Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Monday Night Raw has built to this night since the Royal Rumble with everyone on the roster standing up to the challenge. Goldberg laid claim to the Universal Championship, ready to give Kevin Owens his biggest challenge yet. Meanwhile, Braun Strowman provided the biggest challenge to Roman Reigns he has ever faced.
With every Raw championship on the line and huge stakes set for WrestleMania, Fastlane was set to be the night where Raw declared how great it could be. No one could quite know what to expect, but who doesn't get excited for a WWE pay-per-view regardless of the build?
With every Raw championship on the line and huge stakes set for WrestleMania, Fastlane was set to be the night where Raw declared how great it could be. No one could quite know what to expect, but who doesn't get excited for a WWE pay-per-view regardless of the build?
For a second there, I almost believe Noam Dar had a chance. Then I remember it was Noam Dar.
Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa def. The Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar
Overview: The faces simply seemed to have the heels number throughout this match. Akira Tozawa repeatedly looked for a chance to suplex Brian Kendrick, finally nailing it at the end before Rich Swann connected with a Swann Kick and Phoenix Splash for the win on Noam Dar.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a masterpiece by Raw's standards for cruiserweight, but it was only a solid fast-paced encounter for everyone else. The tag team match was a lot of spots and not much to write home about with the faces picking up an expected win to get the crowd fired up.
Highlights:
- Swann caught Tozawa mid-double suplex and set him down for a double dropkick that sent Kendrick and Dar outside only for a double suicide dive to stop when Fox was thrown in front of the heels.
- Swann hit a pair of running clothesline followed by a spinning back kick to the knee and a running double foot stomp to set up a running frog splash.
- Kendrick choked out Swann in the corner with his boot then connected with a drop toe hold almost into the Captain's Hook, settling for a suplex as Swann recovered.
- Swann fought right out of Dar's grip with a Swann Kick.
- Kendrick barely tagged out before he could take a German suplex then both heels were dumped outside for a somersault plancha and suicide dive in stereo.
Analysis: This was a masterpiece by Raw's standards for cruiserweight, but it was only a solid fast-paced encounter for everyone else. The tag team match was a lot of spots and not much to write home about with the faces picking up an expected win to get the crowd fired up.
Rating: 7.25/10
Joe is following the exact path of Kevin Owens to the title scene. By next year, he'll be dropping his title to Kurt Angle.
Samoa Joe def. Sami Zayn
Overview: This was a closely contested affair for a while but only thanks to Sami Zayn's ability to string together a flurry of offense before getting grounded again by Samoa Joe's shocking strength. Zayn ran right into a uranage followed by a Coquina Clutch with Zayn forced to tap out.
Highlights:
Analysis: For whatever reason, there was no real energy in this match. These two have already had an excellent match together, proving their cohesion. However, this was too short with a finish that came almost out of nowhere. It did help to solidify the dominant run of Joe to come, but it did not make for the great opener it should have been.
Highlights:
- Joe knocked out Zayn early with a back elbow and enzuigiri in the corner.
- Zayn's momentum was stopped abruptly with a low leg sweep.
- Zayn landed a sudden clothesline then a Blue Thunder Bomb near-fall.
- Zayn missed a top rope dive and took an atomic drop into a big boot into a running senton.
- Joe caught Zayn on the top rope with an enzuigiri, but Zayn blocked his superplex only to have his sunset flip blocked.
Analysis: For whatever reason, there was no real energy in this match. These two have already had an excellent match together, proving their cohesion. However, this was too short with a finish that came almost out of nowhere. It did help to solidify the dominant run of Joe to come, but it did not make for the great opener it should have been.
Rating: 7.5/10
Hey, it's a Big Cass hot tag sequence. Who knew it always ended in an Empire Elbow, other than anyone who has seen any of his hot tag sequences?
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson def. Enzo and Cass to Retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
Overview: Enzo and Cass tried to bring the fight to Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson early but ran into a buzzsaw when Enzo was isolated. Surviving a hot tag run from Cass, Gallows saved Anderson after the Bada Boom Shakalaka then threw Cass into the barricade. Anderson landed a single-leg front dropkick with Gallows knocking Enzo's leg off the rope.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a quality encounter between two teams that have yet to hit the next level in the ring in WWE. The finish in particular was extremely well crafted as a high energy showcase without overreliance on nearfalls. It was still the fairly classic formula for Enzo and Cass, but it was a fun tag clash.
