WWE Fastlane 2018: 5 potential finishes for the WWE championship six-pack challenge

As Sunday, March 11th quickly approaches, so does Smackdown Live's presentation of Fastlane. The event will also mark the final brand-exclusive pay-per-view, as beginning with WrestleMania and move onward, the pay-per-views will feature both brands and a variety of different matches.

One match that stands out for its major implications is the six-pack challenge for the WWE championship involving Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena and the champion AJ Styles.

There is so much that is hanging in the balance because the winner of this matchup will go on to face Shinsuke Nakamura for the title at WrestleMania. From the moment Nakamura won the Royal Rumble, fans have been salivating at the chance of seeing a match between him and Styles once again.

The last time these two men faced each other it was in an NJPW ring, and the end was result was nothing but respect. What will happen with these six men, and who will walk out as the WWE champion?

Here are five potential finishes for the WWE championship six-pack challenge at Fastlane.

---

#5 AJ Styles wins clean

We could be looking a clean finish with no questions asked

Styles went from having a 20% chance of retaining the title to a 16.666% chance of winning with the inclusion of John Cena. During the Styles vs Owens and Zayn feud, the one constant has been regardless of the odds is that Styles has remained on top.

This gives fans enough reason to believe that this narrative will continue. The story being told is that it doesn't matter what the stipulation is, Styles will overcome any obstacle in his way.

The inclusion of not just Owens and Zayn, but Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and John Cena also suggest that the odds are about as insurmountable as they could possibly be for Styles. However, this is where this chapter for Styles now concludes.

To the victor goes the spoils, and Styles has all the riches before him, whether it is the championship or the adulation of the fans. He is the focal point of the match, and regardless of how low the odds of him winning maybe, we could simply see once again why he is phenomenal.

#4 Cena isn't pinned, leading to controversy moving forward

Does a controversial finish lead to Cena being involved in the WWE championship at Wrestlemania?

The portion of the internet wrestling community that is not in favor of John Cena's involvement in a match for the WWE championship could very well play a part in this matchup. WWE sometimes will show some repetitiveness in its booking and its decisions, making the results of different matches similar.

For example, the recent Elimination Chamber match involved multiple men, as does this championship match. Another possibility for history repeating itself is that the result of this match could be a scenario where someone is pinned, leading to Cena competing for the WWE championship at WrestleMania.

Recall that in order to get both Finn Balor and Seth Rollins involved in the Elimination Chamber match, they both pinned the same man at the same time. We could see a similar situation play out for the WWE championship; perhaps Cena and Styles pin someone at the exactly the same time, meaning the former didn't necessarily lose and the latter didn't necessarily win, causing Cena to be added to the WWE championship match at WrestleMania.

#3 Shinsuke Nakamura gets involved, ensuring Styles remains champion

Could Nakamura play a part in the finish?

The battle over the WWE championship isn't simply a one and done. In fact, the repercussions of the events that take place during Fastlane are sure to be felt at WrestleMania. Many fans are very protective of the probable main event, as it is a dream match for so many.

As it stands right now, it is a face versus face battle between men who have a history with each other outside WWE. And finally they have the opportunity to come together, and fans have the opportunity to witness a fantastic confrontation between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura in a WWE ring.

What happens during this six-pack challenge will undoubtedly set the stage for WrestleMania. We could witness Nakamura taking it upon himself to protect his own interests by ensuring he faces Styles at WrestleMania.

When it appears as though Styles is on the cusp of losing the match and his WWE championship, Nakamura might interfere in the match, affecting the result and protecting both a Styles win and a Nakamura/Styles WWE championship match at Wrestlemania.

#2 Styles uses 'heel' tactics to prevail

Could we see dastardly tactics to ensure a win by Styles?

Something Styles has never needed is to cut corners in his matches. When he first turned heel and 'beat up John Cena,' the blindside attack was a reflection of him being a heel more than anything else.

While the character would often complain or act like a bit of a weasel, he would still show fans why he was the best wrestler in the world today. He continues to amaze with his athleticism, and there is no denying that he proves week in and week out that Smackdown Live is the house that AJ Styles built.

However, in a scenario such as this, Styles not only has to defend his title against the likes of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn but also against an additional three competitors. We could see a scenario play out where a desperate Styles has to cut corners in order to continue to be the WWE champion. While it may not be ideal, desperate times call for desperate measures.

#1 Confusion in the match leads to a Styles win

Can Styles hold on to the title until WrestleMania 34?

In a match that involves the likes of AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler, and Sami Zayn, we are certain that a number of dangerous spots could take place, as each of these men will push their body to the limit.

With six men involved in this match, it is certain to be filled with risks being taken, and the end result looking like a car crash. With bodies laid out everywhere, there could be a finish that few would have anticipated.

It would be an ending where not everyone is involved, but rather just Owen and Zayn, as they were the two who began a rivalry with Styles, and should be the ones to end it on this night as well. Since the referee's decision is final, we could see a case where multiple pins appear to take place and more than one man being declared the winner.

Styles could be pinning, for example, Baron Corbin, while Zayn is pinning Ziggler, while Owens is pinning John Cena. The referee may argue that he was focused on Styles, but the final result would be a controversial ending to the match.