Fastlane 2021

Fastlane 2021 was an professional wrestling pay-per-view event and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It took place on March 21, 2021, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was the sixth event under the Fastlane chronology and feature WWE's virtual fan viewing experience called ThunderDome.
==Production==
===Background===
Fastlane is a pay-per-view event first produced by WWE in 2015. The name of the event is a reference to its position on the "Road to WrestleMania," being held between the Royal Rumble and WWE's flagship event; the first two Fastlane events were held in February before moving to March. The event was held annually until 2020 when it was replaced by Super ShowDown, but Fastlane was reinstated in 2021. The sixth event in the Fastlane chronology, it will feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.
====Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic====
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE had to present the majority of its programming for Raw and SmackDown from a behind closed doors set at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida beginning mid-March 2020, although in late May, the promotion began using Performance Center trainees to serve as the live audience, which was further expanded to friends and family members of the wrestlers in mid-June. On August 17, WWE announced that all future shows and pay-per-views would be held at Orlando's Amway Center for the "foreseeable future," beginning with the August 21 episode of SmackDown. Furthermore, the shows now feature a new fan viewing experience called the "ThunderDome," which utilizes drones, lasers, pyro, smoke, and projections. Approximately 1,000 LED boards were installed to allow fans to virtually attend the events for free and be seen on the rows and rows of LED boards. Arena audio is also mixed with that of the virtual fans so that chants from the fans can be heard. After their contract with the Amway Center expired, WWE relocated the ThunderDome to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, which began with the December 11 episode of SmackDown.
===Storylines===
The show comprised matches that result from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
At Elimination Chamber, Daniel Bryan won SmackDown's Elimination Chamber match, which earned him an immediate Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns, who quickly defeated Bryan to retain the title. Following the match, men's Royal Rumble winner Edge appeared and performed a Spear on Reigns, indicating his choice to challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37. On the following SmackDown, Reigns, accompanied by his special counsel Paul Heyman and cousin Jey Uso, claimed that Edge ruined his win over Bryan, who interrupted. Bryan mocked Reigns for defending his championship against him right after he had won the Elimination Chamber match, and was confused as to why Reigns wanted to defend the title in the second match of the event instead of in the main event. Bryan then challenged Reigns to another championship match at Fastlane. Jey interjected and stated that Bryan lost and would have to earn another opportunity like everyone else and then challenged Bryan to a match. Backstage, Edge confronted WWE official Adam Pearce and took issue that Bryan may receive a title shot before him, even though he had won the Royal Rumble match that Bryan also competed in. Pearce decided that Bryan would only get a Universal Championship match at Fastlane if he could defeat Jey in their match that night. In the main event, however, Bryan and Jey's match ended in a double countout. A rematch the following week was contested as a steel cage match where if Bryan won, he would receive the title match, but if Jey won, Bryan would have to acknowledge Reigns as the Tribal Chief and Head of the Table; Bryan defeated Jey to earn the Universal Championship match against Reigns at Fastlane.
After failing to defeat Big E for the Intercontinental Championship in January, Apollo Crews turned heel and began to embrace his royal Nigerian roots, including speaking with a Nigerian accent. On the February 19 episode of SmackDown, after Crews' loss against Shinsuke Nakamura where Big E was on commentary, Crews attacked Nakamura after the match. Big E aided Nakamura, however, Crews attacked Big E with the steel steps, taking him out of action for a couple of weeks. Big E returned on the March 12 episode and called out Crews, who did not answer. Big E then issued an open challenge for the Intercontinental Championship where he retained the title against Sami Zayn. After the match, Crews blindsided Big E and attacked him with the steel steps once again. Big E was subsequently scheduled to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Crews at Fastlane.
