WWE Fastlane 2016: B/R Experts Match Predictions and Analysis
WWE Fastlane 2016 on Sunday is the pit stop on the Road to WrestleMania 32, and it's time to give credit where it's due: WWE has done a tremendous job of building this pay-per-view.
There's a good mix of matches on this card, headlined by the Triple Threat match to see who will face WWE world champion Triple H at WrestleMania 32. WWE Creative has done a good job of showcasing the main event's competitors: Roman Reigns' angst as a fallen and slighted champion, Brock Lesnar's commanding presence as the beast that he is and Dean Ambrose's unstable mindset going against not only his brother in arms but the most dominant Superstar in the company.
The undercard for WWE Fastlane is sure to both entertain and set up the rest of WrestleMania 32:
- Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the WWE United States Championship during the WWE Fastlane 2016 kickoff show
- Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
- Charlotte vs. Brie Bella for the WWE Divas Championship
- The Wyatt Family facing off against Big Show, Ryback, and Kane, three men who have fallen to the Wyatts in recent weeks
- Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch vs. Naomi and Tamina
- Chris Jericho vs. AJ Styles in a rubber match after splitting their previous matches on WWE programming in recent weeks
It's a stacked card, and Bleacher Report has once again asked its team of experts to weigh in on who will win and what it all means, as well as forecast what you may see as WWE sets its sights on Dallas for WrestleMania 32.
B/R Expert Panel Lineup
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Bleacher Report's all-star lineup answers the tough questions about the WWE landscape and provides predictions for each match on the WWE Fastlane 2016 card.
This lineup consists of:
- Brad Jones (@beardjones)
- Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the podcast Smack Talk
- Aaron Bower (@aaronbower)
- Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
- The Doctor Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor)
- And yours truly, James Moffat (@jamesmoffat)
I was going to let Erik Beaston lead things off for our WWE Fastlane 2016 column, but he attended #NXTPhilly and forgot to buy the rest of the B/R WWE Expert Panel tickets. Back of the line, bub.
It's the Road to WrestleMania 32, and WWE Fastlane 2016 is the next stop. So tie up your laces and get ready to rumble. The predictions start now.
Bonus Question No. 1
2 of 12Let’s get this out of the way early: With Daniel Bryan officially retiring from WWE, what will be your lasting memory of The Beard?
Anthony Mango: I'm of the unpopular opinion that he should have shaved it off a long, long time ago. Half of my immediate response to seeing the shorter hair and the trimmed beard was fear that he was retiring, but the other half was relief that he didn't look so strange anymore. I await the slaughtering in the comments.
Brad Jones: Sitting down to watch that inaugural episode of NXT, I'd heard that the format of the show was kind of jarring, but there was an unmissable match between Daniel Bryan and Chris Jericho to round it out. Obviously, the current incarnation of NXT is completely different to what was being aired back in 2010—but I think that main event was a preview of the platform WWE would later give to stars of the independent scene.
James Moffat: My favorite memory? His triumph in New Orleans at WrestleMania 30. My lasting memory, though, will be his farewell speech on Raw just a few weeks back. Everything that made Bryan loved by the WWE Universe was on full display: heart, charisma, honesty. The outpouring of love the fans gave him in return that night was genuine. It wasn't so much a farewell speech; it was a celebration of a Superstar the likes of which we may never see again.
Aaron Bower: WrestleMania 30 without a doubt. The perfect ending to a storyline that, although had a few blips here and there, was executed really well over a lengthy period of time. It was the ultimate underdog story that was given a great finale at the biggest pay-per-view of the year.
Chris Mueller: My favorite memory of Daniel Bryan has to be his anger management segments with Kane. The two of them brought out the best in each other, and it was one of those rare times where WWE got everything exactly right. I just hope Dr. Shelby returns at some point.
Erik Beaston: His retirement speech. It was the perfect encapsulation of his career. He was humble, funny, emotional and expressed his passion for the sport in a way that never felt over the top or put on. He was phenomenal and for the first time let his true personality shine through. There was not a single dry eye in Seattle and the outpouring of support for him was unforgettable. Sure, there were five-star classics across numerous promotions, but the dignity with which he stepped away from the industry, no matter how hard it was for him personally, gave fans a glimpse into the type of man that lies behind the Yes! Movement.
Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
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Kevin Owens recaptured the WWE Intercontinental Championship this week on Raw, which begs the question: Did taking the title off him at WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs accomplish anything?
