Fans get a preview of the main event of WWE Fastlane. How will the Smackdown Live superstars adapt now that John Cena is confirmed for this Sunday?
All eyes are now on John Cena as WWE Fastlane approaches. Wrestling’s top superstar not only competes for his 17th world championship reign but his last chance at a Wrestlemania moment. Meanwhile Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn continue plot a championship heist in the very same match. What possible shocking outcomes could we see in the main event of Fastlane?
Smackdown Live comes to us form a frozen Greenbay, WI this 6th of March 2018.
Riott Against The Queen
Charlotte Flair and Ruby Riott would kick off the night with an in ring promo.
Ruby Riott continues to divulge the true motives behind her recent personal and physical attacks against the current Smackdown Live Women’s Champion. Charlotte must be removed from her pedestal. Whether Charlotte’s spot was earned or self appointed, the Riott Squad seeks to dethrone the Queen of WWE. Riott is determined to show the world that Charlotte is a fake and coasts on her last name.
Flair holds firm that she has worked to overcome the additional pressures of living up to her father’s legacy.
This angle could easily be on the Wrestlemania card this year now that it looks as though we will not see Ronda Rousey compete against Charlotte as previously thought. If WWE protected the Riott Squad more, they would seem like a more credible threat. It is unclear at what awaits Charlotte at the Show of Shows.
Before any sort of resolution Bobby Roode would make his entrance while Smackdown Live awkwardly transitioned to the next match.
Wrestlemania Worthy Match At Fastlane
Randy Orton and Bobby Roode continue to flirt with each other while Jinder Mahal plays third wheel. It is hard to determine what will shake out of this feud. One would think Orton vs Roode for the U.S. Championship is a solid Mania match with he right build. By the time April comes around fans will have already witnessed this confrontation, diminishing the magic of the moment.
Mahal gets a shot at Orton tonight however.
Mahal has laid the groundwork for the animosity between Roode and Orton. He was able to leverage this to defeat Orton off of the distraction created cause by Roode. The Glorious one had been gored by Mahal while on commentary at the hands of Orton.
There is no indication that Mahal will join the two at Fastlane but may instead face the winner. Mahal does not have enough momentum to carry his half of a Wrestlemania match. There is also another high profile triple threat title match already scheduled for the New Orleans.
This may create a booking issue for WWE if they have any significant plans for the U. S. Championship.
Match Made Backstage
Shinsuke Nakamura has caused potentially permanent damage to the voice of Aiden English following a knee to the throat on the previous Smackdown Live. As a result Rusev will challenge Nakamura at WWE Fastlane. Nakamura truly lived up to his rock star persona as he sang his own version of “Rusev Day” called “Nakamura Day”.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uib86kE3KoU]
Becky Lynch Disarms Carmella
Carmella continues to build momentum after almost cashing in her Money in the Bank Contract. She faces Becky Lynch who seems stagnate in the Smackdown Live midcard.
The character development of Carmella has been excellent as a whiny heel who cheats to win. Even in the absence of her former companion James Ellsworth she creates comedic moments. A loss to Becky Lynch tonight did not put a damper on this character she is cultivating.
If Carmella successfully cashes in, lets say on the grandest stage of all, she would still create heat due to her perceived lack of in ring ability. She can continue the comedy routine and squeak through title defenses.
If Charlotte is placed in a lackluster match at Wrestlemania a contract cash in can spice things up after the match.
A Chaotic Main Event
AJ Styles once again faces the greatest odds of his WWE career at Fastlane. He continues to face these situations with an unshaken confidence. The fans love when Styles tells them how good he is.
Dolph Ziggler would make an appearance and rip Styles for pandering to undeserving fans.
The ballad of Dolph Ziggler is one of betrayal by the fans who once held up his career. The apathy of the crowd over time has lead to his downfall. It is this that drives the spiteful show off. Ziggler is really convincing when he vents about his lack of push within WWE.
For a Ziggler vs Styles match this was a reserved contest.
The Lines Are Drawn
Before long Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn would run down to the ring to batter their competition for Fastlane. Owens and Zayn have been scheming for weeks now to utilize a loophole in the six pack challenge rules. Being that it is every man for themselves and first to a pinfall, Owens can pin zayn to win the title. Zayn seems perfectly content to make this happen.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5HqL_DqDW8]
The opportunistic duo was stopped mid beating by Shane McMahon who also brought out Baron Corbin. McMahon would unceremoniously created the original fatal five way match scheduled for Fastlane before John Cena was added. All proceeded competitors destroyed each other in a physical contest.
Sami Zayn ended the match when he shockingly turned on Kevin Owens. After being distracted near the corner, Zayn came out of nowhere with a super stiff Helluva Kick to win the match. When Zayn was asked about his actions he claimed to be the best the WWE ahd to offer and was tired of being overlooked.
This swerve would have been much better during the six pack challenge at Fastlane. It was squandered to early during Smackdown Live. An overloaded match featuring too many superstars can use all of the drama the creative team can spare to hold it together. Plus the added star power of Cena would have given a great foil to the heel team of Owens and Zayn.
Not to mention AJ Styles has been hyping up the fact that he does not need to get pinned to lose his title. The champion is now at less risk of loosing without the diabolical plan ruined by pulling the trigger on the swerve. The WWE could be making room for other external factors to play a roll in the main event of Fastlane.
