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The blue brand's cold streak is likely to continue tonight. The filler Fastlane pay-per-view has presented a quite unexciting build. Until it's over, WWE SmackDown isn't likely to begin the process of recovering from its rut.
Still, questions remain for both Fastlane and WrestleMania beyond it. Tonight is the go-home show to Fastlane. Will we begin to see some answers only five days away from the last major event before WrestleMania?
#1 Where is Rusev?
Rusev returned last week, but only at ringside to see Aiden English lose to Shinsuke Nakamura.
It's a puzzling place for SmackDown's most popular performer. With only a few matches announced for Fastlane (and only one of them of genuine interest - The Usos vs. The New Day), Rusev's presence and addition to the card would be a welcome one, even if it's just to beat up jobbers like Breezango.
So, will Rusev show up tonight? If so, will he be in a match?
Currently, it looks like Rusev won't be on the WrestleMania card at all, which would be a sad and needless waste of the blue brand's most over star.
#2 Will we see Shinsuke Nakamura?
Paradoxically, Shinsuke Nakamura has been in much the same position as Rusev of late, despite his winning the Royal Rumble match. He returned last week and defeated Aiden English, which felt like a warmup for bigger things to come.
Does Shinsuke Nakamura have a role for Fastlane or is he being kept entirely in reserve for WrestleMania? If he doesn't have a match scheduled for Sunday's show, how will he be kept warm for the build to New Orleans?
SmackDown has taken a lazy approach to the Nakamura/Styles match so far. Hopefully after Fastlane ends, it will put in some effort.
#3 How will AJ Styles be treated?
AJ Styles' second reign as WWE Champion, which started off with so much promise, has been disappointing so far. Since his mini-rivalry with Brock Lesnar for Survivor Series, he's played second fiddle to the endless "Kami"/Shane McMahon/Daniel Bryan angle. This has carried over into the build to Fastlane, where he's looked less a champ than a stepping stone. John Cena proved that once and for all last week.
Tonight, he takes on Dolph Ziggler, one of his Fastlane opponents. A loss to Ziggler, who only feels like a warm body placed in a filler match, would be damaging. Styles needs to win, and win decisively if he's to be kept as hot as possible before his match with Shinsuke Nakamura. WWE's 50/50 formula would be stupid to apply here.
Or they might just have the match go to a no finish, which would also be typical.
Either way, AJ Styles needs to start feeling like a proper champion again heading into WrestleMania. Whether the company will begin that process tonight remains to be seen.
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