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After a year hiatus, WWE Fastlane is back, and this year’s edition offers an intriguing match card that could set up big things for the company as the “Road to WrestleMania” approaches.
Typically held after the Royal Rumble, this year’s edition will be the first time Fastlane will be held during the fall. Three of the five matches will be for championships, but arguably the most compelling matchup doesn’t involve a title.
John Cena will continue his return with star on the rise LA Knight, as the two will take on Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso of The Bloodline, as this could give a preview of who could be the next person to face Roman Reigns. The World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Women’s Championship and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship will be on the line, as well as a six-man tag team match from two rising factions.
Here is what to know ahead of the action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis:
Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match in progress.
John Cena and LA Knight vs. The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa)
The build up for this match was main event worthy, and it ended it some major questions for The Bloodline.
Cena started the match and started off on a good note, but Sikoa imposed his will on the 16-time WWE champion, and it was just Cena getting punished for a good portion of the match, all while Uso taunted the crowd. But the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was ready to blow the roof off the place once LA Knight got into the match.
The match picked up from there, including a high flying sequence from Cena and Uso. The Bloodline looked like they were poised to get the win, but LA Knight’s pure athleticism was on display with a jump on the top rope to take Uso down. Cena hit the signature five-knuckle shuffle before LA Knight hit the BFT to get the big win for the hottest star in the men’s division. As for The Bloodline, Paul Heyman summarized it best.
“We got a problem,” he said.
WWE Women’s Championship match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair
Asuka and Charlotte Flair came into this match as some of the biggest names in the women’s division, but Iyo Sky continues to make a name for herself.
It was a match full of opportunities from each star, with Flair showing off her power, Asuka showing her technical work and Sky showcasing her aerial attack. But veteran Flair and Asuka gave some big highlights, with Flair launching herself off the top rope outside of the ring and Asuka with a big powerbomb of the other competitors.
Asuka and Flair traded submissions, but neither were able to get a tap out before Sky interrupted. Bayley later came to the aid of Sky, but the champion could be heard saying “I don’t need you” before she got taken out.
But it turned out to be the difference; Flair got Asuka to tap out on a figure eight, but Bayley distracted the referee. Sky then landed the over the moonsault on Flair to get the pin and retain.
LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and TBD) vs. Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins): Carlito Returns
Now that’s cool.
Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar were in need of a partner for their six-man tag match, and they were completely dominated for nearly the entire match. But when the LWO was just about done, veteran Carlito returned to a massive pop. He hit signature after signature move, ending with it with a backstabber on Ford and securing the pin to get the comeback win.
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match: Damian Priest and Finn Balor (c) vs. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso
One match, new champions.
The biggest question going into the match was if Rhodes and Uso would have good in-ring chemistry with the pair sharing such little time working with one another. It was a solid start to the match with several quick tags from the challengers. It wasn’t until midway through the match that Priest and Balor took momentum, but Rhodes was able to get in and turn it back his way, including a superplex off the top rope on Balor.
Things look destined for a dirty finish when Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh came out to support Priest and Balor, but no distraction could get in the way. McDonagh used the Money in the Bank briefcase to his advantage, but instead hit Priest’s injured knee. Rhodes and Uso then unleashed a full-on assault on Balor, with Rhodes capping it with a Cross Rhodes for the win and crown new tag champions in what was an exhilarating start to Fastlane.
Jade Cargill arrives at Fastlane
WWE’s newest signee is in the building.
Less than two weeks after signing with the company, former AEW Jade Cargill arrived in Indianapolis in style, where she was greeted by WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque before walking off together.
See Fastlane stage
In recent years, WWE has strayed away from having special stages for its pay-per-views, often going with the same one on Raw and Smackdown. But it’s upping the stage a bit this time around, adding race cars to the stage for the event held in Indianapolis.
When is Fastlane 2023?
Fastlane is Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET.
How to watch Fastlane 2023
The event can be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on WWE Network.
Fastlane 2023 match card
Matches not in order of schedule
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John Cena and LA Knight vs. The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa)
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Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
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WWE Women’s Championship match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair
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LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and TBD) vs. Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins)
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Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match: Damian Priest and Finn Balor (c) vs. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso
Fastlane 2023 predictions
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John Cena and LA Knight defeat The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa).
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Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins defeats Shinsuke Nakamura.
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WWE Women’s Championship match: Iyo Sky defeats Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair.
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Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship match: Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso defeats Damian Priest and Finn Balor.
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Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) defeats LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and TBD).
Who will be LWO’s third member?
Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar will be taking on the Street Profits and Bobby Lashes in a six-man tag team match, but it is unknown who will be the third person for LWO with Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro out. In a backstage segment, Mysterio told Escobar he made a call to someone, but they haven’t responded yet.
Several outlets have reported veteran Carlito could be in the mix, with his last appearance at Backlash in May.
Montez Ford: Street Profits want to assert themselves in WWE
It’s new era in WWE for Montez Ford.
Ford, alongside Angelo Dawkins, have become a crowd favorite as the Street Profits since their debut in 2016, with their hype, solo cup-drinking-selves bringing a lit atmosphere to the tag team division. But the former WWE Smackdown and Raw Tag Team Champions have meant business recently, aligning themselves with veteran Bobby Lashley in what could become the next dominant faction.
The trio will have their first match together when they take on the LWO − Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and either Joaquin Wilde or Cruz Del Toro − at Fastlane on Saturday, and Ford hopes it’ll be a preview of what’s to come from the rejuvanated team.
“This the hungriest we’ve ever been in our entire WWE stages,” Ford told USA TODAY Sports.
Read the full feature on Montez Ford here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE Fastlane live results: Matches, how to watch PPV from Indianapolis
