8 WWE Fastlane 2021 Impulse Reactions
6. Big E (c) Vs Apollo Crews
Big E came out in no f*cking mood for f*cking around, and what a treat this match was as a result.
Worked at an entirely different pace and pitch to their prior Intercontinental Championship clashes - as it should have been considering Apollo Crews' character shift - this felt an awful lot like a fight coated in the athleticism and broader aesthetic of wrestling match.
That in itself was perfect agenting for Crews in particular. Much of his incredible array has gone wanting over the years due to the profound disinterest the company have had in his character.
It was all going swimmingly...until the finish confused everybody. The two got tangled up in a pinning combination until Big E secured the three. Crews was so raging that he continued the attack in a way that looked more like the continuation of the match than some sort of after-the-bell extras.
Fundamentally they got what they needed as a company in extending this to WrestleMania. The question now is if the dodgy execution might have tempered the anticipation for a second go.