Fastlane 2019 is rapidly approaching, and with just 2 days left until the event, the match card is finally filled out.
As of today (Friday, March 8
The Usos (c) vs. The Miz and Shane McMahon
SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship Match
The Miz and Shane McMahon cemented themselves as a serious tag team when they defeated The Bar at the Royal Rumble to win the SmackDown Live Tag Team Championships. Unfortunately, they lost said titles to The Usos a few weeks later at Elimination Chamber.
After a less than positive interaction on SmackDown Live in which The Usos said they didn’t mind facing Shane and Miz again, as they knew Miz would cost them the win, just like he did at Elimination Chamber, Shane McMahon set a rematch between them for the championships at Fastlane.
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kevin Owens
WWE Championship Match
Last week on SmackDown Live, Kofi Kingston was sitting across the table from Daniel Bryan, getting ready to sign a contract agreeing to a WWE Championship match at Fastlane, but just as his pen touched the paper, he was interrupted by Vince McMahon.
Vince said, as much as he appreciated the 11 years of hard work Kingston had provided him, he was replacing him with someone more deserving. That replacement turned out to be a returning Kevin Owens, who has been out of action due to injury since October.
Although Kevin Owens will be fighting for the WWE Championship at Fastlane instead of Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E promised to help make things right for him, and the future remains bright for the New Day member.
Sasha Banks and Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax and Tamina
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Although Bayley and Sasha Banks beat Nia Jax and Tamina (along with 4 other teams) for the Women’s Tag Team Championships fair and square at Elimination Chamber, Nia and Tamina are convinced that it was simply a fluke that they were unable to capture the titles.
Nia and Tamina have been relentless in their attempts to prove their theory ever since Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection won the match, from throwing insults at the champs to challenging Bayley in a
However, Jax and Tamina’s luck shifted this week when they decided to play a little dirty, working together to bring Sasha Banks down in her match against Tamina.
The building tension between the teams should make for an intense battle for the Women’s Tag Team Championships at Fastlane.
Asuka (c) vs. Mandy Rose
SmackDown Live Women’s Championship Match
After Mandy Rose finally gave up trying to ruin Naomi’s life (which had been her personal mission for months), she set her sights a little higher – on the SmackDown Women’s Champion, Asuka.
Mandy has made it abundantly clear that she is not afraid to use underhanded tactics in her quest for victory, as she demonstrated when she faked an eye injury to score the championship match against Asuka in the first place.
Rose’s disregard for the rules, on top of having her partner in crime, Sonya Deville, by her side during the match, could certainly make for an uphill battle for the champion, but if anyone can overcome the odds, it’s The Empress.
The Shield (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose) vs. Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, and Bobby Lashley
Six-Man Tag Match
When Roman Reigns returned last week, he took a well-deserved moment to soak it all in, but this week he was back to business. And he knew exactly what he wanted now that he’s back: The Shield to reunite for “one last ride.”
Roman went for the easier target first, bringing Seth Rollins around to his way of thinking by convincing him that their friendship and brotherhood was stronger than any feud they could have with each other. Once Rollins and Reigns agreed to get the band back together, they were faced with the more difficult task of persuading Dean Ambrose.
It took many pep talks, a brawl, and the entirety of the 3 hour Raw, but Ambrose eventually decided to rejoin Rollins and Reigns, officially reuniting The Shield.
As Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, and Bobby Lashley have been running rampant on Raw for weeks and attempted an ambush on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns just last night, The Shield made the trio their first target.
Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch
If Becky Lynch Wins, She is Added to the Raw Women’s Championship WrestleMania Match
This match was originally supposed to be for the Raw Women’s Championship, but Ronda Rousey came back in the final moments of last night’s episode of Raw to set the record straight.
She never actually relinquished the title, it was supposed to be a symbolic gesture, convincing Stephanie to reinstate Becky Lynch so they could determine who was the better woman once and for all.
Although Ronda took back her title, the match between Charlotte and Becky was not cancelled, it was simply transitioned to a regular singles match. However, if Becky Lynch is able to defeat Charlotte, she will be added to the WrestleMania 35 match for the Raw Women’s Championship, making it a triple threat.
The Revival (c) vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet vs. Chad Gable and Bobby Roode
Triple Threat Raw Tag Team Championship Match
Aleister Black and Ricochet faced The Revival in a Tag Team Championship match this week on Raw. Unfortunately, the match was interrupted by Chad Gable and Bobby Roode, who lost the titles to The Revival a few weeks ago.
Roode and Gable, none too pleased to see someone else receiving the opportunity they felt they deserved instead, made sure to ruin in for Black and Ricochet.
Black and Ricochet will be getting another shot at the Raw Tag Team Championships, but so will Gable and Roode, as the upcoming title match at Fastlane is a triple threat.
Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade
Rey Mysterio and Andrade have been feuding for several weeks now, first in singles matches and then in a triple threat and fatal 4-way for R-Truth’s United States Championship. After tons of awesome action, they are now getting a chance to throw down in a pay-per-view match.
Although already announced that this bout will be on the pre-show, these two have nothing but fantastic matches any time they’re in the ring together, so we have no doubt they will give it their all.
Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The New Day (Big E and Xavier Woods)
A relatively new tag team, Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev have been looking to cement themselves as a legitimate threat in the SmackDown Live tag division. They have chosen their next targets and aimed rather high, as they will take on five-time WWE Tag Team Champions, The New Day. Big E and Xavier Woods will represent the trio in the pre-show of Fastlane.
How do you feel about Sunday’s Fastlane 2019 pay-per-view? Are you excited for the show? Let us know on Twitter, @TheRumbleRamble.
