Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman, there are four title matches booked for Fastlane 2017 — WWE’s final PPV before WrestleMania 33 — headlined by Kevin Owens, defending the Universal Championship against challenger Bill Goldberg. What follows is a preview of the five matches already confirmed for WWE Fastlane 2017, along with predictions for those matches and the matches rumored to be added to the card before Sunday’s event.
Prediction: The Undertaker distracts Roman Reigns, setting up their match at WrestleMania 33 while Braun Strowman gets the win at Fastlane.
Neville (c) vs. Jack Gallagher — WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
Both the WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville and the No. 1 contender, Jack Gallagher, have roots in the United Kingdom, but the similarities end there. Neville has completely dominated 205 Live and Raw’s Cruiserweight Division since going through a heel turn. Jack Gallagher’s gentlemanly gimmick — complete with umbrella-sidekick William the Third — has gone over very well with the WWE Universe, often using moves that remind fans of Mary Poppins. The Cruiserweight Division is already on its fourth champion since the title was awarded to T.J. Perkins in September, and Neville is being booked as the strongest champion to date.
Prediction: Neville retains the Cruiserweight Championship and faces a new challenger (Austin Aries) at WrestleMania 33.
Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte Flair — Raw Women’s Championship Match
No WWE title has changed hands more frequently over the last year than what is now recognized as the Raw Women’s Championship. One year ago, it was still known as the Divas Championship, and Charlotte was in the midst of a reign that would run through WrestleMania 32, when the title was rebranded as the WWE Women’s Championship. Shortly after SummerSlam 2016 and the creation of the SmackDown Women’s Championship, the title was rebranded once again as the Raw Women’s Championship. By that time, Charlotte had already dropped the title to Sasha Banks and won it back — which would be a recurring theme. Charlotte is now a four-time former champion, while Bayley will have held the title for less than three weeks when she faces Flair at WWE Fastlane 2017.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair defeats Bayley at Fastlane, and a Fatal 4-Way is scheduled for WrestleMania 33 that also includes Sasha Banks and Nia Jax.
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Goldberg — WWE Universal Championship Match
The match between Kevin Owens and Goldberg at WWE Fastlane feels a lot like C.M. Punk vs. The Rock at Royal Rumble 2013. The champion was being booked as a heel — who, in actuality, was very over with at least the internet wrestling fans — up against a former icon who was returning to try to win the company’s biggest title heading into WrestleMania. Will Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg also be a title match? Or will Kevin Owens walk into Orlando as the Universal Champion, setting up a title vs. title match against United States Champion Chris Jericho, reminiscent of Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 6?
Prediction: Chris Jericho helps Kevin Owens defeat Goldberg, then turns on Kevin Owens, setting up KO vs. Y2J at WrestleMania 33.
