Tonight is WWE Fastlane 2017, the last PPV before Wrestlemania 33! Here is the Pulse Wrestling crew’s full preview and predictions.
WWE Universal Championship
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Goldberg
Brittney- There are a lot of factors here. First, Goldberg has been booked to be so strong he ran through Brock Lesnar multiple times. Second, Kevin Owens is truly on his own and now has an enemy in former friend Chris Jericho. Will Jericho cost Owens the match? It’s very possible. Will Goldberg simply run through Kevin Owens and take his title? Probably. The rumor mill says it will be two part timers headlining Wrestlemania over the WWE Universal Championship — Goldberg & Lesnar. So Let’s just assume this match isn’t going to end in KO’s favor.
Winner- Goldberg
Spain: I cannot help but see this as a huge opportunity for Lesnar to flop his dick onto the table and give Goldberg a reason to be furious with him rather than continue to laugh about how easy it is to destroy Brock all of a sudden. Goldberg and Lesnar don’t need belts to have a big match, and by all indications the Universal Championship would be wasted on that particular pairings.
Winner (and still WWE Universal Champion): Kevin Owens
Michael – I think everyone is expecting Goldberg to go over here. And I am sure pretty much everyone is expecting Chris Jericho interference to cause Owens the title. So does the WWE go with the predictable or try to swerve us? Maybe Jericho comes back and interferes on Owens’ behalf, explaining that he sacrificed himself in order to lull Goldberg into a false sense of security. Or maybe Owens wins clean (ha). Or maybe Jericho doesn’t interfere, but a returning Finn Balor returns to lay claim to the belt. Or maybe Brock Lesnar comes in and destroys Goldberg so K.O. wins. Or maybe Santa Claus will descend upon the arena and Mick Foley, in total awe, will add him to the match. Eh, Occum’s Razor and all that.
Winner: Goldberg (via interference by Chris Jericho)
Sam P: Please, please, PLEASE don’t put the strap on the old man. That’s three pleases that will likely be ignored. Will Owens be squashed? Will Jericho be involved? Hopefully the Festival of Friendship massacre was all and Y2J will aid his buddy to victory. We can only hope.
Winner – Goldberg
Widro – Goldberg all but guaranteed a victory in his promo on Raw.
Winner: Goldberg
WWE Raw Women’s Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
Brittney- I know I cannot be the only one sick of Charlotte being undefeated at PPVs. I also know I’m not the only one who believes Sasha may turn on Bailey in the near future. I don’t know if it’s going to happen Sunday or not but I do know this –I’m tired of the same people winning. Sasha interfering would give Charlotte the win. There’s also the fact that Dana Brooke can interfere and get Charlotte the win. Things don’t look good for Bailey.
Winner- Charlotte
Spain: Tough one, really. Charlotte is Queen of the PPVs and definitely deserves the WrestleMania spot, but this would be killing Bayley’s title run in its infancy. All things considered, I think Charlotte’s going to win it back.
Winner (and new WWE RAW Women’s Champion): Charlotte Flair
Michael – Charlotte maintains her PPV streak here. Not sure where they go from here to WrestleMania though. Maybe a four-way match for the title at WrestleMania? But that would lessen Bayley’s “babyface overcoming the odds” storyline. Regardless…
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Sam P: The Queen doesn’t lose at PPV. Simple.
Winner – Charlotte Flair
Widro – They have been doing this obvious Raw title change and PPV win for Charlotte. I think they will do it again!
Winner: Charlotte
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Brittney- This match boils down to whoever Vince wants to make look strong. Roman’s been forced down the throats of fans for so long it’s hard to not see him being pushed here. However, the same could be said for Strowman though the fans are behind him at this point. To make either of them lose would hurt their momentum. There is talk about Roman v. Undertaker for Mania so that could be a factor here too.
Winner- No one, match goes without an official winner due to interference/ possibly the match never truly starts
Spain: Braun is a fucking beast, and I really think that he should win this one. However, this is Roman Reigns, and he has been shown up time and time again. I see this as Reigns’ opportunity to overcome yet another obstacle and get shoved down our throats yet again.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Michael – Would the WWE allow Strowman to continue to dominate their golden boy? I doubt it. While they’ve done a good job of making Strowman look like a monster, where does he go after a victory here? Challenge Goldberg for the Universal title? Okay, that seems plausible and could probably be booked pretty effectively, but we already have Goldberg versus Brock Lesnar scheduled for WrestleMania. Or maybe Strowman wins and The Undertaker takes him down at WrestleMania. Or maybe …
Winner: Roman Reigns, fighting through a beating which would kill multiple men.
Sam P: Strowman reigns.
Winner – Braun Strowman
Widro – Reigns is heading to Wrestlemania to face the Undertaker and Strowman has no match.
Winner: Reigns
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c) vs. Jack Gallagher
Brittney- I’m excited to see how this match goes with the different styles at play. Add in Neville’s destroy everything heel style it could be interesting. My hope would be for Jack to win but, despite that, I feel the Crusierweight division needs a steady champion for a bit longer so I think Neville will retain. Let the title change hands at Wrestlemania, give Neville a chance to have his best match there, win or lose.
Winner- Neville
Spain: I don’t know much about the Cruiserweight scene except that Neville’s a badass and Jack Gallagher is a suave, umbrella-wielding motherfucker. Neville does seem like the likely choice from literally just this information.
