The road to Wrestlemania goes through Milwaukee tonight as the WWE holds its annual Fastlane event.
Fastlane is the final premiere event (that’s what the WWE is calling PPVs nowadays) before Wrestlemania, so we should see a lot of setup for April’s show of shows.
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We’ve assembled a panel of the finest wrestling “experts” in the ComicBook.com offices and asked them what they think will happen in tonight’s event.
Here are our predictions for Fastlane:
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Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa vs. The Brian Kendrick & Noam Dar
Our Prediction: Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa (4-2)
Lan Pitts: Tozawa needs that little bit of a push to get him just a smidge more over and teaming with Swann is a good way to make him look great. I’m still trying to figure out what the big deal about Dar is.
Torri Yates-Orr: I’m gonna say Swann & Tozawa take it. Why? I just feel Tozawa’s skill and yelling guarantee them a win.
Matthew Mueller: Since this is the kickoff match, maybe they give it to Kendrick & Dar to get the adrenaline pumping.
Dallas Jackson: Of the four in the match the only two that really matter are Rich Swann and TBK and I like Rich Swann more. So, I pick his team to win.
Brandon Gnetz: Seems a little early for them to give us the bathroom break match, but ok. I’ll go with Tozawa and Swann although this match hardly even seems worth purpling up the ropes for.
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
Our Prediction: Sasha Banks (4-3)
Christian Hoffer: I think they’re building to another multi-woman match for Wrestlemania and the best way to do that is start building Banks up again. It’s too early to turn Sasha again, so give her an upset victory to put her back in the title picture for Wrestlemania.
Chris Killian: I’ve got Sasha Banks. I know Nia Jax is supposed to be the women division’s big monster heel, but I’m just not a fan. I think she’s awkward most of the time and doesn’t have the intimidating presence of an Awesome Kong.
Brandon Gnetz: Sasha is getting close to turning on her pal Bayley and nothing makes you want to turn to the darkside more than losing. Nia Jax picks up the win and remains the least like most girls on the WWE roster.
Dallas Jackson: Nia Jax will win because the WWE has chosen that path. There isn’t much I like about her and will root for interference so Sasha wins!
Torri Yates-Orr: This might sound crazy, but I feel like Sasha needs this win here. Although a loss could be just the thing that Sasha needs to be the bad Sasha we know and love.
RAW Tag Team Championship Match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (c) vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Our Prediction: Gallows and Anderson (7-0)
Matthew Mueller: Feel like it’s too soon to take the belt off of the Club, so going with Gallows and Anderson retaining.
Dallas Jackson: Enzo is tired, and hopefully we will start seeing some breakup of this team — even though Big Cass can’t do anything on the mic. The strap stays put.
Brandon Gnetz: This is a long shot, but I get the feeling Enzo is intentionally trying to make his act go stale for the crowd to turn them heel. Otherwise, stop introducing yourself. We get it. The Club pick up the win and head into Wrestlemania as champs. NERDS LOSE!
Lan Pitts: It saddens me to think that the Good Brothers’ first reign would be such a short one and since it’s obvious that Cass is on his way to single’s competition, there’s really no use to continue on with Enzo and Cass as a tag team. Club retains.
Christian Hoffer:Remember when Enzo and Cass were a hot act? Me neither. The Club finally gets a convincing win here, Enzo gets put on the bench, and Cass gets the singles push Vince has wanted from the start.
Cruiserweight Championship Match: Neville (c) vs. Jack Gallagher
Our Prediction: Neville (7-0)
Christian Hoffer: Heroes are born from defeat. Jack Gallagher will lose the battle, but this will mark the start of his eventual rise to become the WWE’s first simultaneous Cruiserweight/UK/Universal Championship holder.
Lan Pitts: This belt has already had a history and they need to build a guy around it. Since coming back, Neville has been putting on great matches and really found his voice as a heel. Gallagher might be over, but he’s not ready yet.
Chris Killian: Keep this belt on Neville for as long as humanly possible. He’s great as a heel.
Brandon Gnetz: Is this an umbrellas match? No? Ok, then the King of the Cruisers retains his royal throne.
Torri Yates-Orr: I LOVE JACK GALLAGHER. But, Neville is our rightful king and, like I’ve said before, should never lose ever.
Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe
Our Prediction: Samoa Joe (7-0)
Torri Yates-Orr: Ain’t no way in hell, Samoa Joe is losing his first RAW PPV. I think it’ll be a great opportunity to show off Joe’s brutality and Sami’s heart.
Matthew Mueller: Samoa Joe comes out on top.
