With Fastlane, Sunday night in the Nationwide Arena of Columbus, Ohio not only the final PPV before WrestleMania, but also the (first) last SmackDown-exclusive event. The focus is on the Six-Pack-Challenge around the WWE Championship between reigning champions AJ Styles, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler.
AbraKagawa: First of all, I would like to wish you a happy Rusev Day and express my disappointment that you didn’t start the introduction like that. For the match: Four such great In-Ring performers, but there is absolutely no anticipation. Once again a lovelessly slapped match without a big story, except that all four of them are there somehow and you’d rather give them air time than Tye Dillinger. Where is he anyway? And before anyone gets me wrong, here are four excellent ladies who all have their reason to be there. But a little bit more has to be offered so that I am interested in it. Natalya & Carmella win because Carmella can’t carry the suitcase around forever and would benefit her from a little boost in terms of an early cash in. Maybe so at WrestleMania? That would at least wake up this division that fell asleep in the Sleeping Beauty, wouldn’t it?
Kneisel: Afterwards a happy Rusev Day, Abra! About the match: In view of the talent that is also in the SD division, their grotesque booking, as you have already mentioned, is very difficult to understand. The best example of this is this approach, because if anything, Becky&Naomi would have been vs. Sarah Logan&Liv Morgan made sense. But maybe, maybe, maybe the writers actually did have something in mind and had the same thought as you: to use this (quite meaningless) match to increase Carmella’s momentum marginally. Frankly, I am increasingly concerned that the Princess of Staten Island, after Damien Sandow, John Cena and Baron Corbin, will be putting down the fourth unsuccessful cash-in, as there is no idea what to do with it. Speaking of aimlessness: I’m betting on Becky Lynch & Naomi, simply because they’re more popular and this decision would fit in with SD writing.
Kneisel:”IT’ S RUSEV DAY!” This motto will also be valid this coming Sunday, but unfortunately the writers don’t care much about it. The Bulgarian is another example of WWE’s lack of understanding of how to deal with people who get over autonomously. From Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler to Elias and Matt Hardy, there are countless other examples. Maybe they just don’t want it – what comes to mind when people cheer for someone else other than Vinces Chosen One? Accordingly, RuRu will lose against Shinsuke Nakamura, which makes sense, because the King of Strong Style needs as much momentum as possible before WrestleMania to forget the cruel booking of 2017. The question remains, however, why Rusev, in spite of his incomprehensible oversight, is nothing to do with Rusev, right?
AbraKagawa: In all your lines you don’t even mention the terrible crime that Rusev Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura committed against us? He robbed us all of Englishs singing! Where are Special Agent Tyler and Deputy Dango when you need them? Rusev wins of course and pays back for his buddy Aiden, he will also travel as No. 1 contender to WrestleMania and become WWE champion! Sorry, I just wanted to give a bit of nonsense because I can’t add anything to your post or answer your question. Of course it’s a shame that you don’t make anything out of Rusev, now that his popularity is going through the roof. Even at Ring of Honor Tapings there are now Rusev Day-Chants! And clearer than clear, Shinsuke wins Nakamura. But Rusev still has Lana, so we shouldn’t be too sad for him.
AbraKagawa: I have to start again with Rusev. After Bobby Roode’s match against the Bulgarians, the whole dilemma began. Am I the only one who believes that a heel-turn by Roode with a lousy trick to keep the title, and then build Rusev as a top midcard face on the hunt for the U. S., I am the only one. title would have been a much better version? The hall would cook Sunday night. Well, at least we have here something like a story behind it and two performers who could theoretically deliver a top match. But one of them would have to be very upset for that, and he’s rarely been lately, hasn’t he, Randy? I’m starting from a no contest because Jinder Mahal is going to get involved in the match again and we’re going to get a triple threat for a SmackDown issue or even the WrestleMania Pre-Show. And I’m right to assume that you don’t lie awake trembling at night either, because you crave this match so much, don’t you?
Kneisel: Would there be a better reason to lie awake at night, trembling, than in anticipation of a match with Jobber-Jinder and Zero-Bock-Randy? Your polite phrase, that Orton has “rarely” lately, made me smile – it’s been a few years already. But after all, he can let his hair grow back after the transplantation and thus invest considerably more time in his hairstyle than in the planning of his matches. But enough viper bashing, especially the match is not bad for a midcard feud. Maybe a Orton as a US champ would make even more sense than Roode, which has been booted weakly since the call-up…. I’m just imagining it, or is there a distinct pattern in SD?! Unfortunately, the match will be ruined by Mahal’s intervention, but I think he will go for the champ and Bob Roode (a Rusev reference had to go in!) will win by DQ. Just to avoid weakening the title holder #well-logic
Kneisel: With Charlotte you have perhaps the best, most complete wrestler in WWE history and yet you manage to make her seem trivial. You almost forget she’s even a champion. The feud against Riott Squad also contributes to this; not because the trio can’t do anything – Ruby and Sarah Logan are definitely talented, Liv Morgan…. rather not. But due to the miserable, completely unplanned bookings as an absolution for the poor, the stable unfortunately never had a chance from its debut. All (few) victories were dirty, otherwise it set up ample defeats against Flair & Co. Ruby is undoubtedly the member who has been most protected, but she will also be subject to Fastlane Charlotte Flair. Besides a split and make-over, do you see any perspective for the riott squad?
AbraKagawa: I actually see them. The trio’s booking was bordering on a moderate catastrophe, but something is slowly changing in my eyes. Ruby reminds me a bit of Alexa Bliss after the fire split. It also came into a relatively asleep division and didn’t tear for a long time. But she was good at the mike and so is Ruby. I really liked her promotion at the Go-Home SmackDown. The handicap situation alone makes it predestined for a good heel role. So what if you decide to change the title all of a sudden, because you can’t miss out on the Booking Team, what a boring show you’re currently offering? Think I’m crazy, but I believe in it and I’m convinced that you would drive relatively well with it. Hence my outsider’s tip of the evening: Ruby Riott! I think it’s safe that there will be a multi-women match at WrestleMania anyway and it doesn’t matter if a big or small name brings the belt to the ring.
Page 1: Becky Lynch & Naomi vs. Natalya & Carmella and SmackDown Women’s Champion
Page 2: SmackDown Tag Team Champions, WWE Champion and Forecast