Highlights:
- Cass threw Enzo into Anderson then big booted Gallows outside before elevating an Enzo crossbody onto both outside.
- Enzo finally created space by landing an enzuigiri on Anderson and sending Gallows into the steel post only to be intercepted by a single-leg front dropkick.
- Enzo dodged Gallows in the corner and dodged his elbow drop before sending Anderson into the turnbuckle to hit the hot tag.
- Cass hit a fallaway slam into a Stinger splash then repeated the move on the opposite of the ring followed by a sidewalk slam and Empire Elbow.
- Gallows was big booted off the apron then Anderson's failed roll up attempt got him a big boot as well followed by Bada Boom Shakalaka with Gallows breaking up the pinfall.
Analysis: This was a quality encounter between two teams that have yet to hit the next level in the ring in WWE. The finish in particular was extremely well crafted as a high energy showcase without overreliance on nearfalls. It was still the fairly classic formula for Enzo and Cass, but it was a fun tag clash.
Rating: 7.75/10
I'm suddenly reminded Nia Jax tapped out in three seconds to the Dis-arm-her at Survivor Series. Oh wait, we already retconned that just like Jax's entire NXT run. Sorry.
Sasha Banks def. Nia Jax
Overview: Nia Jax never let Sasha Banks move in this match as she targeted the back with vicious efficiency. Jax blocked much of what Sasha could do and seemed to have the match wrapped up only to take too much time taunting Sasha, having her Samoan drop reversed into a bridged roll up for three.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was not a pretty encounter, but it was effective, capitalizing on the size difference between the two wrestlers. Banks used her speed to maneuver around and almost get Jax down only to still seem outmatched before stealing a victory. This helps even up the rivalry between the women to set up for the expected fatal four way.
Highlights:
- Jax quickly grounded Sasha with an axe handle to the back then hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before locking in a back stretch.
- Sasha blocked an Irish whip from Jax only to be slammed into the turnbuckle and put up in a torture rack that Sasha reversed into a guillotine then a sleeper.
- Banks dodged Jax then hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT into the Bank Statement.
- Jax caught Banks off the ropes with a chokeslam then hit a running leg drop.
Analysis: This was not a pretty encounter, but it was effective, capitalizing on the size difference between the two wrestlers. Banks used her speed to maneuver around and almost get Jax down only to still seem outmatched before stealing a victory. This helps even up the rivalry between the women to set up for the expected fatal four way.
Rating: 7.75/10
Obviously Vince McMahon was just unsatisfied with the number of big muscly men on this PPV.
Cesaro def. Jinder Mahal; Big Show def. Rusev
Overview: Rusev and Jinder Mahal fought around the ring before Jinder blasted Rusev with a high knee right into the timekeeper's area. The first of two surprise matches came next with Cesaro stepping up to Jinder. Jinder was distracted by the return of Rusev and walked into a pop-up powerbomb.
Post-match, Rusev beat down Jinder in the corner before a running jumping side kick. Big Show came out for the second match, and Rusev seemed to have no answer for the big man for a while. Rusev found a way to fight back only to find Show's speed and power too much, taking a trio of chokeslam and the WMD as the exclamation point.
Highlights:
Analysis: These two completely unnecessary matches were actually quite solid. Jinder had his best performance to date with Cesaro a good foil for him in a physical encounter. Then Rusev and Show had perhaps their best clash together to date despite telling a story that was not there before.
Still, both matches were time filler with too much time spent on these contests that had no relevance to this show. This could have easily been a Raw segment with two above-TV quality bouts, but apparently we can't give this kind of time to matches on Raw anymore.
Post-match, Rusev beat down Jinder in the corner before a running jumping side kick. Big Show came out for the second match, and Rusev seemed to have no answer for the big man for a while. Rusev found a way to fight back only to find Show's speed and power too much, taking a trio of chokeslam and the WMD as the exclamation point.
