Fastlane 2023 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. It took place on October 7, 2023 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the 7th event in the Fastlane chronology.
Production
Background
First held in 2015, Fastlane became an annual pay-per-view until 2019. Fastlane was briefly revived in 2021, before being discontinued. On June 20, 2023, it was announced that the event would be revived again, taking place on October 7 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Storylines
On the September 22 episode of SmackDown, Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar of the Latino World Order (LWO) defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), Bobby Lashley's clients. After, Lashley was aired his disappointment in The Street Profits. Following a match between Mysterio and Escobar on the September 29 episode of SmackDown, The Street Profits would attack them, leading fellow LWO members Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro to make the save. Later, Mysterio challenged Lashley and The Street Profits to a Six Man Tag Team Match at Fastlane, which Lashley later accepted. However, the following week, The Street Profits attacked Wilde and Del Toro, putting them out of action. That night, Mysterio announced that he would make a phone call to find a replacement.
At SummerSlam on August 5, IYO SKY cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase to win the WWE Women's Championship, after Asuka had just lost it to Bianca Belair. After, Damage CTRL (SKY, Bayley, and Dakota Kai) began to feud with Asuka and Charlotte Flair. On the September 29 episode of SmackDown, Flair defeated Bayley. After, Damage CTRL attempted to attack Flair, only for Asuka to make the save. Bayley then, on SKY's behalf, announced that SKY would defend her title against Asuka and Flair in a Triple Threat Match at Fastlane.
After Jey Uso fell out with The Bloodline and appeared to quit WWE, Cody Rhodes announced at Payback that he had pulled some strings to make Jey a member of the Raw roster. In the following weeks, The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley) attempted to convince Jey to join their stable, but he declined. On the September 18 episode of Raw, The Judgment Day attacked Jey after his match, before Rhodes made the save. It was later announced that Rhodes and Jey would challenge Bálor and Priest for the Raw Tag Team Championship and the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Fastlane.
On the September 1 episode of SmackDown, John Cena made his return. Cena would be interrupted by Jimmy Uso, who claimed the fans wanted to see him instead. This led to Cena giving Jimmy an Attitude Adjustment. Two weeks later, Cena appeared on Grayson Waller's talk show, "The Grayson Waller Effect". Cena was interrupted by Jimmy again, before Solo Sikoa emerged and assisted Jimmy in attacking Cena. This lead to AJ Styles making the save. On the September 22 episode of SmackDown, Cena and Styles challenged Jimmy and Sikoa to a match that night, however, WWE official Adam Pearce would schedule the match for Fastlane. A contract signing was set to take place that night, but a backstage attack from Jimmy and Sikoa resulted in Styles having to be taken to a hospital. It was later announced that Cena would face Jimmy and Sikoa in a Handicap Match at Fastlane. On the September 29 episode of SmackDown, LA Knight saved Cena from an attack by Jimmy and Sikoa, signing the contract to be Cena's partner at Fastlane.
At Payback on September 2, Seth Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. After, Nakamura would attack Rollins, who required medical assistance. On the September 4 episode of Raw, because of the attack, Rollins challenged Nakamura to a rematch. Nakamura declined, instead attacking Rollins again. Over the following weeks, Rollins and Nakamura would continue to fight, leading to Rollins challenging Nakamura to a match at his choice of time, place, and stipulation. On the September 25 episode of Raw, Nakamura accepted the challenge, announcing he would face Rollins in a Last Man Standing Match at Fastlane.
Match Preview
| Six Man Tag Team Match | Preview |
| IYO SKY vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair | Preview |
| The Judgment Day vs. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso | Preview |
| John Cena & LA Knight vs. The Bloodline | Preview |
| Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura | Preview |
Results
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso defeated The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Bálor) (c) to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship & WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship (20:43)
- Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar & Carlito defeated Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) in a Six Man Tag Team Match (10:02)
- IYO SKY (c) defeated Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Women's Championship (17:15)
- John Cena & LA Knight defeated The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa) (w/Paul Heyman) (17:21)
- Seth Rollins (c) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Last Man Standing Match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (28:25)
Other on-screen talent
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See also
- List of WWE pay-per-view events
- World Wrestling Entertainment/Event history
- Fastlane (PPV)
- Event gallery
External links
Fastlane 2023 Official Website
Fastlane 2023 Kickoff Show on WWE Network- Fastlane 2023 on WWE Network
Fastlane 2023 at CAGEMATCH.net
| Fastlane 2023 previews |
|---|
|
Six Man Tag Team Match • IYO SKY v Asuka v Charlotte Flair • The Judgment Day v Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso • John Cena & LA Knight v The Bloodline • Seth Rollins v Shinsuke Nakamura |
| Fastlane |
|---|
| 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2021 • 2023 |