WWE Fastlane 2018: Analysing and grading each match

#7 AJ Styles def. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler & John Cena (WWE title)

AJ Styles successfully retained his title in the main event

Storyline: Baron Corbin, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler and John Cena qualified for a six-pack challenge match for AJ Styles’ WWE Championship, with the winner going on to put the title on the line against Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34.

Match: The match began with Cena hitting an AA on every opponent except Styles, then everyone ganged up on the 16-time champion. Owens and Zayn – rivals again after Zayn tricked Owens by lying down before rolling him up for a pin – were split-seconds away from getting 3-counts at times but Shane McMahon, ringside for the match, broke up both falls. The finale saw Styles, who had just recovered from being put through the announce table by Cena, connect with a Phenomenal Forearm on Owens for the win.

Verdict: Every so often, WWE produces a match that you just don’t want to end, and this was one of them. Every single Superstar delivered from start to finish and the story between Owens, Zayn and Shane was told brilliantly. Yes, the outcome was obvious, but the match had plenty of moments that made you genuinely question if someone else really was going to win.

Grade: A