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LIVE BLOG: WWE Fastlane 2018

Alex Smiley – 11:30pm

Final Thoughts

Thanks again for joining along with us on this little experiment! I had a lot of fun trying the live blog format, and I’m happy to say I learned a lot from it. The show itself was pretty fun, too. Like T-Bone said, if you’re reading this after Fastlane is over start at the bottom and work your way up. Thanks, and see you on the Discord and the forums!

~ Alex Smiley

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T-Bone – 11:22pm

Signing Off

Looks like that’s the end for us. Thank you for joining, I had a blast. I’d say if you’re reading this now that Fastlane is over, start from the bottom and work your way up.

Thanks a lot!
–T-Bone

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T-Bone – 11:17pm

Yeah alright, Sam is getting it. He tried to get Shane to answer the logical question by pointing out that Kevin kicking Shane was an accident…but Renee quickly redirected. Seems like Sam wasn’t supposed to point out why Shane was wrong tonight…in fact every time he tries, he is interupted or redircted by Renee.

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T-Bone – 11:12pm

Sam Roberts had a rough pre-show, but he has stepped it up during Talking Smack. Sometimes he is cringeworthy trying to be ‘the voice of the fans’…but now that he has started to settle into his role, he’s downplayed the cringe.

Still better than Saxon too!

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T-Bone – 11:02pm

In the Fastlane to Mania

That was a great match! Like I said near the start of the live blog, the outcome of this match was assured…so assured that AJ barely participated in the match…because the journey was not really about him. But despite all that, all 6 men put on a showstealing performance! Let’s relive this match. Cena goes wild…Corbin goes through some hockey glass…Sami Zayn tries to lay down for Kevin Owens, only for Owens to decide to ruin it for himself.

Then there was Shane’s involvement. Again, I am not on Shane’s side, he is clearly the bad guy, but he’s being presented as the good guy because ‘lol Sami and Kevin are heels’. I was pretty pissed when Shane ruined it for Owens, and doubly pissed when he ruined it for Sami. When wrestling is good, it’s fucking great. Yeah, maybe WWE would prefer I back Shane’s interference, but fuck man, I am pissed off by it and I love it. Shane gets to justify his actions on Talking Smack, and I am hotly anticipating…even if the WWE is going to try their damnedest to make me take Shane’s side.

We are still getting AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania. I hope they give this match the marquee it deserves. It needs to go on forever, it should be the true main event…can’t wait.

What do you think about the matches that have been set up tonight? Presumably Jinder vs. Orton vs. Roode for the US Title. Presumably Bludgeon Brothers vs. New Day vs. Uso for the Tag Titles. Asuka vs. Charlotte…and of course Styles vs. Nak.

We’ll stick around through Talking Smack. Please feel free to join in on the conversation by logging onto our Discord channel, or commenting below.

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Alex Smiley – 10:58pm

That was a fun, fun, FUN main event. I really enjoyed the storytelling here, especially “Everyone vs John Cena” and the drama between Sami, KO, and Shane. All in all, the Phenomenal One punched his ticket to Wrestlemania…and I can’t wait!

Thanks for joining us for the first ever Live Blog, come hang out with us on the Discord server and on the forums as we discuss the fallout from Fastlane and I announce a big giveaway!

http://www.occupyprowrestling.com/boards/index.php?topic=22776.0

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T-Bone – 10:50pm

The crazy part about Shane’s repeated interference in Sami’s and Kevin’s is that he has been presented as the good guy…but his actions the last few months have clearly made him the bad guy. Are we supposed to be on Shane’s side? Because I’m not.

