Before I get to anything regarding the WWE Fast Lane matches, I have to give HUGE praise to Alberto del Rio. Prior to his match on the pre-show, as he walked down the aisle he stopped over to a fan with Down Syndrome, who was holding up a replica United States Championship. Alberto del Rio went over to the fan, and held up the title with him. That was a class-act.
Secondly, the new announcer Mauro Ranallo is awesome. He sounds like a genuine, bona-fide commentary expert. He called Kalisto’s top rope hurricanrana a Frankensteiner. This guy calls matches. He CALLS THE DAMN MATCH.
On the pre-show, Renee Young interviewed Paul Heyman, and Jerry Lawler sounds like he has reverted to his old heel-mode routine.
The pre-show match featured the Best-2-out-of-3-Falls for the United States Championship between Alberto del Rio and Kalisto. The first fall comes fast as Del Rio intentionally gets himself a DQ with a chair, however evens it up following a quick double-foot stomp. The match gets fast-paced, concluding with Kalisto sort-of hitting a Salida Del Sol into the corner, then rolls Del Rio up for the pinfall.
Our first match on the card is a Divas Tag Team match, Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks vs. Naomi and Tamina. Good match, crowd goes bananas for the NXT women. No shock. What also is not a shock was watching Banks take the match via submission.
Winners: Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks
Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens
Damn. This match rightfully earned the “This is Awesome” chants. Owens and Ziggler sold every bump, and some of the spots were outright insane. I love Ziggler, but Owens owned the match from beginning to end. He is just so damn good at being a goddamn pompous jerk. Superkicks for everyone, however Owens was one step ahead and scored the pinfall victory with a snap Pop-Up Powerbomb to retain.
Winner and still IC Champion: Kevin Owens
The Wyatt Family vs. Big Show, Kane, and Ryback
Well, I was surprised by the outcome. Overall a slow match, with the Wyatts being the faster of the bunch, and I will admit Ryback pulled out some surprising “big guy” moves, which I suppose was the idea. Nothing crazy in this one, just a straight-up brawl/fight scenario.
Winners: Show, Kane, Ryback
Backstage: Roman Reigns cuts a promo about being the last man standing… Uh, wrong stipulation?
WWE Divas Championship: Brie Bella vs. Charlotte
I am sure some people wanted Brie to win, but it was not happening tonight. Charlotte, to her credit, did an outstanding job of selling everything Brie threw at her. A lot of YES! chants during this match. I get it, we had the hope Brie would get the title in some sort of tribute to Daniel Bryan. Charlotte took every major bump, every spot, but suddenly one “injury” followed by a counter spelled doom for the wife of Bryan.
Winner by Submission and Still Divas Champion: Charlotte
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
This match, also, awesome. Y2J and Styles put on a hell of a show. Back and forth, telling a great story, which is something I do not say often these days. Jericho played the aggressor very well, with Styles fighting hard and often. It was a fantastic match with some incredible spots from both, including one where Jericho nearly broke Styles’ neck with a near botch. Styles hit the Clash, but Y2J kicked out. After a number of counters, Styles trapped Jericho in the Calf Crusher, forcing him to tap out. Post match tease, Jericho and AJ shake hands, and Jericho does not kick him in the nuts.
Winner by Submission: AJ Styles
Edge and Christian w/ The New Day
This was hysterical. Go find this online. The banter between them was funny, I was laughing the whole time. Nice reference to Lance Storm, and a reminder of when Kofi “lost” his Jamaican accent. Funny stuff, until for some odd reason, they make fun of The League of Nations, who then come out to confront all five in the ring. Wade Barrett got a few quips in. Yay! The segment ended with Edge and Christian calling the stable the International House of Dumbasses while they danced with the New Day.
Curtis Axel defeated R-Truth Because Goldust interfered by accident. Hoo boy.
Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose to go to the Main Event at WrestleMania
We all knew it was either Brock or Reigns. It did not shock me that Reigns pinned Ambrose to win, however this result did not protect The Beast. In fact, although Brock did break out Suplex City multiple times during the match, he wound up getting powerbombed through two tables and beaten to death by chair shots. Ambrose took some massive bumps as expected. Overall a good match, even if the ending was not the fairy tale finish for Dean Ambrose.
Post-match, Triple H and Roman Reigns confronted each other in the middle of the ring.
Overall, this was a really good event. The mid-card matches were entertaining, solid, and well paced. I have no complaints about this event at all.
