would start things off but after one tie-up, Natalya retreated to her partner’s corner to make a tag, forcing the men to face-off. Balor and Nakamura traded reversals fighting for control but after reaching several stalemates, Natalya tagged herself back into the match.
Enter Banks who took Natalya to the mat with a double knee takedown. She smacked Natalya and whipped her to a corner but Natalya countered with an atomic drop. Natalya added a low dropkick for a two count.
Natalya stayed in control and carried Banks to a corner to land kicks to the midsection. Banks responded with a high kick and drove Natalya face first to the middle turnbuckle.
#RAW's #LegitBoss @SashaBanksWWE SPRINGS for #SDLive's @NatbyNature, and @ShinsukeN just knew to get out of dodge! #WWEMMC pic.twitter.com/KalZfWCN6Z
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
Natalya scrambled to the outside after being hit with the double knees by Banks. Nakamura huddled close by to check on his partner. When Banks ran the ropes for a suicide dive Nakamura made the save by catching Banks.
Banks jumped to the ring apron tried to hit a cross body on Nakamura but the latter ducked out the way, causing Natalya to go down instead. When the women re-entered the ring, Natalya struck Banks down with a discus clothesline.
Backstage, Becky Lynch and Sami Zayn are seen backstage watching the ongoing match all while interacting with fans online. Back in the ring, Natalya tried to keep Banks at bay through various submissions but Banks found an opening to hit an enziguri to make the tag.
After hitting a running dropkick to Nakamura, Balor climbed the turnbuckle looking for the Coup de Grace but Natalya saved her partner by running to the ring ropes to knock Balor off.
Nakamura capitalized with a running big boot to Balor, nearly getting the three count but Banks was able to break the cover. Balor tags his partner back into the match after avoiding the Kinsasha.
Once tagged in, Banks jumped off the apron to land the double knees to Natalya on the outside. When the Superstars met back in the ring, Balor and Banks simultaneously hit their dropkicks on their opponents. Banks followed up with the Bank Statement on Natalya, to which she tapped out to.
Balor and Banks continue on in the Mixed Match Challenge tournament!
NEXT WEEK on @WWE Mixed Match Challenge: @WWEBigE & @CarmellaWWE look to hand @WWEAsuka her first LOSS as the #EmpressOfTomorrow teams with @mikethemiz! #WWEMMC pic.twitter.com/Q38SXrwzah
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
Next week, the team of Asuka and The Miz will take on Carmella and Big E.
What did you think of week one of the Mixed Match Challenge?
