WWE Fastlane Preview

WWE Fastlane Predictions

Courtesy of WWE.com

Let's be honest here, nobody really asked for the "PPV every two weeks" format that the WWE adopted following its Brand Split back in the summer of 2016. And it seems like WWE themselves are beginning to step away from this template. With 3 weeks separating Elimination Chamber (a SmackDown Live PPV) and WWE Fastlane (a Monday Night Raw PPV), and a full month before The Grandaddy of them All, Wrestlemania 33, WWE seems to have noticed the difficulty in building believable rivalries in just 2 weeks of programming. 

This Sunday, March 5th is WWE Fastlane, and with the match card officially set, I'm here to make some predictions.

Kickoff Show:

Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa vs. The Brian Kendrick & Noam Dar

Winner: Swann and Tozawa, by way of pinfall

Analysis: In a kickoff match featuring the Cruiserweight Division, there isn't really any reason to have Kendrick and Dar pick up the victory. Swann is returning from injuries, and it seems that he should get the victory over Kendrick. Plus, Tozawa has been looking very good as of late, and there's no reason as to why he shouldn't be put over.

Courtesy of WWE.com

Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

Winner: Sasha Banks via DQ, countout, or shenanigans

Analysis: Sasha Banks has been painted as an underdog ever since she started working as a singles competitor on the main roster. She's coming off an injury at the hands of Nia Jax, and last week on Raw she was ragdolled in a tag team matchup vs. Jax and Charlotte Flair while teaming up with Raw Women's Champion, Bayley. However, I have Banks defeating Jax without obtaining a pinfall or submission over her. It would even up the score at 1-1, potentially setting up a rubber match at Wrestlemania, while keeping Jax strong against the perennial underdog.

Raw Tag Team Championship Match:

Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (C) vs. Big Cass and Enzo Amore

Winner: Gallows & Anderson via pinfall (Magic Killer on Enzo)

Analysis: Gallows & Anderson hasn't been booked this strong since The Club was split up when AJ Styles was drafted to SmackDown Live. I doubt that WWE would book them this well, defeating the fan-favorite team of Sheamus & Cesaro for the tag team championships, only to drop the titles to Enzo & Cass. Although Enzo & Cass are insanely over with the fans, potentially the most over team in WWE currently, I doubt WWE will grant them the tag titles just yet.

Cruiserweight Championship:

Neville (C) vs. Jack Gallagher

Winner: Neville via submission

Analysis: Even though Jack Gallagher has been extraordinary since his Royal Rumble appearance, Neville is being booked as an unstoppable heel. He is the most important piece of the Cruiserweight Division right now. And with the main roster in-ring debut of Austin Aries coming up, it is likely that Aries v. Neville will be the Wrestlemania match to represent the Cruiserweights.

Courtesy of WWE.com

Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe

Winner: Samoa Joe via pinfall

Analysis: Samoa Joe has been booked like a brutal badass, even when going up against Roman Reigns in the main event of Raw just one week after his main roster debut. Plus, Sami Zayn allegedly has heat on him backstage, I doubt he's the one to stop the dominance of Joe.

Raw Women's Championship:

Charlotte Flair (C) vs. Bayley

Winner: Charlotte Flair via submission

Analysis: Charlotte is undefeated at PPV events, and she is the star of the Women's Division. I highly doubt that she will leave WWE Fastlane without the championship. Being that Bayley has been labeled as a lovable underdog, it seems like she will go into Wrestlemania as the underdog looking to break Charlotte's PPV streak and regain her title. But for that to happen, Charlotte has to regain her title.

Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman

Winner: No-Contest, The Audience 

Analysis: These two are the strongest booked full-time competitors in WWE today. It is the "What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?" paradox come to life. I predict a no-contest.

Universal Championship:

Kevin Owens (C) vs. Goldberg

Winner: Goldberg via pinfall, hopefully via Chris Jericho-related shenanigans

Analysis: Goldberg beat Brock Lesnar in less than 2 minutes. He easily eliminated him from the Royal Rumble back in January. He's going to meet him one last time at Wrestlemania 33. If Goldberg doesn't win this match, I'll be at a loss for words. If WWE sticks to the narrative it has been developing since Survivor Series, Goldberg will beat Owens in about 30 seconds. But if WWE is smart, they'll involve Jericho, hopefully having him cost Owens the title to set up Owens v. Jericho at Wrestlemania.

SUMMARY:

Swann & Tozawa def. Kendrick & Dar

Banks def. Jax

Gallows & Anderson def. Enzo & Cass 

Neville def. Gallagher

Joe def. Zayn

Charlotte def. Bayley

Reigns/Strowman DRAW

Goldberg def. Owens

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