Welcome one and all to my preview and predictions blog for the upcoming WWE Live Special, Fastlane. If you have any comments or feedback leave a comment in the section below or follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
Fastlane is the last live special before Wrestlemania in around 5 weeks time and there has been a lot happening as of writing. Dean Ambrose has not signed a new deal and will be finishing up in WWE after Mania. Roman Reigns is now in remission with Leukaemia. Becky Lynch won the Royal Rumble and then was taken out of the match and now she might be back in after Fastlane. A bunch of NXT talent made their debut on WWE television and made waves instantly and we now have Women's Tag Team champions. Shock and horror there is no match representing the 205 Live brand this month, even though they are in a tournament to decide the next contender to Buddy Murphy. There is still a long way to go before Wrestlemania and things can always change. If there are any updates or changes before Sunday I will edit this article. As always I will be talking about the matches in no particular order.
1. Pre Show: Rey Mysterio Vs. Andrade: The fact that these two are on the pre show goes to show the strength of the card on offer. Mysterio and Andrade had a great series of matches, Mysterio has looked like a completely different competitor since returning to the WWE a few months ago and it looks like he is helping the cause of the under rated and over looked Andrade. Since arriving from NXT Andrade has been lost in the shuffle a little, he was a NXT champion after all, and it looks like the series of matches he and Mysterio have had raised his stock as a serious competitor for the future. This should be a fantastic display of old school Luchador and both Mysterio and Andrade's evolving styles. I think Andrade will probably come out with the win.
2. The Shield Vs. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley: Things have gone a little strange in the past few months with regards The Shield. Ever since Ambrose announced that he would be leaving after Wrestlemania any form of momentum or push he was given seem to have subsided. Roman Reigns returning seems to have forced one last hurrah for the Hounds Of Justice before Ambrose heads off into the sun. Corbin, McIntyre and Lashley have been thrown together in the past few months to formulate at least some sort of plan for them leading to Wrestlemania. This should be an entertaining enough match with Shield coming out on top.
3. Smackdown Live Women's Championship: Asuka (C) Vs. Mandy Rose: The Smackdown Live women's division seem to have been overlooked as of late due to the drama surrounding Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey. Asuka seems to have been left out in the cold and so we are given a strange match I couldn't have predicted a few months ago. Mandy Rose seems to have been given a little bit of a push as of late and both her and Sonya Deville have vastly improved over the past year or so. This match might be the making of a viable contender in Rose and I remain hopeful this is the beginning of building new talent in the women's division. With that being said I can't see Rose coming out with the win. Asuka will go into Wrestlemania holding the women's championship for the blue brand.
4. WWE Women's Tag Team Championship: Sasha Banks And Bayley Vs. Nia Jax And Tamina: There was never a doubt in my mind that Sasha and Bayley were going to be the first champions of the newly established women's tag team championship division. My second choice would have probably been Nia and Tamina. This match should be a good showing for both teams that will probably do nothing more than set up a rematch of some form at Wrestlemania. I can't see Banks and Bayley losing their first defence as champions but, they may win with a little outside help.
5. RAW Tag Team Championship Triple Threat: The Revival (C) Vs. Bobby Roode And Chad Gable Vs. Aleister Black And Ricochet: This match is a little bit thrown together but, I think this might be the surprise of the night. Black and Ricochet have been making waves in NXT and it was only a matter of time that they both arrived on WWE television. They are a rather strange team on paper but, I think using them in this capacity will do wonders for their profile with the WWE audience. Roode and Gable have proven to work well as a team in their short time together, and I think they work rather well. To say The Revival were under used is an understatement. They are a great classic throw back in an era of high spots and flips they simply hurt people. This match should be a great mix of the old school and new styles complementing each other in the best way possible. This will be a great match with more than enough to keep everyone happy. I think Revival will win and go into Mania looking for some more competition.
6. Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship: The Usos (C) Vs. The Miz And Shane McMahon: There have been a number of stories over the past few months suggesting that The Uso's are on their way out of the WWE soon but, their most recent win would suggest otherwise. McMiz have been a little strained in recent weeks after the usually confident Miz seems to be cracking under the pressure. This will be a good enough match but, at this time of year everything needs to lead to Wrestlemania and this match will be no different. I expect Rusev and Nakamura to get involved and maybe even The Hardy Boyz too. Uso's will retain going into Mania.
7. Charlotte Flair Vs. Becky Lynch: Arguably the most anticipated match of the night. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are both as popular as they have ever been for very different reasons. Lynch is playing the anti hero face to almost perfect levels and Flair seems to be slowly morphing back into her strong heel character with ease. These two are the Austin and Rock of the women's division and if that seems a little over the top then I must have been watching the wrong show. This will be as entertaining a women's match as you'll see and I fully expect high drama. I think for the sake of a total fan mutiny Lynch will win and see her place at Wrestlemania secured once more.
8. WWE Championship: Daniel Bryan (C) Vs. Kevin Owens: The match that nobody expected may prove to be the match we all didn't realise we needed. Daniel Bryan has become more than a perfect heel with giant bodyguard to match. This is a real callback to classic era heels that will win at any cost. Kevin Owens came back with little to no fanfare and became the new number one contender to the WWE Championship pushing Kofi Kingston into the cold. This will be a great match from start to finish but, I can't help but think that The New Day may get involved in some way shape of form. This will be a hard hitting match with Rowan more than likely costing Owens the win. Bryan to win going into Wrestlemania still the champion.
Comments
Post a Comment