WWE Fastlane 2019: Final Grades for Every Match

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs. Mandy Rose

The first women’s match of WWE Fastlane saw Asuka defending the SmackDown Women’s Title against Mandy Rose. Despite a haphazard build, this turned out to be a very solid match and one of Mandy Rose’s best outings in WWE to date. Rose was in classic heel form, using little distractions and help from Sonya Deville at ringside to gain the upper hand whenever possible.

Meanwhile, Asuka was as dangerous as dynamic as ever, proving once again just what made her such an unstoppable force during her fabled undefeated streak. Rose’s tactics and assistance from Deville eventually backfired, as a ring apron lifted by Deville to retrieve a Kendo Stick gave Rose something to slip on. That one slip let Asuka have the opening for a devastating spinning kick that nearly knocked Rose’s jaw into the third row, and handily let The Empress of Tomorrow retain her title.

After the match, Sonya Deville looked stunned that her actions may have inadvertently cost Mandy Rose the match. She tried to approach Rose to apologize or sort things out, but Mandy Rose completely refused to speak to Deville or address the situation. WWE could be laying the seeds for the end of this friendship.

Grade: B+, Not an exceptional match, but still a really solid one. Mandy Rose played her role well, Asuka looked great, and the finish combined with the ensuing drama between Rose and Deville leaves some proper intrigue moving forward.

Kofi Kingston vs. The Bar

Now we’ve reached the first moment where WWE Fastlane really started to slide off the rails. Big E and Xavier Woods approached Kofi Kingston backstage to see what had come of the meeting with the McMahons. The only problem was Kofi had been standing outside of their office the entire time waiting to talk to them. Big E and Woods immediately stuck up for Kingston, barging into the office and emphasizing that Kofi had waited 11 years and that was plenty long enough.

Vince McMahon acted receptive, seemingly added Kofi Kingston to the WWE Championship Match and made it a triple threat, lastly saying The New Day was barred from ringside and telling Kofi Kingston to head out to the ring for his match. Kofi got out there, and a sudden change from ringside came as the referee announced the WWE Championship match was later in the night and Kofi would instead be competing in a 2-on-1 handicap match against The Bar where both members of The Bar would be legal in the ring at the same time.

What followed was an absolute mugging. Kofi Kingston tried his hardest to fight back, but was demolished by Sheamus and Cesaro to the disdain of the crowd. Xavier Woods and Big E finally managed to make their way to the ring only to be attacked by Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev before they could save Kofi Kingston. Kingston was finished off by The Bar, and The New Day was left in a heap around the ring and entrance ramp.

Grade: F, This completely meaningless swerve only angered the crowd. WWE seemed to be trying to garner more sympathy for Kofi Kingston, but it wasn’t something Kofi needed as #KofiMania should be evidence of. The whole thing felt weird, and WWE Fastlane would have been better if this entire segment didn’t happen.