The Show of Shows is almost upon us, and Wrestlemania is drawing near. It's the best time of the year for professional wrestling fans - everything comes down to the ultimate wrestling showcase in March. However, there's one last event before Wrestlemania: WWE's newest pay-per-view, Fastlane.
If you were expecting the Elimination Chamber, you'd be forgiven: this will be the first time in years that the chamber won't act as the gateway to Wrestlemania. Not to worry; despite the lack of the Chamber itself, Fastlane could prove to be an ample testing ground for Wrestlemania.
Unsurprisingly, there's a lot going on at Fastlane - this is the road to Wrestlemania, after all - and there are plenty of titles on the line. So, without further ado, the main match card for Fastlane:
Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan
Winner to face Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XXXI
This is the main event - whoever wins this will go on to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania. There is one problem with this match, however - it's basically been decided who's going to win. The idea of Roman Reigns essentially voiding his Royal Rumble win might be what fans want...but it's just not going to happen. Sorry, Daniel.
Rusev vs. John Cena
For the United States Championship
Let's be honest: at some point, John Cena is going to pin Rusev...whether or not it happens at Fastlane or at Wrestlemania remains to be seen. It's been a long time since Cena held the U.S. Championship (back when he was a heel), but squashing Rusev isn't exactly what's best for anyone's career. At this point, the match is still up in the air - but you can expect a rematch at Wrestlemania either way.
Bad News Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose
For the Intercontinental Championship
The fight for the Intercontinental Championship is a great opportunity for two Superstars to regain their momentum. Dean Ambrose is pretty cold after coming off a series of poorly executed storylines, while Bad News Barrett hasn't really gained much of his steam back after returning from injury. With the right match, this could be something special - without it, the whole thing could fall apart.
The Usos vs. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd
For the Tag Team Championship
Considering the momentum that Cesaro and Tyson Kidd have had in recent weeks, there's a good chance that the newest tag team will come out on top this Sunday. That being said, it's never a good idea to count the Usos out - crowds love high-fliers, and at this point, no one flies higher than the Usos. Again, this one's a 50-50 split - and again, you can expect a rematch of some kind at Wrestlemania.
Nikki Bella vs. Paige
For the Divas Championship
The Divas division might not get as much attention as the rest of the WWE, but that doesn't mean it's not capable of putting on good matches. Case in point: Nikki Bella is scheduled to go up against Paige for the Divas Championship, and based on the two women's previous showings, it could be one of the best matches of the night.
Goldust vs. Stardust
Singles Match
It's been a long time coming, but the bizarre cosmic duo of Stardust and Goldust has come to an end. Instead, the two brothers will be facing off against one another at Fastlane - and, at this point, it's impossible to tell who will come out on top. It could be a way to write Goldust off television for a while, but doing so right before Wrestlemania is a strange move...this one could go either way, but don't expect either one to go down easily.
Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and Ryback vs. The Authority
Six-man Tag Team Match
It's a rematch from Survivor Series...or at least half of one. All three of the 'good guys' have struggled to find much momentum following their defeat back in November, but this could be a real showcase for everyone involved. On the other hand, when was the last time Kane won a match? It could be a setup for a potential confrontation at Wrestlemania, but...who knows where this one is going?
There's no Elimination Chamber, sure - but if WWE plays its cards right, Fastlane could be a major success. It's the prelude to Wrestlemania, meaning that each and every single match should be leading into the Show of Shows, regardless of how big or small. Whether or not WWE will actually come through is still up in the air, but here's hoping that Fastlane becomes a worthy successor to the Elimination Chamber.
WWE Fastlane begins Sunday, Feb. 22 at 8pm.
