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In a little over 24 hours, WWE will present the sixth annual Fastlane event. As the last main roster pay-per-view before WrestleMania 37, the show will feature several matches that could help shape the picture for next month's big show.
Though there are just three weeks between Fastlane and The Showcase of the Immortals, there are only four matches confirmed so far for WrestleMania. Each of these matches will be represented at Fastlane.
On the blue brand, the focus is on the Universal Championship main event between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan. This bout could completely change the Universal Title picture in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the red brand's marquee matches include a rare intergender encounter. This bout that could finally kick off the WrestleMania program between Randy Orton and The Fiend. Plus, a clash between two former best friends is one of the most buzzworthy matches on the card.
With three other title bouts and a dream match scheduled for the show, the 2021 edition of Fastlane has success written all over it. Here are the predictions for each match scheduled for the final pay-per-view before WrestleMania.
WWE Fastlane: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair (WWE Women's Tag Team Championship)
The dire state of the Women's Tag Team Division is showing no signs of improvement. Sure, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler have been doing a commendable job as two bullies. But the division is always crowded with former world champions, a pattern that only hampers the work done by the champions.
In fact, in the pay-per-views since Survivor Series 2020, the Women's Champion from either brand has competed in all the pay-per-view title defenses. This trend is set to continue at Fastlane, as Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair again challenging the Women's Tag Team Champions.
Instead of focusing on building the WrestleMania match between Banks and Belair, the entire focus has been on this tag team match at Fastlane. It's fair to say that this emphasis will impact the excitement and build for the Women's Title match at WrestleMania.
As for Sunday's match, the chances of The Boss and The EST leaving Fastlane with the titles on their shoulder is next to none. There is practiallt no way WWE would keep the Women's Tag Titles off the WrestleMania card. Likewise, it seems highly unlikely that WWE would have Banks and Belair pull double duty.
Expect the champions to retain the title at Fastlane, courtesy of some misunderstandings between the challengers.
Prediction: Jax and Baszler retain; Belair attacks Sasha after the loss.
WWE Fastlane: Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss (Intergender Match)
Intergender matches are rare in WWE, and Randy Orton's bout with Alexa Bliss marks the first one in nearly four years. Needless to say, this contest has generated a lot of conversation ahead of Sunday's show.
The rivalry between Bliss and Orton has taken a weird turn as of late, with the absurd supernatural activities turning the program into more of a comic rivalry. Even though WWE is promoting this as a match for Fastlane, it seems highly unlikely that Bliss and Orton will actually wrestle on Sunday.
The only bright thing about this encounter, so far, is that all signs point to a Bray Wyatt return to kick start his WrestleMania program with The Viper. Having Orton hit Bliss with an RKO before pinning her, only to be attacked by a returning Wyatt, seems like the most plausible route.
Given that WWE has spent almost half a year on this program, it's high time WWE brings Wyatt back. With WrestleMania right around the corner, it would be a disaster if Wyatt's absence continues beyond Fastlane
Prediction: Orton squashes Bliss; Brat Wyatt returns
WWE Fastlane: Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Even though this match was just announced this past Friday, it's still an anticipated clash between two highly respected performers.
While he hasn't been getting the push that he deserves, Shinsuke Nakamura has looked like a rejuvenated superstar this year. His monumental performance in the Gauntlet Match in January worked wonders for his caree. For this reason, he will be the perfect partner for Seth Rollins to get warmed up before WrestleMania.
If their previous encounter from Survivor Series 2018 is taken into consideration, the two decorated superstars share magical chemistry. If their match has enough time, these stars are capable of bringing the house down with their performances at Fastlane.
Despite the lack of build for this match, one can expect these two to give the fans a solid, hard-hitting contest. As far as the outcome is concerned, Rollins is the favorite to emerge victorious and build momentum for his WrestleMania bout.
But don't be surprised if a distraction by Cesaro leads to The Messiah's downfall and a victory for The Artist at Fastlane.
Prediction: Seth Rollins demolishes Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE Fastlane: Riddle (c) vs. Mustafa Ali (WWE United States Championship)
At WWE Fastlane, Riddle will put his United States Championship on the line at Fastlane against Mustafa Ali. While there are no doubts about the talent of the two performers, a lack of energy and build drags this encounter down.
While he's a stunning athlete and character, Ali's career trajectory has gone downhill since he was revealed as the leader of RETRIBUTION. Apart from causing regular disruptions, the group has done nothing but lose matches to probably every single performer on the roster.