BJ: I think a brief run with the title actually did benefit Dean Ambrose. Retaining at Royal Rumble was the key moment; it started off his night with a bang and gave him another reason to come up short in the final moments of the main event. If we are going to see Ambrose vs. Triple H at WrestleMania, his reign adds a couple of extra wrinkles to an already compelling match up.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
JM: You know what WWE accomplished? It made fans feel cheated that they didn't get two additional months of an Owens title reign. Ambrose didn't need the belt, especially if WWE's plan all along was to put The Lunatic Fringe back into the main event scene. Owens is a Superstar who is at his best when he's on top. WWE bumped him down a peg for two months for what? To show he's aggressive and ruthless? Owens accomplishes that on his own each night.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
AB: When you look at what’s happened since with Dean Ambrose being in the final two of the Royal Rumble match and now the main event this Sunday, no! Everyone assumed that Owens would move on to something different after dropping the belt, but we’re back to square one. It’s good he has another chance to establish a decent reign as champ, though.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
CM: I think Ambrose was a good champion while he held the title. He had some great matches with Owens and Ziggler, and it helped elevate his profile a little. If anything, putting the title back on Owens feels like a way to bide his time until WWE decides to give him a main event push.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
AM: In the grand scheme of things, no, it didn't. However, to a certain extent, WWE shouldn't be blamed for this. Clearly, there were different plans in mind that were derailed when more injuries popped up, but those problems are being fixed now with the belt being back on Owens.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
EB: The only thing it accomplished was killing some of his heat. Owens has been on that treadmill of booking where he loses more than he should, heats up with a few signature wins and then drops another match for reasons that are never explained. All it did was give Ambrose the championship reign, a “thumbs up” of sorts for his work ethic. Owens has never really recovered.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens
Charlotte vs. Brie Bella (WWE Divas Championship)
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Brie Bella told ABC’s Good Morning America that she is “very, very close” to announcing her retirement, possibly as early as this summer. Sister Nikki told E! in January that her neck surgery is potentially “career-ending.” What is the likelihood that both Bella Twins call it a career after WrestleMania 32?
JM: WrestleMania? No. SummerSlam? Yes. Total Divas is taped months in advance, which means next season will likely be all about Nikki's recovery and a potential farewell at SummerSlam in Brooklyn. The Bellas would then hand the reins over to a new crop of Divas: Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Mandy Rose and Eva Marie, who will be back on the WWE roster sooner rather than later.
Match Prediction: Charlotte
AB: It certainly looks like Brie will follow Daniel Bryan into the sunset, with Nikki potentially following too. I’d expect Nikki to stick around for a while longer, especially given how John Cena is on the road most of the time. Brie will retire with some decent career highlights, but you always feel like The Bella Twins could have been something bigger than they actually were.
Match Prediction: Charlotte
CM: It’s tough to put odds on something like this because there are so many variables. Nikki’s surgery might not end her career, and Brie could always change her mind and decide to stay through the end of the year. I would say Nikki returning is a safer bet than Brie sticking around past the summer.
Match Prediction: Charlotte
AM: With Daniel Bryan retiring, there's more incentive than ever for Brie to bow out and spend more time at home with him, starting a family. With Nikki's case, things are different. John Cena will travel as soon as he can and for as long as he can, so the same life isn't waiting for her. There's more incentive to stay active and try to carve out a name for herself if she can, but I wouldn't be surprised if the stress of being away from her twin gets to her quickly. If Nikki even can return to begin with, I give her one year maximum before she retires. She's already done it all.
Match Prediction: Charlotte
BJ: This question seems to hinge on whether or not Total Divas is still a winning proposition for E! and WWE. The Bellas the centrepiece of that broadcast, and it seems that the show is often treated with more care than the Divas division. I'd be surprised to see Nikki retire that soon, especially when there's at least one season of faux-reality drama to wring out of her going it alone.
Match Prediction: Charlotte
EB: Can I choose less than 0 percent? Brie Bella is gone, that much we know. But Nikki will remain connected to the industry via her relationship with John Cena. While her neck injury may be a major setback, she should recover and get back in the ring just as her significant other has made a habit of doing over the years. Having worked with the injury as she did, no one can question her toughness. When she returns to the squared circle and carries the Bella name into the future, no one will be able to doubt her commitment.
Match Prediction: Charlotte
Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio (WWE United States Championship)
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Kalisto, Alberto Del Rio, or both: Which of these WWE Superstars has been most egregiously misused through this United States Championship feud?