Highlights:
- Jinder caught Cesaro, using the ropes to bounce Cesaro right into forearms to the back only for Cesaro to turn around and hit a sudden forearm of his own.
- Cesaro caught Jinder off a leap frog into a backbreaker.
- Jinder trapped Cesaro on the second rope for a running dropkick to the back.
- Cesaro's suplex attempt failed when his injured back gave out, taking a sudden running high knee.
- Cesaro landed a single-arm vertical suplex.
- Cesaro sent Jinder reeling all over the ring with uppercuts then hit a 619 before a diving crossbody near-fall.
- Rusev hit repeated clothesline on Show, just dazing him, only to take two clothesline from Show that leveled him.
- Rusev caught Show suddenly with a low shoulder block to the knee.
- Rusev jumped out of a chokeslam then hit another shoulder block to the back of the leg followed by repeated side kicks to the skull.
- Show slipped through The Accolade and knocked Rusev outside.
Analysis: These two completely unnecessary matches were actually quite solid. Jinder had his best performance to date with Cesaro a good foil for him in a physical encounter. Then Rusev and Show had perhaps their best clash together to date despite telling a story that was not there before.
Still, both matches were time filler with too much time spent on these contests that had no relevance to this show. This could have easily been a Raw segment with two above-TV quality bouts, but apparently we can't give this kind of time to matches on Raw anymore.
Rating: 7.25/10
Who knew it would take Raw being terrible for the cruiserweight to have their greatest showing to date?
Neville def. Jack Gallagher to Retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Overview: Neville seemed to take Gallagher for granted at first before he saw how the fiery Gentleman was ready to do everything including high flying barely in his arsenal. Neville grew more and more frustrated as his rival took everything and fought back to the point he was forced to go back to the Red Arrow to take the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a surprising match in many ways as Gallagher played the babyface role with the kind of reckless abandon he has never truly showcased. There was no technical offense here as Gallagher was wildly outmatched in that department, resorting instead to pure striking ability.
Meanwhile, Neville continued to show how one can fly around the ring with pure malicious intent. While he was fluid and on point, he was a true heel in all he did. It was a match that solidified Neville's status as one of the best heels on the roster and gave both men one of their best matches of their careers.
Highlights:
- Gallagher twice taunted Neville by landing in a handstand in the corner before landing double boots to the face.
- Neville dragged Gallagher outside and slammed him back-first into the barricade followed by a missile dropkick back in the ring with malice.
- Gallagher caught Neville and rained down elbows in the center of the ring before landing two dropkicks with Neville rolling outside into a corkscrew plancha.
- Neville connected with a snap German suplex into a phoenix splash off the second rope.
- Gallagher desperately fought back with back-to-back headbutts for the near-fall.
- Neville dodged the corner dropkick and landed a superkick.
- Gallagher seemed to knock Neville out cold with a headbutt on the top rope but was deposited to the mat by a suddenly awakened Neville.
Analysis: This was a surprising match in many ways as Gallagher played the babyface role with the kind of reckless abandon he has never truly showcased. There was no technical offense here as Gallagher was wildly outmatched in that department, resorting instead to pure striking ability.
Meanwhile, Neville continued to show how one can fly around the ring with pure malicious intent. While he was fluid and on point, he was a true heel in all he did. It was a match that solidified Neville's status as one of the best heels on the roster and gave both men one of their best matches of their careers.
Rating: 9.25/10
The New Day Introduce Their Ice Cream Bike
Overview: The New Day came out with an ice cream cart, wheeled by a bicycle. They talked about how they would be wheeling all the way to WrestleMania and getting ice cream to all the WWE Universe.
Analysis: They actually put this segment on PPV. They decided it was smart to put this on their big show. I'm not even dignifying this with a picture.
Analysis: They actually put this segment on PPV. They decided it was smart to put this on their big show. I'm not even dignifying this with a picture.
And the superhero overcomes the monstrous supervillain and saves us all from having to deal with an indomitable beast in the main event scene. Because that would be the worst.
