2023 WWE Fastlane results, recap, grades: Seth Rollins tops Shinsuke Nakamura in brutal main event

Rollins outlasted Nakamura in a thrilling Last Man Standing match to retain the world heavyweight championship

While many of the headlines entering Saturday's WWE Fastlane event in Indianapolis were focused on John Cena teaming with LA Knight to take on The Bloodline, the lasting memory from the show will be the brutal main event between Seth Rollins and Shinsuke Nakamura. Rollins managed to successfully retain his world heavyweight championship by beating Nakamura in a Last Man Standing match.

Nakamura gave Rollins all he could handle, constantly focusing his attack on the champion's injured back. Rollins was able to take everything Nakamura could dish out, however, and managed to put Nakamura down for the count with a falcon arrow through two tables to retain his title in a nearly 30-minute match.

Rollins was also able to leave Gainbridge Fieldhouse with his championship thanks to Rhea Ripley convincing Judgment Day teammate Damien Priest to not cash in his Money in the Bank contract before the main event even began.

CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event, providing updates and highlights as the action goes down in the live blog below.

2023 WWE Payback results, grades

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship -- The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Finn Balor) (c) vs. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso: Rhodes and Uso got the upper hand early in the match, taking the fight right to Priest and attacking the big man's leg. Judgment Day was able to reverse things by isolating Uso and executing a series of quick tags to keep Uso away from Rhodes. Rhodes eventually received the hot tag and hit Balor with a Disaster Kick for a near fall. Momentum continued to swing between the teams as the minutes ticked by. Uso hit Priest with an Uso Splash before Balor was able to make a late save. Rhodes hit Balor with a Cody Cutter but his neck had been damaged earlier in the match, forcing him to roll back out of the room. Uso hit Priest with a spear in a callout of Roman Reigns but the move brought Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio to ringside, where Uso dropped Mysterio but backed down from Ripley. That was enough distraction for Priest and Balor to nearly win the match after Balor hit Uso with a Coup de Grace before a Rhodes save. All four men brawled until JD McDonagh got involved and Ripley hit Uso with the Money in the Bank briefcase only for Uso to make a dramatic kickout to keep the match going. Priest chokeslammed Rhodes on the ring apron and set up the commentary desk only for McDonagh to accidentally hit Priest in the knee with the briefcase and allow Rhodes to hit Priest with Cross Rhodes on the desk. Uso and Rhodes hit Balor with a modified 1D that saw Rhodes come off the ropes with a Cody Cutter to score the victory. A very solid tag team opener with a surprising finish that will feed into the ongoing story of tension within Judgment Day. Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso def. The Judgment Day via pinfall to win the titles. Grade: B+

Latino World Order vs. Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits: Rey Mysterio's mystery partner did not show up at the start of the match, leaving a three-on-two situation. Unsurprisingly, this led to Lashley and the Profits controlling the action on Santos Escobar early. Mysterio had a brief run before again falling to the numbers advantage. Zelina Vega eventually got herself involved, hitting Montez Ford with a Meteora on the outside of the ring, which was not a disqualification despite the ref seeing it. Eventually, Carlito ran to the ring and took a tag from Mysterio, revealing himself as the mystery partner. Shortly after, Carlito hit a backstabber on Ford for the pin. I don't really understand the value of not running with Lashley and the Profits as a top act and having them eat a loss here. And it's a personal pet peeve to do the "mystery partner doesn't show up until the end of the match" thing. So this didn't deliver in many ways. After the match, Xavier Woods had a pizza delivered to the commentary team, the second in-action Pizza Hut ad of the show, which is a bit jarring. Latino World Order (with Carlito) def. The Street Profits via pinfall. Grade: C

WWE Women's Championship -- Iyo Sky (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair: Asuka misted Flair in the opening seconds of the match, taking advantage of the no-disqualification rules of a triple threat match. Sky and Asuka then went one-on-one while Flair was attended to by ringside physicians. Flair eventually made her way back into the ring and hit Asuka with a big boot and then took Sky down with a fallaway slam. After a hot run by both women, Sky and Asuka began working together. Flair continued to work her way back into the match after every attempt from Sky and Asuka to take her out, hitting crossbody blocks and chops before a double suplex on both opponents. Sky hit a springboard moonsault to the outside on Asuka only for Flair to hit one from the top rope to the outside on both Asuka and Sky. A Tower of Doom spot allowed Asuka to nearly pin both women but both were able to kick out and keep the match alive. Sky and Asuka locked Flair in simultaneous submissions before Asuka released and went after Sky, allowing Flair to hit Asuka with a spear for a near fall. Bayley came to ringside, ignoring Sky's demands she stayed in the back and out of her business, a distraction that nearly cost Sky the title at that moment. Flair locked Asuka in the Figure-Eight but Bayley distracted the referee as Asuka was tapping out, allowing Sky to hit a moonsault on Flair and score the pin to retain the title. The match got surprisingly sloppy at times considering the three elite talents in the ring, making the match somewhat disappointing. Still "above average" but somewhat disappointing. Iyo Sky (c) def. Charlotte Flair and Asuka via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: B-

