‘Fastlane’ Predictions: Who Heads to WrestleMania 34 on Top?
The Fastlane pay-per-view is the final stop before WrestleMania 34 and all of the SmackDown Live titles are on the line. Will we get a title change or two before the largest wrestling show of the year? Probably not, but Fastlane should set a course for ‘Mania for a few WWE Superstars.
Fastlane ’s pre-show will air at 7 p.m. EST on the WWE Network with the main show starting at 8 p.m. There are six confirmed matches on the card and our band of wrestling “experts” predict the winners and outcomes for the entire pay-per-view. You can check out our Fastlane 2018 predictions in video form here but if you want to read them check them out below.
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NATALYA/CARMELLA vs BECKY LYNCH/NAOMI
This women’s tag match was put together at the last second during the SmackDown Live go home show. Becky Lynch and Carmella had some Twitter beef that resulted in a match (with Becky getting the victory) but backstage, Naomi and Natalya had a back and forth, which led the former to make a match for Fastlane.
Carmella and Natalya have no momentum heading into this show. At least Becky and Naomi have been in Charlotte’s corner during her feud with the Riott Squad. While Carmella could use a victory (she still holds the Money in the Bank briefcase) we don’t see it happening.
Phil - Becky/Naomi
Bob - Becky/Naomi
Rocco - Becky/Naomi
Mo - Becky/Naomi
RUSEV vs SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
Currently, Rusev is the most over WWE Superstar on either brand so it’s a shame they just threw him into a match at the last second to get on the Fastlane card. The good news is that he’s up against Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura so it should be a great match.
Unfortunately for Rusev, it’s highly unlikely the WWE will give Shinsuke a loss before his WrestleMania match.
Phil - Nakamura
Bob - Nakamura
Rocco - Nakamura
Mo - Nakamura
BOBBY ROODE VS RANDY ORTON - UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The U.S. Title scene has seen better days, but champion Bobby Roode will face future WWE Hall of Famer Randy Orton so it should be a perfectly cromulent match. With Jinder Mahal trying to cause a rift between the two WWE Superstars, we wouldn’t be surprised if the former WWE Champion gets inserted into this match or even comes out to interfere on Fastlane setting up a Triple Threat at ‘Mania.
This match can go different ways but most of us believe Roode retains his title.
Phil - Roode
Bob - Roode
Rocco - Roode
Mo - Orton
THE USOS VS THE NEW DAY - SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
If this match stays between these two teams, we can have another classic show-stealer between the Usos and The New Day. With both teams deserving of another match at WrestleMania, we could see this feud continuing into April.
The Bludgeon Brothers, like Mahal, lurk in the shadows and can insert themselves into this feud. There’s quite a few moving parts here but most of us lean towards The Usos retaining.
Phil - New Day
Bob - Usos
Rocco - Usos
Mo - Usos
CHARLOTTE FLAIR VS RUBY RIOTT - SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Charlotte Flair is defending her SmackDown Women’s title for the first time in a long time when she steps into the ring with newcomer and Riott Squad leader, Ruby Riott.
This is an easy match to predict with WrestleMania looming and the possibility of Asuka jumping from RAW to the blue brand. Riott and Flair can put on a great match but Charlotte will retain.
Phil - Charlotte
Bob - Charlotte
Rocco - Charlotte
Mo - Charlotte
AJ STYLES VS KEVIN OWENS VS SAMI ZAYN VS BARON CORBIN VS DOLPH ZIGGLER VS JOHN CENA - WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
What a cluster of a match, but the six-pack challenge for the WWE Championship should be interesting especially when you put AJ Styles, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in the mix.
The story behind this match is a bit convoluted, anda few stories that will lead us into WrestleMania should be formed in this match. Will AJ Styles retain his title and go on to face Shinsuke like everyone wants? Will Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn implode and take each other out? Will John Cena have an opponent at ‘Mania this year?
Everything will become clear when this match is over, but it’s obvious to us that AJ will retain. Nobody wants to see Dolph Ziggler face Nakamura (except maybe Dolph Ziggler).
Phil - AJ Styles
Bob - AJ Styles
Rocco - AJ Styles
Mo - AJ Styles
What do you think will happen at this year’s Fastlane? Give us your predictions in the comments section below.