Tuesday, February 24, 2015

WWE Fastlane Results and Reactions

Funny how Fastlane is scheduled on the same night as the Oscar's. :) Anyway, here's a quick look at the Fastlane card:

WHAT:WWE Fastlane
WHEN:22 February 2015
WHERE:FedEx Forum - Memphis, Tennessee
MATCHES:
Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan & Ryback vs Seth Rollins, Kane, & Big ShowSix-Man Tag Team Match
Goldust vs StardustSingles Match
The Usos (c) vs Tyson Kidd and Cesaro WWE Tag Team Championship
Nikki Bella (c) vs PaigeWWE Divas Championship
Bad News Barrett (c) vs Dean AmbroseWWE Intercontinental Championship
Rusev (c) vs John Cena WWE United States Championship
Daniel Bryan vs Roman Reigns For WWE World Hvwt Championship match in Wrestlemania


PRE-SHOW Highlights:

Pre-Show Panel: Renee Young, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Booker T
  • Jon Stewart (host of Daily Show) and Seth Rollins. Well, this is Wrestlemania season. so celebrities from all over are expected to pop up here and there. To his credit, Stewart's promo was great! Better than, dare I say, the promos of the other Superstars in the roster! His promo was a throwback to the days when kayfabe still exists. :)
  • Dean Ambrose interview with Renee Young. The video package of the interview, simply put, elevated the Intercontinental Championship. It highlighted the illustrious history of the belt as well as the intensity of Ambrose both in the ring and on the mic. I almost marked out at the mention of the IC Belt as being the workhorse championship -- you rarely hear those words with this belt recently. Great hype for the Intercontinental Championship. :) 
  • MizTV with Paul Heyman. Unlike the others, the Miz-Mizdow storyline started quite a while back and is going nowhere fast, yet. The split should happen soon between now and Wrestlemania -- if they wanted them to have that match. Paul Heyman is his usual phenomenal self on the mic.

WWE FASTLANE MAIN SHOW Highlights:

6-Man Tag Team Match: Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan & Ryback vs Seth Rollins, Kane & Big Show
  • Pre-Match Thoughts: One of the biggest disappointments with this match is that it was last minute and there was barely any build up and just thrown together because they don't have anything better to do. They just relied on the history between the two teams and then ran with it. Still, with the mini-feud between Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins being played up the last few weeks, you can expect, at the very least, a very solid match.
  • Ziggler and Rollins started off to a quick pace. Match then slowed after Rowan tagged in and eventually injured his leg.
  • Crowd, at one point, were chanting "We want Ziggler! Feed me more!"
  • Ziggler hits Famasser on Rollins while Rollins was getting in the ring in between the ropes.
  • Ziggler gets hit with Big Show's KO Punch then Kane's Chokeslam for the win.
  • Result: Team Authority defeats Ziggler, Rowan and Ryback via pinfall.
  • Post-Match Brawl: Another brawl ensues but Rollins comes out on top, Curb Stomping the other team left and right. Crowd starts chanting "Randy Orton!" (Ha! Smarks!) Shortly thereafter, Orton's music hits and starts RKOing everyone from #Outtanowhere! Rollins escapes though.
  • Post-Match Thoughts: This was a strong opening match for this PPV. But this is intended to be the on-screen return of Orton. No doubt this sets up a 'Mania match between Orton and Rollins.

Brother vs Brother: Goldust vs Stardust
  • Pre-Match Thoughts: Some would say that the perfect time for the split between the two has come and gone. At any rate, leave it to Stardust Cody Rhodes to tell a compelling story; when given a chance, he delivers the best promos. Just when you thought he couldn't top his promo a couple years ago (during his storyline firing by the Authority), he delivered his best promo yet against his brother and dad Dusty.
  • Stardust enters first, shirtless. Crowd seems to be just as stunned as I am. He's sporting silver and blue colors.
  • Stardust plays up the crowd well, reacting to all the "Cody" chants from the crowd several times throughout the match. And him saying "Who's your favorite?" and "Who's your daddy?" creepily adds to his deranged persona. That cartwheel was also a nice touch.
  • It's amazing that Goldust can still move around the ring the way he does. He looks better than his first run more than a decade ago.
  • Goldust wins after reversing a Cross Rhodes attempt with snapmare then a crucifix.
  • Result: Goldust defeats Stardust via pinfall.
  • Post-Match Backstage: Stardust lays out Goldust. He then said to Dusty "You killed Cody Rhodes! And one more thing... I am not living in your shadow; you're living in mine!" Chilling.
  • Post-Match Thoughts: It was a weird and an underwhelming finish to the match. At one point, nobody was sure whether it was a good three count. I think the ref botched the call. Anyway, the backstage attack afterwards clearly sets up a Wrestlemania match between the two.

Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos (c) vs Tyson Kidd and Cesaro
  • Pre-Match Thought #1: The initial build up to this feud was ridiculous, centering on the Divas Natalya and Naomi. It's a disservice to the two talented divas, being relegated as nothing more than valets to their respective spouses. Regardless, this is a great opportunity for Kidd and Cesaro to finally break through and showcase their talent. Their matches so far have been great. Them winning the match should be the icing on the cake.
  • Pre-Match Thought #2: And one more thing: is Nattie a heel or a face? Kidd is clearly a heel both in Raw and Total Divas. Nattie is a bit more difficult to sort out due to her circumstances. Looks like a tweener but, I dunno....
  • Pre-Match Thought #3: Yes, I watch Total Divas, too :)
  • Usos take early advantage grounding Kidd for most of the early part of the match.
  • Cesaro takes control after tagging in and clips Jimmy Uso's left knee. Kidd and Cesaro then take turns working on that left leg.
  • Still holding onto the half-crab on the left leg, Cesaro lifts Jimmy and does a one-legged Cesaro Swing. He spun around about 4 times before being dropped on the mat, followed by a springboard legdrop from Kidd. It would have been cooler if Cesaro did a few more spins.
  • Cesaro does a deadlift suplex (yikes!) on Jimmy followed by an elbow drop from Kidd for a nearfall.
  • Sharpshooter on Jimmy was stopped by a superkick from Jey. 
  • Crowd chants "This is awesome!" I agree!!!
  • Kidd hits a fisherman suplex finisher for the pin.
  • Result: Tyson Kidd and Cesaro defeats The Usos via pinfall and are the new WWE Tag Team Champions! 
  • Post-Match Thoughts: I was thinking whether it should have been Kidd or Cesaro who made the pin. I guess Kidd does deserve it after a long hiatus. He should just get a name for that finisher (if they haven't done so already) and have the announce team say it! :) Oh, and this is the match of the night so far. :)

Triple H/Sting Face-To-Face
  • Pre-Segment Thoughts: Although it is great that Sting is finally doing a program with WWE, we still don't have a clear idea why he's doing what he's doing. Sure it's cool to mess up the Authority/Triple H's plans, but still.
  • Triple H walks out, not wearing his usual coat and tie but his street fighting clothes. Long story short, he calls out Sting. Sting just nonchalantly walks down the ramp to the ring. (Huh? No theatrics? Oh well.)
  • Triple H: "My legacy is putting your legacy out of business." Triple H makes this confrontation with Sting about the Monday Night Wars. Hmmm... Isn't it more than a decade too late? Storyline is a bit too simple. Creative could have done better.
  • Triple H: "Or I can beat the hell out of your legacy right here tonight." There. That's more like it! :)
  • They finally ended with a brawl, with Triple H leveling Sting down. He then went for his trademark sledgehammer. As he went back in the ring, Sting quickly brings out his trademark bat (where does he hide that thing??) and pressed it against Triple H's throat.
  • Without saying a word, Sting points his bat to the Wrestlemania sign, making his intentions clear.
  • With Sting's back turned, Triple H is about to attack Sting, but the Icon beat him to the punch. He then smashed Triple H with his Scorpion Death Drop.
  • Post-Segment Thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this segment. It seems... incomplete. Don't get me wrong. I marked out on the Raw segment when he made his pseudo-appearance mind-game on Triple H. I thought that was a tough act to follow, and this relatively short segment kinda proves it. Although it is cool that we have another marquee match in Wrestlemania, this segment was really nothing more than an announcement of the fact. Still, it's so cool to see the legendary Sting beat Triple H to the punch. :)

WWE Purple Butterfly Belt: Nikki Bella (c) vs Paige
  • Pre-Match Thoughts: On the heels of a tremendous Fatal Fourway match for the NXT Women's Championship, the main roster Divas are pressured to deliver a memorable match. If only they are given more time, like their NXT counterparts. Storyline-wise, they finally hit the nail last Raw. The Mean Girls tactics of the Bellas is fine and all but there's really no need to have another reason to hate them; but Paige's grace is what finally made her interesting and sympathetic, and gives the crowd a reason to cheer for her. It may have something to do with that Gothic fairy look she got last Monday. :)
  • Cole reference Paige's "Anti-Diva" moniker again which she used a while back. Wonder if they are already going to use that permanently? It certainly fits her now with the way she's interacting with the other Divas.
  • Nikki takes control early on, dropping Paige on the apron and off to the barricade.
  • Nikki delivers an Alabama Slam. This move clearly fits her, helps to show off her strength. Nice touch of JBL referring to Bob Holly using that move on him a couple of times. (Where is he now?)
  • Not sure if Paige was going for a roll up, but whatever. Botch happens. And it won't be the first nor the worst one this night. :)
  • Sunset flip powerbomb from Nikki! Wow, she's really bringing it tonight. Only a nearfall for that one.
  • Paige tried for a PTO, but couldn't lock it in as Nikki reaches for the ropes. Then, a school boy pin with "a handful of tights" later, Nikki gets the three count.
  • Result: Nikki defeats Paige via pinfall and retains the WWE Divas Championship.
  • Post-Match Thoughts: Paige, Michael Cole and the rest of the announce team keep referring to Nikki pulling Paige's tights. After a few replays, we can clearly see that Nikki actually didn't. She touched her tights but is in no way grabbing it. Botch anyone? Let's assume for the moment that she actually pulled her tights. That was quite a dirty finish that we don't want to see right after the NXT Women's title match the previous week. Given that there wasn't as much time for this match (should be around 5 minutes only), I guess that's the only way they could think of to extend this feud up to 'Mania. (That is assuming that there will be a Divas match in Wrestlemania.) Pretty disappointing treatment of these Divas.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Bad News Barrett (c) vs Dean Ambrose
  • Pre-Match Thoughts: This is a good storyline so far that somehow lacked time. Still, they managed to get the most of it with the video montages and interviews with Dean Ambrose. Smart money is for him to lose dirty on this match to stretch his quest for the IC belt in Wrestlemania.
  • Ambrose was very aggressive early on until Barrett took control after he kicks the living daylights of Amrbose.
  • Ambrose is really living up to Lunatic Fringe moniker with every Tornado DDT and a top rope elbow drop on a standing person.
  • Barrett reverses Ambrose' springboard clothesline with Wasteland for a two count. Barrett sets up for Bullhammer but gets reversed to a school boy pin for another two count.
  • Barrett got his belt and was about to walk away. Ambrose then does a suicide dive to Barrett. Barrett tries to get through the crowd but Ambrose catches him and throws him on the steps.
  • Ambrose then beats on Barrett inside the ring but won't let up. He is disqualified by the referee! WHAT?!?
  • Result: Bad News Barrett defeats Dean Ambrose via disqualification and retains the Intercontinental Championship.
  • Post-Match Thoughts: This is the kind of booking that is really grating on the nerves. Disqualification finishes have a time and place and when used correctly can be an effective plot device. But this is just... Lazy booking. Sure we expected Ambrose' quest to go on further to Wrestlemania, but this is a really cheesy way of doing it.

Undertaker/Bray Wyatt Promo
  • Druids come out with torches in typical Undertaker fashion. Then once the druids are in place... GONG goes the bell and Undertaker's music plays. A casket is then moved right next to the ring. The casket is opened and... voila! It's Bray Wyatt!
  • Post-Segment Thoughts: Finally, we have one question finally answered. It's Bray Wyatt vs Undertaker at the biggest stage of them all! It was a short and sweet promo and is on point. And yet another reason to watch Wrestlemania! This spine-tingling promo makes me excited for that match!


