Samoa Joe Injured On Raw; Elias To Partner With Bayley In WWE Mixed Match Challenge

Samoa Joe is out of the upcoming Mixed Match Challenge tournament due to an apparent injury.

WWE started a fan vote last night to decide between Joe, Elias, and Jason Jordan for the final spot on the Raw side. Joe apparently won that vote, but Kurt Angle tweeted today that Elias would be taking Joe’s spot due to injury.

Thank you all for voting for @itsBayleyWWE partner in #WWEMMC, but due to an injury suffered on #Raw @SamoaJoe is unable to compete…

— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) January 9, 2018

Joe appeared on Raw last night and defeated Rhyno. He did an in-ring interview after the match where he announced himself for the 30-Man Over-The-Top Royal Rumble Match, saying John Cena will be the first person he eliminates.

In an article on WWE.com, WWE Senior Ringside Physician Dr. Chris Amann said Joe felt a pop in the bottom of his right foot during the match against Rhyno.

“We took a look and believe he has a plantar fascia rupture, which is a thick tissue rupture under the foot,” Amann said, “We will get an MRI to confirm. Treatment includes a period of immobilization in a boot with crutches and platelet-rich plasma injections.”

Elias and Bayley are Raw’s final team in the mixed tag tournament. Two more SmackDown LIVE pairings still need to be announced before the series debuts on Facebook Watch next Tuesday.

Raw

Braun Strowman & Alexa Bliss

Finn Balor & Sasha Banks

Apollo Crews & Nia Jax

The Miz & Asuka

Goldust & Alicia Fox

Elias & Bayley

SmackDown LIVE

Bobby Roode & Charlotte Flair

Rusev & Lana

Jimmy Uso & Naomi

Shinsuke Nakamura & Natalya

Becky Lynch

Carmella

Sami Zayn

A member of The New Day (to be determined by fan vote)