Despite a difficult start for WWE Fastlane who saw the show start to stumble more than one race, the end of the show delivered two high quality fights with several men who will be the anchor of the April 37 WrestleMania event. Above all, the main event between universal champion Roman Reigns and challenger Daniel Bryan stood out, with Edge as the special executioner in the ring.
Edge had already secured his spot in the fight for the universal title at WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble. Although his problems with Reigns were already established, Edge saw tensions build up with Bryan during recent editions of SmackDown. This led to a shocking end to the main event that is likely to change the whole appearance of one of the fights featured on the biggest weekend of the year for professional wrestling.
CBS Sports was with you all night, bringing recaps, notes and highlights of all the ThunderDome action inside Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
WWE Fastlane results in 2021, notes
United States Championship – Riddle (c) vs. Mustafa Ali: The retribution was, of course, next to the ring in support of Ali for the match. After a quick start for Riddle, Ali hit a senton with a kick to the neck, putting the champion on the defensive. Ali continued to work on Riddle’s neck and shoulders area, but Ali moved his knee in a wave of offense. Riddle exploded with a large chain of movements, including a powerbomb and a Final Flash knee blow, but Ali again opposed Riddle’s attempt to fly, raising his knees to block a Broating Bro. After a series of counterattacks by both men, a Koji Clutch almost won the fight for Ali. Riddle managed to escape before finally hitting Derek’s second rope brother to retain his title.
One of Kickoff’s best games in recent memory with a very well thought out game that showed the best of both men. After the fight, Ali again defeated Retribution, but Reckoning left, followed by Slapjack. T-Bar and Mace then took Ali down with a double team chokebomb. Riddle def. Mustafa Ali saw pinfall to retain the title. Serie B
Women’s Tag Team Championship – Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks: The champions had trouble getting on the same page, arguing early with Jax and even scoring herself when Baszler had an early lead. Jax and Baszler started to move as soon as it became clear that Banks and Belair were willing to work as a team. Belair landed a splash of 450 on Baszler, but Reginald jumped on the ring apron to provide a distraction. Banks arrested Baszler in the Banks Statement moments later and Belair jumped in the ring to prevent Jax from breaking control, but Jax threw Belair back on Banks. Banks and Belair argued, allowing Baszler to accumulate Banks so that the pin retained the titles. Banks and Belair continued to argue after the match over who was to blame for the defeat before Banks slapped and left in a rage. There is nothing good about the construction WWE is doing for a cash game between Belair and Banks at WrestleMania. None of the women have received the slightest glare for weeks and none seem particularly smart or strong throughout the program so far. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defeated. Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks via pinfall to retain the titles. Grade: C
Intercontinental Championship – Big E (c) vs. Apollo Crews: The fight started with an immediate fight before Big E hit his spear through the ropes to the ground. And he continued to dominate Crews, hitting several splashes on the ring’s apron before throwing the opponent around the ring with suplexes until Crews finally fell with a dropkick on the champion’s knee. E’s aggression led to more openings for Crews before a messy ending with a few pinfall reversals before E dropped Crews’ shoulders to score the pin and retain the title. The teams grabbed each other after the fight, defeating Big E with several deliveries of their Olympic Slam variation before taking on the champion. This match needed more time and a better finish – or at least a better camera angle – to live up to its potential. Big E def. Apollo Crews via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: C
Braun Strowman vs. Elijah: It was supposed to be Strowman vs. Shane McMahon, but McMahon “hurt his knee” training before the show, taking Elias as a substitute. Strowman was able to defend himself repeatedly from Jaxson Ryker’s involvement outside the ring. Finally, Ryker was able to provide enough distraction to allow Elias to hit a chop block and an elbow to fall off the top rope. Strowman was able to kick and hit the running powerslam for victory moments later. This was a throwaway game that only served to drag matters between Strowman and McMahon, and there is nothing good about that. Braun Strowman won. Elias via pinfall. Grade: C-