John Cena & LA Knight vs. The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa): Cena took the fight to Uso quickly before demanding Uso tag in Sikoa. That proved to be a bad plan for Cena as Sikoa quickly took over on Cena before tagging Uso back in. Cena continued to be in peril for a long stretch as Knight remained on the apron desperate to tag in. Cena started to fire up and fire back at Sikoa only for Sikoa to hit a spinning heel kick to cut off the comeback. Cena finally hit Uso with an Attitude Adjustment but Sikoa knocked Knight from the apron before Cena could make the tag. Cena countered Sikoa coming off the top rope by getting his feet up to hit a low blow. This was the moment when Knight finally got the hot tag and blitzed Uso before dropping Sikoa with a DDT. Knight avoided an Uso Splash and hit a powerslam and an elbow drop. Cena hit Sikoa with a crossbody before getting caught by Uso with an Uso Splash as all four men were left on the canvas. After a scramble, Cena nearly hit Sikoa with an Attitude Adjustment but Uso hit a superkick to cut it off. A Cena Five-Knuckle Shuffle on Uso was followed up with a BFT from Knight for the pinfall. Cena tried to raise Knight's hand after the match but Knight said no and raised Cena's instead. Knight getting the pin was the right move and with Reigns returning at SmackDown on Friday, The Bloodline will remain in turmoil. The match wasn't anything special but the right decisions were made and it had an old-school feel with the long delay before bringing Knight into the fold. John Cena & LA Knight def. The Bloodline via pinfall. Grade: B

World Heavyweight Championship -- Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Last Man Standing): Before the match, Damian Priest was backstage with the Money in the Bank briefcase, saying he was not going home empty-handed, only for Rhea Ripley to intervene and say that Priest said he wanted to wait until he was ready and to hold off for the night. Nakamura refused to engage in the initial meeting, ducking out of the ring and forcing Rollins to chase. Rollins grabbed a kendo stick but couldn't use it before Nakamura sent him back-first into the ring apron. Rollins ripped off the padding at ringside to expose the concrete, but Nakamura was able to fight him off before any damage could be done. Rollins responded by grabbing the ring steps and ramming them into Nakamura. Rollins threw chairs, trash cans and tables into the ring but Nakamura again cut Rollins off before delivering a knee to the back. Nakamura grabbed nunchucks and began to deliver shots to the legs and back with the weapon. Nakamura put a trash can over Rollins' head and delivered a series of kendo stick shots to the can before again attacking Rollins' back. Rollins finally came back with a series of kendo stick shots to the back and a trash can to the head. Nakamura beat the 10-count after a Rollins frog splash and hit a Russian leg sweep to regain control of the match. Nakamura went through a table propped in the corner when Rollins moved out of the way of a running knee. Rollins followed up with a stomp but Nakamura again beat the count.

Rollins cleared off the commentary desk before grabbing a ladder, which he drove into Nakamura. Rollins then set the ladder up next to the desk but Nakamura got out of the way before Rollins could put him through the desk. The pair fought into the crowd before Nakamura sent Rollins off the steps onto the floor below. Nakamura then drove several chair shots into Rollins' back. Rollins tried to fight back but was backdropped onto the concrete that was exposed at ringside early in the match. Rollins again beat the count after the backdrop. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a Pedigree but Nakamura was up at nine. Shortly after, Nakamura drove Rollins through a table set up at ringside with double knees from the second rope.  Rollins fired back and again put Nakamura against the commentary desk but Nakamura cut him off climbing the ladder before misting Rollins and sending him off the ladder through the desk. Rollins again beat the count. Nakamura backdropped Rollins onto a chair in the ring and drove him through a table in the corner, only for Rollins to slide out of the ring and land on his feet. After more brutality from Rollins, he managed to come back with a Pedigree on a platform outside the ring and a stomp to follow. After Nakamura beat the count, Rollins hit a falcon arrow through tables below the platform and beat the count while Nakamura did not. A very good, dramatic match that didn't fall into many of the "too many counts" traps that plague Last Man Standing matches. If there's any problem, it's that it makes no sense for Ripley to tell Priest not to cash in ahead of the match. Why would you not wait to see if the champion was badly compromised after a brutal match? Seth Rollins def. Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the title. Grade: A

[Oct 7, 2023 at 10:51 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

World Heavyweight Championship -- Seth Rollins (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Last Man Standing): Before the match, Damian Priest was backstage with the Money in the Bank briefcase, saying he was not going home empty-handed, only for Rhea Ripley to intervene and say that Priest said he wanted to wait until he was ready and to hold off for the night. Nakamura refused to engage in the initial meeting, ducking out of the ring and forcing Rollins to chase. Rollins grabbed a kendo stick but couldn't use it before Nakamura sent him back-first into the ring apron. Rollins ripped off the padding at ringside to expose the concrete, but Nakamura was able to fight him off before any damage could be done. Rollins responded by grabbing the ring steps and ramming them into Nakamura. Rollins threw chairs, trash cans and tables into the ring but Nakamura again cut Rollins off before delivering a knee to the back. Nakamura grabbed nunchucks and began to deliver shots to the legs and back with the weapon. Nakamura put a trash can over Rollins' head and delivered a series of kendo stick shots to the can before again attacking Rollins' back. Rollins finally came back with a series of kendo stick shots to the back and a trash can to the head. Nakamura beat the 10-count after a Rollins frog splash and hit a Russian leg sweep to regain control of the match. Nakamura went through a table propped in the corner when Rollins moved out of the way of a running knee. Rollins followed up with a stomp but Nakamura again beat the count.

