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Despite a rocky start for WWE Fastlane which saw the show stumble more than a sprint, the rear of the show delivered two high-quality matches with several men who will anchor April’s WrestleMania 37 event. Standing out above all else was the main event between universal champion Roman Reigns and challenger Daniel Bryan with Edge as the special executor at ringside.
Edge had already secured his place for the Universal Title at WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble. While his issues with Reigns were already established, Edge saw tensions build with Bryan during the last few editions of SmackDown. This led to a shocking main event finish that will likely change the whole complexion of one of the fights featured on the biggest weekend of the year for pro wrestling.
CBS Sports was with you all night, bringing you recaps, notes and highlights for all the action from ThunderDome in St. Petersburg, Tropicana Field in Florida.
WWE Fastlane 2021 results, notes
United States Championship – Riddle (c) against Mustafa Ali: The retribution was, of course, at ringside in support of Ali for the match. After a quick start for Riddle, Ali countered a senton with a neck kick, putting the champion on the defensive. Ali continued to work on Riddle’s neck and shoulder area, but Ali twisted his own knee in a wave of attack. Riddle exploded with a large chain of movements, including an electric bomb and a Final Flash knee strike, but Ali again countered Riddle’s attempt to fly, raising his knees to block a floating brother. After a series of counters from the two men, a Koji Clutch nearly won the match for Ali. Riddle managed to escape before eventually hitting Bro Derek from the second string to retain his title.
One of the best kickoff games in recent memory with a really well thought out game that showed the better of both men. After the match Ali ran to Retribution again, but Reckoning pulled away, followed by Slapjack. T-Bar and Mace then introduced Ali with a double-team chokebomb. Riddle def. Mustafa Ali via pinfall to retain the title. Category B
Women’s team championship – Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks: The champions struggled to get on the same page, arguing early, with Jax placing even when Baszler had an early advantage. Jax and Baszler started to launch out once it became clear that Banks and Belair were ready to work as a team. Belair hit 450 splashes on Baszler but Reginald jumped onto the ring apron to provide a distraction. Banks locked Baszler into the Bank Statement moments later and Belair jumped into the ring to stop Jax from breaking the hold, but Jax threw Belair back on Banks. Banks and Belair argued, allowing Baszler to curl Banks so that the pin retains the titles. Banks and Belair continued to argue after the game over who was responsible for the loss before Banks slapped and rushed over. There is simply nothing good about the construction WWE is doing to a money match between Belair and Banks at WrestleMania. Neither woman has been given a shine for weeks, and neither looks particularly smart or strong through the entire program so far. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler fight. Bianca Belair & Sasha Banks via pinfall to hold titles. Grade: C
Intercontinental Championship – Big E (c) against Apollo Crews: The match started with an immediate scuffle before Big E slammed his spear through the ropes to the ground. E continued to dominate Crews, hitting several splashes on the ring apron before throwing the challenger around the ring with suplexes until Crews finally came down with a dropkick to the champion’s knee. E’s aggression led to more openings for Crews before a confusing end with a few fall reversals before E had Crews’ shoulders to score the pin and retain the title. The crews broke after the match, beating Big E with several deliveries of his variant of the Olympic slam before standing above the champion. This match took 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. Elias: It was supposed to be Strowman against Shane McMahon, but McMahon “injured his knee” in pre-show practice, leading to Elias as a substitute. Strowman was able to push Jaxson Ryker’s involvement out of the ring on several occasions. Finally, Ryker was able to provide enough distraction for Elias to hit a cutting block and an elbow falling off the top rope. Strowman was able to pull back and strike the on-going powerslam for victory moments later. It was a throwaway match that only served to drag out issues between Strowman and McMahon, and there’s nothing good about it. Braun Strowman beats. Elias via pinfall. Quality: C-
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Rollins was all over Nakamura from the jump, taking the fight in and out of the ring. Rollins started taunting Nakamura and focusing on the 22 times Cesaro threw him on SmackDown weeks ago. Rollins tried to swing him but Nakamura fired back with an armband. This moment allowed Nakamura to return to the game, and he and Rollins began to trade offensive bursts. Nakamura looked set to finish things off with a Kinshasa but Rollins countered with an elbow to the back of the neck, followed by a kick to the same spot. This left Nakamura prone, and he ate the stomp for the finish. This game was not as good as it could have been, but it was perfectly fine, especially given the poor streak of previous games. Seth Rollins defeats. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall. Category B-
Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus (unrestrained match): It took not long after the brawl began for the action to spill out outside the ring and a variety of weapons to emerge from under the ring. A stack of kendo sticks was part of the loot and it wasn’t long before Sheamus used them to mark the front and back of McIntyre’s torso. McIntyre returned the favor, taking things a step further by ramming the end of the stick into Sheamus’ eye. With the brutality continuing, the fight began to move through the ThunderDome, leaving the ring area and heading for the stands with the LED screens before McIntyre throws Sheamus through a set of screens. McIntyre tried to get Sheamus back to the ring where he could score the pin, but Sheamus knocked him over the ring barricade with a Brogue Kick and knocked White Noise through the announcement table. McIntyre was able to come back with a Future Shock DDT and a Claymore to score the victory. It was the first really good match from the main show. McIntyre and Sheamus trust each other to put on brutal matches that never feel really dangerous beyond the story they tell, and everything they’ve done in the last few months has really clicked. Drew McIntyre beats. Sheamus via pinfall. Quality: A-
Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss: Before the match, Orton vomited the black paste again. Orton tried to attack once the match started but Bliss pulled away, sending him crashing his shoulder first into the ring post. Lights fell from the rig then, almost hitting Orton as Bliss laughed. Bliss scoffed at Orton for stepping back into the ring, shooting a fireball at him after doing so. A scorched hand emerged from a hole in the ring, grabbing Orton’s ankle before The Fiend crossed the web. Bliss pushed Orton forward in The Fiend, allowing him to punch Sister Abigail for Bliss to cover the count of three. The match, like the entire Orton vs Fiend angle, will largely depend on personal taste. But The Fiend’s comeback was solid enough to overcome a bit of a slog in preventing Bliss and Orton from making physical contact and violating WWE’s stance on gender wrestling. Alexa Bliss def. Randy Orton via pinfall. Category 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 the challenger on a hold basis. He proved this point from the early stages, getting into Reigns’ head with takedowns and grabs before throwing body and leg kicks while avoiding the path. Reigns attempted a header but was caught in a submission, eventually having to resort to a header to take over on offense. Reigns’ power was finally able to allow him to resume the match as Edge paced the ring. After taking an extended beating, Bryan was finally able to get his offense after a series of kicks, but an attempt to rana the top rope was countered by a Boston crab by Reigns.
Bryan was able to strike back once more, landing an attack outside the ring, then a knee to Reigns’ arm, attempting to soften him for a Yes Lock. Reigns lost control and started attacking Bryan in the corner while ignoring the ref, but Bryan kept fighting back, hitting a rana and then a pair of kicks to the head for a close fall. Bryan then landed a series of kicks in the face before rolling into a Yes Lock and securing the hold again after Reigns nearly escaped. Reigns was able to break Bryan’s grip and land a flurry of punches, which led to Bryan inadvertently knocking out the ref with a working knee. Reigns hit a spear and Edge slid into the ring to do the count, but Bryan sent off at two. As Reigns argued with Edge and tried to attack Bryan, Bryan locked himself in a triangular choke before switching to a Yes Lock and landing against cross strikes. Jey Uso ran and delivered a superkick to Edge and another to Bryan before grabbing a steel chair from ringside, only to be hit with a running knee from Bryan. Bryan went to hit Reigns with the chair but Reigns moved, causing Bryan to punch Edge before he was hit with a punch from Superman. Bryan then countered a spear in the Yes Lock. Reigns started typing, but Edge hit Bryan with a chair, then did the same with Reigns before storming. A new referee entered the ring as Reigns crawled to cover Bryan for the win.
It was an exceptional thing from the two men. Daniel Bryan has a legitimate claim to be the greatest professional wrestler in history exactly because of matches like this – making changes big and small that completely alter a match while staying true to his established persona. It seems clear that he will be in the WrestleMania match with Edge and Reigns, and there is nothing wrong with that. Roman Reigns defeats. Daniel Bryan via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: A
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