Winner (and still WWE Cruiserweight Champion): Neville
Michael – Maybe I am in the minority, but I do not care about Jack Gallagher at all. He bores me. You want an Englishman with an umbrella? Go sign Marty “The Villain” Scurll. Meanwhile, I like Neville’s new found fire, so let’s hope he keeps the belt here.
Winner: Neville
Sam P: As a proud Brit, I’m looking forward to this one. Neville’s heel vs Gallagher’s gentlemen is a sweet blend, and given time this could be a sleeper hit.
Winner – Neville
Widro – I’m not yet a fan of Gallgher but I love the work Neville has done in the Cruiserweight Division.
Winner: Neville
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (c) vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Brittney- Fans have always been behind Gallows and Anderson (mostly due to their international success and their hard hitting style). Cass and Amore have always been loved comic relief. However, that love is fading and fans are turning on the fast talking comedic duo. Given that it’s true that Amore and Cass have never won titles it may be time for them but with fan support dwindling I’m not sure. Besides, after Anderson and Gallows being forced to wait for their shot at the titles for so long to take them off of them now wouldn’t be right.
Winner- Gallows & Anderson retain
Spain: Gallows and Anderson really have been made to look like bitches as of late, but then it seems like Enzo and Cass have faced a drop in popularity. I don’t think there’s been enough done with the challengers to justify a title change. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen further down the line.
Winners (and still WWE RAW Tag Team Champions): Gallows and Anderson
Michael – They seem to be setting up a split for Enzo and Big Cass with Big Cass finally getting tired of Enzo bullshit on the mic getting them into trouble. Plus, Gallows and Anderson need an impressive win to justify their title reign.
Winner: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Sam P: There’s something missing from this feud, which is strange given Amore’s promo abilities. The Club need added legitimacy as champs, so let’s give them the win.
Winner – Gallows & Anderson
Widro – I don’t think we’ll see a title change here and I hope they dont do a premature split between Enzo and Cass.
Winner: Anderson & Gallows
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
Brittney- Sasha and Nia have done this dance before. Many times. They want Nia to look strong and Sasha to be resilient but, with Sasha’s impending turn on Bailey I feel like this may end up being a squash match to end the feud so Sasha can move on. Nia will continue to dominate but float around with no real path.
Winner- Nia
Spain: Nia has been the Braun Strowman of the Women’s Division and Sasha’s coming off an injury. I have to say, it seems to me that that spells a win for Jax.
Winner: Nia Jax
Michael – I hate to be a hater, but the over/under on number of injuries Sasha Banks sustains in this match is 4.5. I like the Boss, but a 95 pound woman taking bumps like she does is bound to cause some damage. Meanwhile, the WWE sure likes their monsters, and have made Nia Jax into just that in the Women’s division. I think Nia Jax wins here to set up a reason for her inclusion in a WrestleMania title match, but I also think we see a heel turn from Sasha here, beating down Bayley after the match.
Winner: Nia Jax
Sam P: This one’s a bit of a coin toss, and has the potential to tie in heavily with the Women’s Title match. Jax is still undefeated and Banks needs a win. That’s solid combo.
Winner – Sasha Banks
Widro – Jax has been on a tear and Banks has been a jobber. I think that continues here until Sasha turns heel.
Winner: Jax
Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe
Brittney- Sami is the company whipping boy, being used to make others look strong and ruthless. So, that’s what will happen here. Joe will look strong and choke Sami out. Sami’s due for a win but I can’t see it being here, unfortunately.
Winner- Samoa Joe
Spain: This should be a great match, but an obvious result: Samoa Joe, all the way.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Michael – This, without a doubt, should be the match of the night. However, you don’t have Joe lose in his first WWE PPV. He’s been booked very, very strong and his promos have been solid. You have to keep the momentum with him going. Great match here with Zayn almost stealing the victory, but Samoa Joe winning after the Coquina Clutch knocks out Sami.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Sam P: If this was a bout in NXT, it’d probably be a match of the year contender. But with Joe’s main roster debut as a vicious bruiser and Zayn’s perennial underdog status, this will likely serve to promote the former TNA Champ.
Winner – Samoa Joe
Widro – Joe is gonna kill you.
Winner: Joe
Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa vs. The Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar
Brittney- The teams here could be interesting and part of me feels that the match could go any way. The real issue here is between Tozawa and Kendrick and why this needed to be a tag match when we could’ve had these two just fight it out is beyond me. Still, it is a chance for Dar and Swann to get some air time which will help the division grow as more eyes land on their stars. We’ll just have to see how much time we see in the match between the real contenders here. I think the heels will come out on top, maybe with some shady tactics thrown in to keep the heel vibe going strong. Maybe even Alicia Fox will play a part?
Winner- Kendrick & Dar
Spain: I don’t know who any of these people are, Widro. It’s honestly cruel to expect me to make predictions about matches like these.
Winners: Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa
Michael – See? This is what I get for not watching 205 Live. I had no clue Swann was back from injury. Or why this match is happening. My guess is that they are still trying to set up Kendrick versus Tozawa for WrestleMania, so that means another lesson will have to be learned.
Winner: The Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar
Sam P: Tozawa’s intensity is the winner here. The dude is terrifying.
Winner – Swann & Tozawa
Widro – I think they faces will win on the pre show.
Winner: Swann & Tozawa