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Alex Smiley – 10:44pm

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T-Bone – 10:30pm

So Hyped

As this match starts, I can’t help but be fixated on the entrances. When was the last time you saw Cena enter a multiman match first, for example? Cena’s entrance is typical for him though. Corbin’s…while I dig his music, his entrance from his NXT days was much better. He’d walk through some spotlights, they would go dark, and then every thing would come up at once as his music kicked into high gear. Now, it is pretty generic. I’m a fan of Dolph’s current entrance, because of how unique it is. He walks out without a tron or music treatment, and it really sets the tone for his character. KO had a typical entrance, but Sami upstaged it in a great nod to their current storyline. Sami promised to lie down for KO tonight. Will he do it? AJ’s entrance is money, but what else do you expect from the phoenominal one? Either way, I’m hyped for this match. The outcome is all but assured, but I’m sure the journey will make it up to us. Plus, it is hard to complain about an AJ Styles win (if that is to be, tonight).

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Alex Smiley – 10:27pm

WWE Championship – Six Pack Challenge

It’s main event time as AJ Styles defends his WWE Championship in a Six Pack Challenge! Will AJ Styles retain against five other guys, or will his road to Wrestlemania take a sudden detour? Will Dolph Ziggler be able to get his main event match at Wrestlemania, or will Baron Corbin finally make good on a promise made when he came to the main roster? Will the best friends of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn keep their cool, or will the Yep Movement fall apart? And what about John Cena? lol

I’ve got four words for ya…They. Don’t. Want. None.

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Alex Smiley – 10:17pm

That was a fun match. Again, really glad Ruby got an opportunity…but man oh man am I excited for Asuka vs Charlotte at Wrestlemania!

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T-Bone – 10:09pm

I gotta say, I really appreciate the storytelling in this match. The interferences, the ejections, it is all great booking.

Although, why are ejections a thing? All the referee does is tell people to go to the back. But people defy the referees all the time…

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T-Bone – 10:05pm

Our Conversation on OPW

The Live Blog isn’t the only way to interact with Alex or I. Let me shamelessly copy and paste his Discord plug from earlier.

After the show, join us on the forums for further discussion and a special giveaway!

http://www.occupyprowrestling.com/boards/index.php?topic=22776.0

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Alex Smiley – 10:00pm

Smackdown Women’s Title

I’m excited for this match. I’ve watched quite a bit of Ruby’s work on the indies as Heidi Lovelace, and I’m thankful she gets an opportunity as big as this on the main roster. I’ve been kinda meh about the Riott Squad angle (especially mirroring the Absolution deal on RAW), but Ruby is amazing and so is Charlotte.

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T-Bone – 9:58pm

Ruby vs. Charlotte

It was funny when Ruby Riot (I refuse to add the dumb second ‘t’) debuted on Smackdown along side Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, I thought she was sunk. Ruby was a face in NXT of course, meanwhile Morgan and Logan were jobbers. I’m not sure the latter has changed. I wasn’t much of a fan of Ruby in NXT, I always felt she wasn’t comfortable as a face, and her look didn’t really do anything for me in that role. In this feud she has really found her grove and her voice. The best thing about Ruby’s character, is that she thinks she’s the good guy. A lot of the time heels in WWE fall into the habit of “I’m the bad guy because I am bad” but I feel that Ruby is different.

I think they will put on a great match. Honestly, I’d be okay if Ruby won tonight. I don’t think that will happen…so if this live blog is any indication of the night I’m having, your NEW Smackdown Women’s Champion..Ruby Riot!!!

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T-Bone – 9:45pm

Smackdown Tag Titles

I did not expect that finish. WWE has a habit of holding back new acts for months and months and months. But hey, now we’ll get a new match at WrestleMania.

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Alex Smiley – 9:43pm

That was a fun title match while it lasted, but I can dig the Bludgeon Brothers getting involved here. I actually have a lot of hope that Rowan and Harper will go far with this, their run as the Wyatt Family was great and I hope this is a good reboot of sorts for them!

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T-Bone – 9:25pm

Smackdown Tag Titles

I’m glad they saved the reignition of this feud until now. I think they could have even waited to have this match at WrestleMania (which I expect them to have anyway). This is the one place I expected a title change coming into tonight. Simply put, if The New Day win the titles tonight, then The Usos have a good reason to get their rematch at WrestleMania. If The Usos win tonight, what is the match at WM?

