Dream Pairings for WWE's Mixed Match Challenge on Facebook

On January 16, WWE will present the first episode of its Mixed Match Challenge, airing exclusively on Facebook Watch.

The tournament will pit some of the top male and female Superstars of today's product together for mixed tag team matches that will, hopefully, create a sense of equality across the WWE Universe. Amid all of the excitement surrounding the slow rollout of partnerships and teams, one cannot help but wonder about dream pairings featuring the men and women of WWE's illustrious history.

What if John Cena and Nikki Bella were announced for the tournament? What would the tournament look like if Ric Flair in his prime teamed up with daughter Charlotte and went on a roll? Who could possibly stop the lying, cheating and stealing of Eddie Guerrero and Sasha Banks if they could have paired up for the challenge?

In preparation for the interesting new program, take a look at these dream pairings that could have wreaked havoc on the tournament and made for an entertaining product.

John Cena and Nikki Bella

The golden couple of the modern WWE product, John Cena and Nikki Bella got engaged live in the center of the ring at WrestleMania 33, just moments after defeating The Miz and Maryse in a Mixed Tag Team match. 

The two of them coming together to compete in the Mixed Match Challenge is, unlike other dream pairings on this list, a realistic possibility. They are still active, mostly, and are enormous stars in the industry.

Their team would instantly be a favorite to win for reasons both creatively and politically.

After all, who could conceivably beat two Superstars as protected and strong as they are?

The happy couple would make for a star-studded pairing, if nothing else, and serve as the faces of the tournament.

Ric Flair and Charlotte

Charlotte Flair is understandably destined to be linked to her father, the legendary "Nature Boy" Ric, and would find no better or more fitting dream partner than the 16-time world champion.

A Nature Boy in his prime, partnered with his athletic and constantly evolving daughter, would make for an incredibly difficult team to knock off. The technical prowess, the showmanship and the undeniable in-ring charisma would make them the biggest attraction in the field.

That both can play heels or babyfaces only makes the team more appealing. They are adaptable and that is an invaluable asset in the ever-changing world of professional wrestling.

Bret Hart and Natalya

The greatest technician in WWE history and his niece, arguably the best technical wrestler in the women's division today, would make for another superb duo of relatives for the Mixed Match Challenge.

Bret Hart is a five-time WWE champion and one of the most beloved Superstars of all-time. Natalya has captured championship gold on two separate occasions but is as acclaimed an in-ring performer as there is.

The family ties, coupled with the guaranteed excellence of the in-ring work, would make The Hitman and The Queen of Harts ideal tag team partners. It is a shame fans never got to witness Hart and Natalya wrestle alongside each other.

For all of the Hart family members to come through WWE, Natalya is the closest style-wise to Bret since Owen and that is an incredible compliment. 

Eddie Guerrero and Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks has paid tribute to Eddie Guerrero on numerous occasions throughout her career, including when she wore Latino Heat-inspired ring gear for the Triple Threat match against Charlotte and Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 32.

She has repeatedly admitted Guerrero was her favorite wrestler, including during an episode of Chris Jericho's Talk Is Jericho podcast (h/t WrestlingInc.com).

What better dream pairing than two charismatic performers who are beloved babyfaces but even better heels?

Banks is a fiery babyface but has proven over the course of her career to be an even better villainess, flaunting her greatness and taunting her opponents as she beats them down in the center of the ring. The lying, cheating, stealing and manipulative villain with a knack for in-ring charisma would be the ideal complement to The Legit Boss.

Together, they would wreak havoc on the tournament and prove a credible threat to any and all competition.

Braun Strowman and Nia Jax

One team that absolutely should have happened in the inaugural Mixed Match Challenge that will not, due to different creative plans, is Braun Strowman and Nia Jax.

Both big, strong, unstoppable forces in their respective divisions, they could have provided the tournament with that monster presence that every other team would have to overcome if it wished to continue on in the competition.

Strowman manhandling his fellow male Superstars while Jax obliterated the female opposition would have made for some wildly entertaining squash matches and further convey the narrative that these two are the biggest threat to a happy ending for many of the more beloved competitors in the field.

Fans will not see the pairing, despite social media pushes by both, but they will always be able to dream of what may have been had WWE Creative made the logical choice. 

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon

Stephanie McMahon is by no means an active wrestler but imagine a Mixed Match Challenge where The King of Kings and the most powerful woman in professional wrestling worked together in an attempt to achieve the bragging rights that come along with winning the entire tournament?

Triple H carrying the ring work while the braggadocious Stephanie enters the ring, arrogantly laying into whichever female she shares the ring with, only to tag back out to her husband when things get a bit too overwhelming for her, would make for a storyline that could seamlessly weave in and out of the power couple's matches.

Their dynamic has been an entertaining part of WWE programming since late 1999 and would be a welcome addition to the tournament. 

AJ Styles and Becky Lynch

AJ Styles will not be participating in the Mixed Match Challenge but a team with Becky Lynch would bring together two of the more celebrated and acclaimed wrestlers on the SmackDown brand.

Is there any common thread or relation between them that makes them an obvious pairing? Not at all. But as a fan of professional wrestling, how awesome would it be to see Styles unloading on opponents with kicks, a back fist and a Phenomenal Forearm while Lynch tosses her unfortunate opponent around the squared circle with suplex after suplex?

Neither is the biggest or most prominent star on any show on which they appear but the quality of their work and the intensity they bring to the squared circle makes them explode off the screen and captivate fans.

Together, they would make up the most dynamic team in the competition.