Rollins cleared off the commentary desk before grabbing a ladder, which he drove into Nakamura. Rollins then set the ladder up next to the desk but Nakamura got out of the way before Rollins could put him through the desk. The pair fought into the crowd before Nakamura sent Rollins off the steps onto the floor below. Nakamura then drove several chair shots into Rollins' back. Rollins tried to fight back but was backdropped onto the concrete that was exposed at ringside early in the match. Rollins again beat the count after the backdrop. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a Pedigree but Nakamura was up at nine. Shortly after, Nakamura drove Rollins through a table set up at ringside with double knees from the second rope.  Rollins fired back and again put Nakamura against the commentary desk but Nakamura cut him off climbing the ladder before misting Rollins and sending him off the ladder through the desk. Rollins again beat the count. Nakamura backdropped Rollins onto a chair in the ring and drove him through a table in the corner, only for Rollins to slide out of the ring and land on his feet. After more brutality from Rollins, he managed to come back with a Pedigree on a platform outside the ring and a stomp to follow. After Nakamura beat the count, Rollins hit a falcon arrow through tables below the platform and beat the count while Nakamura did not. A very good, dramatic match that didn't fall into many of the "too many counts" traps that plague Last Man Standing matches. Seth Rollins def. Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the title. Grade: A

[Oct 7, 2023 at 10:08 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

John Cena & LA Knight vs. The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa): Cena took the fight to Uso quickly before demanding Uso tag in Sikoa. That proved to be a bad plan for Cena as Sikoa quickly took over on Cena before tagging Uso back in. Cena continued to be in peril for a long stretch as Knight remained on the apron desperate to tag in. Cena started to fire up and fire back at Sikoa only for Sikoa to hit a spinning heel kick to cut off the comeback. Cena finally hit Uso with an Attitude Adjustment but Sikoa knocked Knight from the apron before Cena could make the tag. Cena countered Sikoa coming off the top rope by getting his feet up to hit a low blow. This was the moment when Knight finally got the hot tag and blitzed Uso before dropping Sikoa with a DDT. Knight avoided an Uso Splash and hit a powerslam and an elbow drop. Cena hit Sikoa with a crossbody before getting caught by Uso with an Uso Splash as all four men were left on the canvas. After a scramble, Cena nearly hit Sikoa with an Attitude Adjustment but Uso hit a superkick to cut it off. A Cena Five-Knuckle Shuffle on Uso was followed up with a BFT from Knight for the pinfall. Cena tried to raise Knight's hand after the match but Knight said no and raised Cena's instead. Knight getting the pin was the right move and with Reigns returning at SmackDown on Friday, The Bloodline will remain in turmoil. The match wasn't anything special but the right decisions were made and it had an old-school feel with the long delay before bringing Knight into the fold. John Cena & LA Knight def. The Bloodline via pinfall. Grade: B

[Oct 7, 2023 at 9:34 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

WWE Women's Championship -- Iyo Sky (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair: Asuka misted Flair in the opening seconds of the match, taking advantage of the no-disqualification rules of a triple threat match. Sky and Asuka then went one-on-one while Flair was attended to by ringside physicians. Flair eventually made her way back into the ring and hit Asuka with a big boot and then took Sky down with a fallaway slam. After a hot run by both women, Sky and Asuka began working together. Flair continued to work her way back into the match after every attempt from Sky and Asuka to take her out, hitting crossbody blocks and chops before a double suplex on both opponents. Sky hit a springboard moonsault to the outside on Asuka only for Flair to hit one from the top rope to the outside on both Asuka and Sky. A Tower of Doom spot allowed Asuka to nearly pin both women but both were able to kick out and keep the match alive. Sky and Asuka locked Flair in simultaneous submissions before Asuka released and went after Sky, allowing Flair to hit Asuka with a spear for a near fall. Bayley came to ringside, ignoring Sky's demands she stayed in the back and out of her business, a distraction that nearly cost Sky the title at that moment. Flair locked Asuka in the Figure-Eight but Bayley distracted the referee as Asuka was tapping out, allowing Sky to hit a moonsault on Flair and score the pin to retain the title. The match got surprisingly sloppy at times considering the three elite talents in the ring, making the match somewhat disappointing. Still "above average" but somewhat disappointing. Iyo Sky (c) def. Charlotte Flair and Asuka via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: B-