Opening Segment
Roman Reigns comes out and says he had a perfect performance at Elimination Chamber. Daniel Bryan takes exception to that and ridicules Reigns for taking the cowardly way out. He challenges Reigns to a match at Fastlane. Jey Uso goes off in a fantastic promo and says Bryan is at the back of the line and has to go through him. He beats up Bryan and Reigns & Uso walk off laughing.
Edge is not happy about this. He's backstage talking to Adam Pearce and says he was told a tag match at Fastlane was happening. Pearce apologizes and calls it a bigger attraction.
Alpha Academy defeated the Mysterios
5/10
Gable and Otis show off their attack on the Titantron. A couple of highlights of this were the powerbomb/senton from the Mysterios, and the assisted 619 as well. Otis makes the save on a pin attempt and goes full Mark Henry on Mysterio. Otis pins Rey clean with a second rope splash. You know we're gonna get this match again.
Apollo Crews defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
6/10
Apollo Crews kicking ass here. He's doing a Nigerian royalty gimmick. He says he's the Real African American, and cuts a really good promo. Shinsuke Nakamura comes out and gets beat up by Apolllo, but the ref stops it.
Crews is wearing new gear, Nigerian themed tights. They German Suplex the living shit out of each other repeatedly during this match. Crews wins by holding onto his scarf and pins Nakamura with an Angle slam. They went at it at a fast paced, and both looked inspired. Worth noting that Cesaro and Nakamura did not team together at all in February, and haven't on Smackdown since New Year's Day.
Tamina (w/ Natalya) defeated Liv Morgan (w/ Ruby Riott)
5.5/10
The last two weeks, Tamina has looked the best she has in years. It doesn't hurt that she has worked with some great sellers, too. It looked like she ran out of gas at the end of the match, as she struggled to get the Gunnslinger on Liv Morgan. There were some nice spots in this match and they're trying to establish Tamina. I'd really like it if they'd try to establish the really good tag team on the other side of the ring though.
The Decision
Kind of lame they didn't even bother to have Io Shirai as an option presented. Why not? Sonya Deville, Adam Pearce and Bianca Belair are out. Reginald tries to talk Bianca Belair out of picking Sasha Banks, but Sasha isn't having it. Sasha says Bianca is second best. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Title is on at WrestleMania. It should main event one of the nights.
Street Profits defeated Sami Zayn & King Corbin
5.5/10
Sami Zayn has pitched himself to King Corbin and management as a tag team, Corbin doesn't like it. I would have liked WWE to see the Cutler/Blake thing through, but Corbin teaming with Zayn would be a great idea. They have good chemistry, and Corbin is good in the ring, but needs a little something else added to work out. Corbin gets too preoccupied with Sami Zayn's film crew, and Zayn ends up getting his ass kicked.
Rollins and Cesaro
Seth Rollins comes out and is quickly interrupted by Cesaro. Rollins is doing the "Embrace The Division" gimmick, which I'm not really on board for, but I'm just glad to see him back. He asks Cesaro why he always comes up short. Cesaro beats that ass. Cesaro has no singles PPV matches since November 2019, 2 since April 2017, 3 since October 2016, 6 since November 2014, 9 since February 2013.
Top Contender Match For Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso goes to a double countout
7/10
I do like that Uso got a couple of pins at Elimination Chamber and has renewed confidence. Edge took exception to Bryan getting that title shot, though.
Bryan comes right at Uso with great offense, but Uso DESTROYS the knee of Bryan on the table and post. This is a main event caliber match that has the stakes, the pace, and the action. They keep beating the shit out of each other outside of the ring until a double countout hits.
Reigns attacks, and they jump Uso.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
