New information surrounding the streaming of Fastlane 2021 could imply that NBC Peacock is using the event to fix bugs before WrestleMania 37.
During Elimination Chamber 2021 there was a video package for the last pay-per-view before WrestleMania, Fastlane. This special was advertised as a Peacock exclusive, which contradicted previous information about the WWE Network to NBC Peacock move.
It’s been established that on March 18, NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service will be the only place to watch the WWE Network in the United States. Fastlane was always planned to be the first live pay-per-view to feature on the service, taking place March 21.
It was previously thought that US fans would be able to either use Peacock or their local pay-per-view service to watch Fastlane. With advertisements promoting “Peacock or the WWE Network”, many are confused about the WWE content switch happening days before the event.
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed this on Wrestling Observer Radio, theorising that Fastlane could be a “test” event. Noting WWE would want to have any issues figured out prior to WrestleMania 37, Meltzer speculated on what he had heard about the move, and how live shows will work going forward.
Here is the full quote:
Alvarez: “They had the announcement, so Fastlane you can watch on Peacock OR the WWE Network.”
Meltzer: “So I’m presuming that they realise the transition may not be super smooth. Because originally it was gonna be March 18 and the WWE Network would disappear in the United States on March 18.
“I was told that it was switching over for you. That could have changed but I was specifically told when this thing was going on that you will automatically be switched. You don’t have to do anything – you’re gonna have to learn to navigate Peacock, but it’s not like you’re gonna have to fill out forms for Peacock. It was gonna be like ‘bing!’, March 18 you just log in to WWE Network and you’re on Peacock. That’s what I was told was the original idea.”
Alvarez: “Maybe if you’re on the computer and you go to the (WWE) Network it will redirect you to Peacock, but if I’m watching on my iPad or my iPhone, and I’ve got a WWE Network app, I’m not gonna open that app and Peacock is gonna magically appear. Somehow, I’m going to have to get the Peacock app and then however they’re gonna switch the account over. Do I turn on Peacock and use my WWE Network login?”
Meltzer: “Yes. That’s what I was told. Again, that was what I was told, but there’s certain things that they don’t count on or whatever. So the original plans when it comes to something like this with technology, it may not be as smooth as they hoped for. But I was told you do not have to do anything. You will be automatically redirected. It’s not like you have to start signing up and all that stuff. Now, is that what’s gonna end up happening in a month, are they gonna have that all figured out and everything? I don’t know. But that was absolutely the idea because I asked every question in the world, and they were very forthcoming about that.”
Alvarez: “Well somebody better ask about what happens if you watch on the WWE Network app, because that won’t work. You’re gonna have to get a Peacock app, so you are going to have to do something here. How they do the transfer is however they do the transfer. But I’m not gonna hit my WWE Network app and it will all of a sudden magically become Peacock… it’s a different app.”
Meltzer: “Yeah, so you hit the Peacock app.”
Alvarez: “Sure, so they’re gonna have to let everybody know this because right now they have told us nothing. They’ve told us nothing if you watch WWE, if you watch Raw, SmackDown, there’s nothing they have told us about this. They should start giving everybody the information as soon as possible, because as we have seen, if you wait until the last minute and everybody starts trying to do something at the exact same time at the last minute, it’s going to be a disaster. We’ve seen this a million times.”
Meltzer: “Maybe that’s why it’s for Fastlane, because if it is a disaster, it won’t be the disaster at WrestleMania. Fastlane is probably there as the test run so if something goes wrong it’s Fastlane and they figure it out, rather than start everything up at WrestleMania and then you have a disaster like you had with the last Conor McGregor fight. So, yes, that’s the reason that they didn’t do it right before WrestleMania. And also, it’s not gonna be the day of Fastlane, they’re gonna do the transition a couple of days earlier. I would guess the vast majority of people are not gonna be watching the WWE Network for those three days earlier, but some people will. So, I’m sure it’ll all be explained in some form soon enough, and they’ve got to work out all the bugs too.”
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The Peacock move is only for US subscribers so international WWE fans will use WWE Network as usual.
With the Smackdown WrestleMania main event made official and a new WWE champion crowned, it is unclear what matches will be made for Fastlane. Marketed as the last stop before WrestleMania, the show usually puts key wrestlers in rivalries in preparation for The Show of Shows.
Also at Elimination Chamber 2021, The Miz made WWE history.
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