AB: Alberto Del Rio. I think Kalisto can still become a superb United States champion and establish himself as a real breakout star, but Del Rio’s poor booking has cost him dearly. He needs to step away from The League of Nations and step away from this feud, as neither is doing anything good for him.
Match Prediction: Kalisto
CM: Alberto Del Rio. Kalisto has been booked to look like the ultimate underdog while picking up some impressive wins. Del Rio, on the other hand, has not looked like the star he was during his original run. It doesn’t feel like WWE views him as a main event player anymore.
Match Prediction: Kalisto
AM: Both. Playing hot potato with the title hurt both of them, and the lack of serious attention being given to this program has pushed it aside as repetitive filler more than anything worthwhile. Del Rio is above this, and Kalisto isn't being booked as being on this level yet, so things are disproportionate. Until WWE establishes some sort of balance where the United States Championship means as much as it did when John Cena was holding it, Kalisto will be a weak champion and Del Rio's stock won't be as high since he kept losing to him.
Match Prediction: Kalisto retains, but somehow this is booked where he looks weak despite getting two out of three falls
BJ: Neither. Del Rio made it clear in an interview with Fox Sports Mexico (h/t Wrestling Inc.) that he's looking out for Kalisto and trying to help him ascend up the card as a singles performer. This program is producing great matches on television and helping a promising young talent develop behind the scenes. What's not to like?
Match Prediction: Kalisto
JM: Both. Look no further than their placement on the pre-show for a 2-out-of-3 Falls match. The decision to have Del Rio conquer John Cena was misguided, and it's been downhill from there. From the Jeb Coulter alliance to weak in-ring performances to a failed partnership with The League of Nations, ADR has been mishandled in his return to WWE. Kalisto wouldn't have been in this spot if Sin Cara hadn't been injured, and WWE has lacked any creative storytelling for his placement as a top title contender. He was thrown into a feud due to a lack of warm bodies. This whole feud has been poorly executed. Not on the level of the infamous Lana-Rusev-Dolph Ziggler love triangle, but bad nonetheless.
Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio
EB: Alberto Del Rio. The fact that WWE went through the trouble of bringing Del Rio back to challenge for the United States Championship is a joke in the first place. Booking him to lose to Kalisto on two separate occasions and end his unspectacular reigns in unmemorable fashion seems counterproductive to making him look like a credible competitor.
Match Prediction: Kalisto
Bonus Question No. 2
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Following John Cena’s cryptic tweet this week, speculation from experts like B/R’s Alfred Konuwa is that The Face that Runs the Place is aiming for a WrestleMania 32 return. What percentage do you give fans for a Cena return in Dallas?
CM: I would put it at 50 percent. Cena has always returned earlier than planned from any injury, and it will probably be the same this time around. However, it might be better in the long run if he takes the full recovery period. After all, we don’t need him to return just to get injured again.
AM: It's tough to get your hopes up that Cena will be able to return, but history has shown that he's a freak of nature who shouldn't be counted out. If he could make his surprise entrance in the 2008 Royal Rumble, he can figure out a way to compete at WrestleMania 32. I have no crystal ball, but I would put his chances of a return at 51 percent, which is a total cop-out answer.
BJ: 25 percent. It would be a great story and hugely fitting for Cena's "Never Give Up" persona. That being said, the only way I see him on the card is if he faces Undertaker, and I don't think there's any benefit to rushing him back and risking that huge matchup disappointing fans.
JM: I'm going with 70 percent. Cena is a freak of nature with almost Wolverine-like healing capabilities. Above all else, he is a company man, and he'll do what is asked of him. Vince McMahon and company have their sights set on WrestleMania 32 being the biggest event in the history of the industry. Having Cena as part of that—in a major match with another high-profile Superstar—will help make Vince's dream come true.
AB: Knowing Cena’s track record, I’d put him at 50-50. Recovering from a six-month injury in three months is almost impossible, but for Cena, nothing seems out of the question. He has a great record when it comes to healing quicker than expected, but the timeline is still significant enough to make him far from a lock for WrestleMania 32.
EB: 100 percent. John Cena is the toughest and hardest-working Superstar in professional wrestling. If he can raise his arm in the air and lift even the slightest amount of weight, he will be at WrestleMania. He will bust his ass to ensure that he can support the company, perform at the biggest event of the year and continue building his legacy.
