Team Machka - Rusev & Lana Teaming For WWE Mixed Match Challenge

Will matrimony carry SmackDown to success?

by Andy H Murray
Rusev Lana Mixed Match Challenge
WWE.com

WWE's Mixed Match Challenge officially has it's first husband and wife duo, with SmackDown's Rusev and Lana set to team on the upcoming show.

The company broke the news through a video published on Facebook. It came just hours after Finn Balor and Sasha Banks were announced for the Raw side, with Alexa Bliss and Braun Strowman (Raw) and a Charlotte Flair/Bobby Roode combination (SmackDown) unveiled earlier in the week.

Rusev and Lana is a smart pairing for obvious reasons, but this'll be the first time they've worked together since early 2017, when 'The Bulgarian Brute' was feuding with Enzo Amore. They've been kept apart since joining SmackDown in April's Superstar Shake-Up, however, with Lana attempting to reinvent herself as an in-ring performer (while managing Tamina), and her husband teaming with Aiden English.

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The Mixed Match Challenge debuts as a Facebook livestream on Tuesday, January 16th. The following wrestlers have all been confirmed as participants, but are still to be placed into teams:-

Alicia Fox, Asuka, Bayley, Goldust, Nia Jax, The Miz, Samoa Joe, Enzo Amore, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Jimmy Uso, Naomi, Natalya, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura and The New Day.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.