Roman Reigns def. Braun Strowman
Overview: Roman Reigns quickly isolated Braun Strowman and began beating him down, but it stopped quickly thanks to the power of Strowman. Both men were injured by physical and intense offense until Reigns managed to injure Strowman then dodge a top rope splash before a Reigns Spear ended the contest.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was about as good as expected. It was physical and intense with many great spots throughout. While the pacing didn't make it a showstealer, it was certainly another great match to add to Strowman's early repertoire. I wouldn't mind a round two, particularly with more freedom, potentially a street fight.
I was hoping WWE would extend Strowman's dominance much longer than they did. This was a one-off encounter between these two with Reigns winning clean which just feels like a waste. Why not have Strowman win in a cheap manner to set up a rematch down the line for Reigns to conquer the monster?
Highlights:
- Strowman stopped Reigns' rain of fists in the corner with a spinebuster.
- Strowman blocked the Samoan drop of Reigns with an elbow and hit his own.
- Reigns hit back-to-back running clotheslines to no effect on Strowman with his third being reversed right into a reverse chokeslam.
- Strowman caught Reigns mid-Drive By and launched him into the steel post.
- Reigns dodged a Strowman charge with the big man smacking into the post shoulder-first followed by a flurry of fists from Reigns and Samoan drop.
- Reigns dodged a big boot which sent Strowman over the ropes to the floor.
- Strowman caught Reigns mid-Spear outside and hit a running powerslam through the announce table.
- Strowman limped back to the ring right into a Spear near-fall.
- Reigns hit back-to-back Superman Punches with Strowman staying standing only to run right into double forearms.
Analysis: This match was about as good as expected. It was physical and intense with many great spots throughout. While the pacing didn't make it a showstealer, it was certainly another great match to add to Strowman's early repertoire. I wouldn't mind a round two, particularly with more freedom, potentially a street fight.
I was hoping WWE would extend Strowman's dominance much longer than they did. This was a one-off encounter between these two with Reigns winning clean which just feels like a waste. Why not have Strowman win in a cheap manner to set up a rematch down the line for Reigns to conquer the monster?
Rating: 8.75/10
This was one odd double turn.
Bayley def. Charlotte Flair to Retain the Raw Women's Championship
Overview: Charlotte Flair quickly took control and technically dominated Bayley, taunting Bayley at every turn. When Charlotte went for a top rope moonsault to the outside, Sasha ran out and distracted Charlotte to take a Bayley-to-Belly on the floor. Then Charlotte tried to roll up Bayley with a handful of tights only for Sasha to call it out setting up another Bayley-to-Belly to win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was not quite the match they had at the Royal Rumble, but it wasn't too far off with excellent mat work by Charlotte throughout. The finish was a bit too sudden, killing the pacing of Bayley's furious comeback. Still, it is hard to be frustrated with a match this solid for a round two in a feud far from over.
Charlotte lost for the first time on pay-per-view in a singles match, and it was not clean. However, the finish for stories to come made sense. Sasha came out almost for no reason and made sure she helped Bayley win. This sets up Sasha to turn on Bayley as she will feel entitled to a shot at the champion, having "made" her.
Highlights:
- Bayley knocked Charlotte off the apron with a running forearm then sent her into the floor with a flying headscissors.
- Bayley fought back with a second rope arm drag but then was turned right into a back slam off the ropes into a series of knee drops.
- Charlotte threw Bayley around the ring with figure-four headscissor takedowns.
- Charlotte landed a moonsault into a rolling senton.
- Bayley came back in a desperate flurry with knees and forearms into an elevated cutter and a belly-to-back suplex in the corner.
- Charlotte landed a sudden Natural Selection only as a near-fall.
- Charlotte caught Bayley on the apron, slamming her onto her back on the floor.
Analysis: This was not quite the match they had at the Royal Rumble, but it wasn't too far off with excellent mat work by Charlotte throughout. The finish was a bit too sudden, killing the pacing of Bayley's furious comeback. Still, it is hard to be frustrated with a match this solid for a round two in a feud far from over.
Charlotte lost for the first time on pay-per-view in a singles match, and it was not clean. However, the finish for stories to come made sense. Sasha came out almost for no reason and made sure she helped Bayley win. This sets up Sasha to turn on Bayley as she will feel entitled to a shot at the champion, having "made" her.
