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I am pretty excited for WrestleMania now.
It was the last major stop on Road to WrestleMania and Smackdown put on the superior show to build up to New Orleans. We had some interesting booking decisions, good surprises and it clearly set up the WWE Championship match we wanted. I am sure I am not alone in saying I cannot wait for the WWE Championship and Smackdown Women’s Championship match in four weeks. We can actually get what we want at Mania. What a novel concept.
With all of this in mind, I present my list of the top five most surprising moments from the enjoyable shown known as 2018 Fastlane:
5. Rusev Isn’t Squashed
How is Rusev not a major star? The fans love him and he constantly backs it up with some hard-hitting and believable offense. I wasn’t surprised he lost to Nakamura on Sunday but was surprised how good he looked in the process.
Ever since the crowd has screamed “Rusev Day” on every Smackdown, Rusev has simply vanished from the blue brand. It's a baffling decision and I worried he would simply vanish before WrestleMania. So it was quite surprising to see him have a physical match with Nakamura to provide a hot opener on Sunday. I was really worried it would be a squash but it made Rusev look like a real threat even with his loss.
If the WWE wants to really surprise us, they would give Rusev a prominent role at WrestleMania. A fan can only dream.
4. Randy Orton Wins The United States Championship
I am glad that young upstart Randy Orton finally got a big break. I mean the 13-time World Champion really needed to beat Bobby Roode so soon after Roode’s first US Title win. I am really “happy” to see these new stars winning going into Mania. End of rant.
Orion and Roode had an old-school technical match on Sunday. It was a lot longer and more physical then I think a lot of us where thinking it would be. It ended quickly with Orton hitting his RKO. Thus a shocking end to Roode’s all too brief title reign. I was shocked to see Orton go over Roode. Bobby Roode could have used a win over a major superstar who doesn’t really need any wins like this. However, creative decided Orton needed to complete that Grand Slam Championship I guess. Sigh.
3. The Bludgeon Brothers destroy New Day and The Usos
I was really excited for The Usos versus the New Day. I mean who wouldn’t be? They had classic matches with each other all through the summer and fall of last year. They were continuing that good match pattern on Sunday night. Then The Bludgeon Brothers showed up and ruined everything.
It is surprising to see that level of a beatdown on two prominent teams on a pay-per-view at this time of year. The fans went from upset the good match ended early to silent as both The New Day and Usos were destroyed by Rowan and Harper. It was impressive and put over the Brothers huge right before WrestleMania. I don’t think a lot of people would complain about a Triple Threat Match between these three good teams in a couple of weeks.
2. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn screwed by Shane again
It never ends does it? Kevin Owens was fighting with Sami Zayn and accidentally hit Shane McMahon. What was Owens’ reward for that accident? Shane McMahon again cost Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn the WWE Championship. How exactly are they the heels?
It was surprising to see Shane cost Zayn and Owens again. It was booked as an accident on the heel side but not the face side. Sami and Kevin have a legit beef against Shane McMahon at this point.
The reason it is still a surprise is I wonder where it goes now. We are really close to WrestleMania and the Smackdown leader is still feuding with his two major heels. They have to settle their score at Mania right? And how does Daniel Bryan get involved?
1: Asuka vs Charlotte
It is a clearly new era in the WWE. The match I am likely the most excited about for WrestleMania 34 is a Women’s Title match. Asuka and Charlotte are easily the best two female workers in the company. Women’s wrestling has come a long way in the last few years and it is about to step up to another level in New Orleans.
The Women’s title match between Ruby Riott and Charlotte Flair was a good match at Fastlane. The result was however never really in any doubt. We knew Charlotte would not lose the title to a new wrestler in her first pay-per-view match right before Mania. But I didn’t expect what happened next.
I thought we had a good chance of an Asuka match against Charlotte soon. The WWE has tried to swerve the fans by implying that Asuka had already accepted a title match with Alexa Bliss. However, we have already seen that on a Raw and it wasn’t that impressive.
But the fact Asuka actually came out at Fastlane itself and did the whole WrestleMania point was a great and fun surprise. I don’t know if I have seen a better crowd reaction to a possible women’s match in WWE history. I, like the Columbus fans, cannot wait for their epic match on April 8th.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
