Not as much as it has been for Cena. Back in the past, the promoters did not want to break kayfabe, ever. Heels weren’t supposed to be cheered, so when it happened, they’d direct the cameras away or overdub the chants with generic crowd noise. The rasslers in the meantime went through the motions and tried to pretend otherwise.
Now that they’ve all but admitted it’s all fake, they look at any heat as good heat, even if it does go against the grain. I remember listening to Steve Austin interview James Storm, and he lamented that heels were getting cheered. It’s his job to get negative feedback, and heels consider it a badge of honor to get pelted by debris from the audience.
Anyhoo, on to Fastlane. I can’t say it sucked. I can say it was flawed in some parts, but no performance is 100% perfect.
D-Bry vs Roman
Pro: I thought they did a good job of making it seem like Roman Reigns was out of his league for most of the match, and he’s good at the few things he does.
Con: I don’t *like *it, but it’s because I think D-Bry is much more deserving of a title shot with Brrrock and can deliver a much better match. But they could do worse than RR.
Team Authority vs Team Cena
Pro: I’m looking forward to the Orton/Rollins feud. Rollins will be the brash young loudmouth, Orton will be the grizzled veteran fed up with Seth’s cockiness, and he’s got a huge ax to grind with the Authority. Much RKO from nowhere will ensue.
Con: Zig gets shit on again. The glory from SS has faded and he’s back to JTTS status.
Side note: Why did they have to make Rollins vs Jon Stewart look serious? His original video was much funnier.
Ambrose vs Barrett
Pro: Well, they slug each other pretty good.
Con: BNB has already been made to look weak with the non-title losses, and doubly so with the escape attempts. The ending was uninspired, stupid and lame. Ambrose gets DQed because he stomped on Wade too much? Since when does that ever happen? This is setting up a rematch in a cage or with lumberjacks, and Barrett’s really not on Ambrose’s level. Winning the IC belt would be a step down for Dean, and hugely contradictory to his rebel image. Creative is trying to make this look more important by having Dean be the obsessed IC historian, but they’ve already made the belt look like a flea market tzotchke.
Paige vs Bella
Pro: Paige in fishnets
Con: Bella doesn’t have much in-ring intelligence. Paige was obviously setting herself up to take shots from Bella, but the latter kept blowing it.
Usos vs Cesaro and the Kidd
Pro: I liked the way C&K kept countering and outsmarting the Usos, and all the back-and-forth action. Plenty of signature money shots to pop the crowd.
Fact: I’m looking forward to Kidd gloating.
Don’t Call Me Cody vs hhhhfffffffff Golddust
Pro: Lots and lots of reversals, maybe too much for the audience to keep track.
Con: Ending was kind of “huh”? The ref didn’t hit the mat for the third count, and it looked like DCMC was supposed to kick out but had a brain fart. DCMC is a cool cat, but for some reason his solo efforts just kind of deflate. Not really interested in where this is going. The Stardust gimmick is too derivative of Goldy and 60’s comic book villains.
Cena vs Rusev
Pro: Gotta hand it to Cena for putting over Rusev. He even made Jack Swagger’s losses look not-so-bad in comparison. He got to make his signature comebacks, but still bow to Rusev’s might.
Con: The pity party that will ensue. Cena let down America, Cena disappointed the faithful, boo hoo, speech speech speech, blavadablavadablavada. Will make for lots of fast forwarding.