8 WWE Fastlane 2021 Impulse Reactions

1. Roman Reigns (c) Vs Daniel Bryan

The Fiend
WWE

Great matches happen on a near-weekly basis, and very few of them overpower the pandemic audience experience. This wasn't that, but the genuinely impressive in-ring was lost to the major angle that appeared to go down at the contest's conclusion anyway. Fastlane 2015 this wasn't, but it didn't need to be.

It was at the exact point Daniel Bryan took one look at a downed referee, battered Jey Uso and prone Roman Reigns that the finish to this enjoyable Universal Championship match revealed itself.

Bryan saw an opportunity to use a chair to his advantage, but a swing for Reigns connected with Edge. He then locked on a submission and impressively secured the tap-out he foreshadowed on the go-home SmackDown, but the hold was broken up by a raging Edge before we got the chance to see the 'Yes Man' crowned. He nailed both men with a chair and stormed out, allowing Reigns another ill-gotten win and turning himself further heel in the programme that's supposed to have been his grand babyface redemption arc.

C'est la vie, when "la vie" in question is Daniel Bryan's. The triple threat is the one everybody wanted, and WWE even pointed at who to root for with all the subtlety of a Rumble winner staring at the big sign. Cut those cardboard arms in the shape of a "Yes!" pose, because the 25,000 in attendance will be chanting it proudly.

 
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Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 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. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, 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