United States Championship: Rusev (c) vs John Cena
  • Pre-Match Thoughts: Still can't get over the previous segment, but I digress... Two thoughts here: firstly, him, being "the" John Cena -- whether you like him or not -- chasing the US title instantly brings up the prestige of the belt; secondly, John Cena is the "measuring stick" of the WWE, which means upcoming main eventers need to go through him. Daniel Bryan and *gasp* CM Punk battled John Cena first before achieving main event status. Is it Rusev's turn to head for the main event this year?
  • Rusev one ups Cena by hitting him on the thighs with fast kicks. Since this is a John Cena match, of course you will get the dueling chants "Let's go Cena!" and "Cena sucks!" For some reason, it never gets old. :)
  • A right forearm sends Rusev down and is then held in a headlock. Rusev quickly regains control and kicks him to the corner. Cena rallies back but is laid out by a spin kick
  • Rusev pretty much dominated the match, even sending Cena flying to the barricade.
  • Cena musters up a drop kick from out of nowhere for a two count. Rusev counters with a drop kick of his own for another two count.
  • Cena gains momentum. He hits one shoulder block. He goes for the second shoulder block but Rusev catches him and turns it into a fall-away slam. He's making this look easy.
  • Cena rallies with an explosive clothesline, which only got a two count. Cena goes for AA but was reversed to a DDT, which got a nearfall as well. Another AA attempt was reversed again then hit with superkick for another nearfall.
  • Rusev catches Cena in a spinning side slam for a two count. Later, Cena catches Rusev in a tornado DDT for another nearfall again. Lana is getting very livid at this point.
  • Cena reverses a second spinning side slam attempt into a crossface (I refuse to call it STF! It's a Crippler Crossface, not a Stepover Toehold Facelock.) Rusev powered out of the submission maneuver then delivers an Alabama Slam on Cena. 
  • Rusev gets a second wind and starts pounding Cena's back. Cena picked the leg and locks in the STF. (Now that's a real STF.)
  • Cena hits the AA but only got a two count. Cena then goes to the top rope then leaps at Rusev only to be caught into a powerbomb. Rusev then locks in the Accolade. After several attempts to power out, Cena finally stood up, lifting Rusev on his back. Lana distracts the referee then Rusev hits a low blow, a superkick, then an Accolade. Cena passes out and referee calls for the bell.
  • Result: Rusev defeats John Cena via submission to retain US Championship.
  • Post-Match Thoughts: You can't have Cena do two different submission holds -- one is a facelock with a toehold and the other is a facelock with an armhold -- and call them both STF. Or is that what they wanted to do? Any crossface or facelock that Cena does is automatically called an STF? I know the Crippler Crossface is associated with Chris Benoit and WWE is trying very hard to stay away from him. But if that's the case, just call it a crossface. I know Michael Cole can't tell the difference between the two but should the entire WWE Universe really listen and accept his calls even when he's wrong?? Anyway, what a stellar match! It's not a clean win for Rusev, but it was a decisive victory for him. Rusev remains undefeated, his winning streak intact and he gets to beat the best of the best in John Cena! 2015 could easily be Rusev's year. Was it a predictable win? Yes. But having him beat John Cena soundly was quite unexpected. I guess everyone is expecting a disqualification finish, but they went a different route, all intended to put Rusev over.