The Wyatt Family vs. Big Show-Ryback-Kane
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After Fastlane, what does WWE do with The Wyatt Family heading into WrestleMania 32?
AM: I may have yet another unpopular opinion here, but I'm desperately hoping there's no match between Brock Lesnar and any member of The Wyatt Family. Lesnar is a beast, but he should not be booked in a handicap match or anything similar where he's against Bray Wyatt but the others interfere and he still comes out on top. A singles match with Braun Strowman would be terrible, too. Lesnar should face Ambrose, while The Wyatt Family should busy themselves with The League of Nations.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family wins as they take priority in having to look strong for WrestleMania 32
BJ: Have them destroy all opposition ahead of a marquee match for Bray. There would be zero reason to book this match if it wasn't going to end in a convincing Wyatt Family victory, which suggests that there are big plans for them come April 3. Specifically, I still think we're heading for Wyatt vs. Lesnar, even if it looks set to be yet another losing proposition for the New Face of Fear.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family
JM: Don't we know the answer to this already? WWE builds up the Wyatt Family, namely Bray Wyatt, in a series of ambushes and cryptic promos, only to have The Eater of Worlds be gobbled up by a bigger name, more than likely Brock Lesnar. God, I'm tired of writing that scenario. You know who isn't tired of it? WWE.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family
AB: The WWE probably has Bray interfere in the main event and set up a match with Brock Lesnar, but elsewhere, it should really have Luke Harper and Erick Rowan have a go at the tag division. They showed real promise as a pair before when they broke from Bray temporarily, and they could be a force to be reckoned with.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family
CM: The Wyatt Family needs a big storyline for WrestleMania to make them look like a real threat again. The Undertaker is probably out of the question, so the best option might be having one or more embers pursue titles. I would love to see Wyatt and Owens feud for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Just imagine the kind of physical matches they would put on.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family
EB: Bray Wyatt will battle Brock Lesnar. The events that unfolded in the Royal Rumble match were not by accident. They were meticulously planned, the result of the decision to run with the Reaper of Souls vs. The Beast Incarnate at WrestleMania. In fact, do not be surprised to see Bray and his followers interfere in the main event of Fastlane. Speaking of those followers, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan will appear in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal...and one will win. I’ll leave that up to you to decide which.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family
Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch vs. Naomi and Tamina
8 of 12Which would you rather see at WrestleMania 32: Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks one-on-one for the Divas Championship or a Triple Threat match including Becky Lynch?
BJ: The Triple Threat. Ahead of the Royal Rumble build, it would have been the singles match, but Becky Lynch has really started to show some fire thanks to her program with Charlotte and her current feud. This is the best we've seen from her so far, and I'm interested to see what she could do on the grand stage of WrestleMania.
Match Prediction: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
JM: I might be the only person rooting for a one-on-one match. Sasha and Charlotte have put on some classics, and it would follow a great narrative heading into WrestleMania to relive that story with promos between the two women and vignettes showing their rivalry in NXT. Save the Triple Threat match for SummerSlam. Give me The Boss vs. The Nature Girl on the biggest stage in sports entertainment.
Match Prediction: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
AB: A Triple Threat match, only because Becky Lynch’s hard work in the Divas division over the past few months means she deserves it. It would be a shame to see her fall back down the pecking order while WWE has been preparing itself for Sasha vs. Charlotte. She has earned the right to get her WrestleMania moment.
Match Prediction: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
CM: Triple Threat. We have seen the kind of multi-Diva matches that NXT can produce, and putting these three women on the biggest show of the year will only lead to good things. I wouldn’t mind seeing Naomi join the mix to make it a Fatal 4-Way.
Match Prediction: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
AM: Give me a Fatal 4-Way with Paige instead of either of those options, actually. There's a good chance any Divas match on the card will be the least valuable fight as far as popular interest goes, so why not try to up the ante and maximize the potential by appealing to two more fanbases while you're at it? Those four women could have a great match together just as much as Charlotte and Sasha could on their own, and it makes the outcome less predictable.
Match Prediction: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
EB: Triple Threat. Lynch has been an integral piece of the puzzle for months now. Shoving her to the background would be a major disappointment and one that does not make sense given the ongoing storyline.
Match Prediction: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
The New Day on Edge and Christian’s “The Cutting Edge Peep Show”
9 of 12True or False: The New Day will wind up defending the WWE Tag Team Championship before the end of the pay-per-view. If true, name their opponents.
