WWE Fastlane 2015: Match Card, Potential Spoilers, Predictions and More

WWE Fastlane 2015 will be more than just a WrestleMania warm-up; it will be a memorable first chapter for the company's newest pay-per-view.

While WWE is certainly saving its very best for the Show of Shows, the February event has promise. Rusev and John Cena clobbering each other, Roman Reigns having the best singles match of his career and the supernatural spectacle that will accompany Sting are sure to make for an engaging event.

Whether that translates to the folks currently enjoying free subscriptions to the WWE Network to re-up in March and beyond remains to be seen.

That will be the company's goal. Give fans enough of a thrilling taste at Fastlane to entice them to the point that WrestleMania feels must-watch.

A lot of that will depend on how the main event looks post-Fastlane. A Daniel Bryan win in Memphis sets up the ultimate David-versus-Goliath matchup. Reigns emerging with a victory points to WWE continuing to back him as the next big thing.

There is, however, reason to believe that the bout will end with no clear result.

News, Potential Spoilers

Are we headed for the second consecutive Triple Threat match at the top of the WrestleMania card? According to at least one report, we sure are.

F4WOnline (h/t Wrestle Zone) reports that Vince McMahon has given in to the idea of inserting Daniel Bryan into a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 31.

Credit: WWE.com

That would of course point to some sort of non-finish at Fastlane to set that up.

It would also be a departure from WrestleMania tradition, as only two Triple Threat bouts have headlined the show, and there was a 10-year gap between them.

It's no certainty that Reigns against Bryan ends with a proper conclusion, though.

A fan asked Dave Scherer of PWInsider whether McMahon had indeed changed his mind about WrestleMania's main event. Scherer responded: "That story has been going around. And there are other stories saying he is sold on Reigns versus Lesnar."

Another big question concerning Fastlane is whether Randy Orton will show up. He hasn't appeared on WWE TV since November. 

Fans keep expecting him to jump back into the fray, go after Seth Rollins and set up a match between them at WrestleMania. It's still unclear when that will happen.

As Wrestling Inc's Raj Giri notes, Orton is no longer advertised for any upcoming televised events. On the other hand, PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports that "Orton is expected back on WWE TV in the next week or so."

RICK SCUTERI/Associated Press

Does that mean Fastlane or Raw the following night? Rollins now having a match to interfere in makes it more likely that Orton shows up in Memphis. WWE is running out of time to get started with building up a match between the duo for WrestleMania.

Johnson also provides some insight into the Goldust and Stardust feud. He writes that "there have been plans to break up the team of Goldust and Stardust to set up a WrestleMania singles bout for some time."

That confirms what many folks expected. It looks then as if their clash at Fastlane will only be the precursor to something bigger at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Match Card

• Erick Rowan, Dolph Ziggler and Ryback vs. Seth Rollins, Kane and Big Show
• Goldust vs. Stardust
• Dean Ambrose vs. Bad News Barrett (Intercontinental Championship)
• Cesaro and Tyson Kidd vs. The Usos (Tag Team Championship)
• Paige vs. Nikki Bella (Divas Championship)
• Rusev vs. John Cena (United States Championship)
• Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns (winner main events WrestleMania)

Before we dive into my own predictions, check out Bleacher Report's own Dan Pecoraro's picks:

Quick Predictions

• Rowan, Ziggler and Ryback over the Authority.
• Goldust over Stardust (via disqualification).
• Ambrose over Barrett.
• The Usos over Cesaro and Kidd.
• Nikki over Paige.
• Rusev and Cena go to non-finish.
• Reigns over Bryan.

Six-Man Tag

This is where WWE can insert Orton back into the picture. The Viper costing Rollins the match here is an easy, effective setup for the WrestleMania match many have been expecting.

That outcome also gives the good guys another victory to celebrate after falling to the Authority so many times. Ziggler, specifically, has dropped a ton of matches to Rollins. The only times he has beaten him has been with some help.

Sting handled that role the last two times. This time, Orton plays the cavalry.

Sibling Rivalry Pt. 1

This is early in this story for Goldust and Stardust to be colliding. With WrestleMania still on the horizon, expect this to be more of a setup for another bout on March 29.

A vicious Stardust beats on his brother in the corner, ignoring the referee's five-count. The beatdown serves to further the feud, while not giving much away.

There needs to be a lot more hype for this, more Dusty Rhodes appearances and a family-breaking-apart narrative. That happens later. For now, Stardust issues the first assault.

The Hot Potato Championship

Check out WWE.com's history of the Intercontinental Championship. The recent pattern is to pass around the title often.

In 2014, the IC belt changed hands seven times. A total of six title changes occurred in 2012. So far in 2015, there has been just one new champ.

Credit: WWE.com

Expect that to change. WWE doesn't seem to know what to do with Ambrose right now. Pinning the IC title on him feels like the kind of holdover move the company would go to. 

It should be a solid bout, but there hasn't been enough buildup to make it anything special despite the talent involved.

Cesaro and Kidd Keep Chasing

The feud over the tag titles has only just begun. Aside from a confrontation in a restaurant, there haven't been any big moments between the duos yet.

Count on that changing after Fastlane.

This time around, Cesaro and Kidd will push the Usos but ultimately fall short. It's smarter to make a bigger deal of crowning them new champs, saving that climax for WrestleMania.

Regardless, this will be plenty good. With the intriguing meshing of styles and all the athleticism that will be inside the ring on Sunday, this is a dark-horse threat for the night's show-stealer.

Paige Has to Wait for No. 3

Paige hasn't even been on the main roster for a full calendar year. Still, she has a shot of being Divas champ for the third time. That would tie her with Eve Torres and AJ Lee for the most reigns in the title's history.

Credit: WWE.com

Look for WWE to hold off on that achievement. Having her be on the hunt is inherently more interesting, and her current pursuit has only just begun. It will feel rushed to have her win again already.

Besides, there is always the looming threat that Brie and Nikki will implode once more, setting up a chance for them to wrap up a feud that ended far too quietly.

Round I of Cena vs. Rusev is Only Precursor 

This clash will be two men pouring gasoline on a wildfire. It will be at WrestleMania where they will put it out. 

Rusev's first true loss can't happen at Fastlane. After milking his undefeated streak for this long, it has to end on the bigger stage that is WrestleMania. 

After watching how intense things got between these two powerhouses on Monday's Raw, it's easy to imagine them getting so caught up in their brawling that they forget about winning and losing. Maybe they fight in the stands well beyond the bell or don't allow the match to officially get started before slugging it out.

Either way, the animosity these two have created and their well-matched styles make this the best bet for the night's best match.

Reigns Proves Himself

Reigns has to win. Rumors of a potential Triple Threat be damned—it's just not smart booking to go with Lesnar against Bryan against Reigns. That's too crowded of a stage.

WWE has committed itself to elevating Reigns. It has had him break the Royal Rumble record for most eliminations, dominate at the 2013 Survivor Series, take down Big Show again and again and now has just one more hurdle for him to clear.

Reigns beating Bryan in a match that ends with the bearded warrior shaking Reigns' hand makes the most sense.

It's too late to go with Bryan. WWE doesn't want to devalue winning the Rumble. Besides, Reigns has taken big strides this year, improving on the mic and exuding intensity in the ring. 

This will be his crowning moment and his best singles bout to date. That's what it is designed for.

Reigns will battle a fellow babyface and emerge with the Beast Incarnate next on his list.