Tonight, WWE Fastlane features three championship matches, Styles/Jericho III, and a triple threat match to determine who is the #1 Contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Who will walk away from FastLane with momentum in their favor on the last stretch of the Road to WrestleMania?
Preshow:
Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto – United States Championship (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)
I don’t even care if FastLane is terrible, Mauro Ranallo is on commentary so it’s already great. 2-out-of-3 falls matches tend to be good, giving both competitors the ability to show off their abilities.
(Mauro Ranallo compared Del Rio and Kalisto going back and forth to Drake and Meek Mill on Twitter. Back to the match.)
Del Rio hits Kalisto outside of the ring with a chair to lose the first fall. First fall winner (via disqualification): Kalisto
After losing the fall, Del Rio starts beating on Kalisto outside of the ring before the next fall could start. Purposely losing the first fall is risky, but this could be a smart strategy from Del Rio.
The first fall worked well for Del Rio, as he his the double foot stomp from the corner to win the second fall. Second fall winner: Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio goes for a double foot stomp to win the third fall, but Kalisto dodges it, and ends up rolling up Del Rio for the win. Winner, and STILL United States Champion: Kalisto
Main Show:
Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch vs. Naomi & Tamina
No more Mauro Ranallo on commentary after the main show starts. Michael Cole is fine and all, but Ranallo has been killing it on Smackdown as of late. As I mentioned in my FastLane preview, I believe that this match is to help Lynch and Banks on their road to WrestleMania 32, where one (or both) of them will probably face Charlotte for the Divas Championship.
To end an unexpectedly great match, Sasha Banks locks in the Bank Statement on Tamina for the win. Winners (via submission): Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch
Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler – Intercontinental Championship
Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens have been battling it out week after week over the last month or so, and this match is sure to live up to the other bouts.
What doesn’t make sense, however, is how Ziggler became the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship. Kevin Owens won the Intercontinental title last week on Raw in a Fatal 5-Way match, which included Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler lost a title match, and became the #1 Contender. Instead, it should be Dean Ambrose, who lost the title in that very same match and has a rematch clause in his title contract.
Kevin Owens hits a Pop-up Powerbomb for the victory. Winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens
The Wyatt Family (w/Bray Wyatt) vs. Big Show, Kane, & Ryback
The Wyatt Family has been on a roll as of late, and their opponents in this match haven’t really been doing much of anything. Big Show and Kane are essentially around to make other people look better, and Ryback’s only character development in three years has been him changing from wearing a singlet to trunks.
Bray Wyatt sitting outside the ring doesn’t have quite the same effect when he’s sitting in an office chair instead of his usual rocking chair.
Ryback hits a not so clean Shell Shocked on Luke Harper for the win. Why do I even bother putting faith in the Wyatt Family anymore? Winners: Ryback, Kane, & Big Show
Charlotte (w/Ric Flair) vs. Brie Bella
There is no reason Brie Bella should win this match. Other than one fluke against Charlotte a few weeks ago that earned her this title shot, Brie Bella has practically lost every other match she’s been in for the last few months. This includes multiple losses to Charlotte.
Brie Bella locks in an unusually long single leg crab that went nowhere, and Charlotte countered, somehow, and locked in the Figure Eight for the win. Winner, and STILL Divas Champion (via submission): Charlotte
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
Jericho and Styles have put on two great matches over the last month, and with this match being on a Pay-Per-View, it should be even better.
A month later, it’s still hard to believe that AJ Styles is a WWE Superstar.
AJ Styles hits the Styles Clash, Jericho kicks out, and Styles immediately locks in the Calf Crusher for the win. Winner (via submission): AJ Styles
The Cutting Edge Peep Show feat. The New Day
Since Edge is back, that means that of course Tony Chimel is back to say “The Rated-R Superstar” in the only way Tony Chimel can.
Some entertaining promo with the New Day, Edge, and Christian leads to them talking smack about the League of Nations, who come out to interrupt and ruin everything.
The big advertisement for Edge and Christian’s new WWE Network show ends while also potentially setting up a feud between The New Day and The League of Nations.
R-Truth vs. Curtis Axel (w/Social Outcasts)
Well, this match was unexpected. Both Axel and Truth can have a great match while being entertaining, so this should be a good, but short, one before the main event.
To even the odds, Goldust, who’s been trying to get R-Truth to be his tag team partner, tries to even the odds. Unfortunately, Goldust throwing Adam Rose into the ring cause Curtis Axel to rollup Truth for the win. Winner: Curtis Axel
Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar – Winner faces Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 32
Bad news for WWE: Roman Reigns got practically no cheers when he entered, and also some boos. This crowd definitely wants either Lesnar or Ambrose to win this match. For the sakes of Ambrose and Reigns, they might want to team up on Lesnar so that they will have an easier time in the match.
Brock Lesnar gets powerbombed through two tables, but manages to suplex Reigns and Ambrose at the same time. Ambrose starts swinging wildly with a chair, but Reigns hits Ambrose with a spear for the win. Winner: Roman Reigns
No titles changed hands at FastLane, which most likely means that Owens, Kalisto, The New Day, and Charlotte will all defend their championships at WrestleMania 32. Also, Triple H will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns. Overall, FastLane was a good Pay-Per-View with an ending that everyone saw coming.
