WWE Fastlane 2018: Updated Match Card, Early Predictions for SmackDown PPV

WWE's final stop on the road to WrestleMania 34 takes place when the SmackDown Live pay-per-view Fastlane airs on March 11.

Right now, the blue brand is in a haze. Too many of the show's storylines feature too many competitors, and it is creating an overwhelming state of confusion about how best to move forward.

Fastlane will at least clear a number of those stars out of the way and make the brand's WrestleMania plans somewhat clearer. For now, here's a look at the latest card and some predictions in terms of what fans can expect.

Latest Match Card

• Bobby Roode (c) vs. Randy Orton (United States Championship)
• The Usos (c) vs. The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team Championships)
• Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ruby Riott (SmackDown Women's Championship)
• AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE Championship)

Expect the company to add more matches involving midcard talent as the show nears. The likes of Rusev, Aiden English, Becky Lynch and Naomi all have no plans at the time of writing.

Prediction: Carmella Cashes In

With The Riott Squad, Charlotte Flair, Lynch and Naomi dominating the storylines in the women's division right now, it's perhaps easy to forget about Carmella.

But remember one thing—time is running out for The Princess of Staten Island to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase.

There have been a couple of teases in regards to Carmella doing so already—but she's going to have to do it sooner rather than later.

What makes Fastlane the likely destination to do it? This underwhelming feud between Flair and Ruby Riott, for one. 

Right now, the women's division needs fresh impetus on the blue brand. It needs a moment that will make fans sit up and take notice of the division going into WrestleMania.

Completely changing the script and putting the belt on Carmella would be a shrewd way to do that. 

Prediction: Zayn and Owens' Relationship Finally Implodes

Much like Sasha Banks and Bayley on Raw, fans know Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's relationship is going to spontaneously combust at some point.

Sure, the company could easily wait until WrestleMania, but the booking team on the blue brand would be wise to look at Sunday's main event at Elimination Chamber.

While Roman Reigns established a concrete pathway to WrestleMania, none of the other six guys in that bout did so. With far less time to put storylines in place for Mania by the time Fastlane airs, those plans need to be starting now.

So look for Owens or Zayn to turn on the other, perhaps costing them victory—and the WWE Championship—along the way.

That will lead to the two colliding at WrestleMania—much like Owens' relationship with former best friend Chris Jericho this time last year. 

Prediction: Enter The Deadman...or Someone Else?

One thing in terms of Fastlane's main event for the WWE Championship is a certainty: John Cena isn't leaving with the belt and a record 17th world title.

Fans know he is headed for a blockbuster bout with someone at WrestleMania 34. It wouldn't be Mania without a big matchup for The Cenation Leader.

For weeks, it has looked like being The Undertaker—so the smart money felt like it should be on The Deadman showing up at Fastlane and costing Cena the title after he name-dropped him on Raw on Monday.

Recently, though, talk has begun to turn toward another intriguing potential opponent for Cena—Rey Mysterio. That talk comes from Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso, who tweeted:

Either way, whether it's Undertaker or Mysterio, someone is showing up at Fastlane to screw Cena.