# Fastlane (2021)
**Fastlane (2021)** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view and [WWE Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-network) event produced by WWE for its Raw and SmackDown brand divisions, held on March 21, 2021 and broadcast from the WWE ThunderDome at [Tropicana Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/tropicana-field) in [St. Petersburg, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-petersburg-florida).[1](https://prowrestlingsource.com/2021/03/22/fastlane-2021-recap-reviews/) • [2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) It was the final pay-per-view before WrestleMania 37 and the first WWE pay-per-view event streamed on Peacock, which had begun rolling out WWE Network content in the United States three days earlier.[3](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-network-launches-on-peacock) • [4](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-fastlane-2021-full-results-recap-news-and-notes/1100-6489097/) In the main event, Roman Reigns defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship, with Edge serving as special guest enforcer.[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | Sunday, March 21, 2021, 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT, from the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) |
| Promotion and brands | WWE, for the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions[1](https://prowrestlingsource.com/2021/03/22/fastlane-2021-recap-reviews/) |
| Main event | Roman Reigns (c) def. Daniel Bryan, Universal Championship, with Edge as Special Outside Enforcer[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results) |
| Other title matches | Riddle retained the United States Championship; Big E retained the Intercontinental Championship; Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler retained the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos) |
| Streaming first | The first WWE pay-per-view event on Peacock, which launched WWE Network content on March 18, 2021[3](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-network-launches-on-peacock) |
| Attendance | 0, as a ThunderDome event held without a ticketed crowd[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) |
| Critical reception | TJR Wrestling 6.5/10; Jason Powell C+; Cageside Seats year-end grade B+; WrestleFile C+ (6.9/10)[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) |
## Background and position on the calendar
Fastlane had been held annually until 2020, when it was replaced by [Super ShowDown](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-showdown-2020), and the event was reinstated in 2021.[7](https://officialwwe.fandom.com/wiki/Fastlane_%282021%29) The 2021 edition fell three weeks before [WrestleMania 37](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania-37) and served as the last stop on the road to that event, giving WWE a final chance to adjust the championship matches already set for the show.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) • [4](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-fastlane-2021-full-results-recap-news-and-notes/1100-6489097/) It was also the last pay-per-view to emanate from the ThunderDome, WWE's bio-secure virtual-fan production at Tropicana Field, before WrestleMania 37 moved to [Raymond James Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/raymond-james-stadium) in Tampa.[4](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-fastlane-2021-full-results-recap-news-and-notes/1100-6489097/)
The event also carried a distribution milestone. Under a multi-year agreement between WWE and [NBCUniversal](https://www.edgepedia.org/nbcuniversal), Peacock became the exclusive home to WWE Network in the United States beginning March 18, 2021, and Fastlane was the first WWE pay-per-view event on the service.[3](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-network-launches-on-peacock) • [8](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/annual-reports/2021.pdf)
## The main event
Daniel Bryan earned his Universal Championship opportunity by defeating "Main Event" Jey Uso in a steel cage on the March 5, 2021 episode of SmackDown.[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2021-03-05) The match at Fastlane was structured with Edge, the 2021 [Royal Rumble](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-rumble) winner, as Special Outside Enforcer, placing the [WrestleMania](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania) story directly inside the title match.[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results) • [2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
The contest ran about thirty minutes. Bryan used quick strikes and submissions to force Reigns into a longer, more defensive match than he preferred, while Reigns answered with power and control, including a powerbomb out of the "Yes!" Lock.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) • [5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results) The finish unfolded in stages: Bryan's Running Knee inadvertently took out the referee, Reigns hit a Spear, and Edge counted a near-fall in the official's place. [Jey Uso](https://www.edgepedia.org/jey-uso) then interfered with superkicks for both Edge and Bryan, and Bryan errantly struck Edge with a chair shot meant for Reigns.[5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results) When Bryan reapplied the "Yes!" Lock, a barely conscious Reigns appeared to tap out with no referee available, and Edge, losing control, attacked both men with the chair before leaving; Reigns then covered Bryan for the pin.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) • [5](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results)