Rating: 8.25/10
I feel like I've seen this scene before. Talented hard worker vs. part-time veteran in poor shape... Oh wait, that's every year.
Goldberg def. Kevin Owens to Become the New WWE Universal Champion
Overview: Kevin Owens attempted to stall the start of this match from the moment he got in the ring, stalking outside the ring. When he finally called for the bell, Chris Jericho's music hit. As Jericho stared down KO, the bell rang, and Goldberg hit a Spear and Jackhammer for the win.
Analysis: This went down nearly exactly the way WWE set it up to go down. Owens' stalling didn't count toward match time, so this was one of the fastest title changes in history. Jericho got to set up his clash with KO by costing him the title, and WWE got the title over to their money match.
From a pure hype perspective, WWE has done an incredible job setting up Goldberg as an unstoppable force. I just worry he's not good enough to carry through with it by proving he has the conditioning to put on a match worthy of WrestleMania next month. Mania can't just be another squash.
Analysis: This went down nearly exactly the way WWE set it up to go down. Owens' stalling didn't count toward match time, so this was one of the fastest title changes in history. Jericho got to set up his clash with KO by costing him the title, and WWE got the title over to their money match.
From a pure hype perspective, WWE has done an incredible job setting up Goldberg as an unstoppable force. I just worry he's not good enough to carry through with it by proving he has the conditioning to put on a match worthy of WrestleMania next month. Mania can't just be another squash.
Rating: N/A
Sasha Banks was so ineffective in her run-in that the referee couldn't disqualify her for interfering.
Final Notes: Bayley challenge Charlotte in an interview to leave Dana Brooke in the back with Nia Jax interrupting and promising to take the title from Bayley soon if she survived Charlotte. Kevin Owens was interviewed about his match tonight and laughed at Goldberg's accomplishments because he's been gone so long.
Mick Foley found out Stephanie McMahon would not make it to Fastlane and promised things would go off without a hitch. Later, he told Joe to stay out of the main event. Paul Heyman was interviewed about his appearance at Fastlane, saying that Lesnar could be there but would not state if he was or not.
Conclusion: Apparently, the only people who weren't told this was actually another edition of Monday Night Raw were Neville, Gallagher, Reigns, and Strowman. That's a bit unfair, but it felt true as the booking staff made this whole night feel like one long Raw with few matches stepping up.
While some of the booking made sense to push toward the future, they butchered this show with Goldberg's need for another squash match, forcing WWE to make hasty moves to salvage the fifteen minutes that the main event should have been working with in a usual situation.
If this was Raw's attempt to drive toward WrestleMania, it failed spectacularly. For the second time Goldberg has competed in the singles main event, the show has fallen apart underneath him. With it likely that Goldberg will also headline Mania, can WWE change this bad trend?
I just don't know, but I hardly felt like what I was watching was worth the time invested which is a rare statement as nearly every WWE PPV at least has enough quality performance to elevate the booking. This did not. Ending on a positive note, shout out to Neville and Gallagher who should have been the main event.
Mick Foley found out Stephanie McMahon would not make it to Fastlane and promised things would go off without a hitch. Later, he told Joe to stay out of the main event. Paul Heyman was interviewed about his appearance at Fastlane, saying that Lesnar could be there but would not state if he was or not.
Conclusion: Apparently, the only people who weren't told this was actually another edition of Monday Night Raw were Neville, Gallagher, Reigns, and Strowman. That's a bit unfair, but it felt true as the booking staff made this whole night feel like one long Raw with few matches stepping up.
While some of the booking made sense to push toward the future, they butchered this show with Goldberg's need for another squash match, forcing WWE to make hasty moves to salvage the fifteen minutes that the main event should have been working with in a usual situation.
If this was Raw's attempt to drive toward WrestleMania, it failed spectacularly. For the second time Goldberg has competed in the singles main event, the show has fallen apart underneath him. With it likely that Goldberg will also headline Mania, can WWE change this bad trend?
I just don't know, but I hardly felt like what I was watching was worth the time invested which is a rare statement as nearly every WWE PPV at least has enough quality performance to elevate the booking. This did not. Ending on a positive note, shout out to Neville and Gallagher who should have been the main event.