WWE Fastlane 2018: Ranking The Matches From Worst To First

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6. United States Title Match – Bobby Roode (c) vs Randy Orton

Wow. What a disappointment. It’s really hard to figure this one out. These are two very accomplished guys. Roode, one of the most successful TNA superstars of all time and already an NXT and United States champion in less than two years with the WWE, against a 13-time World Champion in Orton, on paper seemed like a solid matchup.

And was it bad? No, not terribly. It was just a professionally worked pro wrestling match between two guys with nearly 40 years combined experience in the industry. There was good psychology and story telling and also a solid ending. The biggest issue here is that these guys are too much like each other. They’re not overly exciting wrestlers on their own and together produced a boring 19 minute match that felt more like an hour. It just had no spark.

And let’s just admit what we don’t want to say about the beloved Roode. His main roster run has been thoroughly disappointing. His first program with Dolph Ziggler which lasted an excruciating two months was painful at very best. His follow up feud with Jinder Mahal wasn’t much better. And then for no particular reason, Orton was thrown into Roode’s path where Sunday night he ended “The Glorious One’s” U.S. title reign at a paltry 54 days. He clearly needs a full heel turn if he ever wants to be the Bobby Roode of old again.

One good thing that came out of this was Orton’s win of the U.S. strap, the only belt that has eluded him for his entire career. But unfortunately with the emergence of Mahal after the match, this looks like a certain triple threat match at Wrestlemania. Excuse me if I’m not jumping up and down over the idea of that.