Wrestling fans thought that after a two-year hiatus, the story of the Fastlane show might finally be over. Starting in 2015, WWE hosted six such events, and their quality varied.
Sometimes they were emotional, big stars participated, and they offered the audience a thrilling spectacle. But there were those that seemed to just fill time until the biggest show of the year - WrestleMania. Some of these shows were undoubtedly better than others. It's like in the game Aviator, where after a successful round, a failing one might follow.
We invite you on a brief dive into the history before the next Fastlane event. We will recall all the previous shows of this format and rank them – from the worst to the best.
6. Fastlane 2017
The least successful show turned out to be in 2017. It's hard to name another event that was weaker. This was an exclusive event for the Raw brand, and it strongly resembled a typical episode of Raw, but unfortunately, not in the best light. Unplanned matches like Cesaro against Jinder Mahal, Rusev against Big Show, and Sasha Banks against Nia Jax, fell short of expectations. There were good moments, such as Roman Reigns' clash against Braun Strowman and Neville against Jack Gallagher, but that was not enough. A major disappointment was Charlotte Flair's loss to Bayley, and the short match between Goldberg and Kevin Owens was, to put it mildly, a poor end to the evening.
5. Fastlane 2016
Matches like AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho, Charlotte Flair vs. Brie Bella, Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler, and Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks vs. Team BAD were spectacular. However, on the whole, they did not add drama leading up to the next WrestleMania. The bout between Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, and Dean Ambrose was dynamic, but its outcomes were predictable. Especially disappointing was the part where the Wyatt Family lost to Kane, Ryback, and Big Show.
4. Fastlane 2018
Fastlane for the SmackDown brand offered action, albeit without major surprises. In the main match featuring stars like AJ Styles, John Cena, and Kevin Owens, intense competition took place, though Styles' victory was expected. Other matches, like Shinsuke Nakamura against Rusev and Charlotte Flair against Ruby Riott, also turned out well.
3. Fastlane 2015
Though the debut Fastlane on paper didn't elicit high expectations, it ended up being a significant event, albeit with certain drawbacks. The match between Stardust and Goldust didn't live up to expectations, the team of heroes consisting of Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, and Erick Rowan lost to The Authority due to questionable decisions from the organizers, and the bout between Wade Barrett and Dean Ambrose ended without a clear result due to disqualification.
However, highlights like the Usos Brothers vs. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, Rusev vs. John Cena, and the main event with Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan lifted the show's quality. Unexpectedly, Bray Wyatt challenged The Undertaker.
2. Fastlane 2021
Despite being held in the ThunderDome, WWE managed to deliver a quality PPV. The show had its weak moments, particularly the match between Alexa Bliss and Randy Orton, but most matches were of high caliber. Bouts like Big E vs. Apollo Crews, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler against Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks displayed a consistent quality, but the standout segments were matches like Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre, and the main event Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan.
1. Fastlane 2019
This year's Fastlane was the most successful. Although not all matches reached their pinnacle, overall, it was a vibrant show gearing fans up for WrestleMania. Downsides? Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair didn't meet expectations, just like the bouts of Asuka vs. Mandy Rose and The Bar vs. Kofi Kingston. However, the "Revival" match against Aleister Black and Ricochet, the battle for the US championship title, and the triple threat match between Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, and Mustafa Ali elevated the show. It all culminated in a Shield team match where they triumphed over the team of McIntyre, Lashley, and Corbin.
