WWE Fastlane 2019: Star Ratings For All 10 Matches

9. The Usos Vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon - SmackDown Tag Team Title Match

Ali Bryan Owens STARS
WWE.com

A winning success as both an angle and a match, there is hope yet for The Miz’s singles babyface run.

As is often the case, Miz’s storytelling ability masked his shoddy fundamentals. His big shine got over huge, even if it didn’t look particularly dangerous. It’s almost fitting that he has turned in an attempt to please his dad and atone for his past heel sins; as he flew from the top rope with more spirit than grace, he channeled a sort of paternal, encouraging support from his hometown public. Not to patronise the bloke, or anything. He is a perfect fit the company in which he sports entertains.

Heated with both sentiment and excitement, this was laid out brilliantly, in that we knew with a certain anxiety what was to come; Miz over-reached in his too-eager pursuit to please, and was decked by Shane McMahon in a very well done post-match heel turn angle.

Heel Shane McMahon is a prospect at least 18 months in the making, and so we can’t grieve too much over the death of the Best Tag Team In The World, RIP. The team died as they lived: delivering almost entirely accidental entertainment. At one point, Shane struck Jimmy Uso, when flying across the ring, with what can only be described as a Sunday league horror tackle.

Marvellous.

Star Rating: ***1/2

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!