Either way, this one is going to compete hard for match of the night. Every time these two teams get at it, magic happens.

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Alex Smiley – 9:21pm

I can’t say I saw that coming. I’m growing excited for the prospect of Carmella actually cashing in that MITB briefcase soon. Also, while I’m here, I’m a big fan of Nickelodeon and the Kids’ Choice Awards, and I’m so glad WWE partners up with them in some way.

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T-Bone – 9:14pm

Yes, it is easy to make fun of my status quo comment in light of the title change…but has anything really changed? The moment Jinder was excluded from the Fastlane match, you knew it would be a Triple Threat for the title at Mania. If anything, despite me moving the goalposts here…Orton’s title win is an outcome we should have expected to preserve the status quo. Why? So it can put a little doubt into the outcome of the match at Mania. If Orton was still a challenger, you know with certainty he would have won to complete his grand slam at Mania. Now that he has gotten it out of the way, there is a little more mystery as to who might come out on top now.

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Alex Smiley – 9:10pm

Becky Lynch & Naomi vs. Carmella & Natalya

Another quickly-booked match, but this has some potential!

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Alex Smiley – 9:02pm

So much for the status quo, haha. I was worried about the prospect of Jinder/Orton continuing…but Roode being added into the mix, after what’s been going on the past couple weeks? I can dig it, Maggle.

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T-Bone – 8:58pm

United States Title Match

I loved that. I know many people aren’t big on Jinder Mahal, but for what he is, I think he’s a great character. I was wondering how they would get to a Triple Threat match, and now we know. Jinder has been instigating Orton and Roode for months. Orton shockingly wins the US Title tonight…and Bobby Roode gets a little edge back and stands tall. Is the story basic? Sure. But sometimes that’s all we need.

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T-Bone – 8:54pm

Oh okay, I actually wasn’t expecting that. It puts my ‘status quo’ comment at the start of this live blog in a little doubt. This is a good thing.

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Alex Smiley – 8:45pm

United States Championship – Bobby Roode vs Randy Orton

First off, I’m really digging Bobby Roode as the champ. I think it’s great that, just as he quickly rose up the ranks in NXT to become champ, he’s really made a name for himself on the main roster. It was a shaky start with the feuds with Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin, but I think the tournament to crown a new US Champion really helped reinvigorate the Glorious One. Same goes for Randy Orton, really…since the feud with Jinder Mahal, Orton seemed a bit lost in the shuffle. This match is doing both guys some favors. Still kinda weird that neither guy is fully face or heel, though.

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T-Bone – 8:26pm

I might be remembering the past with rose colored glasses…but there weren’t real commercials during PPVs BEFORE the Network was invented, right?

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T-Bone – 8:11pm

Saxon and Corey’s Commentary

We’re getting an early sample of Bryon Saxton’s bizarre commentary. He is just not good. He is supposed to be the supporter of the faces…but when the faces act out and do something underhanded, Bryon defends hard and makes excuses for them…like a heel sympathizer commentator is supposed to do. Meanwhile, Corey Graves, the actual heel sympathizer of the trio, does it so fluidly…and when the heels act underhandedly he only tries to justify it if makes sense for him to do so. If the heels blatantly cheat, Corey is quick to call them out. If the faces blatantly cheat, Bryon is quick to praise them. Listen to it all night, especially when it comes to the Main Event.

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Alex Smiley – 8:04pm

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev

And we kick things off with a “grudge match” (with about a week’s build at most) between Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev! I’m just happy that Aiden English is still introducing Rusev Day to the masses. This should be a fun match, even if it suffers from the WWE habit of random booking.

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T-Bone – 8:01pm

Fastlane Begins!

