Posted in: Mr. Tito
MR. TITO STRIKES BACK - WWE Fastlane Pay Per View Predictions - Who Should Win? Who Will Win?
By Mr. Tito
Feb 21, 2015 - 8:45:16 PM

Follow Mr. Tito on Twitter.com: @titowrestling

In my older age, the two most painful type of columns to force myself to write are (a) Monday Night RAW reviews and (b) Pay Per View prediction columns. Thankfully, my readers have forgiven me for giving up the RAW reviews. They could probably see my misery... But for this past week's column, I forgot to add WWE Fastlane predictions. Actually, I did that on purpose because I didn't feel like writing them... But you, the wonderful readers of LordsofPain.net / WrestlingHeadlines.com and my longtime readers don't let up. Thus, I'll write these predictions because I like you, the readers...

Personally, I really like the WWE Fastlane Pay Per View name. It's a nice, slick name and it seems to be easily marketed to WWE fans. I'm always thinking about the band Eagles's song Life in the Fast Lane which could be what the WWE was going for. I really like it... It's much better than the stupid WWE Elimination Chamber name (Thank GOD that stupid cage is out of our lives, at least for 1 guaranteed Pay Per View). I really HATE the stupid match-based names such as Elimination Chamber, Extreme Rules, Hell in a Cell, and TLC. Money in the Bank has improved as a serious Pay Per View lately so thus I won't complain about that one as much. It sounds great and fits because it's in between Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania like the fed is now in the "Fast Lane" towards its top show of the year... I suppose.

It's a good name and overall, the first ever Fastlane Pay Per View has a decent with some decent hype. Furthermore, the WWE is giving away this Pay Per View for FREE to new subscribers. The November 2014 FREE campaign worked so well to "hook" many new customers that the WWE tried it again. Now, I bet that this FREE month was put in place to blunt any negative hatred seen by wrestling fans from Roman Reigns winning the 2015 Royal Rumble... But it works. In my opinion, the WWE should put in a FREE trial month on a permanent basis. Netflix and other streaming services do it and it works... Once the fans enjoy the first month, as the WWE Network is truly loaded with content, then $9.99 is an incredible deal.

I, on the other hand, am still boycotting WWE Network until structural changes are made to improve booking and production of their shows. I'm speaking out as a customer and I may really speak out as a customer if the WWE botches Wrestlemania 31 in my view. I have been watching Pay Per Views at a friend's house and the weather outside might actually hinder me from reviewing WWE Fastlane. We're getting pummeled with snow as I write this... I always enjoy the "conspiracy theory" that I actually have the WWE Network. Yeah, why is it that I say nothing on the NXT shows? You know me... If I watched NXT, you'd hear me marking out for great in-ring wrestling in my columns or on Twitter. Ditto for the various exclusive documentaries that air there. Come on...

If WWE upsets me for Wrestlemania 31, with Roman Reigns walking away as WWE Champion, I'm done reviewing WWE. That gives any other promotion ample opportunity to reach out to me and get my attention as a reviewer. You'll not only get my critique, but my expert analysis on how to improve. I break your shows down based on logic and I can also provide economic analysis as needed. So far, I have found my Destination America channel to possibly begin watching TNA Wrestling, I get Ring of Honor late at night on Sundays (horrible time, Sinclair!), and if I learn Spanish, I can watch Lucha Underground. I would kill to watch New Japan Pro Wrestling, but it's not available on my Cable system. I already pay an arm and a leg for Comcast and I have Netflix... These wresting promotions need to reach out to me and get on my Cable system.

For TNA, Ring of Honor, and Lucha Underground... Opportunity knocks. I would love for Samoa Joe to "come home" and rejoin Ring of Honor. Push him as the badass that he once was in ROH and I'll watch.

I think what it will take is someone new to create an independent promotion... I've always said that it would take someone like CM Punk, who had a passion for wrestling, to be the ultimate creator of the next great promotion. That is, if Punk has money left over after legal battles with the WWE... Sorry, but Jeff Jarrett already struggled with TNA... If only someone with a large bank account could lure Paul Heyman away from the WWE... That would be a dream. Steve Austin or Mick Foley could be great at running their own promotions, too. Both know how to get over and in the case of Mick Foley, he's a creative writer. Something needs to improve because the WWE is struggling with their PG era and picking the wrong stars to one day replace John Cena. When Cena is gone, WWE is going to be in BIG trouble!

