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UK fans will be able to watch WWE Mixed Match Challenge on the WWE Network next Thursday night.

Male and female superstars from the Raw and SmackDown LIVE rosters have formed teams for a new 12-week series.

The single-elimination, mixed tag-team tournament offers the winning duo $100,000 to support the charity of their choice.

But the show - scheduled after SmackDown on Tuesday, January 16 - will stream live on Facebook Watch, which isn't yet available in the UK.

Disappointed British fans feared they would miss out on seeing the much-hyped contest, which WWE has been plugging heavily for weeks.

However, the Mirror can reveal it will be shown on the Network at 10pm Eastern Time on January 18 (3am on Friday, January 19 in the UK).

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The teams already confirmed for the Mixed Match Challenge (MMC) include some startling combinations and strange bedfellows.

The Monster Among Men, 6ft 8in colossus Braun Strowman, has been paired with the 5ft 1in Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss.

Asuka, the most dominant female on Raw, teams up with The Miz, while fan favourite Shinsuke Nakamura calls on veteran Natalya.

Nia Jax will be joined by Apollo Crews - not Enzo Amore due to illness - while Bayley's injured partner Samoa Joe was replaced by Elias.

(Image: © WWE)

Other partnerships make a lot more sense on paper, including SmackDown Live husband and wife duo Jimmy Uso and Naomi.

The Bulgarian Brute, Rusev, pairs up with his wife, the Ravishing Russian, Lana, and oddballs Alicia Fox and Goldust unite.

SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and Bobby Roode, who share a penchant for wrestling robes, will also team up.

Sasha Banks and Finn Bálor could be the coolest team announced so far, although Becky Lynch and Sami Zayn may say otherwise.

Miss Money in the Bank herself, Carmella, is set to be partnered with The New Day's dominant powerhouse, Big E.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be joined on commentary by WWE Hall of Famer and legendary diva Beth Phoenix.

WWE said: “Each 20-minute episode will reflect a progressive approach to production, with elements optimised for mobile consumption, experimentation and social interaction, including the ability for the WWE Universe to engage with superstars during the show.

"In addition, fans will have the opportunity to select match-ups, match stipulations and more, on Facebook.”

(Image: © WWE)

Facebook Watch has been launched by the social media giant as a direct rival to YouTube and internet streaming providers Netflix and Amazon.

WWE owner Vince McMahon is reportedly "pulling out all the stops" with MMC to impress Facebook’s top brass and other websites/streaming services.

According to prowrestlingsheet.com, this is an effort to open new doors for WWE in 2019 when the company’s TV contract with NBC Universal expires.

Variety first reported Facebook was paying for distribution rights and WWE is seemingly looking at this as a test to see if revenues are comparable with TV.