WWE Fastlane 2019: Star Ratings For All 10 Matches

2. Becky Lynch Vs. Charlotte Flair

Ali Bryan Owens STARS
WWE.com

A very strange and divisive glorified angle, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch performed their roles well enough in what was the abject result of convoluted over-booking. Flair stuck her tongue out, relishing the in-built advantage, and Lynch sold her knee credibly—particularly with a helpless, flailing somersault chop-block bump—but the finish missed the mark entirely, castrating The Man in the process.

Lynch performed her comeback spots well—a not inconsiderable achievement, really, but none of this mattered. WWE got it backwards; to inspire belief in Becky, Ronda Rousey should have interfered as Becky applied the Disarm Her. This deprivation would have galvanised the crowd into support without making Flair do the job, as opposed to wide-scale bemusement.

Instead, she assaulted Lynch when Lynch was trapped in the Figure Eight. Lynch, helpless, requited help to get to New Jersey. She has entered the title picture through the back door. Again.

Isn’t this exactly why she hates Charlotte?

One-dimensional in a logical if not exactly stirring way before that dismal decision, WWE is in danger of complicating the whole storyline through, ironically, the most simplistic and uninspiring of babyface tropes.

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!