I love pro wrestling AND I love to write as Mr. Tito. That's my stance... But I'm truly struggling with the WWE. Too many bad angles, wrestlers torn down (Cesaro, Ambrose, Punk, Bryan, Ziggler, etc.), and overpushed wrestlers (Swagger, Reigns, Miz, Del Rio, etc.). The management group of Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon are NOT getting it done. Quality has diminished significantly since 2005 when Jim Ross was relieved of his managerial duties. As I've said repeatedly in my columns now, Ross was truly the "Architech of the Attitude Era" and was also responsible for the famous 2002 Class of Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental call-ups (Cena, Batista, Orton, Benjamin, Lesnar, etc.). WWE is seriously running on the fumes of Ross's great work and they miss his critical voice backstage to actually stand up to Vince McMahon on bad ideas. Now, Vince has enablers with Dunn, HHH, and Stephanie. WWE's problem in a simple nutshell.

But, the WWE could impress me with Wrestlemania 31... We'll see. Until then, we have WWE Fastlane.

----------------------------------------------

MR. TITO'S PHAT WWE FASTLANE PREDICTIONS

Sting and Triple H - Confrontation
We'll see the Production Truck playing Sting based videos (you would think that the "COO" of a company would have access to any approved TitanTron videos, right?), lights go out, and Sting will deliver a Scorpion Death Drop to HHH. Sting will get on the mic and say "I accept" for a match at Wrestlemania 31.

But you know what comes next? Between Fastlane and Wrestlemania, we'll get one of those Triple H dickhead segments, if not more than one... Sting is going to be the recipient of 1 MASSIVE beatdown by Triple H on RAW and/or Triple H will thrash him hard on the mic about being a scared WCW wrestler who hid in TNA. Sting might regret joining the WWE after this next month...

-----------------------------------------------

Seth Rollins, Kane, & Big Show vs. Ryback, Dolph Ziggler, & Erick Rowan
Is anybody else, like me, tired of seeing Big Show and Kane? We've seen the same big, thick, yet ineffective wrestlers booked as "tough guys" yet they barely have any World Titles to speak about despite this being the era of Title Inflation. They need to be renamed as the "Glass Ceiling", as they are 2 wrestlers that upper midcarders on their way up can NEVER beat cleanly. Anyway, they tag up with Rollins to take on the 3 fired wrestlers.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Ryback, Ziggler, and Rowan need something.

WHO WILL WIN: Team Authority. WWE isn't serious about pushing any of the 3 faces, as there are other wrestlers that they intend to push for 2015 instead.

-----------------------------------------------

Stardust vs. Goldust
Booked so soon? I really thought that the whole Stardust stuff with Dusty Rhodes was pretty tasteless. I know, Dusty agreed to the booking and scripts, but it went too far. If WWE management thinks that Stardust on his own will be successful without teaming with Goldust, they have another thing coming. Cody needs more time to develop the Stardust persona and WWE should have kept Goldust & Stardust as Tag Champions longer.

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: Stardust, although I wouldn't be surprised if Goldust won to set-up rematch at Wrestlemania.

-----------------------------------------------

Divas Title: Nikki Bella (c) vs. Paige

I just don't see a title change happening here and might be saved for Wrestlemania instead. Is AJ Lee due back or has a certain doctor prescribed more time off? Ouch...

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: Nikki Bella, but only on the basis that I'm unsure on how much WWE management actually likes Paige.

-----------------------------------------------

World Tag Titles: Usos vs. Cesaro/Tyson Kidd
This match is all about Total Divas. Definitely a rematch on the horizon as the heels shall win the titles and then the Usos win the rematch at Wrestlemania 31. If you like the E! Network show Total Divas, you're in luck... You'll not only see horribly scripted storylines on the WWE, but also on Total Divas as well.

WHO SHOULD WIN: The Usos. I can't take the Cesaro & Kidd team seriously. Slapped together tag team.

WHO WILL WIN: Cesaro/Kidd to set up Wrestlemania 31 rematch.

