5 things that should've happened at Fastlane 2018

The 2018 edition of Fastlane is now in the history books and even though WWE chose to make a minimal impact on the last pay-per-view before WrestleMania 34, the show delivered stellar in-ring action with good narrative progression. This is sure to make SmackDown Live appeal to the masses once again on the road to WrestleMania.

Along with the decisions of finally setting up long-awaited dream matches such as AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura and, Charlotte Flair vs Asuka, WWE chose to highlight The Bludgeon Brothers and Ruby Riott, as future breakout prospects on the blue brand.

However, the company could’ve taken a few different decisions on this night, which would’ve benefitted SmackDown Live immensely on the road to the biggest wrestling show of the year.

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#5 Bobby Roode retains via heelish shenanigans

WWE should build Smackdown's mid-card around an excellent heel in Bobby Roode

Bobby Roode walked into Fastlane 2018 ready to defend his United States Title against Randy Orton, which most of the WWE Universe would say was the biggest match of his WWE main roster career.

While the match between these two legends delivered, WWE built this narrative of the bout in a poor manner, which is why Bobby Roode shouldn't have lost the US Title before he could get a good run with it.

Instead of having Roode lay out Jinder Mahal and, the new Champion Randy Orton after the match in a generic fashion, WWE should’ve planted better seeds for a Roode heel turn. This would’ve seen Roode perform every lethal move in his arsenal on Randy Orton but to no avail, which would’ve forced “The Glorious One“ to revert to his forgotten heelish mannerisms to retain his title.

This would’ve allowed WWE to portray Roode as a champion that will do whatever it takes to retain his title, Orton as the sympathetic babyface and the US Title as a championship that is worth fighting for.

While WWE is finally resorting to presenting Roode as a heel, their execution wasn’t on point, as this alternative way would’ve been a perfect way to get the sequel to Orton and Roode at WrestleMania off to a great start.

#4 The biggest upset on the road to WrestleMania

An upset that would've benefited both competitors in the long run

Rusev is currently one of the most popular stars in wrestling. His natural charisma and sheer likability have transformed his character from a hated heel to a lovable babyface.

However, the WWE has once again refused to give a white-hot babyface the chance to shatter the glass ceiling, which will eventually lead to Rusev’s popularity fizzling out. At Fastlane, WWE missed the biggest opportunity to give Rusev that push into the stratosphere.

That upset would’ve seen Rusev beat Nakamura in a shocking fashion. While WWE letting one half of their main event lose this close to the biggest match of his career is risky, it would’ve allowed the creative team to accomplish two important things. Firstly, it would have given Rusev immense credibility to main his newfound momentum and it would've added a sense of depth to Nakamura that he has not shown since his main roster debut.

With Nakamura losing to Rusev in this classic matchup this close to WrestleMania, the creative team can plant seeds for tow interesting questions, is Nakamura’s overconfidence going to cost him matches and can he beat AJ Styles at WrestleMania?

WWE could’ve taken Nakamura’s character to the next level, as his main roster run thus far has been underwhelming, to say the least. As this decision could've grown into a personal narrative for "The King of Strong Style" which would’ve outlined his motivations which are lacking at the moment.

#3 Tye Dillinger makes an impact on an uneventful preshow

A perfect way to bring eyes to an unutilized performer on an underutilized platform

Most of WWE's pre-shows are designed to get underutilized talent on the card. However, these often result in throwaway matches that will not benefit their careers, but further thrust these superstars into a mid-card obscurity, and the Fastlane preshow featured some of the hottest rising stars and respectable veterans.

As the Fastlane pay-per-view lacked a bit of star power, exciting revelations and, not enough matches to even fill the 3-hour time slot, it is outrageous that WWE still put megastar talent such Tye Dillinger, Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable on the pre-show. Out of all those names in the six-man Tag Team match on the pre-show, one man needed a platform to break through, and that was Tye Dillinger.

The tenth superstar on the Smackdown Live top 10 list has become more obscure since his placement on that forgotten prospect. However, at Fastlane WWE had the perfect story, the perfect reason and the perfect chance to turn Dillenger heel.

Whether the company paired him up with fellow overlooked talent Dolph Ziggler and sent him on a path that leads to the United States Title, or created an exclusive feud which would’ve turned Dillinger in a top tier heel on the blue brand, WWE had a chance to put Dillinger on the right track, but wasted this golden opportunity.

#2 The Usos take control

The Usos needed to put The New Day behind them

Going into Fastlane 2018 The Usos vs The New Day was the only match that WWE built up extremely well, therefore, the WWE Universe knew that this classic rivalry was going to deliver a show-stealing performance which would’ve elevated the entire PPV.

However, while The Usos and The New Day were on the road to delivering another masterpiece, Harper and Rowan had stormed down to the ring and implemented an unrelenting beatdown on both teams.

Obviously, this turn of events will set up The Usos vs The New Day vs The Bludgeon Brothers at Wrestlemania 34, however, while that match will deliver at Wrestlemania, WWE made a mistake in letting that decision disrupt the final chapter in a historic rivalry.

As this ongoing feud between The New Day and The Usos was built up as two teams that were desperate to walk into WrestleMania as Tag Team Champions, and that it was clearly stated there could have only been one team that could do so, Fastlane 2018 was the ideal place to end the rivalry between The Usos and The New.

With a hard-fought victory over The New Day, The Usos would rightfully position themselves at the apex of the entire WWE tag team division, which could’ve eventually lead to the Bludgeon Brothers badass beatdown after the match.

Instead, WWE chose to contradict a stellar narrative of only one team making it to Wrestlemania, as they will now eventually end up placing both these teams in the championship match when the company could’ve given The Usos a brand new challenge for “The Show of Shows" in Harper and Rowan.

#1 Cena’s frustration gets the best of him

There is only so much one man can take

John Cena’s latest WWE run can be labelled as his worst, as his wins in big matches are lessen, he is failing to capitalize on new opportunities and his sole goal to make it on the Wrestlemania 34 card seemed unattainable.

However, one white-hot promo later and Cena has now received a match at "The Show of Shows" against a man he was told wouldn't be able to face him, that man is The Undertaker. Cena clearly insulted The Undertaker like no other superstar has ever dared to offend "The Phenom" in his 30-year career.

However, WWE needed to explain why a man such as John Cena whose core value is respect would disrespect such an important wrestling icon such as The Undertaker. And that could’ve been accomplished at Fastlane 2018.

Cena's heart-breaking loss at Fastlane 2018 was pegged as his last opportunity to make it on the Wrestlemania match card, and instead of Cena walking away disappointed, he should’ve shown a side of his frustration he has been bottling up for many months now.

That frustration which was full of disappointing losses, pent-up aggression and the inability to perform as the athlete he once was, should’ve pushed him to destroy AJ Styles after the match, instead of raising his hand in victory.

While some may label that as a heel turn, that is actually Cena at his breaking point, as Styles struck off the last secure possibility from his Wrestlemania plans. And it would’ve temporarily set up Cena as the heel in his feud with The Undertaker, as no one is going to boo "The Phenom" in this stage of his career.

Therefore, WWE could've carried Cena’s frustration into his shocking promo on The Undertaker, as he is now a man with nothing to lose.