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Rollins was on top of Nakamura since the jump, taking the fight to him in and out of the ring. Rollins started insulting Nakamura and turning his attention to the 22 times that Cesaro rocked him on SmackDown weeks ago. Rollins tried his own hit, but Nakamura hit with an armbar. That moment brought Nakamura back to the game, and he and Rollins started exchanging offensive bursts. Nakamura looked ready to end things with a Kinshasa, but Rollins hit him with an elbow to the back of the neck, followed by a kick in the same spot. This left Nakamura prostrate, and he swallowed the blow to finish. This match was not as good as it could have been, but it went perfectly well, especially given the weak sequence of matches that came before. Seth Rollins def. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall. Serie B-
Drew McIntyre x Sheamus (match without block): It was not long after the fight started for the action to spread out of the ring and a variety of weapons to come out from under the ring. A stack of kendo sticks was in between the serve and Sheamus was quick to use them to mark the front and back of McIntyre’s torso. McIntyre returned the favor, taking things a step further to the extreme, sticking the tip of the stick in Sheamus’s eye. With brutality continuing, the fight started to move through the ThunderDome, leaving the ring area and going to the bleachers with the LED screens before McIntyre played Sheamus through a set of screens. McIntyre tried to return Sheamus to the ring where he could score the pin, but Sheamus knocked him over the ring’s barricade with a Brogue Kick and hit White Noise through the announcement table. McIntyre managed to return with a Future Shock DDT and a Claymore to score the victory. This was the first truly good start to the main show. McIntyre and Sheamus trust each other to play brutal matches that never seem really dangerous other than the story they’re telling, and that made everything they did in the past few months really work. Drew McIntyre def. Sheamus via pinfall. Grade A-
Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss: Before the match, Orton once again vomited the black goo. Orton tried to attack as soon as the match started, but Bliss moved out of the way, sending him with his shoulder up on the ring post. Lights then fell from the rigging, almost hitting Orton while Bliss laughed. Bliss provoked Orton to return to the ring by throwing a fireball at him after he did so. A burnt hand emerged from a hole in the ring, grabbing Orton’s ankle before The Fiend came across the screen. Bliss pushed Orton forward on The Fiend, allowing him to hit Sister Abigail for Bliss to cover the count of three. The match, like the whole Orton vs. Fiend, will largely come down to personal tastes. But The Fiend’s return was solid enough to overcome a bit of difficulty, preventing Bliss and Orton from actually making physical contact and violating the WWE’s stance on intergenerational fighting. Alexa Bliss def. Randy Orton via pinfall. Serie B
Universal Championship – Roman Reigns (c) vs. Daniel Bryan: Bryan was almost playful at first, trying to show Reigns that he couldn’t keep up with his opponent on a standby basis. He proved it in the early stages, entering Reigns’ head with falls and restraints before throwing jabs at his body and kicking his legs as he strayed out of the way. Reigns attempted a headlock takedown, but was caught in a submission, finally having to resort to a header to take the attack. Reigns’ power was finally able to allow him to take over the game while Edge walked around the ring. After taking a prolonged beating, Bryan was finally able to get his attack back after a series of kicks, but an attempt at a top rope frog was negated in a Boston crab by Reigns.
Bryan was able to shoot back again, hitting some attack outside the ring and then kneeling on Reigns’ arm, trying to soften him up for a Yes Lock. Reigns lost control and started attacking Bryan in the corner, ignoring the referee, but Bryan continued to shoot back, hitting a frog and then a couple of kicks to the head to almost fall. Bryan then hit a series of stomps on his face before rolling in a Yes Lock and regaining control after Reigns almost escaped. Reigns managed to break Bryan’s grip and land a flurry of punches, prompting Bryan to inadvertently hit the referee with a running knee. Reigns landed a spear and Edge slid into the ring to make the count, but Bryan kicked it out in two. While Reigns argued with Edge and tried to attack Bryan, Bryan caught a triangular choke before making the transition to a Yes Lock and hitting a cross attack. Jey Uso ran and gave a superkick to Edge and another to Bryan before grabbing a steel chair next to the ring, only to be hit by a running knee from Bryan. Bryan went to hit Reigns with the chair, but Reigns moved, causing Bryan to hit Edge before being hit by a Superman punch. Bryan then hit a spear back to Yes Lock. Reigns started to knock, but Edge hit Bryan with a chair, then did the same with Reigns before he left. A new referee came to the ring while Reigns crawled to cover Bryan for the win.
This was an excellent material for both men. Daniel Bryan has a legitimate claim to be the greatest professional fighter in history precisely because of fights like this – making small and big changes that completely alter a fight while remaining true to his established character. It seems clear that he will enter the WrestleMania fight with Edge and Reigns, and there is nothing bad about it. Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan saw pinfall to retain the title. Grade A