-----------------------------------------------

US Title Match: Rusev (c) vs. John Cena
Both WWE.com and LoP indicate that this is an actual United States Title match, so... I don't know. This match being rushed to WWE Fastlane is a peculiar move to me, although WWE likes to have Cena wrestle the same wrestlers on back-to-back Pay Per Views. Something tells me that Cena wins at Fastlane but Rusev gets the big monumental win at Wrestlemania 31.

WHO SHOULD WIN: John Cena. Rusev should keep chasing, as he's just over 1 year on the main roster and needs to build that resume before defeating John Cena.

WHO WILL WIN: John Cena to set-up the Wrestlemania rematch, possibly by disqualification. Cena winning the US Title, really? The only way I believe that Rusev vs. Cena is avoided is if WWE wants to do Seth Rollins vs. John Cena at Wrestlemania 31 instead and I'm guessing Rusev vs. Ryback or Dolph Ziggler instead. Hence, the reason why this match was rushed.

-----------------------------------------------

Intercontinental Title: Wade Barrett (c) vs. Dean Ambrose
This match also has "Wrestlemania rematch" written all over it, but I predict a different outcome. Barrett is the heel and he'll cheat to win this match. WWE seems to want Ambrose in the chaser role with Wrestlemania 31 going to present the big win opportunity for Ambrose... As Intercontinental Champion. Really?

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: Wade Barrett. Cheat to win baby! This sets up the rematch at Wrestlemania 31. I'm not sure if Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins is happening at Wrestlemania 31.

-----------------------------------------------

#1 Contender's Match - Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan
As much as I dislike Roman Reigns winning the Rumble Match, I don't like the WWE diminishing the Royal Rumble by forcing its winner to defend his Wrestlemania title shot. The whole problem is that Reigns should have NEVER won the 2015 Rumble Match in the first place, but no reversing that now. Meanwhile, WWE teases us with a Daniel Bryan return to the WWE Title match. Things would be made much worse, booking wise, if the WWE Title match becomes a stupid Triple Threat Match between Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan. What was the point of the Lesnar/Reigns segment during snowed-in RAW if Bryan was going to be added to the match anyway? However, the WWE heard the fans, loud and clear, on their anger towards Royal Rumble 2015. Hence, the booking changes for Daniel Bryan and the FREE month of WWE Network for February 2015.

In my opinion, though, Lesnar vs. Reigns vs. Bryan will be a BETTER MATCH than just Lesnar vs. Reigns. Lesnar needs a guy to take his bumps, which is why the SummerSlam 2013 CM Punk match is amazing and ditto for the Seth Rollins inclusion into the Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena match. Thus, Bryan will take the bumps at Wrestlemania 31. I'm sensing a controversial finish or a NO CONTEST to cause the Triple Threat. What WWE Management WANTS is a great 4-5 Star Classic between Lesnar, Reigns, and Bryan and they'll use the strong "word of mouth" over a great match to boost Roman Reigns from winning that match. I'm sure for both Fastlane and Wrestlemania 31, repeat WWE officials will tell Daniel Bryan to "make Roman look good" before both matches.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN: Daniel Bryan. More over as a superstar, by a longshot, and a better main event performer at this juncture.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Disqualification, Double Countout, No Contest, or a Controversial finish to force the Triple Threat at Wrestlemania.

-----------------------------------------------

CONCLUSION: Yeah, I just predicted many rematches from Fastlane to be Wrestlemania 31 matches. The big thing to watch is what Seth Rollins will be doing for Wrestlemania 31 whether that's getting a match with John Cena, Dean Ambrose, or possibly sneaking into the Lesnar match as a 3rd or 4th participant. He's the big mystery for Wrestlemania 31 and hopefully, he walks away from that show as WWE Champion. However, I'm sure that WWE Corporation was not pleased with the nude photos posted on his Twitter account.

We'll see if a Fastlane review occurs or not... Otherwise, enjoy the show!


--------------------------------------------

BONUS EDIT: Watch Mojo posted an excellent video on YouTube called "Top 10 Wrestling Controversies" and it includes lots of footage. Well worth your time to check out especially if you're a newer wrestling fan and haven't heard too much about several of these incidents from wrestling's past. The footage used is quite amazing. Enjoy.










SO JUST CHILL... 'TIL THE NEXT EPISODE!

Comments and feedback are welcome. Follow and Tweet me @titowrestling or login in below to post comments.

© Mr. Tito and LordsofPain.net/WrestlingHeadlines.com - 1998-2015