WWE Fastlane PPV Results: 3-10-19
(5) SAMOA JOE vs. ANDRADE (w/Zelina Vega) vs. REY MYSTERIO vs. R-TRUTH (w/Carmella) – Fatal Four-way for the U.S. Title
Early in the match Joe dove through the ropes and hit Rey, Truth, and Andrade at ringside. The crowd was into the action as the wrestlers took turns pairing off and battling. Andrade landed a corkscrew plancha on Joe off the top rope at ringside and then Rey took Andrade town seconds later with a flying head scissors. Vega kicked Truth at ringside. Carmella tackled Vega and pounded away at her. In the ring, Joe landed a urinage on Rey. Truth and Andrade broke up the cover. Andrade gave Rey a hammerlock DDT, but Truth broke up the pin. Truth rallied against Andrade and then gave Joe a sidewalk slam. Truth dropped Andrade on Joe. The crowd cheered as he went into the You Can’t See Me routine. He went for Andrade with the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Andrade moved and he hit Joe. Truth then gave Andrade a scissors kick. Joe broke up the cover. Joe threw Truth into the ringpost shoulder-first. Rey quickly gave Joe a 619, but Joe moved when Rey went for the Drop the Dime. He applied a Coquina Clutch for the win as Rey passed out quickly.
WINNER: Joe to retain the U.S. Title.
Joe looked strong here, and the clean win over Rey was a definitive statement that Joe is in for a big push headed into WrestleMania. Bring on John Cena?
(6) SASHA BANKS & BAYLEY vs. NIA JAX & TAMINA – WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
Beth Phoenix joined the announce team for this match. Tamina launched Sasha onto Jax’s shoulders, but Sasha didn’t land in place and Jax collapsed to her knee. She adjusted and lifted Sasha and delivered a Samoan drop. Later Sasha dove at Tamina and Jax, but Tamina seemed to bump early. Bayley then dove over the ropes to ringside onto Tamina, Jax, and Sasha. In the end, Bayley landed a flying top rope elbow for the clean win.
WINNERS: Sasha & Bayleyin 7:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles. (*1/2)
Clunky match. Not awful.
-Afterward, Tamina and Jax immediately attacked Bayley and Sasha. Phoenix stood at ringside to assess the situation. She and Tamina had a staredown. Phoenix threw a side elbow at Tamina. Jax attacked Phoenix from behind. They double-teamed Phoenix until Natalya ran out for the save. She was beat down, too. Renee called it a garbage move by Tamina and Jax.
It seems they’re setting up a WrestleMania match with Natalya & Phoenix vs. Jax & Tamina, or a situation to play out during the Women’s Battle Royal.
(7) DANIEL BRYAN (w/Rowan) vs. KEVIN OWENS – WWE Title match
Saxton oddly wondered who would be added to this match since Kofi probably couldn’t wrestle. He was cut off quickly by Graves because it was odd for Saxton to assume this would still be a triple threat if Kofi couldn’t wrestle. It would turn out Ali was introduced as a surprise third member, but I think Saxton got a few seconds ahead of the reveal (not quite a “Who’s side is he on?” Heenan-Hogan moment). Graves pointed out that McMahon technically never said Kofi would be the third man, and told Saxton he was outsmarted by a billionaire. The crowd mostly cheered Owens during formal ring introductions. The crowd booed Ali during ring introductions. (Ali has zero momentum and his story is just a mess. The fans were geared up for Bryan vs. KO one-on-one, but even more so they saw Ali as taking Kofi’s place in this match – which is ironic given the entirety of the situation.) Graves acknowledged Ali got a less-than-warm greeting. He said the fans wanted Kofi. They then, on cue, chanted loudly, “We Want Kofi!” (This isn’t a dream situation for a KO babyface turn or return after a long layoff, either.)
KO and Ali worked together at the start and tossed KO out of the ring. KO and Ali then circled each other and battled. More “We Want Kofi!” chants. Bryan re-entered a minute later and got into a chop battle with KO. Owens went at Ali and then Bryan with cannonballs. He threw Bryan into the ring and scored a two count. Ali climbed to the top rope a minute later, but Bryan dropkicked him to the floor. Ali bumped onto the barricade. That freed up Bryan to get sustained offense against KO. Ali took a wicked flip bump after a Bryan clothesline. A few minutes later Ali had Owens in a sleeper, but Owens senton splashed Bryan with KO on his back, breaking up the sleeper and crushing Bryan. Ali was slow to get up. Owens stood and went after Bryan with hard chops to his chest. Bryan headbutted KO to stop his attack. Ali leaped at Bryan and set up a superplex. Owens stacked Ali onto his shoulders. Ali dropped down and shoved KO into Bryan, then delivered an inverted huracanrana. Ali hit a standing Spanish fly on Bryan off the top rope. Bryan rolled to the floor before Ali could make the cover. In the opposite corner, Ali went for on 054, but Owens moved. Owens then gave Ali a Stunner. Graves said it was a tribute to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Bryan broke up the pin. Bryan blocked a stunner by KO and then kicked Owens in the head. Bryan charged, but Owens turned it into a Pop-up Powerbomb for a near fall.
