Kevin Owens vs. Goldberg: WWE Fastlane 2017 Match Preview and Pick

WWE Raw's top prize will be up for grabs Sunday night when the longest-running universal champion Kevin Owens defends against Goldberg in the main event of Fastlane, the final pay-per-view event on The Road to WrestleMania 33.

This is the marquee feud leading into the biggest show of the year, and the winner of the match will make clear the company's plans for the title. More importantly, it could potentially create an uproar among a fanbase not too eager to see another part-time star return to WWE for a big payday and championship reign at the expense of a full-time member of the roster.

Who leaves Milwaukee with the gold, one step closer to immortality on wrestling's grandest stage?

Preview

Goldberg will compete for a WWE title for the first time in 14 years Sunday in what he hopes is the culmination of an improbable comeback to the sport he was so instrumental in popularizing during the 1990s.

At Survivor Series this past November, he shocked the world by obliterating Brock Lesnar in just 85 seconds, setting a record for quickest victory over The Beast Incarnate. It was an inconceivable victory, the shortness of which no one could have imagined.

While that was going on, Kevin Owens was in the midst of a Universal Championship reign that always felt lackluster. Perhaps it was the constant interference of best friend Chris Jericho or the fact that he was never allowed to win a match by himself, something that would have lent credibility to his reign.

He regularly battled Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins but never really felt like he was on their level. That Jericho once again developed a personality fans became engrossed with, thus shoving Owens to the shadows, did not help matters.

The February 13 episode of Raw changed all of that.

One week after Jericho accepted a match against Goldberg for the title on Owens' behalf, The Prizefighter snapped and severed their friendship by throwing Jericho through glass and powerbombing him on the ring apron.

It was an unforgettable moment that reintroduced the WWE Universe to a more dangerous and calculating Owens than the shell of himself he had become.

Despite promises from Goldberg to win the title for his family, Owens vowed to retain and cash his ticket to WrestleMania.

Who Should Win?

Kevin Owens.

WWE sees dollars signs in Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship, but the fact of the matter is that neither of those industry icons needs a title to elevate their rivalry or increase its significance. They are as big of stars as they can possibly be, and no title will alter that.

Owens, on the other hand, is still a vulnerable character. The stuff he did with Jericho was great fun and resulted in some hilarious segments and television, but it did nothing to strengthen his status as the champion of Raw.

There are few Superstars who could benefit from a victory over Goldberg more than Owens.

The only downfall?

There is no chance in hell KO would pin the WCW icon cleanly. A win would be the product of another screwjob, probably involving Lesnar. Again, that does nothing to help an Owens desperately in need of a signature win.

Still, a win is better than a decisive loss, which feels like a very real likelihood.

Who Will Win?

Goldberg.

WWE is in love with the nostalgic Goldberg act. It did not produce tons of merchandise, feature him prominently in advertisements for video games or have him smash his way through Lesnar at Survivor Series, and again at Royal Rumble, just to have him lose his first title match in well over a decade.

He wins here, has the storybook moment where he celebrates with family and fans, then turns his attention to WrestleMania and one last date with Brock Lesnar.

That is hardly ideal for fans who feel emotional investment for Owens, with whom they have spent years connecting, both in WWE and on the independent scene. Yet, for fans both casual and diehard alike, Goldberg vs. Lesnar is a title bout that attracts eyes to WrestleMania.

Media covers the event, advertisers are quick to throw money behind it and celebrities are eager to attend and participate.

Prediction

Goldberg defeats Kevin Owens to win the WWE Universal Championship.