WWE Fastlane 2019 Match Card And Predictions

Fastlane really is a curiosity on the hallowed road to WrestleMania. Many would argue that having major shows between the Royal Rumble and the Granddaddy of Them All is unnecessary, creating an awkward pacing. This isn’t an unfair criticism, over-saturation of content has made it more difficult to take in the truly great things that WWE have to offer us. It feels like we’re just barely getting over that thrilling Elimination Chamber match that had the entire world rooting for Kofi Kingston to pull off the impossible. And yet, here were are, expected to move on and absorb another big card.

Regardless, Fastlane has some positive stuff on offer. The card for WrestleMania will start to properly take shape and we’re in for potentially interesting character development for certain individuals. So, let’s strap in and try to make that the last car pun in here. Here are our predictions for WWE Fastlane.

 

Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade (with Zelina Vega)

Placing these world-class performers on the pre-show seems unthinkable. Sadly, the Cruiserweight Title isn’t on the line so somebody had to bite the bullet. Despite these two men having a feud with no apparent end point in sight, I really could watch them wrestle each other forever. Their movement is so crisp, their offence continuously innovative. Rey’s zipping about the ring like he’s 25, and Andrade’s proving that he can hang with the best of them. We’re in for some top notch action at the very least.

Prediction: Andrade could do with a signature win here. It’s worth noting that he took the fall in the US Title fatal four-way match on SmackDown this week, so a victory to bounce back could be just the ticket.

 

Raw Tag Team Championship Match

The Revival (C) vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet vs. Chad Gable & Bobby Roode

Well, this is one of the more surprising bouts on paper. The Revival have been eating a lot of losses since winning the belts, and now they’re defending against the men they won them off. Makes sense, but throwing NXT call-ups Aleister Black and Ricochet into the mix is an interesting prospect. It does make sense, Black and Ricochet are currently a team in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, so this makes for good cross-promotion. It’s just that seeing them on a main roster PPV while still active in NXT feels off, and actually dictates the outcome of this match.

Prediction: Aleister Black and Ricochet are, as previously mentioned, in the Dusty Classic. The prize for winning said tournament is a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships. If they won the Raw belts on Sunday, why on Earth would they be allowed to compete for their NXT equivalents? It makes too little sense on paper. The Revival desperately need a win, so Roode and Gable can take the fall.

 

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

Asuka (C) vs. Mandy Rose

Wow, has the existence of this match ruffled some feathers. We all thought that Asuka had finally got over the hump of poor booking that had plagued her throughout most of 2018. She got a massive win in the main event of TLC to win the gold, she submitted eventual women’s Royal Rumble winner Becky Lynch at the titular event, and then she all but vanished. Asuka became a non-entity on TV, until returning to lose to Mandy Rose. Not only did Asuka lose, she lost clean. Mandy may have used some deception in feigning an injury, but she didn’t actually break any rules. She simply outsmarted her opponent, becoming the first woman to pin Asuka unassisted in the process. Mandy is now the de facto number one contender, and the purists aren’t happy about it.

Prediction: I’m pretty sure that Mandy winning would cause the world to explode, I also don’t see it happening. Asuka is still very much a world beater, capable of mowing through the competition with blistering efficiency. Mandy Rose is likely a filler opponent to tide her over until Mania. We hope.

 

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match

The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection (C) vs. Nia Jax & Tamina

Sasha and Bayley capturing the gold at Elimination Chamber was a cathartic, feelgood moment. Sure, I was rooting for the IIconics, but you can bet that these two were my second choice. The road’s been tough, but they’re back at the top of the food chain where they belong. Of course, they’ve got two pretty large obstacles in their way. Nia Jax and Tamina’s onscreen association has been a bottomless heat magnet since the former broke Becky Lynch’s face. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that they’re in this spot.

Prediction: This one’s harder to call than it would appear on paper. Was the Sasha and Bayley win just a one-time deal to pop the crowd? Is it going to be your classic short-lived babyface reign? Don’t be shocked if the bad guys walk out victorious, as Nia Jax has maintained a prominent spot on the card since she first got called up from NXT. Having said that, my money’s still on the Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection.

 

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match

The Usos (C) vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon

A rematch from Elimination Chamber and an intriguing possible set-up for WrestleMania. The constant speculation on this is that somebody is going to turn on the other in the Miz/McMahon camp, with the eventual payoff being a match at Mania. The Usos are window dressing in their own title match, which is unfortunate, as they’re arguably the best tag team on the planet today. But, as always, Shane gets precedence over everything else, so here we are.

Prediction: The Usos winning seems like a formality, really. The real story is who’s going rogue on the other side. My money’s on Shane, who has always worked better as a heel anyway.

 

The Shield vs. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre & Bobby Lashley

While it’s awesome to have Roman Reigns back, I think I’m done with Shield reunions. WWE have managed to play it out to the point of apathy, as they do with most good things. I get it, Dean Ambrose wants to leave and this could be the last time we see them together, but there has to be a better use for them than this. It’s an awkward position to be in, though; Seth Rollins has a bad back and needs to be good to go for Mania, Roman just beat freaking cancer and likely can’t go for too long. A six-man tag allows the two men to minimise the demand on their bodies. Sorry Dean, but you’ve gotta do the heavy lifting here, mate. Regarding their opponents, what needs to be said? It’s the same feud we had before Roman got sick, only Braun Strowman and Dolph Ziggler have been recast with Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley. Fine, let’s just get it out of the way so we can properly enjoy Roman’s return.

Prediction: Safest bet of the night, The Shield are 100% winning.

 

Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch

Two SmackDown women in a match centred on the Raw Women’s Championship, alright then. We all know the stipulation, if Becky wins, then her and Charlotte will be teeing off in a triple threat with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania. The triple threat itself will be historic, as it’s likely closing the show, but the road to get there has been convoluted to all Hell. I had zero issue with Charlotte replacing Becky as the corporate-approved heel, that made perfect sense. It was everything after that that gave me a headache. Becky was suspended, then arrested, then not suspended anymore. Ronda was champion, then apparently vacated it, then it turns out she actually didn’t vacate it and just wanted Becky involved. This match was going to be for the title, now it’s there for Becky to get back the match that she earned by winning the Rumble. All the while, neither challenger has officially been drafted to Raw yet, so the two top women on SmackDown aren’t even bothering with their division’s belt. It’s a mess, plain and simple. Still, should be a good match.

Prediction: It’s hard to envision a version of events where Becky isn’t victorious here. The triple threat is definitely happening, though WWE could hit us with a classic swerve and continue to prolong the inevitable. I hope that isn’t the case, and will say that Becky Lynch is winning so that the Mania build can properly get going.

 

WWE Championship Match

Daniel Bryan (C) vs. Kevin Owens

Poor Kofi Kingston. At the last possible moment, Vince McMahon snatched his Fastlane title shot away and slid a returning Kevin Owens into his place. Even more surprising, Owens is back as a babyface of sorts, showing genuine remorse at taking Kofi’s spot, explaining that it was simply too good an offer to turn down and that he has a family to think about. Owens has had depth added to his character, and seems to no longer be a heel for the first time in almost five years. The match itself should be great, it’s tough to go wrong with two of the best performers that the company has to offer. Though it does feel like Daniel Bryan’s fallen by the wayside in this story, with Kevin and Kofi getting more narrative prominence.

Prediction: I can see KO taking the belt here, but I don’t think he will. Daniel Bryan has been doing some stellar character work, and his hemp belt just looks too good to get rid of this soon. It would be nice to see him ride this wave of momentum until Mania, where he (hopefully) drops it to a triumphant Kofi Kingston. Hey, a man can dream.