While I mentioned that the results are probably set in stone, I’m still interested in seeing what they’ll do to push forward some of the storylines they have going into WrestleMania. Will Shane vs. Daniel Bryan come to a head tonight? Will Jinder ruin the US Title match? Will Carmella cash-in Money in the Bank? Will The Undertaker answer Cena’s original challenge? And will this mark the end of the Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn partnership?

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T-Bone – 7:48pm

Seriously though, a commercial during a PPV match? Granted it is the pre-show, but it is so damn weird to have them when we are watching the Network.

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Alex Smiley – 7:46pm

Join the OPW Conversation

As we get to Fastline, don’t forget to join our Discord server for the conversation!

After the show, join us on the forums for further discussion and a special giveaway!

http://www.occupyprowrestling.com/boards/index.php?topic=22776.0

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T-Bone – 7:26pm

We’re about to have a pre-show match, Tye/Fashion Police vs. Benjables/Mojo. Why? There are no stakes in this match. Which is weird, because watching all the video packages hyping up the main show would lead you to believe that we are meant to see matches as legitimate competitions.

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T-Bone – 7:08pm

Road to WrestleMania Drinking Game

Here are the rules. Get your drink ready, you will take a drink (or shot if you’re looking to pass out mid-way through the first match) every time one of the following happens.

#1: Every time someone points to the WrestleMania Sign.
#2: Every time the cameraman inexplicably pans to the WrestleMania Sign.
#3: Every time someone pushes the 30-day free trial of the WWE Network, which includes WrestleMania for free.
#4: Every time someone mentions that Fastline is the “last” stop on the Road to WrestleMania.
#5: Every time someone references what someone else said on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) as if these are story relevant.
#6: Every time a video package that we’ve seen is re-aired.

If you follow these rules, you should have a good night.

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T-Bone – 7:00pm

Time to Kickoff

The Kickoff shows have always been weird to me. I love the post-PPV shows, but the preshow just doesn’t do it for me. It is great if you need to catch up on the rivalries leading up to the night’s matches, but other than that, it is just weird. WWE only half presents its matches as legitimate competitions, so to hear the panel talk about them as such is jarring. Don’t get me wrong, I want WWE to treat their matches as legitimate competitions. They just don’t do it unless it is convienent to the plot.

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T-Bone – 5:00pm

Thanks For Joining Us

Welcome to our live blog here at OPW. WWE Fastlane is our last stop PPV wise before WrestleMania. I will endeavor to be positive about the show as much as possible, but I need open up with an undeniable fact…tonight…nothing changes, and the status quo is preserved. We know that WWE Champion AJ Styles will retain his title, despite the odds, because he has a well regarded date with Shinsuke Nakumura at Mania. We know in turn, that Rusev is here just to give Shinsuke a chance to knee him in the face on a PPV. We know Charlotte is going into Mania as Champion.

I honestly do not like the PPVs between the Rumble and Mania, because by now, we have a pretty good idea as to the matches on the card. Elimination Chamber and Fastline won’t change anything. I wish they would take the NXT model after the Royal Rumble, and slow build from there towards WrestleMania. That will never happen, because Fastline and Elimination Chamber are events WWE can charge PPV ticket prices for.

So tonight, look for the status quo to be preserved. Still, expect marquee performances from this roster, and try to enjoy the ride with us!

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Welcome to the first ever “live blog” at Occupy Pro Wrestling, as Smackdown Live presents the final brand-exclusive PPV with Fastlane 2018! The road to Wrestlemania is on the, well, fast lane, and it’s capped off with AJ Styles defending the WWE Championship in a Six Pack Challenge!

Here’s the card that we know of:

Check back here for results as they happen starting at 7PM EST/4PM PST, and join our Discord chat for live discussion during the show:

After the show, join us on the forums for further discussion and a special giveaway!

http://www.occupyprowrestling.com/boards/index.php?topic=22776.0

See you on the chat!
~ Alex Smiley

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