
WWE Fastlane 2017: Updated Match Card, Predictions for Entire Raw PPV
The WWE Fastlane 2017 card was finalized on Monday's Raw when the eighth and final match was added to the pay-per-view.
With the exception of Chris Jericho's United States Championship, every Raw title will be defended at the event, along with four non-title contests.
Here is a look at the final card, according to WWE.com:
- The Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar vs. Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa
- Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe
- Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
- Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
- Neville vs. Jack Gallagher (Cruiserweight Championship)
- Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass (Raw Tag Team Championship)
- Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair (Raw Women's Championship)
- Kevin Owens vs. Goldberg (Universal Championship)
The match with the biggest possible impact on WrestleMania 33 is the main event. If Goldberg wins the title from Owens, he will defend it against Brock Lesnar at The Show of Shows.
Based on the outcome of each contest, we should have a good idea of which storylines will continue past Fastlane and which ones will come to an end.
The Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar vs. Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa
1 of 8The cruiserweight division has two matches on the Fastlane card, so it's forgivable for WWE to put one of them on the pre-show.
Akira Tozawa and The Brian Kendrick have a developing storyline that has been building for the past two weeks, but Rich Swann and Noam Dar barely have a feud to speak of.
This match will be fun because all four men are talented in their own unique ways, but the result won't affect anyone's current position on the roster.
Because WWE likes to put the crowd in a good mood to start most PPVs, Tozawa and Swann seem like a lock to get the win.
Prediction: Akira Tozawa and Rich Swann
Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe
2 of 8Samoa Joe and Sami Zayn's feud has been good from the start, but it was given a shot of adrenaline Monday night when the two men brawled on the stage.
It took a dozen officials to separate them, and they still managed to reach each other a few times with that many people holding them back.
Zayn has had a stop-and-go run since coming to the main roster, but he always puts on some of the best matches every week.
Joe is being positioned as the next dominant heel in the company, so there is no way WWE is going to have him lose his first big PPV match.
Prediction: Samoa Joe
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
3 of 8Sasha Banks and Nia Jax have the only real non-title feud in the Raw women's division, but they are carrying the storyline responsibility well.
The Boss has come back from a few injuries over the past year, but fans are beginning to notice how often she ends up sitting on the sidelines.
WWE is building toward a heel turn for Banks, so she can afford to take a loss right now. Jax is still establishing herself and needs to continue building momentum.
Having Banks pick up the win would make the crowd happy, but it makes more sense to use this opportunity to make Jax look even more dominant than she already does.
Prediction: Nia Jax
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
4 of 8WWE stepped up the feud between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman during Monday's Raw, and the fans responded better than anyone could have hoped.
Fans don't chant "This is awesome!" at Reigns too often, and hearing them chant his name is just as rare. Both happened on Monday.
Strowman is WWE's next unstoppable monster, and the only way to keep his momentum going is with a clean win over a top star like Reigns.
It wouldn't be surprising to see WWE book Reigns to win, but the smart move would be to give this one to The Monster Among Men.
Prediction: Braun Strowman
Neville vs. Jack Gallagher (Cruiserweight Championship)
5 of 8The cruiserweight division has struggled to find its place after the success of the Cruiserweight Classic last summer, but the feud between Neville and Jack Gallagher has helped.
Their contract signing went better than most, and both men continue to put on high-quality matches every week.
Gallagher is a favorite among fans, but it's not his time yet. Neville will retain the title and continue building himself into the best heel in the division so that, when someone finally does beat him for the belt, it will mean something.
Prediction: Neville
Enzo and Cass vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (Raw Tag Team Championship)
6 of 8Enzo Amore and Big Cass have been waiting a long time to win gold in WWE, and it looks like they will have to wait a little longer.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson haven't been champions long. They need to have at least one successful title defense so that they don't look like total shmucks.
Amore and Cass have a unique connection with the crowd. The WWE Universe will cheer for them whether they have the tag belts or not.
Title changes are usually fun, but it's just as important to have Gallows and Anderson look like worthy champions.
Prediction: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair (Raw Women's Championship)
7 of 8WWE has made a big deal out of Charlotte Flair's PPV winning streak, and it's unlikely Bayley will break it at a B-level event like Fastlane.
However, that doesn't mean Flair is leaving with the title. Bayley could retain through a disqualification or count-out decision so that Flair maintains her record without WWE having to book another title change.
Flair is doing amazing work as Raw's top heel, so it wouldn't shock anyone to see her add another Raw Women's Championship to her resume.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair
Kevin Owens vs. Goldberg (Universal Championship)
8 of 8Goldberg will have his first title match in over a decade when he steps into the ring with Kevin Owens to fight for the Universal Championship.
The former WCW champion is already scheduled to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, so winning the title wouldn't change his current direction.
While it would be great to see KO head into the biggest event of the year as the top champion of Raw, WWE has planted the seeds for a Goldberg win.
However, the best option would be to have Lesnar come out and cost Goldberg the match. This way, Owens gets to keep his reign intact, and the two powerhouses have even more reason to hate each other heading into WrestleMania.
Prediction: Goldberg






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