On the February 1 episode of Raw, Sheamus turned on his friend Drew McIntyre, declaring that he was not his friend anymore and wanted the WWE Championship. Later that same night, McIntyre accepted Sheamus' challenge for a one-on-one match. McIntyre was then scheduled to defend the title in Raw's Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber in which Sheamus was also a participant; McIntyre retained the championship but then lost it to The Miz, who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract after McIntyre was attacked by Bobby Lashley. McIntyre returned on the March 1 episode of Raw, where he finally faced Sheamus in their promised one-on-one match that McIntyre won. A rematch the following week was contested as a No Disqualification match; however, it ended by referee stoppage. On the March 15 episode, another match between the two was scheduled for Fastlane.
Angered at being left out of Raw's Elimination Chamber match, Braun Strowman took issue with WWE officials Shane McMahon and Adam Pearce. In an attempt to rectify things, Shane scheduled Strowman to team with Pearce to face The Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin) for the Raw Tag Team Championship. Strowman had the match won, however, after performing a Running Powerslam on Benjamin, Shane signaled to Pearce to tag in for the pin, but Benjamin rolled up Pearce to retain the title, which enraged Strowman further. Shane then began to insult Strowman's intelligence. Strowman then challenged Shane to a match on the March 15 episode of Raw. The match, however, never officially started and the two instead brawled with Shane calling Strowman stupid. This led to a match being scheduled between the two at Fastlane.
At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in December 2020, Randy Orton defeated "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Inferno match. After the match, Orton doused The Fiend's lifeless body in gasoline and set him on fire. Following this incident, Alexa Bliss, who had aligned with The Fiend months earlier, began to haunt Orton on a weekly basis, including causing him to lose multiple matches. On the March 15 episode of Raw, Bliss challenged Orton to an intergender match at Fastlane, and Orton accepted in the hopes of ridding Bliss from his life.
At Elimination Chamber, Riddle won the United States Championship. On the March 1 episode of Raw, Retribution's Mustafa Ali defeated Riddle in a non-title match. Ali then received a United States Championship match against Riddle on the March 15 episode where Riddle retained. Following the show, Ali challenged Riddle to another title match on Twitter, which was scheduled for Fastlane.
== Event ==
=== Pre-show ===
During the Fastlane Kickoff pre-show, Riddle defended the United States Championship against Mustafa Ali (accompanied by his Retribution stablemates T-Bar, Mace, Slapjack, and Reckoning). In the end, Riddle performed a Bro-Derek on Ali from the top rope to retain the title. Following the match, Ali yelled at Reckoning and Slapjack, causing them to walk out on him, after which, Mace and T-Bar attacked Ali with a double Chokeslam.
=== Preliminary matches ===
The actual pay-per-view opened with Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (accompanied by Reginald) defending the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair. In the climax, as Banks applied the Bank Statement on Baszler, Belair attacked Jax to prevent Jax from breaking the submission, however, Jax shoved Belair onto Banks, voiding the submission. As Banks was arguing with Belair, Baszler took advantage and performed a roll-up on a distracted Banks to retain the title. Following the match, Banks blamed Belair for their loss and slapped Belair before departing backstage.
Following the match, the commentators spoke about the scheduled match between Shane McMahon and Braun Strowman, after which, footage was shown from earlier in the day that Shane injured his leg during his training. After the footage, Shane came out of the trainer's room wielding a crutch and with his knee wrapped up. Elias and Jaxson Ryker then approached Shane about doing a concert at WrestleMania. Shane then stated that he has an idea.
Next, Big E defended the Intercontinental Championship against Apollo Crews. Big E reversed a pin attempt by Crews into his own pin attempt to retain the title. Following the match, Crews attacked Big E.
Backstage for an Old Spice advertisement, Akira Tozawa was in search of 24/7 Champion R-Truth, who was hiding in the Old Spice display. Old Spice representative Joseph Average (portrayed by NXT and WWE Performance Center trainee Erik Bugez) then accidentally pinned R-Truth to win the championship after the shelf of deodorants fell over. R-Truth then performed a rollup on Average to win back the title for his record 51st 24/7 Championship.
After that, Shane McMahon came out to the ring and introduced Elias (accompanied by Jaxson Ryker). Shane allowed Elias to preview his WrestleMania concert, however, after Elias began playing his guitar, Shane cut him off and announced that Elias would be taking his place in his scheduled match against Braun Strowman, who then made his entrance. Strowman performed a Running Powerslam on Elias to win the match.
