8 Match Star Ratings For WWE Fastlane 2021

7. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler Vs. Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair - Women's Tag Team Title Match

Randy Orton Goo
WWE.com

Searingly predictable, this was also poorly worked.

It wasn't all bad. Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler worked a cool power vs. tekkers sequence early, and Nia Jax didn't injure anybody, which is always worth a quarter star.

But it mostly failed to create any drama or excitement because the finish was telegraphed in the match and in the preceding however many f*cking decades. Alas, WrestleMania opponents Banks and Belair did not in fact successfully "coexist" because teaming opponents never do. It's honestly like watching a children's TV programme, and being asked to sit on the end of one's seat in rapt anticipation over whether the protagonist might learn a lesson.

Only, in WWE, the stars are dumber than the fuzzy anthropomorphic children because they never do. The distracting sight of Reginald the Sommelier instigated the inevitable. After the sole moment of jaw-dropping action was undermined - Bianca hit a great-looking 450, only to be launched into her partner - the dreaded miscommunication that followed resulted in her loss. And oh no! Banks and Belair are no longer on friendly terms!

It's just as well that they're already booked to wrestle a singles match.

Star Rating: ★★¼

In this post: 
Randy Orton
 
Posted On: 
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!