Bryan backdropped Owens on the ring apron. Bryan charged at Ali but Ali moved and Bryan’s knee hit the ringpost. Ali then landed a 450 on Bryan on the ring apron. When Ali crawled over the cover, Rowan yanked Bryan to safety. When Rowen stood on the ring apron, Ali kicked him, then Owens kicked him, then they stereo kicked him and he finally fell to the floor. Ali sent Rowan into the ringpost with a flying head scissors off the ring apron. Owens then flip dove onto Rowan on the floor. He turned and ate a flying knee from Bryan. Bryan climbed to the top rope, but Ali grabbed is leg and pulled him down. Ali set up a top rope move, but Bryan pushed him off. Ali flipped and landed on his feet at ringside. Bryan dove at him but Ali moved. Ali then gave Bryan a flying tornado DDT onto the floor. Ali then dove at KO, but KO gave him a Pop-up Powerbomb on the ring apron. As Owens went for the cover, Rowan grabbed him and took him down with a spin wheel kick. Rowan threw Bryan into the ring and then threw KO into the time keeper’s area. Bryan made the cover and Ali kicked out. The crowd cheered.
As Bryan stood, fans began chanting “Kofi!” again. Bryan told Ali, “You don’t deserve to be here!” Ali heard enough and took it to Bryan with a barrage of blows. Bryan caught Ali mid-air with a flying knee for the win. Rowan gave Ali a claw slam afterward.
WINNER: Bryan in 19:00 to retain the WWE Title.
Bryan needed some sort of a strong win at some point after all of the jobs he’s done. This was a tainted finish because Rowan prevented KO from scoring the potential winning pin, but Bryan ultimately took out Ali without help in the final minute. Good match. Not an ideal situation for KO on his return as a babyface or Ali who was seen as a consolation prize by fans instead of Kofi. Rowan helped keep heel heat on Bryan despite Bryan being in the ring with two babyfaces trying to take his title. While there were tradeoffs, the rationale of having Ali take the pin instead of Owens and having Bryan get a somewhat strong clean win on PPV might have been enough to make up for the awkwardness of the “Kofi” chants early and the cool reception for Owens and Ali – if ultimately this was done to set up Bryan vs. Kofi one-on-one at WM. It seems pretty clear that’s what up now, and maybe Owens moves to a side feud for now with Rowan.
(8) CHARLOTTE vs. BECKY LYNCH – If Becky wins, she joins the Charlotte-Ronda Rousey WM title match
Charlotte came out first. Then Becky came out on a crutch to a big pop. Cole said she has a bad leg, bad arm, and bad ribs, and she signed a “hold harmless” contract so no matter what happens to her, WWE cannot be held responsible. After ring introductions, Becky threw the crutch to the floor. Charlotte toyed with her and laughed at her. Becky fired at Charlotte with a barrage of elbows. Charlotte shoved Becky off of her and Becky hobbled backward. Charlotte went after her leg. Charlotte applied a half Boston crab with an extra torque on Becky’s leg. Cole said it might be wise for Becky to tap out. Graves said her career might be at stake here. Becky knocked Charlotte off balance and hit a spin hook kick. Charlotte took over again, though, and said, “Too simple.”; Becky surprised Charlotte with a small package seconds later for a near fall. Charlotte kipped up as Becky rolled to the floor. Charlotte strutted. When Charlotte went for a top rope move, Becky knocked her to the floor. Becky couldn’t put weight on her leg. When Charlotte beat the ten count to avoid a countout, Becky immediately applied a Disarm Her. Charlotte rolled out of it and applied the figure-four. She bridged into the Figure-eight. Ronda Rousey ran to the ring and punched Becky when she was vulnerable. Ronda leaned against the top rope casually as referee Charles Robinson emphatically asked, “What are you doing!” The ref DQ’d Charlotte. Becky leaned in the corner and smiled as the situation sank in. Charlotte looked down at her angrily.
WINNER: Becky Lynch via DQ.
Yes, Becky will want to get revenge, but that’s an otherwise pretty flat way to have Becky “triumph” by “earning” a match at WrestleMania which, of course, she already earned. That match told a very specific story which did not include a regular high-end back-and-f0rth battle. The crowd was less into it since it seemed pretty clear Becky wasn’t going to do a lot.