Riddle, on the other hand, enters Fastlane with a lot of momentum on his side. Having won the title just three weeks ago, The Original Bro is set to enter WrestleMania with the title on his shoulder. A huge program with someone like Keith Lee could potentially be in his future.
Had it not been for his loss to Riddle merely days ago, Ali could have had an outside chance of winning this match at Fastlane. But it seems highly unlikely that WWE will have the title change hands in such a short time. A victory for The Original Bro at Fastlane seems like the easiest and the best way forward.
Prediction: Riddle retains his US Title.
WWE Fastlane Big E (c) vs. Apollo Crews (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Despite being the Intercontinental Champion for almost three months, Fastlane is Big E's first pay-per-view title defense. On top of that, like Riddle on RAW, the former New Day member has already defeated his challenger, Apollo Crews.
But Crews' heel turn following his loss to Big Ein January has added new life to this rivalry. The champion is now more motivated than ever, and the challenger, having fully embraced his dark side, is ready to cross the line. Crews has made it clear that he'll do whatever it takes to win the title.
Given that this program is turning into a rivalry that could end with a match at WrestleMania, WWE could go with a DQ finish for this bout at Fastlane. This finish would keep the feud going, and it would also protect both the performers ahead of WrestleMania.
Given that Big E still has a lot of rage on his mind, he could get himself disqualified at Fastlane. A DQ victory for Crews would keep the title on Big E, so this direction coild be the most logical option for this bout.
Prediton: Crews wins by DQ; Big E retains the title.
WWE Fastlane: Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre (No Holds Barred Match)
WWE Fastlane will feature another clash between Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. This time, they'll face off in a No Holds Barred Match. This heated rivalry doesn't deserve to end at a B-level show, but that outcome seems inevitable. Thankfully, these gifted performers should successfully make their match feel extra special.
Fans saw what these two are capable of doing inside the ring only a couple of weeks ago when these two behemoths tore each other apart on a rare TV classic. Now that their rematch at Fastlane has an added No Holds Barred stipulation, expect the two to tear the house down again on Sunday.
Sheamus has been doing some of his best in-ring work since he was drafted to Raw in October 2020. This exemplary work should earn The Celtic Warrior a big push sooner ratther than later. But it doesn't seem like he'll return to the world title picture until WrestleMania is in the rearview mirror.
On the other hand, McIntyre enters Fastlane with a lot of momentum, having been the WWE Champion for almost a year. He has a date with Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship scheduled for WrestleMania. Of course, it doesn't look like WWE would be interested in doing anything that would hamper that momentum.
The only way that can happen is if he beats his friend-turned-enemy fair and square at Fastlane, right in the middle of the name. While it would halt the momentum that Sheamus has gained over the last few months, WWE won't mind going ahead with that direction given that the Celtic Warrior doesn't have a clear direction for the Mania season.
A victory for the Scottish Superstar seems like the most logical option for this match. But don't expect this bout at Fastlane to be the ending of the issues between these two rivals.
Prediction: McIntyre defeats Sheamus after a hard-fought battle.
WWE Fastlane: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Universal Championship with Edge as Special Guest Enforcer)
WWE Fastlane usually has crucial World Title matches, but the stakes are at an all-time high for this main event.
It seems likely that WWE would go with the easy route and book a match between Roman Reigns and Edge for the Universal Title at WrestleMania. But the addition of Daniel Bryan into the WWE Universal Title picture has turned the tables upside down.
His interactions with both Edge and Reigns has only added fuel to the speculations that WWE might add Bryan to the Universal Title match at WrestleMania. Of course, the presence of the Rated-R superstar as the special guest enforcer for this match at Fastlane is even more intriguing.
The Universal Title picture hinges on Fastlane's main event. Reigns and Bryan will battle in a match that is already being touted as a potential Match of the Year candidate.
A clean win for the Tribal Chief won't do any good to the Leader of the Yes! Movement, but Fastlane is still not the right time to take the title off Reigns. Given that he has a grudge with both the participants, expect Edge to make the difference in the match at Fastlane.
A dirty victory for Reigns, courtesy of some unintentional help from Edge and a lot of intentional help from Jey Uso, would protect both the participants. This outcome would also give Bryan a reason to demand another shot at the Universal Championship at WrestleMania.
One thing is for sure - this bout is going to be a total banger, whether it ends with a clean victory or a dirty finish. By the looks of the circumstances, a messy conclusion, resulting in a successful defense by Reigns, seems like the safest option.
Prediction: Reigns retains the Title due to shenanighans.
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