Dallas Jackson: So much push behind Samoa Joe right now and only some with Sami. This has the ability to either be a really good match or a squash for Joe. Either way, he is winning.
Brandon Gnetz: Sorry Sami, there’s no way Joe is losing his first main roster pay per view match. Your loveable loser gimmick continues.
Chris Killian: I think Samoa Joe’s going to destroy Zayn and be built up as Triple H’s unstoppable muscle.
RAW Women’s Championship Match: Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte
Our Prediction: Charlotte (7-0)
Brandon Gnetz: Is this a pay per view? Alrighty then, Charlotte wins and the RAW Women’s Championship remains the hottest potato in wrestling.
Dallas Jackson: Charlotte is going to get the strap back going into Wrestlemania. It makes sense to make it happen now.
Matthew Mueller: Charlotte takes down Bayley, keeping her streak alive.
Torri Yates-Orr: It’s a PPV. Charlotte. Duh. She’s doing the best work of her career.
Christian Hoffer: There’s nothing the WWE loves more than a streak. Charlotte wins, probably in a dirty fashion, laying the foundation for one hell of a Wrestlemania match.
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Our Prediction: Braun Strowman (4-3)
Lan Pitts: The Powers That Be really see a money maker with Braun Strowman (I’ve yet to see it, but okay) and going up against Roman Reigns is a great way to get noticed by fans. He’s definitely worked his way to the top after being fed cruiserweights and local jobbers, but you best believe the dead will rise by the end of this match, so Strowman wins, but not by a pinfall.
Torri Yates-Orr: I think this could be a night of a lot of interferences and I DEFINITELY think we’ll see the Deadman show up to go after Reigns for knocking him out of the Rumble. It’s a win win. Keeps Braun and Roman looking strong. I’m really excited for this match and I don’t know why.
Matthew Mueller: Strowman gets protected with a win over Reigns. Don’t worry though, Reigns will still be made to look strong.
Dallas Jackson: This is the match that I am most excited about. I like both guys and think this will allow us to see some impressive feats of strength. It could also be a changing of the guard in the power scheme. If Vince has his say, Roman wins. If Triple H is getting more control, Strowman continues to usher in the age of bigs.
Brandon Gnetz: BRAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!!! Feels good to yell his name, doesn’t it? Reigns will nearly defeat the Monster Among Men until the most distracting GONG in WWE history rings out long enough to distract The Big Dog from protecting his yard. Strowman wins.
WWE Universal Championship Match: Kevin Owens (c) vs. Goldberg
Our Prediction: Goldberg (7-0)
Dallas Jackson: Honestly, look at these two guys… Goldberg has the IT factor and, even though he is older, he still is the better feel of a champion. Owens looks like a jobber. Come on, if this guy came out in the Attitude Era he would have to wear eye black to keep the lights out his eyes the amount of times he’d be on his back. Time to stop the madness of pushing Owens. There are 20 wrestlers on the rosters that should be getting the love he gets.
Lan Pitts: GOOOOOOOLDBEEEEEEEEEERG! It feels surreal still chanting that almost 20 years later. As an Atlanta-native I want Goldberg to have his moment in the sun one last time, but on the other hand, how will Owens be affected by this loss? Can KO make Goldberg work for this victory or are we going to get another 6 minute match up? Either way, the Sultan of the Spear will be donning the Big Red Belt come Monday night.
Christian Hoffer: Honestly, look at these two guys… Kevin Owens is the longest reigning Universal Champion, a fantastic wrestler, and has singlehandedly kept RAW afloat for months. The other dude is a retired has-been who hasn’t put on a good performance since coming back. It’s time to stop the madness of pushing Goldberg. There are 70 wrestlers (you know, the full time guys who actually put in the work) that should be getting the love Goldberg is getting. But oh wait, the WWE is desperately clawing for snatches of a bygone era, so Goldberg wins.
Matthew Mueller: I would love for Owens to win, but Goldberg almost has to take the belt here unless you want to make Lesnar look weak. I do hope it’s not a complete squash though.
Torri Yates-Orr: For about a month, I was POSITIVE that Goldberg was winning. But with Owens killing his promos and having a new lease on life, now I’m not so sure. I still think Goldberg wins due to an interference from Chris Jericho. Kevin Owens ruined friendship and will lose the Universal Title due to it.
Brandon Gnetz: Get your tissues out, Internet Wrestling Community, because Kevin Owens is losing this one. We haven’t seen Chris Jericho since his Festival of Friendship went awry, but I have a feeling he will return to cost his ol’ BFF the match. Goldberg wins and will officially become the last former WCW Champion to ever win a major WWE Championship.
