'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fastlane 2019 is finally over, and WWE can now direct their attention on building up the WrestleMania match card. While many thought that this year's edition of Fastlane was going to be as monotonous as its previous versions, it was surprisingly not.
WWE put on a show that not only built towards WrestleMania but fairly entertained you throughout its runtime, as the many decisions made on this event were the right ones, and it showed.
From wrapping up narratives we thought would never end to pleasantly surprising us throughout the broadcast, Fastlane 2019 was an exciting show that succeeded on many fronts. While there are some unpleased fans out there, as this was not a perfect show by any means, but let's just appreciate a show that had more positive effects on the product going forward. And as a wrestling fan what more could you ask for?
#7 Shane And Miz Implode
The storyline between the Miz and Shane McMahon finally came to a close at Fastlane 2019 when Shane destroyed his former best friend after they failed to take the Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship from the Usos.
We all knew that this was coming since Shane and Miz became best friends after their WWE World Cup win, as their partnership was only going to end in one way.
Putting this betrayal aside, this tag team match was a really well-fought contest, as both teams really got the crowd riled up by putting on spectacular performances in the ring, and that was a genuine surprise considering their last meeting was not all that amazing.
From here on out we can expect WWE to make Shane a hated authority figure on Smackdown Live, as his heel turn means more on Smackdown Live than just his potential match with The Miz at WrestleMania. A great match and a great twist, WWE did a great job with the booking of this narrative.
#6 Asuka Retains
Asuka losing to Mandy Rose is possibly worse than Ronda Rousey demeaning the wrestling business, and thankfully WWE did not go through with it, as Asuka is in a stage in her career where one wrong decision by WWE could destroy her crediblity forever.
Asuka winning was clearly the right choice, as this match showed that Mandy is a bright star in the women's division, but she is just not ready to hang with somebody like Asuka in the ring.
Now all Asuka needs on her road to WrestleMania is a strong opponent. However, after Charlotte and Becky are involved in the Women's Title feud on Raw, the next best challenger for her title is Ember Moon, but she is injured, so who does Asuka face at Wrestlemania?
Rumours indicate that it might be Lacey Evans, but after witnessing the way WWE handles Evans' character, it will feel like another wasted opportunity to get someone legitimate in the ring with Asuka. So whoever does step up to the Women's Champion, let us hope it is a superstar that can take Asuka to the limit.
#5 Kofi's Journey Continues
Everyone was pumped up and ready to witness Daniel Bryan take on Kofi Kingston at Fastlane, as this was Kofi's first-ever opportunity in the eleven years of his WWE career to hold the WWE Championship. Vince McMahon had other plans in mind, plans that did not involve Kofi. As McMahon replaced Kofi with a returning Kevin Owens, which sent the WWE Universe in a frenzy, as Kofi was robbed of another chance to cement his legacy.
But at Fastlane, Kofi thought that McMahon finally realized that he deserved the chance to compete for the title on the show, as McMahon promised the New Day in their backstage segment the WWE Title match was going to become a triple threat match, but he didn't say who was going to fill that third spot.
Well, you could bet that it was not going to be Kofi, as Kofi came down to the ring expecting to take on Daniel Bryan and Kevin Owens, but instead, it was The Bar that came out to take on Kofi in a handicap match.
This match was a classic babyface beatdown as The Bar destroyed Kinsgton in every way possible; still Kofi was not going to be left hanging as The New Day came out to make the save but were assaulted by their kick off opponents Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev. This was a great way to sell Kofi as an underdog, and it seems likely that he will get his chance at WrestleMania now.
#4 The US Title Is Showcased
The US Title might be the most underused title in WWE, as it does not matter who holds this title; it is never given respect by WWE it truly needs. Ever since John Cena brought the belt back to life in 2015, many thought this was finally the time for WWE to take the belt seriously.
That did not happen, as after Cena dropped the title it became more irrelevant than it was before he won it, but it seemed with Samoa Joe winning the title on Smackdown Live a week ago, things would change.
At Fastlane, things did change, as we got a huge fatal four-way match for the US Championship on the show, and this was a match that did not disappoint. Andrade, Joe, Rey Mysterio, and R-Truth put on a barn-burner of a match that saw Joe once again get the better of his opponents as he retained his US Title.
There is something special about the match these four men had, as the Andrade-Mysterio rivalry is something extraordinary, R Truth is not just the comedic relief, and Samoa Joe is once again establishing himself as a calculating destroyer. Great booking all round from WWE here, as we might be witnessing the rise of the US Title.
#3 Setting Up A Huge Comeback
One of the more unexpected moments from Fastlane this year was the beatdown of Sasha Banks, Bayley and Beth Phoenix by the team of Nia Jax and Tamina. After the Women's Tag Team Title match between these two teams, Jax and Tamina were not going to accept that they lost and started mauling Banks and Bayley, which led to the most unexpected stare down of the night.
Beth was forced to move out of her commentary position due to Banks being thrown in that spot, and that led to the Hall of Famer taking the matter in her own hands, as she started throwing hands with Tamina until Jax intervened. This led to a beatdown of Beth until Natalya tried to interfere, but it was in vain, as Jax and Tamina proved to be too strong for the best friends.
This is obviously leading to something, and that is a great thing for all the competitors involved, as Jax, Tamina, and Natalya are probably going to fit on the WrestleMania card, as with the inclusion of Beth Phoenix these superstars have something to do.
Furthermore, the return of Beth would be a welcomed sight, as she is one of the more underrated women's wrestlers from the diva's era, and now she has a chance to show her skills in an era where women's wrestling is taking over.
#2 Ali Gets His Chance To Shine
As stated earlier, Vince McMahon said that the WWE Title match on the show was going to become a triple threat match, but as you may know by now, that was not going to include Kofi Kingston, as he was beaten to a pulp by The Bar earlier in the night. But the third competitor in this match was a shocker nonetheless, as WWE threw a huge curveball at us by inserting Mustafa Ali into this WWE Title match.
If you told someone a year ago that Ali would be in a WWE Championship match they would probably troll you endlessly, but it actually happened, and that is a great thing. Even though the fans in the arena nearly derailed this match by demanding Kofi as the third man in this match, he amount of skill shown here was insane to the point that fans had no choice but to pay attention. Ali was particularly fantastic in his first WWE Title match, as he proved to the higher-ups that he is a star for the future.
#1 Becky Gets Her Chance
The one thing that fans had an issue within the narrative surrounding Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey and Charlotte was the fact that WWE overbooked things, as Becky's injury, Ronda's flip-flopping from heel to babyface and Charlotte's unnecessary inclusion all dampened this feud, but at Fastlane, WWE got something right.
While the match between Charlotte and Becky at the show was not the best match they had, the ending to the bout did everyone favors. Ronda appeared and made contact with Becky Lynch, which ended the match via DQ. That automatically made Becky the winner, and she is now finally going to WrestleMania.
Ronda targeting Becky was a genius move by WWE as it brings her back into this program, as after a video of her stating wrestling is fake surfaced online, things were taking a turn for the worse, but WWE managed to get her core motivation in place.
As for Becky, she is finally going to WrestleMania, and WWE can now start the proper build for this match.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