The controversial finish directly created the WrestleMania 37 Universal Championship triple threat match between Reigns, Bryan, and Edge.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
## Rest of the card
Eight matches made up the event, including a kickoff bout.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) • [6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos)
- **Kickoff:** United States Champion Riddle defeated [Mustafa Ali](https://www.edgepedia.org/mustafa-ali), winning with a Bro Derek off the second rope; after the match, RETRIBUTION turned on Ali.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos) • [10](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-fastlane-match-ratings-2021-sean-ross-sapp/)
- **WWE Women's Tag Team Championship:** Nia Jax & [Shayna Baszler](https://www.edgepedia.org/shayna-baszler) (with Reginald) defeated SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks & [Bianca Belair](https://www.edgepedia.org/bianca-belair), whose partnership broke down in a loss built on miscommunication and distraction finishes.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos) • [10](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-fastlane-match-ratings-2021-sean-ross-sapp/)
- **Intercontinental Championship:** Big E defeated Apollo Crews in a match reviewers praised but criticized for its abrupt finish and short length, under six minutes.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos) • [2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
- **Singles:** Seth Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a match framed as Rollins demanding respect.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos)
- **No Holds Barred:** Drew McIntyre defeated Sheamus in a brutal brawl between former 20-year friends, one of the two matches critics ranked at the top of the card alongside the main event.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos) • [2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
- **Singles:** Alexa Bliss defeated Randy Orton in supernatural-theater booking, as The Fiend reemerged in ghastly fashion to cost Orton the match.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos) • [2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
- **Singles:** Braun Strowman defeated Elias (with Jaxson Ryker), who replaced Shane McMahon after McMahon suffered an apparent knee injury while warming up earlier in the day.[6](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos)
## Reception
Match-by-match reviews from [Bleacher Report](https://www.edgepedia.org/bleacher-report), WhatCulture, Sportskeeda, 411Mania, and Cageside Seats identified McIntyre versus Sheamus and Reigns versus Bryan as the clear top tier of the card, with Rollins versus Nakamura a solid supporting match and Bliss versus Orton and Strowman versus Elias at the bottom.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) Overall grades clustered around average to slightly above average: TJR [Wrestling](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestling) gave the event 6.5 out of 10, Jason Powell graded it C+, the Pro Wrestling Dot Net audience poll was led by a B grade, and Cageside Seats later gave Fastlane a B+ in its year-end review.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/) Pro Wrestling Source rated the show 4/10, objecting particularly to the tag team title match and its effect on the Banks-Belair WrestleMania build.[1](https://prowrestlingsource.com/2021/03/22/fastlane-2021-recap-reviews/) WrestleFile's aggregate grade of C+ (6.9/10) reflected a card of only eight matches in which three were rushed, replacement-level, or almost entirely angle-driven, while the two major matches kept the event above a weak-show grade.[2](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
## References
1. [FASTLANE 2021 RECAP & REVIEWS, Pro Wrestling Source](https://prowrestlingsource.com/2021/03/22/fastlane-2021-recap-reviews/)
2. [Fastlane 2021 Review & Final Grade, WrestleFile](https://wrestlefile.com/events/fastlane-2021/)
3. [WWE Network launches on Peacock, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-network-launches-on-peacock)
4. [WWE Fastlane 2021 Full Results, Recap, News, And Notes, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-fastlane-2021-full-results-recap-news-and-notes/1100-6489097/)
5. [Universal Champion Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/2021/roman-reigns-vs-daniel-bryan-results)
6. [Full WWE Fastlane 2021 results, photos and videos, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwefastlane/article/full-wwe-fastlane-2021-results-photos-and-videos)
7. [Fastlane (2021), OfficialWWE Wiki](https://officialwwe.fandom.com/wiki/Fastlane_%282021%29)
8. [WWE 2021 Annual Report (Form 10-K)](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/annual-reports/2021.pdf)
9. [SmackDown results, March 5, 2021, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2021-03-05)
10. [WWE Fastlane Match Ratings 2021 From Sean Ross Sapp, Fightful](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-fastlane-match-ratings-2021-sean-ross-sapp/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling promotions and championships › WWE promotion and brands › WWE livestreaming events, 2016–present*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license