Match 1 – Nakamura & Natalya Vs FinnBalor & Sasha Banks

The groundbreaking WWE Mixed Match Challenge Tournament begins tonight with an explosive showdown
pitting Finn Bálor & Sasha Banks against Shinsuke Nakamura & Natalya, immediately following SmackDown
LIVE at 10 ET/7 PT.

Whether competing in the historic WWE Iron Man Match against Bayley at NXT TakeOver or inside Hell in
a Cell against Charlotte Flair, the innovative Banks is the very definition of a trailblazer. And with
the distinction of being the first-ever Universal Champion and the longest-reigning NXT Champion in
history, Bálor is definitely cut from the same cloth as the four-time Raw Women’s Champion. Add to
the mix their larger-than-life personas and you have a fierce combination capable of taking any
team to task in WWE Mixed Match Challenge.

Finn Bálor & Sasha Banks discuss the charity they will be competing for: Special Olympics
The explosive pairing of The Artist with The Queen of Harts will truly prove to be something special.
A graduate of the infamous Hart Family Dungeon, as well as a former SmackDown Women’s and Divas Champion,
Natalya has shown time and time again that her technical expertise is second-to-none. Mixed with the
charismatic Strong Style of the two-time NXT Champion, this combination promises to unleash a tag team
arsenal so dynamic, so explosive, that it could arguably rival that of the original Hart Foundation.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Natalya discuss the charity they will be competing for: Make-A-Wish
The winner of this inaugural tournament contest will advance to go head-to-head in the second round of
WWE Mixed Match Challenge with the winner of the Week 2 match pitting The Miz & Asuka vs. Big E & Carmella.
Check out the full WWE Mixed Match Challenge tournament bracket
In the weeks leading up to this landmark event, the 12 tandems of the Mixed Match Challenge have taken
to social media to express their excitement. Most recently, The Queen of Harts presented The King
of Strong Style with the jacket of her father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, which he wore when he won
the Tag Team Championship.