How WWE should book Fastlane

With WrestleMania around the corner, SmackDown Live has just one more pay-per-view before The Show of Shows. While Fastlane isn't a pay-per-view with a rich history, it serves as the important final stop on the road to WrestleMania.

The booking of SmackDown Live has been a mixed bag since it's move to Tuesday night, but with Nakamura winning the Royal Rumble and the talented trio of AJ Styles, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn occupying the main event scene, there is plenty of reason for hope.

With that being said, this is how I would book Fastlane and the build-up to it.

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#1 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens

Nakamura must build on the momentum he gained from winning the Royal Rumble

Nakamura is already tied into the title match at WrestleMania but still needs a match at Fastlane. Owens would be a dream opponent for Nakamura and would go a long way to build Nakamura as a credible main event talent which is needed after his Royal Rumble win came a little bit out of nowhere.

In order to facilitate this match, Owens must lose to Zayn on SmackDown Live and so with his "guardian angel" fighting for the title, Owens would be left to take on the next biggest scalp on the SmackDown Live roster.

The two would put on a great match with Owens coming close before losing to Nakamura. Nakamura gains momentum heading into a dream match at WrestleMania and Owens becomes increasingly frustrated.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

#2 Sami Zayn vs AJ Styles (c) for the WWE Championship

Zayn should be allowed to establish himself as a main event star

Zayn should defeat Owens on SmackDown to earn his spot in this match. Owens and Zayn have been exceptional together and while Owens is already a legitimate main eventer, WWE would be smart to use this opportunity to elevate Zayn.

Their match on SmackDown should tease a breakup between Zayn and Owens only for calmer heads to prevail and Owens to support Zayn as he heads into the biggest match of his career so far.

A Styles versus Zayn match should be brilliant and should be the longest match on the Fastlane card, giving Zayn a chance to come across as a determined, legitimate challenger and potentially even win over fans who have been booing him for months.

Styles should eventually triumph and head on to WrestleMania to face Nakamura as most are anticipating. Zayn should be left heartbroken in the ring after the match, with Owens coming out to comfort his partner in crime. After consoling Zayn, Owens should betray him and brutally attack Zayn, setting up a match at WrestleMania.

Owens and Zayn have a wealth of history together and with Owens being the arrogant heel and Zayn the plucky underdog, their story writes itself.

Winner: AJ Styles

#3 Ruby Riott vs Charlotte (c) for the SmackDown Women's Title

Charlotte is in desperate need of a worthy opponent at WrestleMania

The Riott squad have lacked direction since bursting on the scene and so have not been taken seriously by many. Riott challenging for the title would give them a purpose and allow them to utilize their numbers advantage over Charlotte to create intrigue in the bout.

While Riott should not win the title at this point in her career, a title shot at Fastlane could be a great barometer for her potential ceiling in the women's division.

Following Charlotte's victory, the members of the Riott Squad should beat down on Charlotte prompting Carmella to charge down to the ring with her Money in the Bank contract. Just as this title match is about to begin, however, Ronda Rousey should return, clear house and then stare down Charlotte, setting up their match at WrestleMania.

While WWE may be unlikely to place Rousey on SmackDown Live, the blue brand's women roster is paper thin in comparison to Raw's. A Rousey and Charlotte program would carry the division through to WrestleMania whilst Raw's women's division will do just fine without the additional star power Rousey brings.

Winner: Charlotte

#4 Gable & Benjamin vs The Bludgeon Brothers vs The New Day vs Breezango - Ladder match to become No. 1 contender to the SmackDown Tag Team team titles

Whoever's going to face the Uso's for their titles will have to earn it

While SmackDown's women division is thin, it's tag team division is relatively deep with a number of talented teams. With that being said, The Usos have been made to look incredibly strong recently, to the point where only The New Day seem worthy of taking them on at WrestleMania.

To set up this match, the Usos ought to boast about how they've run roughshod over the division for months and how there isn't a team worthy of facing them at Fastlane let alone at WrestleMania. Each team can then proceed to argue their case for a title shot.

McMahon and Bryan can then create this match to determine a worthy challenger for the belts and set up the match at WrestleMania.

Given the number of competitors in the matchup, this would be best as a ladder match with the contracts suspended above the ring. The match would be exciting and chaotic and would reestablish the New Day in the tag team title scene.

Winners: The New Day

#5 Bobby Roode vs Rusev (c) for the U.S. Championship

There must be more to Roode's character than occasionally shouting "Glorius!"

While quick title changes are often frowned upon, I believe they could really add something in terms of setting up this match. While Roode is a great in-ring performer, he has been given very little in terms of character and so the fans have not taken to him.

In comparison, Rusev has seen his popularity organically skyrocket in recent times. It is because of this that I would have Rusev win the title next week on SmackDown Live. The following week Roode can call Rusev down to the ring to congratulate him before attacking Rusev from behind and announcing he will be inducting his rematch clause at Fastlane.

Roode can return to the cocky, opportunistic heel he portrayed in NXT, where he was a much more believable, well-rounded character. Roode can showcase his new, conniving ways in the build-up to Fastlane before stealing back his title at the pay-per-view via underhand tactics. This gives Rusev the limelight that his popularity demands at the moment and makes Roode a far more interesting character.

Roode should then hold the title into WrestleMania where a multi-man ladder match for the title would be a good way of showcasing SmackDown's many talents in the likes of Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal and maybe even a returning Randy Orton.

Winner: Bobby Roode