RAW got a little crazy. You’d think that WWE Fastlane was as big as Survivor Series or Summerslam. They are touting the crap out of this event. WWE Fastlane has to be said in every single promo and segment.
Goldberg hits the ring to start, talking up winning the Universal Championship. This quickly prompts Kevin Owens to come out and craft a beautifully executed promo of how facing Goldberg is part of his own evolution as champion. Goldberg challenges Owens to the ring, but the champ saves it for Fastlane.
Not bad having this start the show, but the whole mid-card seemed very lackluster. I get the hype for the event, but it just felt forced and uninspired.
Mick Foley comes off as a mopey, sheepish has-been, but thankfully the final segment of the night shows he has a lot of fire left in him.
The New Day defeats Rusev and Jinder Mahal
New Day comes out and teases with The Shining Stars for a match, but pulls a joke about the Oscars and informs Primo and Epico they actually have a match with The Big Show. Instead, The New Day defeat Rusev and Mahal, with the losers appearing to have some issues.
Backstage: Enzo and Cass attempt to get ready for confrontations with Gallows and Anderson.
Backstage: Cesaro and Samoa Joe have a confrontation, and it looks like some old blood from Ring of Honor is going to resurface in WWE?
Once more, with feeling, backstage: Stephanie McMahon runs down Mick Foley and pretty much uses every heel cliché to berate the beloved hardcore legend.
Akira Tozawa defeats Noam Dar
Good match, a bit short, but Tozawa continues his roll until Brian Kendrick beats up again. Fastlane preview show!
Backstage: Samoa Joe and Mick Foley have words, Foley, angry, books Joe in a match with Cesaro.
Nia Jax and Charlotte defeats Bayley and Sasha Banks
Before the match we get a lot of in-ring banter, solid work, but Bayley sounds a bit broken-record-like and forcing the “oomph” to get the crowd riled up. It was supposed to be Dana Brooke, but thankfully she was scripted out and Jax was put in her place. Jax pretty much mauls the faces, and she does such a believably good job of it.
Because we haven’t had enough backstage: Mick Foley tells Braun Strowman he doesn’t have a match tonight. Strowman is OK with that, he wants an arranged contract signing with Roman Reigns. Oh, this will end well.
Big Cass completely destroys Luke Gallows
Yep. Gallows had all of a minute of offense, Cass went to town on Gallows, hitting him with everything, including a massive big boot for the win.
Sheamus defeats Titus O’Neal rather quickly
Not as dominant as Big Cass, but this match happens because Titus ticked off Sheamus while he was eating. Ooookay. Titus beats up Sheamus before the bell rings, so it seems Sheamus may be at a disadvantage, but oops! The bell ring, Titus charges, and eats a Brough Kick. Anyone else noticing a theme tonight??
In the ring: Corey Graves interviews Seth Rollins
Alright, I am not going to recap the entire interview. It’s Graves asking Rollins what is going on in his head, if he will be at Mania, how his leg is healing, etc… Problem is, Rollins sounds very unconvincing. He was more sincere during his heel run. Rollins gets all sappy, until Triple H and Samoa Joe arrive. The Game gets all evil, cuts a good promo about making and breaking Rollins down. Triple H threatens Rollins not to show up at WrestleMania, so Rollins says he will be at WrestleMania. Segment ends.
Highlight: CM Punk chants. Yep. That’s how dull the interview was.
Big Show destroys Shining Stars
I don’t even need to describe this debacle.
For the love of everything good and holy, we go backstage!
Neville, looking mean, tries to get Tony Nese focused on hurting the challenger to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Jack Gallagher and TJ Perkins defeat Tony Nese and Neville
A big opportunity was missed. Both faces came out to Gallagher’s music. They should have come out to Perkins’ Game Start, where, at the character select, could have shown both Perkins and Gallagher icons selected, then come out to Gallagher’s music. In any case, short match, Gallagher forces Nese to tap out.
Beth Phoenix is next to go into the WWE Hall of Fame
Very well deserved.
Samoa Joe defeats Cesaro
But Cesaro gets the MVP award. Holy crap this match was insane. Cesaro looked like he got legit hurt at the beginning, but you wouldn’t know it watching the rest of the match. Good grief he was tossing The Destroyer all over the place. Great match. Smart move by making this the last match of the night. Post match, Sami Zayn blindsides Joe.
The final segment of the night should have seen a contract signing, but Braun Strowman pissed off Mick Foley who got in the monster’s face, but Roman Reigns rushed out to start the brawl, which went all over the area.
This had a very odd finish, Strowman throws Reigns into the corner, with the top turnbuckle “bursting” off. By bursting, I mean triggered to snap. But whatever, drama.
Interesting finish.
