Welcome to the Turnbuckle Bandwagon, Monkeys Fighting Robots semi-regular column on professional wrestling. Our column this week is going to look at the pay per view event right before WrestleMania (WWE’s biggest show of the year), Fastlane. The PPV before Mania has always been regarded as filler and has been re-packaged and renamed multiple times in the past 20 or so years since the WWE went to a monthly PPV format. The card seems adequate with some intriguing matchups.
Kickoff Show Match: Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio – 2 out of 3 falls for the United States Championship
Every time Kalisto and Del Rio have gotten together, it’s an above average to excellent affair. While most see just another matchup between these two, fans of the Lucha Libre style are getting their money’s worth. Both men make a great United States Champion in their own way, so this is a win-win either way.
Kane, Big Show, and Ryback vs. The Wyatt Family
photo: WWE
Bray Wyatt is going to be a huge star, he has the capacity to be the WWE’s big villain for the next decade, and yet he’s got to make a match against two aging superstars and a big lump look good. Maybe that is his test. Take nothing and make it look good. If anyone can get a good story out of this hastily thrown together storyline it is Bray Wyatt.
Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch vs. Naomi and Tamina
This could be the match of the night depending on how much time it’s given and provided everyone brings their “a game”. Sasha, recently breaking away from Team B.A.D., has teamed up with her former sometime partner from NXT, Becky Lynch, to take on Naomi and Tamina. Both Naomi and Tamina are fantastic athletes in their own right. Any of these performers would make a fantastic Divas Champion or Women’s Champion if the WWE ever decides to get rid of that awful purple butterfly belt.
Chris Jericho vs. A.J. Styles
photo: WWE
The Phenomenal One made a splash with his debut at the Royal Rumble, and solidified himself with a win over Chris Jericho the very next night on RAW. Jericho did get his win back later in the week on SmackDown, but the story is not over. Styles challenged Jericho and this match may be the one that cements A.J. as a big time player in the WWE, which is what Styles needs heading into what may be his first WrestleMania.
Charlotte vs. Brie Bella – WWE Divas Title
photo: WWE
It’s been an interesting time in the women’s division the past few months in the WWE. Main roster call ups of Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch have shaken up the landscape of the division. Since claiming the Divas title, Charlotte has staked her claim as the “Alpha Female”. She faces Brie Bella, who has had a very tough couple of months. Her husband, Daniel Bryan, recently announced his retirement and her sister Nikki, the former Divas Champion, is out indefinitely with a neck injury. The crowd may back Brie this weekend even though Charlotte is the favorite to retain.
Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler – WWE Intercontinental Title
WWE’s best villain, troll, and now 2 time Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens has his first title defense against the “Show Off” Dolph Ziggler. In the few months since his main roster debut, Kevin Owens has been on a roll. He’s given every match great effort, his promos are fantastic, and when he joins the commentary table, he’s even better. Ziggler is a former IC and World Champion and has been a favorite of the WWE audience for quite some time. A strong candidate for match of the night, but Owens is the smart pick to retain.
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose – Triple Threat Match – Winner will face HHH for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania
This contest could be great or a fantastic dumpster fire, and everyone has something to prove here. Brock Lesnar wants the title back. A title he never lost. At WrestleMania last year, Lesnar was the current champion and faced Roman Reigns in the main event. Seth Rollins would cash in his ‘Money In The Bank’ briefcase, pin Roman Reigns, and walk away WWE Champion.
Roman Reigns has been behind the 8 ball for the past year. Pinned at Mania last year. Wins the WWE Title and loses it in the Royal Rumble to HHH, and now has to fight the former champ and his best friend for a chance to regain the richest prize in the WWE.
Dean Ambrose has the most to gain and the least to lose here. He has little issue taking on his best friend Reigns, has recently lost the Intercontinental Title to Kevin Owens, and is crazier than a squirrel on a sugar rush.
Fun Stuff
In promoting their new WWE Network show, Edge and Christian will be interviewing the current WWE Tag Team Champions, The New Day during Fastlane. Now a very strong rumor suggests that current NXT tag team Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady will be making their main roster debut during this segment and be put into a program with The New Day.
Enzo and Big Cass are a great example of great characters that NXT develops and why they are so good. Both men can talk, perform, and have the charisma to give the tag division a shot in the arm.
What are your picks for the show or are you just waiting until WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments.
WWE Fastlane airs Sunday at 8pm EST on WWE Network and most PPV providers
