11 WWE Fastlane 2019 Impulse Reactions

8. Asuka Vs. Mandy Rose

The Shield
WWE

This wasn't any good.

At just 6:40, Mandy Rose and SmackDown Live Women's Champion Asuka didn't exactly have an age to tell much of a story, but full responsibility shouldn't have fallen to Sonya Deville's Where's Kendo act on the floor to keep the fans keen. Nor facilitate the most pathetic of finishes.

Slipping on figurative banana skins has long been the most frustrating get-out-of-jail-free card for the company, but a literal stumble on a ring skirt ever-so-slightly left rested on the apron made both heels look like total mugs before an almighty boot floored Rose for the easy victory.

In defence of both combatants, the closing kick looked absolutely amazing - Kevin Dunn knew as much and provided a glorious beauty shot of it in the aftermath. That he chose to shine yet another light on the utterly embarrassing set-piece that preceded it highlighted what we were meant to be focussing on as the villains stumbled and bumbled their way to the back.

AJ Styles was aghast when Daniel Bryan put the men's belt in the bin. Why are so few bothered that the entire organisation have done the same to Asuka's prize?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett