WWE’s Fastlane event is coming up on Sunday, March 5, and fans are surely hoping for a big night from Vince McMahon’s company. Fastlane is Monday Night Raw’s answer to SmackDown Live’s Elimination Chamber, which saw Bray Wyatt become the new WWE champion.
That kind of surprise is what fans love about WWE, and much of the time, the overall feeling is that they don’t happen nearly enough. For far too long, WWE’s events have been fairly predictable, with little reason for anyone to get excited for the unexpected.
But WWE’s New Era is slowly changing that perception. Mainstays like Wyatt are finally getting their due, while veteran newcomers like Samoa Joe are getting prime time exposure. WWE is embracing the next generation of stars, while also respecting its past. It’s a great mix, and the ideal way to do business.
Fans are certainly hoping that trend continues at Fastlane, which is already surrounded by a good amount of buzz. This is a positive for the company of course, because the higher the anticipation, the more eyes will be on the product.
But Fastlane’s success is crucial to WWE because it’s the last big event before WrestleMania 33. The Showcase of the Immortals brings the red and blue brands together on April 2, and the groundwork that’s laid now means the difference between exciting, and painfully predictable.
The buzz surrounding Fastlane will surely increase, and the stories leading to it will only get hotter.
#5 The rise of Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman was rumoured to be on the short list of WrestleMania opponents for The Undertaker in early 2016. The Wyatt Family strongman was new to the main roster, but many believed that his size and strength made him the ideal Superstar to challenge The Phenom on the grandest stage of them all.
But many others laughed at the very idea of that notion, mostly due to Strowman’s inexperience. However, just one year later, everything has changed. Strowman is now one of the heavy hitters on Monday Night Raw, and it’s obvious he’s on track to main event stardom.
His upcoming Fastlane match against Roman Reigns is pivotal in Strowman’s journey. Reigns has been the next man on pace to inherit the top spot and though he’s perhaps not done that just yet, it’s obviously what WWE wants for him.
So a win over Reigns at this stage would be huge, especially for a guy like Strowman, whose game has improved tremendously in just one year. He’s a contender now, and the best way to keep building his WWE career is to get important wins over top talents.
For Strowman, it doesn’t get any bigger than Reigns. Reigns may have lost recently to Samoa Joe on Raw, but another loss at Fastlane would be huge for Strowman, who would definitely benefit from the rub. Strowman is indeed on the way up, and defeating Reigns could be another step in the right direction.
#4 Samoa Joe’s Path of Destruction
Samoa Joe has made one of the most memorable debuts in recent WWE history. Coming in as Triple H’s right-hand man put him on a level all his own, and annihilating Seth Rollins established Joe as The Destroyer in the company.
It’s an exciting time for him, because of the obvious investment WWE has made in him. Trusting someone in that spot is surely not done without full belief in a guy’s ability to succeed, and that’s precisely what’s happening with Samoa Joe now.
The best part about Joe is that he can do anything WWE needs. He can work anyone on the roster and make it look good. He can cut a promo and hold his own against the best WWE can offer, and he can do all that while staying true to who he is.
Joe didn’t change when he came to the WWE. The man that fans are watching on Raw is the same man that turned heads in TNA. It’s also the same guy that’s getting red hot, and that momentum will only continue as time goes on.
Joe doesn’t have a Fastlane opponent as of this writing, but that will surely change. His recent attack on Sami Zayn could mean a match on March 5, and that means more spotlight for Joe to do what he does best. The truth is he’s only getting started.
#3 Goldberg’s road to the gold
Goldberg is the hottest star in the WWE, and that’s something that virtually no one could have predicted. The former WCW and WWE World Champion came back for what was believed to be a one-off match against Brock Lesnar. But that turned into a run that’s seen Goldberg rise to the top of the company.
Goldberg can do no wrong in the eyes of fans. He’s so incredibly over, and he’s arguably never looked better in his career. He had to carry WCW during The Monday Night Wars. He had to try and find himself the first time out in WWE. But now he can just sit back and have fun.
That fun could include a victory for WWE’s second top title, the Universal Championship. Goldberg will face Kevin Owens, and that match could end with a title change. If that happens, then Goldberg will go on to defend the Championship against Lesnar at WrestleMania 33.
The comeback of a lifetime could now include championship gold. Goldberg is over, he has full fan support, and he definitely has the support of WWE. He’s getting white hot, and there may be no better man to wear the title right now.
WrestleMania is the night when top guys shine brighter than ever before, and the same will certainly be said of Goldberg. Win or lose, his latest run will never be forgotten, and Fastlane is an important chapter in his story.
#2 The Undertaker’s imminent return
When Roman Reigns eliminated The Undertaker from the Royal Rumble, The Big Dog incurred the wrath of the WWE faithful. Fans that already hated him criticised the company for making such a move, mostly because they knew it would probably lead to a match at WrestleMania.
While that doesn’t sound like a bad idea on paper, the fact is that ‘Taker is in the last remaining scenes of his third act. With each year comes a new opponent, and each opponent could be the last man The Phenom ever wrestles.
Many fans just don’t want Reigns in that spot. But the Royal Rumble was likely a foreshadowing of things to come, and that means the match has probably already been planned behind the scenes. Of course, the only way to make it official is to deliver The Undertaker back onto WWE programming.
That moment could come at Fastlane when Reigns faces Braun Strowman. While Strowman does need a great showing against one of the company’s top guys, Reigns may inadvertently lose the match thanks to The Deadman.
When The Undertaker puts a man on his hit list, he moves quickly. The fact that Reigns is a babyface makes no difference. The fact that the Royal Rumble was every man for himself is of little consequence. Eventually, Reigns will have to answer for crossing Undertaker’s path, and that could happen on March 5.
#1 Kevin Owens destroys Chris Jericho
The friendship between WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens and the WWE United States Champion Chris Jericho has been one of the most entertaining storylines in recent memory. Fans have watched as the two men delivered some of the funniest moments in years, and it was a great ride for everyone involved.
But that ride has come to an end. Owens’ brutal attack on Jericho left fans stunned and wondering why. Though many predicted the split to happen so the two could work at WrestleMania, that did not stop the shock from being felt through fans that witnessed KO destroy Y2J.
Now that the friendship is over, the biggest question is what happens next? Smart booking says that Jericho should be kept off TV for the foreseeable future, so Owens can enjoy his renewed level of hate from the fans. KO can become the villain that he was before, as the time for laughs is indeed over.
But Jericho should return at Fastlane, and that return could mean a title loss for Owens. Owens will face Goldberg, who’s hungry for the title. Goldberg may not need any help, but Jericho may interfere if only to get a measure of revenge on his former best friend.
Even if Goldberg defeats Owens without Jericho’s assist, that does not mean Y2J won’t make his presence known after the match is over. Despite when it happens, the war between Jericho and Owens will surely become the hottest rivalry in WWE.
Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Sportskeeda. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
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