WWE Fastlane 2019: Star Ratings For All 10 Matches

5. Samoa Joe Vs. Andrade Vs. R-Truth Vs. Rey Mysterio - United States Title Match

Ali Bryan Owens STARS
WWE Network

Not quite as good as last week’s TV thriller of an original, this still delivered big on its promise of assured drama.

It was loaded with some gorgeous-looking, hard-hitting pro wrestling action; if Rey Mysterio continues to deliver such propulsive, high-flying performances, as he ages backwards, we’re gonna need a new meme. At this awesome rate, he is about four years away from smashing Dave Meltzer’s rating scale on every episode of SmackDown. He once again starred in exchanges with Andrade—exchanges that, unlike the spotty Triple Threat tag, wrapped genuine psychology up in its scintillating fabric.

With Rey and Andrade too wrapped up in their personal, ostentatious pissing content, and the similarly evergreen R-Truth much too content to piss about with his John Cena tribute act—much like his idol!—Samoa Joe, in killer form, rearranged the moving pieces to his monstrous liking.

The finish was awesome, too; Joe effectively grabbed Mysterio like he was setting up for a Mortal Kombat fatality—a babality, in the case of Rey ‘Benjamin Button’ Mysterio—and choked him out.

Great stuff.

Star Rating: ***3/4

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!