WWE Fastlane 2019: Star Ratings For All 10 Matches

7. The Bar Vs. Kofi Kingston

Ali Bryan Owens STARS
WWE.com

Remember when, in an attempt to siphon Daniel Bryan’s popularity, TNA simply hunted out the nearest talent with a beard—Eric Young—and booked him, beat-for-beat, as if he was in fact Daniel Bryan?

This handicap match, and its Trademark Obstacle booking, made the events of 2014 look subtle in comparison.

In a bait and switch, Vince McMahon promised both Kofi Kingston a match, and a Triple Threat match. He delivered both, the mad awld maniac, and thus we arrived at The Bar Vs. Kofi Kingston. Kofi barely retaliated to what was a strange one-sided onslaught.

Drawing only the mildest of dismayed heat and chants of “Boring!”, this was deeply ineffective foregrounding of the imminent WrestleMania 35 title match. It was also, somehow, too effective, adding to the show’s weird-as-sh*t theme: the angle, so trite the crowd rejected it and not its protagonist, dwelled on the feeling long into the night.

“All of this is uncalled for,” Byron Saxton said. “It’s unneeded.”

This, by some distance, was the most salient thing he’s ever said.

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!