The Pay Per View between the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania has always been a bit of a lame duck. From the start of the monthly pay per view, WWE has attempted everything in their power to get people to watch. They seem to hit their stride with the Elimination Chamber despite the fact it was a mind boggling show to put right before the biggest PPV of the year. Why risk the health of your top stars in an Elimination Chamber match right before the Superbowl of wrestling? Due to pushing towards newer arenas that cannot support the Elimination Chamber structure, the WWE decided to shelve Elimination Chamber. In replacement? WWE Fastlane.
Now look, I get it. WWE loves the imagery and metaphors of fast cars. Fast cars are sexy, powerful, dangerous and expensive. Everything the WWE hopes we look at about their Superstars. When WWE turned “Great American Bash” into “The Bash” they tried to hem it around fast cars. Now they have “Fastlane” to describe that this show is “on the Fastlane to Wrestlemania”. It actually surprises me they didn’t just go with a much more simplistic “The Road”. Funny enough, the best names for such a show are all taken by TNA Wrestling. “Bound For Glory” and “Victory Road” would work way better than Fastlane.
I’m not a fan of the name and think it maybe gets three years of use before the WWE shuffles it to obscurity. Eventually the WWE will either come to the realization that no, February PPVs never work or they put in a show that doesn’t exert the energy of their top stars but still gives us something interesting to watch. King/Queen of the Ring, anyone? Sorry, I just got you excited.
The Last Word on Sports Wrestling Department giving their predictions and analysis today include Aaron Wrotkowski, Philippa Hopwood, Adam Contant, Shawn Wilken and Ricky Rana.
WWE Fastlane starts at 8PM EST with the Kickoff at 7PM EST. It’s free on WWE Network because WWE knows February is a terrible month and hey, I’m sure #CancelWWENetwork had some effect.
WWE KICK OFF EVENT
MIZTV WITH PAUL HEYMAN
WILL MIZ AND MIZDOW BREAK UP TONIGHT?
Aaron and Phillipa: Yes
Adam, Shawn and Ricky: No
THOUGHTS by Shawn Wilken: While I would like to think that Paul Heyman teases Sandow becoming a Paul Heyman guy, which sparks a showdown between Miz and him, I believe the WWE still has a lot of gas left in the hype tank for Damien Sandow turning on Miz. The act of Sandow becoming frustrated at Miz and teasing a turn hasn’t grown old yet, so the WWE can still work with it. What we’ll get out of this segment is Heyman being Heyman, which is perfect for a kick-off. He’ll promote his client, who by the way is the 1 in 21-1, and also go on to say that it doesn’t matter who wins between Roman Reigns or Daniel Bryan, that his client will destroy either of the two. He’ll promote Wrestlemania, likely the Network as well, and that will be that.
STARDUST VS. GOLDUST
WINNER:
Aaron: Goldust
Philippa, Adam and Shawn: Stardust
Ricky: No Contest
THOUGHTS by Aaron Wrotkowski: If Stardust wins this match then the story is over. Stardust is younger, wilder and would be putting Goldust out of his misery early. But if Goldust ekes out a win against the former Cody Rhodes? Now you have a reason for Goldust to want to go out into the sunset with a W while Stardust pushes and prods him to face him again at Wrestlemania (or down the road). That’s when Stardust gets personal. That’s when it truly can become a program in order to have Stardust retire Goldust.
WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
CESARO AND TYSON KIDD WITH NATALYA VS. THE USOS (C) WITH ALICIA FOX
WINNERS:
Aaron and Ricky: The Usos
Phillipa, Adam and Shawn: Cesaro and Kidd
THOUGHTS by Philippa Hopwood: As much as I feel like The Usos are on the run of their career at the moment and their dad is also set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I feel it’s time for change in the tag division and I think Cesaro and Kidd could be that change. I think as a tag team they are the complete package and it would be great to see them walk out with the gold.
WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
DEAN AMBROSE VS. BAD NEWS BARRETT (C)
WINNER:
Aaron and Shawn: Bad News Barrett
Philippa, Adam and Ricky: Dean Ambrose
THOUGHTS by Ricky Rana: I am really torn in predicting this match. You have BNB who the writers seem to forget how much heat he has and then there’s Ambrose where the writers appear to have forgotten him completely. I don’t believe that this feud will end here but continue on to the next PPV. An outcome to support this view would be Ambrose winning the match by DQ.
