WWE Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live Winners, Grades and Reaction for Feb. 27

WWE's Mixed Match Challenge has produced some fun matches over the past several weeks, but the company has done little to drum up interest in the show.

Some of the teams have developed real chemistry during their backstage interactions. It would be nice to see some of these partnerships carry over to Raw and SmackDown.

The cruiserweight division has been producing some outstanding performances since the start of the championship tournament, but there is a larger problem developing.

Not only has the division been completely left off Raw recently, but it was also unused at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

Hopefully, as 205 Live continues to produce great matches, management will begin to take notice and give the cruiserweights more attention. Let's take a look at everything that happened in this week's Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live.

The Miz and Asuka vs. Finn Balor and Sasha Banks

The Miz and Finn Balor's feud on Raw carried over to this match. Up until now, every bout has felt random, so it was nice to see a real storyline acknowledged.

The A-Lister tried to deliver a promo after the bell, but Balor made sure he never got to the point by attacking him first. After The Miz almost got pinned a few times, Asuka came into the ring and started yelling at him.

Sasha Banks slapped the taste out of Asuka's mouth after the women were tagged in, but The Empress of Tomorrow came right back with a series of stiff kicks.

Balor and The Miz had decent chemistry while they were in the ring, but Banks and Asuka showed them up by being more brutal with their offense.

It looked like Asuka's undefeated streak might be broken when Balor and Banks put her and The Miz in submissions at the same time, but The Miz was able to roll Balor up for the win.

Grade: B-

Notes and Highlights

• The Miz and Asuka have become the best team in this tournament. Their chemistry during their backstage segments has been off the charts.
• WWE should have teamed Bayley with Balor. They used to have great interactions at house shows when they were both in NXT.
• The Miz mocking Banks' signature pose was hilarious.
• The look on The Miz's face after Asuka nailed Banks with a knee to the face was priceless.

TJP vs. Cedric Alexander

The Cruiserweight Championship tournament has officially entered the quarterfinal round, and the first match saw TJP battle Cedric Alexander.

The first cruiserweight champion didn't think it was fair for him to have to compete in this tournament at all, and he made his feelings known during a pre-match interview.

These are two of the greatest technical and high-flying wrestlers on the 205 Live roster, so it was no surprise when they put on a fantastic show.

This was one of the less-predictable outcomes in the tourney up to this point because both competitors deserve to advance to the next round. Unfortunately, only one man could move on.

They each came close to winning several times before Alexander managed to hit his trademark Lumbar Check for the pin and the win.

This match outshined most of what we saw on Raw and SmackDown this week, which makes you wonder why management continues to ignore the division outside of 205 Live.

Grade: A-

Notes and Highlights

• TJP usually has a speed advantage over most opponents, but Alexander is twice his size and just as quick.
• WWE's ring crew is incredible. It somehow switched the ropes and apron twice after SmackDown for the MMC and 205 Live in a matter of moments.
• Alexander should be working with the rest of the main roster. He is on the same level as guys like Seth Rollins and AJ Styles as far as in-ring skill is concerned. He just needs a little work in the promo department.
• TJP might be able to hit a hurricanrana from any position and make it look good.
• Alexander almost landed flat on his back when he flipped over the top rope onto TJP. It was the kind of landing that makes your back hurt just watching it.

Kalisto vs. Roderick Strong

The second quarterfinal match of the evening saw former cruiserweight champion Kalisto take on former NXT champion Roderick Strong.

This was a complete clash of styles. Kalisto is the epitome of lucha libre wrestling, while Strong uses a more Greco-Roman style of wrestling.

Despite their differences, they meshed well to put on a fun match. Both men utilized some unique and interesting offense to make this feel completely different from Alexander vs. TJP.

The Messiah of the Backbreaker lived up to his nickname by finding different ways to drive his knees into Kalisto's back, but The Lucha Dragon wasn't going to let anything slow him down.

The longer the match went, the harder it became to predict who was going to come out on top. Kalisto came close to winning a few times, but two different backbreakers from Strong put him away in the end.

Grade: A-

Notes and Highlights

• Mustafa Ali delivered a promo backstage about defeating Jack Gallagher last week and facing Buddy Murphy next week. Murphy was also shown being interviewed about their upcoming match.
• It's so weird hearing the fans chant "Roddy" for someone who isn't Roddy Piper.
• It was great to hear the crowd chant "205" to show its appreciation. If that happens enough, maybe management will start to listen.
• Strong's dropkick is almost as impressive as his ability to hit a backbreaker from any position.