Seth Rollins seems like he was made for the World Heavyweight Championship, priding himself on being a workhorse titleholder who defends the belt often and against all comers. But that’s only if his body can stand up to the grind, and Shinsuke Nakamura is going to try to show that it can’t tonight at WWE Fastlane in Indianapolis.
Nakamura has had one shot at the title already and come up short. But he has played Rollins masterfully over the past few weeks, essentially goading him into the stipulation he wanted: And he picked Last Man Standing.
WWE has done a nice job working Rollins’ real life back ailments into the narrative, creating a little doubt that he comes out of this with the championship. That’s perfect for a show like Fastlane, where fans wouldn’t normally expect a big title change.
A lot of attention is also on John Cena and LA Knight teaming up to face The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso (at least Jimmy says he’s in The Bloodline). It’s one of those past meets present moments WWE does so well, and while Knight certainly doesn’t need a rub from anyone right now, it can’t hurt to have a man WWE promotes as “The Greatest of All Time” paired with him for a high profile match like this.
With those bouts plus a men’s tag team title match on the card, the WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat bout could be one that will steal the show. There are only five matches total that are expected for Fastlane, so it wouldn’t be completely shocking if something got added on the fly.
Let’s hit the gas and see where we end up.
WWE Fastlane 2023 results:
(click on any match with a link for full details)
- Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Finn Balor) by pinfall to become the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions after JD McDonagh’s attempt to interfere on behalf of the champs backfires
- Wade Barrett, Booker T and Xavier Woods discuss the rest of the show in what turns into an ad for Pizza Hut
- The LWO (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) and Carlito def. Street Profits and Bobby Lashley by pinfall after Carlito arrives way, way into the match (and gets the pin)
- Jade Cargill is shown arriving at Fastlane and shaking hands with Triple H earlier in the day
- IYO SKY def. Asuka and Charlotte Flair by pinning Flair to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
- Indianapolis Colts legend Pat McAfee comes to the ring wearing a Colts title belt and says there is no way he was going to miss this show; he gets the fans to cheer for the idea of an Indianapolis WrestleMania and introduces John Cena before joining the announcers
- John Cena vs. LA Knight def. The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa) by pinfall
- Priest says he wants to cash in his MITB briefcase tonight, but Rhea Ripley tells him this isn’t the night and asks for him to hand her the case
- Seth Rollins def. Shinsuke Nakamura in a Last Man Standing match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship