Kick-Off Show
The Fastlane kick-off show comes to us from Columbus, Ohio, and begins with the panel of Renee Young, Sam Roberts, Booker T, and David Otunga. Sam says the WWE Universe is talking about this show because every SmackDown title is on the line and once it ends, we have a picture of what WrestleMania looks like.
The panel runs down tonight’s card before sending us backstage to Charly Caruso, who says there was an uncomfortable tension in catering earlier tonight. One man who is in a great mood today though, is Sami Zayn, who can’t wait for the match and says momentum is on his side. Charly says she didn’t see Kevin Owens around. However, she did see John Cena, who was very focused and looking to earn a spot at WrestleMania. And finally, she saw Dolph Ziggler, who wouldn’t answer any questions because he will do so in the Social Media Lounge later tonight.
We return to the panel, who start to discuss the SmackDown Women’s Championship feud betwenen Ruby Riott and Charlotte, and we get a video package for the show. Renee asks if Ruby has bitten off more than she can chew with Charlotte, to which Otunga says he doesn’t think so because Ruby has been a force since she appeared on SmackDown, and she hasn’t shown any nerves. Booker T says that Charlotte hasn’t been handed anything in her career, she has earned everything. Sam Roberts says both women have something to prove, with Charlotte constantly having to defend her name, and Ruby wanting to prove she belongs. The entire panel thinks Charlotte will take the win!
We return from a break to get a quick discussion about Nakamura and Rusev. We see a video of Nakamura accepting Rusev’s challenge for a match tonight. Otunga questions if Nakamura is more focused on WrestleMania, and might overlook Rusev, which could prove costly. Moving on, they show a selfie-promo from Baron Corbin, who talks about winning the six-pack challenge. The panel briefly discuss the match itself and Booker says he thinks Corbin could win, to which Sam says Corbin needs the win more than anyone else.
The panel move on to the WWE Tag Team Championship feud between The Uso’s and The New Day and we get a video package. Roberts says this could be a show-stealer tonight, and that this match is the best tag match WWE has to offer. Renee says some people think The New Day has gotten stale but she thinks that won’t be the case tonight. She says The New Day showed a new side on Tuesday night and maybe we’ll get a more serious New Day. We head backstage to Charly Caruso and The New Day, who’re dancing and holding a giant plate of pancakes – so maybe not serious. She asks what they have to say in regard to The Uso’s claim that they are getting stale, to which Big E says no act in WWE embodies the E more than they do. E says they bring all of the kids to the shows, with Unicorn horns on their heads, and have a good time. Kofi says they’ve been relevant since Day One, whereas The Uso’s took almost a decade to get to where they are. Woods says New Day chose to be family, they chose to take the world by storm, they chose to put the tag division back on the map, and they will choose to become five-time tag Champs tonight. They give Charly a pancake and walk off.
We return to the panel, with only 30 minutes until the main card kicks-off, and we move to a discussion of the United States Championship Match. After the video package, Renee asks how important it is for Randy to secure the U.S title and become a Grand Slam Champion, to which Booker says he doesn’t think Booker is losing any sleep over the U.S title but that it would look good over the mantle. Just then, Jinder Mahal and one of the Singh Brothers interrupts. Jinder says he wasn’t even in that package, and yet for the last month he has stood tall over both Randy Orton and Bobby Roode. Mahal rants about being the true Champion and how he is disrespected by the people and by SmackDown management.
We head backstage to Dolph Ziggler for some Twitter questions. Renee asks Dolph how he is feeling, and he says like a million bucks. Ziggler says he has waited his whole life for an opportunity to headline WrestleMania and this is his shot, and he doesn’t plan on failing. Ziggler says he stopped caring about the WWE Universe a long time ago and started looking out for himself, and the reason he abandoned the WWE U.S Title is because he has bigger fish to fry. Booker asks if his best years are behind him and Dolph gets fired-up and says he has never gotten injured in 13 years, and he is is there full-time, not just in the big towns or part-time, he is there every night, better than everyone, and he has deserved a WrestleMania spotlight. He reiterates that he is the very best but this might be his last chance to win the big one, every night could be his last, and he fights like that.
We head down to ringside for a match!
Breezango & Tye Dillinger Vs. Mojo Rawley, Benjamin & Gable
The match begins with Gable and Breeze. Gable grabs Tyler and slams him when he charges in, leading to Fandango tagging in. Dango turns to Dillinger, who hands him a set of amateur wrestling style headgear and he puts it on! The fans laugh but Gable grabs him with a rear takedown. Dango takes the headgear off and tags Breeze right back in. Chad gets on all fours and offers Tyler the back advantage, Breeze looks around before getting on him and riding him like a pony for a big laugh. Gable gets angry and starts wrestling Breeze but eats a big dropkick. Benjamin runs in and one for Shelton, followed by Rawley, and it’s dropkicks all around as the heels retreat from the ring.
Gable sidesteps a charge, monkey flip sends Breeze flying and we take a break for a short break. Back to the action, Benjamin is legal, arm drag into knee drops to the arm into a kneeling armbar with a chinlock added in, Breeze breaks away, right hands but Shelton blocks the tag with Divorce Court for two. Tag to Gable who applies a wristlock and hits some knees and earns a two count. Keylock applied by Gable, Tyler’s able to shift out of it so Gable changes it up, belly-to-belly suplex and Fandango breaks it up!
Tag to Rawley, straight left hands, headbutt, Mojo with a double leg to the corner trying to isolate him but he’s able to break out and get the hot tag to Tye! In like a freight train, charging chop, big lariat, the Perfect 10 takes his knee pad down but Shelton Benjamin makes the save! Dango with a dropkick but Chad is able to block a superkick and get the O’Connor roll for a nearfall! Rolling Koppo kick, tag to Shelton, up for the powerbomb but Dillinger fights out! Beauty Shot from Breeze, Benjamin to the apron, Rawley trying for a quick pin, no good! Dillinger’s superkick connects and then he finishes the match with the single-knee Codebreaker!
Winners: Breezango & Tye Dillinger
We return to the panel for one final discussion of the main event, the six-pack challenge. All three panellists think a different man will win, including John Cena, Baron Corbin, and AJ Styles. They talk about the importance of winning this match for each competitor before closing out the kick-off show.