Main Event: Daniel Bryan vs Roman Reigns
  • Pre-Match Thoughts: The controversy surrounding this match is.. well.. I'll leave that up to you. :) WWE has certainly done a great job of building up Roman Reigns, winning more fans along the way. He went from being booed out of the building in Royal Rumble to being cheered on par with Daniel Bryan. Still, Bryan had his 'Mania moment last year. It's time to let another one have his.
  • Crowd sounds off dueling chants of "Daniel Bryan!" and "Romain Reigns!".
  • Bryan is annoying Reigns with his antics to start off. Bryan locks Reigns in a side headlock for a while and finally powers out and reverses to his own side headlock then drops with a shoulder block Bryan.
  • Bryan forces Reigns to the mat and tries to get him into a Surfboard but Reigns powers out again.
  • Bryan is thrown to the corner, does a flip, dodges a clothesline, but gets caught into a tilt-a-whirl slam, followed by a clothesline over the top rope, sending Bryan to the outside.
  • Reigns brutally manhandles Bryan on the outside then sends him back in the ring. Bryan recovers and kicks Reigns repeatedly on the left leg.
  • Bryan locks in the Indian deathlock but Reign simply counters with his huge fists on Bryan's face. Talk about powering out.
  • Reigns does a hangman on Bryan, followed by Samon drop, then his trademark leaping clothesline. Bryan does a drop toehold, sending Reigns crashing on the corner. He is setting up for his running kick, but was intercepted by a huge clothesline turning him inside out for a two count.
  • Reigns does his own version of the Three Amigos, which looks a bit awkward; one hand is around the belly, and his other hand is around the crotch. That might give Bryan a serious wedgie. Reigns then does his trademark dropkick on the apron.
  • Reigns sets up for a Superman punch, but is countered with a kick to the midsection (which the announce team lovingly and repeatedly calls the liver kick from here on out), followed by a series of running dropkicks on corner.
  • Reigns blocks the attempted hurricanrana on the top turnbuckle and turns it into a powerbomb for another nearfall.
  • Reigns pummels Bryan on the corner with thunderous clotheslines. He sets up Bryan on the top turnbuckle for a superplex attempt, but Bryan slips and trips Reigns. Bryan then followed up with a back superplex for yet another two count.
  • Bryan applied the Yes Lock on Reigns who reaches the bottom rope to break the hold and settles on the outside. Bryan then quickly does a couple of suicide dives. On the third suicide dive attempt, Reigns caught Bryan then delivers a rather stiff belly-to-belly overhead suplex on the outside. Reigns tries to spear Bryan who side steps and Reigns eats the steel steps instead. Both Reigns and Bryan barely beat the ref's 10 count.
  • Bryan climbs to the top and jumps at Reigns who catches him with a Superman punch but only landed a two count.
  • Reigns tries for another spear, which Bryan counters with a roll up for a two count. Bryan follows up with a spin kick to the head then his running knee finisher for a nearfall.
  • Crowd chants "This is awesome!" Again, they're right! :)
  • Bryan lands his trademark left and right kicks, with the roundhouse kick to the head blocked by Reigns and holding on to his leg. Bryan turns this into an armbar, then shifts again to a Yes Lock. Reigns lets out a visceral scream and powers out of the hold and beats down Bryan with right forearm shots to the head. Reigns gets trapped in a triangle choke but lifts Bryan and slams him hard on the mat.
  • Bryan and Reigns exchanged kicks and fists, which Bryan finally finished with a big roundhouse kick to the head sending the big man down. Bryan lines up for another running knee but was caught with a huge spear for the win.
  • Result: Roman Reigns defeats Daniel Bryan to face Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania.
  • Post-Match Event: Bryan confronts Reigns and says "You better kick his ass." then shakes his hand.
  • Post-Match Thoughts: Kudos to Reigns for adding a variety of new moves to his arsenal, like the many suplex variations he has shown tonight, which shows off his strength. He's working hard to show that he has what it takes to be the main event on Wrestlemania. And kudos to Daniel Bryan for doing his part to make Roman Reigns look like a million bucks! If Reigns hasn't won you over yet, nothing will. Great way to cap off the show.

Final Thoughts:
Fastlane is just a minor -- very minor -- stopover before Wrestlemania. It's a good pay-per-view, but it is nowhere that great either. Many of the matches felt just like a holdover for their respective bigger matches at Wrestlmania.

What the PPV did, however, was put over two of its new rising stars: Rusev and Roman Reigns. And they did it in a big way, by being put over by John Cena and Daniel Bryan, arguably the top two faces of the company right now.

Wow, I didn't imagine this post would be this long. Thanks for reading! :)
at 3:19 AM
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