JM: False. There might be a brawl or a staredown, but there won't be a match. WWE will use The New Day to put over Edge and Christian's new show on the WWE Network. Based on the clips in the show's promo, figure on plenty of props and insults being slung back and forth between the two groups before giving way to some plot development in the tag team division on The Road to WrestleMania.
Prediction: Kazoos and trombones but no match
AB: Given how thin the card looks, true. You’d assume it would be The Usos, but I’d much rather see this angle set up a fair few teams to target The New Day and create a multi-team match for WrestleMania 32. With the aforementioned Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, The Dudley Boyz, The Usos and more, there’s plenty of talent to challenge The New Day.
Prediction: There is a match, and The New Day wins
CM: It will either be The Usos or The Dudley Boyz. Bubba and D-Von’s goal is to add another title reign to their resume. With the history Edge and Christian have with The Dudley Boyz, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them have some kind of interaction. However, WWE might want to put a babyface team against the heels in The New Day, so it’s just as likely we will see The Usos get the shot.
Match Prediction: If it’s The Usos, New Day will retain; If it’s The Dudleys, New Day will lose the titles
AM: False. Edge and Christian are on the event to not only promote their new show but also to eat up time so WWE doesn't have to think of another tag team championship defense before WrestleMania. This will consist of verbal spats and some form of humiliation for The New Day, but no title match will follow.
Prediction: Edge and Christian look like the cool guys, while The New Day looks foolish
BJ: False. We might see something that sets up a WrestleMania bout, but nothing on the night. It would be terrific to see Enzo Amore and Big Cass make their main roster debut, but I just don't see it happening at Fastlane.
Prediction: No match
EB: True, probably against The Usos. Vince McMahon has an infatuation with Jimmy and Jey that does not allow him to recognize the fact that the twin brothers have become stale. They are boring, bland and “white bread.” But they will probably get the nod and then hear the boos as fans continue to voice their displeasure with the mundane.
Prediction: There will be a match, with The New Day victorious
Chris Jericho vs. AJ Styles
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Thus far, the consensus has been that WWE has succeeded in its initial booking of AJ Styles. What, if anything, would you have changed regarding his first month in WWE?
AB: I may have had him doing a bit more talking. The segment on Miz TV a few weeks ago where Styles said nothing as The Miz was ridiculing him was strange, and Styles is decent enough on the mic, despite what some say. Apart from that, I’m not sure there’s much else that could have been done at this time of the year. AJ’s time at the top of the card will come.
Match Prediction: AJ Styles
CM: Nothing. Putting him with Jericho is a great way to show off his skills and give him credibility by gaining wins over an established star. They were practically made to fight each other because they have so many of the same attributes. Hopefully, AJ continues to be booked like the top-notch athlete he is. I could see this feud going past Fastlane for another week or two, but it would be best if it ended with the tiebreaker on Sunday.
Match Prediction: AJ Styles
AM: Depending on how the card shapes up for WrestleMania, it might have been a better idea for Styles and Jericho to only interact with each other in the Royal Rumble match and save the rest of it for WrestleMania rather than Fastlane. Styles could have feuded with The Miz on his own in the meantime while setting up tension with Jericho but not actually getting in the ring together.
Match Prediction: AJ Styles
BJ: The one imperfection was the fact that the news leaked before the Royal Rumble. Obviously, there's nothing that WWE could have done about that in this day and age, but his booking has been so well thought out that a bigger surprise on the night would have been the best way to improve his first few weeks. Oh, and the camera wouldn't have been focused on Roman Reigns while he made his entrance.
Match Prediction: AJ Styles
JM: I was going to say that entrance music, but it's kind of grown on me. I was going to say the early tease that he'd be in the Royal Rumble, but I still popped when he arrived. I was going to say not involving him with a title scene, but Jericho is a great foil. I was going to say matching him with The Miz, but the Hollywood A-Lister has been on fire. How about all the redneck references? Yeah, we'll go with that, because otherwise WWE has hit a home run thus far with AJ Styles' debut.
Match Prediction: AJ Styles
EB: For the first time in a long time, this writer cannot complain at all with the way Styles has been booked to this point. WWE treats him like a star, and Chris Jericho has unselfishly put him over as such. Unlike so many who walk through the door, he has benefited from a concentrated effort to get him over, keep him over and let him be himself.
