We're on the fastlane to Wrestlemania 35! So much so that WWE has to remind everyone by having Fastlane take place this Sunday. 9 matches on the card and with this show, we should have a clearer picture of more matches for Wrestlemania in a month's time. Let's discuss!
With Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy taking off until his Wrestlemania 35 (pre show) match, the pre show is left without a must see match....that was until they announced Rey Mysterio would be facing Andrade in a highly anticipated rematch. I originally thought Andrade was going to defeat R Truth here and win the United States Title to defend against Mysterio at Mania but Samoa Joe changed that this past Tuesday. Instead, we get this amazing pre show match that will be near impossible to follow. Mysterio and Andrade have killed it any time they've competed and their Smackdown match back in January remains the best main roster match of 2019. Just because these two are on the pre show means nothing. Do not miss this epic clash. I don't see Andrade getting his moment against Mysterio on the pre show and still think these two will clash at Wrestlemania with some type of stipulation so I'm going with Mysterio for the victory.
Also added to the pre show while I was getting this ready was New Day taking on Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev, because why the heck not? I can't see Kofi getting shafted and then his teammates losing as well so I'm going with New Day. Hopefully WWE will push up Andrade and Rey to open Fastlane.
If WWE wants a hot show opener, they should start the show with the Triple Threat for the Raw Tag Team Championships. The Revival will defend their titles against Bobby Roode and Chad Gable and the makeshift but working surprisingly well team of Aleister Black and Ricochet. This is an all stars game of former NXT stars and champions from different eras of the black and yellow brand. This will be a show stealer if given enough time. I've been pretty against Chad Gable and Bobby Roode as a team, only because I think EC3 would mesh much better with a heel Roode and the fact that I think Gable would be better as a singles guy. Ricochet and Black both deserve to be singles stars but their teaming has been a shock to me. They gel together so well in their short time together and already have big wins over The Revival and The Bar. As much as I love The Revival, their time together as champions has been horrible, losing to DIY one week after winning the titles and then losing again to Black/Ricochet. They really need a win and that win will come Sunday. The Revival will retain their tag titles, most likely pinning Roode. I expect a pre show match for them at Mania though.
Asuka will defend her Smackdown Women's Title against Mandy Rose. Yes, I know. I'm not sleeping on Mandy Rose here as she has pinned Asuka, joining only three other women who have. Asuka has unfortunately had to play really third fiddle in the women's division during this year's road to Wrestlemania, with everyone focused on the Becky/Charlotte/Ronda drama and the new women's tag titles. Asuka hasn't been able to get a compelling feud since Becky at the Rumble. There's no doubt that Asuka will win here but who will she face at Mania? I'm thinking she'll be on the pre show in some type of multi person match ala Wrestlemania 33's match. Mandy will tap out to Asuka.
The six time tag team champions The Usos defend against Shane McMahon and The Miz. We all see where this is going right? Miz or Shane is doing the turn here post match which means The Usos will be winning here. With The Hardy Boys back, it only makes sense that The Usos, the most decorated tag team of this era face one of the biggest tag teams of the Attitude Era. This stuff writes itself. Back to Miz/Shane, if Triple H is going to be face heading into Mania, then Shane can be heel. Can't have all of the power figures as heels can we? Plus, when's the last time Shane's been heel? Mid 2000s? It's time. I'm not really into Shane/Miz at Mania but it does make sense in the grand scope of storytelling. Anyway, The Usos retain while Shane and Miz implode.
Sasha Banks and Bayley will make their FIRST defense of their newly won WWE Women's Tag Team Titles as they face Nia Jax and Tamina. Nia bringing up the fact that Sasha hasn't successfully defended any title on the main roster stings and it's most likely the reason why she finally will come Sunday. If Tamina and Nia were going to win the titles, it would have been at the Chamber and WWE would have had Sasha and Bayley chase them for the titles until Mania. With that out the picture, I fully expect Sasha and Bayley to retain. Don't be surprised if you see some female Hall of Famers try to team up and take the titles from Boss N Hug come Mania. Or some IIconic Australians. Or some Sky Pirates. The field is really open.
The Big Dog is back! One week after announcing to the world that he's in remission, Roman Reigns called The Shield to arms; to reunite one more time. This is of course, playing off the fact of Reigns' recent illness and the fact that Dean Ambrose may be on his way out of the company. Despite being at odds with one another, common enemies brought the three together again and at Fastlane, The Shield reunites to face Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin. McIntyre better not take the fall here! The Shield is not losing their first match back, especially with Roman beating cancer. Come on. Plus, you have the Royal Rumble winner Seth Rollins attached to the team. He needs all the momentum he can get heading into facing Lesnar at Mania. This one is easy. The Shield is victorious in their return, with Roman Reigns pinning Baron Corbin. I'm guessing if Cena may be facing Samoa Joe at Wrestlemania, that would leave McIntyre out of an opponent. Reigns/McIntyre is a huge match for both men and one that could determine the next challenger for the Universal Championship. Book it WWE.
Kevin Owens is back and he's getting a major opportunity. Owens was rumored to face Bryan at Mania but with #kofimania taking over, it looks like WWE took Kofi's opportunity at Fastlane to give him the big one at Mania. In the meanwhile, we get an early Christmas present with Kevin Owens taking on The New Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship. This will be good. I'm sure Kofi will be ringside or very close by watching. Owens looks to be a face for the moment so him beating Bryan wouldn't make any sense, especially if Kofi is getting his moment in MetLife Stadium. I don't think this one will end cleanly and expect either Ali or Kofi to get involved. I'm banking on Bryan taking advantage of the distraction and defeat Kevin Owens to retain the WWE Championship. I don't know if WWE is building towards a Fatal Four Way between Bryan/Kofi/Owens/Ali or a Triple Threat #1 contender's match for Smackdown but rest assured, Kofi Kingston has a high probability to walk out of Wrestlemania 35 as WWE Champion.
Charlotte will face Becky Lynch and if Lynch wins, she'll be added to the Raw Women's Championship match, making it a triple threat. Surprise surprise. This whole storyline has been so convoluted, especially with the whole Vince replacing Becky then Steph putting her back in despite her father's previous action. Is this leading to a power struggle between The McMahons? Anyway, Charlotte and Becky have amazing chemistry so this will definitely be a great match but it will no doubt end with Becky winning and then taking her rightful spot in the Mania main event. Ronda/Lynch/Charlotte is the money match for Mania and one with the most story build. Becky wins.
Fastlane could be a really fun event. Rey/Andrade, the Raw Tag Titles, Owens/Bryan and Charlotte/Becky could all be pretty special if given enough time. After this, we'll be four weeks away from Wrestlemania.
You ready?
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