Tonight, it is the final stop on the Road to WrestleMania for SmackDown, and it is the biggest challenge of Kevin Owens' title reign. The WWE Champion must defend against three greats of the blue brand, AJ Styles, John Cena and Samoa Joe. Can KO find some way to survive and advance to the Grandest Stage? Plus, Asuka vs Charlotte Flair, Chad Gable and Andrade Almas in a cage and more!
Universe Mode
Fastlane
February 24th, 2019
Location: Detroit, MI
Official Fastlane Theme Song- "Chaos and Earthquakes"- Nonpoint
Drew McIntyre vs Ricochet
This was a great match to open Fastlane, as both men traded near falls and used the full extent of their diverse moveset. Ricochet was able to connect with the 630 senton, but unlike on SmackDown Live, Drew McIntyre kicked out. The Scottish Psychopath rallied, hitting one power move after another before drilling The One and Only in the face with the Claymore Kick to pick up the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Ember Moon vs Kairi Sane
Ember Moon and Kairi Sane would fight to seemingly a standstill in this match, both women countering each other time and time again. For Moon, disaster would strike when she missed on The Eclipse and Sane locked in The Anchor. But fighting for her dream of going to WrestleMania, Moon fought her way free, and managed to hit The Eclipse to put Sane away.
Winner: Ember Moon
Andrade "Cien" Almas(c) vs Chad Gable- Steel Cage Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Once again, Chad Gable was dominant against Andrade Almas, out-wrestling the champion at every turn. And yet again, Almas would turn to the low blow to retain his title. Gable would counter the first attempted low blow, and would apply the ankle lock. But Almas, with some Latino Heat, slipped out of his boot to escape the hold, and then kicked Gable in the groin! Just to top it all off, Almas climbed out of the cage, as Gable could only watch on in horror.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Andrade "Cien" Almas
Finn Balor vs Jeff Hardy
As you could've expected, the Balor Club played a huge role in this match, as Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows did everything to help Finn out. But Jeff Hardy proved to be incredibly resilient, surviving just about everything Balor could throw at him, including kicking out of the Coup de Grace. Hardy and Balor would brawl to the floor, where Jeff would take out both Gallows and Anderson momentarily, before rolling Balor into position for a Swanton Bomb. Knowing the end was near, the Balor Club saved their leader, attacking Hardy for an automatic disqualification.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
The Woken Warriors(c) vs The Bludgeon Brothers- Extreme Rules Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Like the previous match, this was complete chaos, as all four men brawled all the ringside area. It was Matt Hardy who made the biggest highlight of the match, putting his body on the line to send Rowan crashing through a table with a big crossbody. Bray Wyatt would then put Harper away with a Sister Abigail, as this unlikely team continued to get the job done.
Winners and still SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Woken Warriors
Asuka(c) vs Charlotte Flair- SmackDown Women's Championship Match
The Queen would take complete control of this match early on, using her own potent strikes to keep the Empress from getting a chance to rally. A new champion was almost crowned with minutes, as Charlotte Flair was able to connect on Natural Selection, but Asuka did kick out at two. Flair stayed in control, wearing Asuka down on the mat and now looking to apply the Figure Eight Leglock. But with an eye on the Grandest Stage, Asuka had one last rally. A couple big strikes couldn't keep Flair down, so Asuka scaled the turnbuckles, a rare sight. Off the top rope, the champion scored with a missile dropkick! Then a big roundhouse off the temple! But Flair was still staggering on her feet, so Asuka applied the Asuka Lock! Charlotte Flair held on for a few tense moments before tapping out, as Asuka heads to WrestleMania as champion.
Winner and still SmackDown Women's Champion: Asuka
Kevin Owens(c) vs AJ Styles vs John Cena vs Samoa Joe- WWE Championship Match
This was Kevin Owens' reckoning, and he felt the full force of three top competitors tonight. Styles, Cena and Joe teamed up to take out the champion, but that actually ended up playing to KO's advantage, as their combined egos caused trouble. John Cena and Samoa Joe, old rivals, would get into it, inciting yet another brawl. In the midst of chaos, AJ Styles would strike. A Styles Clash to Cena, and a Phenomenal Forearm to Joe, and the Phenomenal One turned his attention back to the Prizefighter. Owens and Styles, two of the best of SmackDown Live, had it out, with Styles gaining a brief advantage. AJ went again for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Kevin had it scouted, blasting AJ out of the sky with a superkick! Owens then planted Styles with a Pop-Up Powerbomb, and Cena and Joe were both just a moment too late to break up the decisive fall.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Kevin Owens
Post-Match
As Kevin Owens celebrated, raising his championship in the ring while staring at the WrestleMania sign, Sami Zayn's music hit the loudspeakers, and Owens looked shocked. Sami Zayn is at Fastlane! Zayn was wearing street clothes, and had a mic. Zayn announced that, unfortunately, his doctors were not willing to clear him to compete at WrestleMania. This drew huge boos from the Detroit crowd, and Owens began laughing in the ring. Zayn stared the champion down, fire in his eyes. Do you know how Sami Zayn responded to everyone that says he can't compete?
"F*** it."
Sami dropped the mic and charged the ring! It was obvious he was far from one hundred percent, but he was never going to miss a chance to get his hands on Kevin Owens. All hell broke loose as the two former friends turned bitter rivals exchanged rights and lefts in the ring. Officials swarmed out from the back, trying to restore order as Fastlane ended in complete pandemonium.
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