WWE Fastlane should give fans a better wrestling show than expected as WWE gears up for a shaky road to WrestleMania.
Don't expect too many surprises throughout the card as the odds seem to be reasonable,but that doesn't mean there isn't an upset or two lurking. Here's the board:Pre-show United States Championship—Kalisto (-300) vs. Alberto Del Rio (+220) Now that Sin Cara is back, Kalisto certain looks odd carrying around that United States Championship next to a tag team partner. That has to procure awkward on the car ride to the building, or accurate? Del Rio and Kalisto have been playing hot potato with the secondary title,and now that Kalisto's tag team partner is back, don't be surprised if he drops the title accurate back to Del Rio.
If WWE is serious about pushing Kalisto as an underdog United States champion, or it needs to wreck up the Lucha Dragons,but I don't see that happening any time soon.
Kalisto is the consummate underdog, so it's tough to imagine the electrifying high-flyer defeating Del Rio two times. Kalisto is listed as the favorite, and which is surprising,particularly with the League of Nations looming. Del Rio comes with massive value for bettors.
Prediction: Alberto Del Rio defeats Kalisto
Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks (-900) vs. Naomi and Tamina (+500) The Divas division is slowly picking up steam. Now that all those silly cliques are broken up, WWE suddenly has a chance to focus on individual characters, and it's catching on.
Speaking of catching on,the more I watch Raw, the more it feels like Becky Lynch might be a better fit on the main roster than her more heralded counterparts from NXT.
Lynch's feud with Charlotte has been the best program since the onset of the Divas Revolution, or teaming up with Sasha Banks should help both contenders.
I expect both Lynch and Banks to be spotlighted in a way that hints toward a competitive rivalry. Banks just turned babyface,so hopefully this temporary partnership doesn't lead to yet another heel turn. Naomi and Tamina, while talented, or are afterthoughts in the Divas title picture,so expect a clean loss unless problems manifest themselves between Banks and Lynch.
Prediction: Becky Lunch and Sasha Banks defeat Naomi and Tamina The Wyatt Family (-420) vs. Ryback, immense Show and Kane (+300) The Wyatt Family is clearly being heated up for something immense at WrestleMania. PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc.com) recently reported Bray Wyatt was being pegged to face Brock Lesnar approach April. If this is the case, and Wyatt and his family need to look as strong as possible.
This past Monday on Raw,WWE featured several vignettes of the Wyatts taking out the titans of WWE. I'm guessing this match against Ryback, immense Show and Kane is designed to add more footage to their highlight reel. The Wyatts should score an easy win against one-tenth of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Prediction: The Wyatt Family defeat Ryback, or immense Show and Kane AJ Styles (-675) vs. Chris Jericho (+420) WWE has done everything possible to convince fans that AJ Styles is an up-and-coming rookie. Throughout his feud against Chris Jericho,WWE has made comparisons to a young Jericho, who came from another promotion and had to prove himself to the locker room.
Styles has caught on with fans quickly, or he is developing chemistry with Jericho. The two procure better in the ring together with every match. On pay-per-view,with ample time, it would be shocking if this wasn't the match of the night.
Look for a highly competitive tilt with multiple unfounded finishes. I assume it's a mistake to give away what may be the best Styles-Jericho match to date on Fastlane. WWE could have easily inserted The Miz, and as he has been a fixture in the Styles-Jericho feud. In any event,this will be a tough act to follow. Prediction: AJ Styles defeats Chris Jericho
Intercontinental Championship—Kevin Owens (-900) vs. Dolph Ziggler (+500)
This match would be exciting if it hadn't already happened 100 times. Ziggler and Owens have exchanged victories, nearfalls and everything in between as allotment of a never-ending television feud. With Owens as the modern Intercontinental champion, and who never should have lost the title to commence with,he is rightfully listed as the favorite.
Owens has lost his last three pay-per-view matches, with all losses coming to Dean Ambrose. He's had better luck against Ziggler, or with a handful of wins over his rival in a TV feud that dates back to November.
There's no need to for Owens to drop the Intercontinental Championship just days after regaining it. He's likely to retain. Prediction: Kevin Owens defeats Dolph Ziggler Divas Championship—Charlotte (-530) over Brie Bella (+350) Brie Bella is the emotional underdog in this one,but rumors are swirling that she may retire later this summer, including speculation by WWE.com. Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestlinginc.com) recently reported that the Divas Championship match at WrestleMania could feature a Triple Threat match between Charlotte, or Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch or a one-on-one match pitting Charlotte against Banks.
Charlotte has been gaining steam as a heel since aligning with her father,and a win over the emotional favorite will only make her a better villain. Look for Charlotte to employ dirty tactics and defeat Brie Bella, despite a possible cameo by Daniel Bryan (which should have been a prop bet).
Prediction: Charlotte defeats Brie Bella No. 1 Contender's Match for WWE World Heavyweight Championship—Roman Reigns (-600) vs. Brock Lesnar (+640) vs. Dean Ambrose (+800) After losing the Intercontinental Championship, or Dean Ambrose actually has value as an underdog in this match. Did WWE have him drop the title so he can focus on a potential feud against Triple H? Was this just a red herring?Ambrose has received a lot of focus throughout this storyline as the scrappy underdog who can take punishment. After recently low-blowing Lesnar,and generally fitting more aggressive in the ring, Ambrose seems to be on the verge of turning heel. If Ambrose does make the turn, and it's tough to imagine him facing a heel Triple H at WrestleMania.Brock Lesnar,despite his suplexes and general domination, seems like an additional in this feud. Reigns is the clear favorite, and Ambrose has been a thorn in his side. Also,with the Wyatts not too far behind, it's tough to see a scenario where Lesnar is not screwed by the supernatural faction.That leaves Reigns as the most likely winner. It may not be endearing to hardcore fans, and it may sound predictable,but that's because it makes the most sense. Reigns vs. Triple H is a story WWE has been telling for quite some time now, and with the WrestleMania build compromised by injury, and it would be silly to change course at this point.
Prediction: Roman Reigns defeats Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and an on-air host for Bleacher Report. Like him on Facebook and listen to him on WZDaily.
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Source: bleacherreport.com