WWE DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP
PAIGE VS. NIKKI BELLA (C) WITH BRIE BELLA
WINNER:
Aaron, Philippa, Adam, Shawn and Ricky: Nikki Bella
THOUGHTS by Philippa Hopwood: I think Nikki is being built up to be the face of the divas division in AJ’s absence and beating Paige here could be the key to that. The build up has seen Nikki on top with the help of Brie and whilst it would be great to see Paige extract some revenge and become a three time Divas champion, I just can’t see beyond a Nikki Bella win.
SIX MAN TAG MATCH
THE AUTHORITY (SETH ROLLINS, KANE AND THE BIG SHOW) VS. DOLPH ZIGGLER, ERICK ROWAN AND THE RYBACK
WINNERS:
Aaron, Phillipa and Ricky: Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and The Ryback
Adam and Shawn: The Authority
WHO GETS THE PINFALL/SUBMISSION WIN:
Aaron, Phillipa and Ricky: Dolph Ziggler
Adam and Shawn: Seth Rollins
WHO IS PINNED:
Aaron and Phillipa: Seth Rollins
Adam and Shawn: Dolph Ziggler
Ricky: Kane
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: This should be a good filler match that gets everyone some time on the show. There are no real high stakes in this match, and honestly, Seth Rollins is on another level in terms of status with the company,so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him Curb Stomp his way to victory by taking out the guy that will make him look great, and has taken on the underdog role lately, Dolph Ziggler.
WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN CENA VS. RUSEV (C) WITH LANA
WINNER:
Aaron, Phillipa, Shawn: Rusev
Adam: John Cena
THOUGHTS by Shawn Wilken: If the WWE wants to complete their heel turn with the audience, after subjecting the crowd to an obvious winner in Reigns and the early exit of Bryan at this year’s Royal Rumble, then having Cena go over Rusev is the perfect way of doing so. Rusev, still not having been pinned or made submit in singles competition, would ultimately fall into the realms of obscurity if he’d lose clean to Cena, and I don’t believe the WWE can afford to go through a loss like that. At the same time, I don’t think Rusev can make Cena submit, which will ultimately lead to a dirty way of winning, or even a disqualification win to Cena. In any scenario, the result of this match won’t be a desirable one.
STING AND TRIPLE H CONFRONTATION
WILL THEY BRAWL:
Aaron, Phillipa and Ricky: Yes
Adam and Shawn: No
WILL ANYONE ELSE COME IN BETWEEN:
Aaron: Sheamus
Phillipa: The Authority and Dolph Ziggler
Adam, Shawn and Ricky: No
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: WWE has done a really good job in telling this story and building excitement for this match at Wrestlemania. I really like how they brought up Sting’s association with World Championship Wrestling, as it adds a little nostalgic sizzle to a feud that has plenty of it already. Sting will show up, but more of his theatrics will be employed to embarrass Triple H again and then demand a match with the Cerebral Assassin at Wrestlemania.
MAIN EVENT
WINNER FACES BROCK LESNAR AT WRESTLEMANIA
DANIEL BRYAN VS. ROMAN REIGNS
WINNER:
Aaron, Phillipa, Adam, Shawn and Roman Reigns: Roman Reigns
WILL BROCK LESNAR SHOW UP:
Aaron: Yes
Phillipa, Adam, Shawn and Ricky: No
THOUGHTS by Ricky Rana: One must assume if this match was ever the plan considering the fan reaction at WWE’s previous ppv Royal Rumble. Was the plan to have Reigns have a smooth win leading to his match with Lesnar at Mania? Fight the likes of Kane or Big Show or Rollins at this ppv? Were there other plans for Bryan? We may never know, but post Wrestlemania the crowd appear to slightly warm to Roman Reigns. This may change things in favour for Reigns. This match is truly to decide ‘who deserves’ to main event at Wrestlemania, the fan favourite or Vince’s favourite. To me, the latter will prevail but this match will be set up for WWE to indirectly let the universe know that that we gave Bryan a chance and he didn’t win! However, I do not see Reigns getting the clear win over Bryan, I expect to see Sheamus intervene and cost Daniel Bryan his match and the title shot at Wrestlemania. This outcome will give Sheamus the much needed elevation required for his heel turn and Bryan an opponent to feud with for a match at Wrestlemania 31.
WWE Fastlane starts at 7PM on WWE Network. See you there!
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