Match Prediction: AJ Styles
Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar (No. 1 Contender’s Match)
11 of 12Simple and straightforward: Who should be the No. 1 contender for the WWE Heavyweight Championship after WWE Fastlane 2016?
CM: Dean Ambrose. He has been consistently entertaining in every feud, and the crowd loves him. Putting him against Triple H would increase his stock significantly, and it would give us a match we have never seen before. I might be asking for too much, but I would love to see Ambrose get a monster push heading into WrestleMania.
Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose
AM: With Triple H as the champion, there's no choice other than Roman Reigns. Granted, the idea of Triple H vs. Roman Reigns could be topped with other options, but that would require going back in time and changing plans from the Royal Rumble to even Survivor Series. Ambrose has more flexibility in finding an opponent while Reigns doesn't, and in Lesnar's case, he has no ties to this title match other than being a big name. This story is entirely about Reigns righting the wrongs of The Authority.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns gets the title shot he actually should have had from the start with his standard rematch clause we're all supposed to forget about
BJ: Dean Ambrose. At this point, it's the best WrestleMania program on the table—it's fresh, it's unexpected, and it offers up all kinds of possibilities to see the main event picture through the summer. It's time for WWE to be brave and make a leap of faith.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns
JM: Roman Reigns is really the only obvious choice, no matter what anyone tells you. It's the continuation of a story that WWE's been telling for months. If it moved away from that story now, it'd better give fans a damn good explanation as to why. Long-shot scenario: WWE gives Lesnar the win and has Ambrose and Reigns face off at WrestleMania 32.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns
AB: Dean Ambrose. Turn Roman Reigns heel on the night, give him something else to do at WrestleMania and let Ambrose be the one who gets the deserved title shot at WrestleMania. He’s been so close to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on numerous occasions in the past year, and if those near misses are documented well enough in the build toward WrestleMania, you'd have a genuinely great story on your hands, with the plucky Ambrose against The Authority. Sadly, I fear WWE will go down a safer and predictable option.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns
EB: Roman Reigns is the answer here, like it or not. The juggernaut has been the babyface that Raw and SmackDown have been built around. He was the Superstar most screwed over at Royal Rumble, as his WWE title reign ended in controversial fashion by Triple H. While Ambrose is hot right now and Lesnar is the box-office draw, Reigns should and will go to WrestleMania to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns
Bonus Question No. 3
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Which WWE Superstar are you most disappointed is not slated for WWE Fastlane 2016?
AM: It would have been great to hear that someone like Seth Rollins was ready to return, but in a realistic sense of the people who aren't injured at the moment, that distinction goes to either Mark Henry or The Miz. The tock is clicking for The World's Strongest Man, yet WWE seems to be ignoring him all the time, which is a shame. In The Miz's case, he's been nothing but a steppingstone for AJ Styles and Chris Jericho to beat while feuding with each other. A former world champion like The Miz shouldn't have more Miz TV segments and losses to his name over the past three years than ways to make him look like a legitimate Superstar, just as Mark Henry shouldn't spend possibly the last year of his career inactive. Neither man is injured, so why treat them like they're on the same list as Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and others?
BJ: Neville. He's one of the best on the roster in terms of in-ring acumen, but he's doing nothing as of late. Here's hoping the Global Cruiserweight Series gives him a chance to shine.
JM: It's criminal that The Miz is left off the card after all his great work with Chris Jericho and AJ Styles over the last few weeks. The Miz is one of the few true heels in WWE, one who genuinely riles up the crowd and delivers quality performances whenever called upon. He's a midcard heel who doesn't get the credit he deserves.
AB: It’s difficult with such a thin roster, but I would have liked to have seen The Dudley Boyz’ heel turn continue at Fastlane with a solid victory. Anyone who watched TNA knows that Bubba Ray is excellent as a heel, and as a team in WWE, they have a good history with working as heels. This could be the making of Bubba Ray and D-Von as a team, given how their return to the company hasn’t exactly sparkled yet.
CM: I am actually happy with the card as it stands, but if I am forced to choose, I will choose Damien Sandow. He is the most criminally underused talent on the roster and deserves a chance to prove he still has what it takes to be a star.
EB: The Dudley Boyz have had a fantastic few weeks, turning heel and taking away the fan-friendly tables. They have reinvigorated their careers with the change and should be following up on a strong Raw and SmackDown with a pay-per-view appearance, but they are not. Because...reasons. Or something like that.
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