In the following match, Seth Rollins faced Shinsuke Nakamura. In the climax, Rollins performed a Black Magic Kick and a Curb Stomp on Nakamura to win the match.
After this, Drew McIntyre faced Sheamus in a No Holds Barred match. McIntyre performed a Future Shock DDT on Sheamus onto a television monitor, before performing the Claymore Kick to win the match.
In the penultimate match, Randy Orton faced Alexa Bliss in an intergender match. Before the match started, Orton began to spit up a black liquid. During the match, Bliss used supernatural powers, such as causing a lighting rig to fall which nearly landed on Orton and shooting a fireball at Orton. In the end, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt—who had not been seen since Orton set him on fire at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in December 2020—tore through the ring canvas, appearing very grotesque with charred skin. Bliss, who was perched atop the turnbuckle, pushed Orton into The Fiend, who then attacked Orton with a Sister Abigail, allowing Bliss to pin Orton to win the match.
=== Main event ===
In the main event, Roman Reigns (accompanied by Paul Heyman) defended the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan with Edge as the special guest enforcer. In the climax, Bryan accidentally incapacitated the referee, after which, Reigns performed a Spear on Bryan, which made Edge take over as the official. While Bryan applied the Yes! Lock on Reigns, Jey Uso entered the ring and performed a Super Kick on Edge and Bryan, after which, Jey retrieved a steel chair. As Jey attempted to attack Bryan, Bryan countered and attacked Jey with the chair. Bryan tried to attack Reigns with the chair, however, Reigns ducked and Bryan accidentally struck Edge. Bryan then applied the Yes! Lock on Reigns once again and Reigns shook his hand, resulting in the commentators saying that he 'tapped', however, an enraged Edge attacked both Bryan and Reigns with the steel chair before departing backstage. A second referee came down and Reigns pinned Bryan to retain the title.
==Match Preview==
Riddle vs. Mustafa Ali 	Preview
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair	Preview
Big E vs. Apollo Crews 	Preview
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Seth Rollins 	Preview
Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus 	Preview
Alexa Bliss vs. Randy Orton 	Preview
Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan 	Preview
==Results==
;
;
*Pre-Show: Riddle (c) defeated Mustafa Ali (w/ Retribution) to retain the WWE United States Championship (9:16)
*Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (c) (w/ Reginald) defeated Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair to retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship (9:41)
*Big E (c) defeated Apollo Crews to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship (5:42)
*Braun Strowman defeated Elias (w/ Jaxson Ryker) (3:50)
*Seth Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (12:54)
*Drew McIntyre defeated Sheamus in a No Holds Barred match (19:41)
*Alexa Bliss defeated Randy Orton in a Intergender match (4:38)
*Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the WWE Universal Championship (30:00)
:*Edge was the special guest enforcer
==Other on-screen talent==
;Commentators
*Michael Cole 
*Corey Graves 
*Tom Phillips 
*Samoa Joe 
*Byron Saxton 
*Carlos Cabrera 
*Marcelo Rodriguez 
;Ring announcer
*Greg Hamilton 
*Mike Rome 
;Interviewers
*Sarah Schreiber	
;Pre-show panel
*Kayla Braxton
*Jerry Lawler
*Peter Rosenberg
*Booker T
;Referees
*Shawn Bennett
*Jessika Carr
*John Cone
*Darrick Moore
*Danilo Anfibio
*Chad Patton
*Rod Zapata
*Dan Engler
==See also==
*List of WWE pay-per-view events
*World Wrestling Entertainment/Event history
*Fastlane
*Event gallery
==DVD release==
* on DVD
==External links==
* Official Website
* Kickoff Show on WWE Network
* on WWE Network
* Kickoff Show at CAGEMATCH.net
* at CAGEMATCH.net
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view events
Category:2021 pay-per-view events
Category:Fast Lane PPV
Category:Fastlane 2021
Category:Events with Intergender matches