Tonight is the Fastlane event and just like everyone else on the planet I'm going to give my predictions. Unlike everyone else though I'm going to just give them quickly and get them out of the way because I want to focus on a bigger problem I think is happening in the WWE. Very quickley I think Kalisto, Charlotte, and Kevin Owens retain their championships. The Wyatt Family, Becky Lynch/Sasha Banks, and AJ styles will win their respective matches. And unfortunately Roman Reigns will win the triple threat and go on to Wrestlemania and face Triple H.
I refuse to refer to this as a Pay per View quite simply because it's not. And thank God it's not because there is nothing on this card that I want to pay for. Part of the problem with the monthly Pay per Views is that they have become predictable and boring. Most of the matches we've seen multiple times before because they have 5 hours of programming to fill up throughout each week. And those that we haven't seen the WWE has painted themselves into a corner by setting up matches months and months ago.
Never mind the hypocrisy with the main event match. Dean Ambrose should win this match. Dean Ambrose is the fan's pick to be at the top of the card. Dean Ambrose has worked his butt of over the last few years to become the fearless every man that the fans want to see at the top. Dean Ambrose not only should be in the main event at Wrestlemania this year but he should walk out as champion. A title that he should have held a year ago. Why? because he has earned it.
The bigger problem here is the fact that they spend 5 hours a week building towards a monthly Pay per View by forcing us to sit through the same matches over and over again. Jericho and AJ Styles is going to be Phenomenal (pun intended). Want to know how I know that? Because I've already seen it twice on free TV. I think the WWE has forgotten how to build stories. You could blame the amount of TV that needs to be filled but I've been watching the Attitude Era on the WWE Network and they didn't have the same problem. It's become a formula. There is going to be a best of three between superstar X and Y. They are going to split the first two matches and have a final deciding match. And usually the deciding match ends the feud and wrestler X and Y move on to new feuds to repeat the same thing. It's become boring.
What I wish would happen is that we go to brand extensions again. They have such a deep roster that deserving people never get any TV time. I can't remember the last time I saw Neville on TV or Damien Sandow for that matter either. Before I lay out my wish for brand extension let me first say that if they are going to continue on the way things have been why can't we start replicating the feud that Ambrose and Owens had. Instead of having Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens wrestle each other 5 times this last month why not have Owens wrestle against Neville, Sandow, Breeze, Kalisto, and Ryder while Ziggler faces off against Stardust, Breeze, Sandow, Curtis Axel and Heath Slater. This way you would give 8 deserving guys a chance to show what they can do against top talent. You save the match between Ziggler and Owens for Fastlane and you can easily build the feud between run ins, Back stage interviews, and the guys showing up on color commentary. I know it can be done. I'm currently watching it be done to perfection on the WWE network.
My ultimate wish would be for a brand extension splitting the roster into three separate shows and adding in NXT to the mix. NXT is the perfect example of how to do it. In one hour they properly build feuds and give talent just enough exposure to get them over and not burn them out. Then having only 4 Pay per View events a year, we have something to look forward too. I am actually excited to see the matches when we get to them because I haven't seen them 3 times already this month.
With four separate rosters and each roster having a Pay per View every 4 months you give the feuds adequate time to tell a story. You'll have the ability to build new stars by not having the same guys in the same matches show after show. Most Importantly you will take away the predictability of the shows. Right now I really could care less about what happens between Alberto Del Rio and Kalisto because I've seen them way to many times over the last three months and I know when this rubber match ends they will both move on to have the same feud with some one else.
As I stated earlier I have been going back and watching the Monday Night Wars on the WWE Network and for only $9.99 a month it is totally worth it. I've noticed that Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart have been in a feud now for over a year and half and I'm not sick of it. Each episode I am watching to see where it goes next and I'm excited when I finally get to see them go one on one against each other. Why after a year and a half am I still excited to see it but so sick to death of Kalisto vs ADR? I would rather watch my dog go to the bathroom then watch the Fastlane kick off show to see these two again. The reason being, quite simply, because in the year and half feud between Bret Hart and Steve Austin they have only been in the ring together for an official match 5 times. All of them on Pay per View, but not all in a row. Kalisto and ADR have been in 5 matches against each other this month on free TV alone.
I personally would like to see a brand extension and roster split but even with out that I think WWE can make things interesting and unpredictable again by just taking the time to spread things out. Let stories be told like a real life struggle. Realize that a good feud isn't always built in the ring but can be built through interviews and promos without the wrestlers ever crossing paths between the ropes. Also it is possible for a guy to have multiple feuds at the same time.
Of course I will be watching tonight and if Fastlane is anything like the last 4 Pay per Views have been another rant will be coming later in the week. Shane and I will also be discussing it on our podcast "The Realest guys in the Room" which you can listen to on YouTube and you can also listen to on Blog Talk Radio. Follow me on Twitter and check out my articles on The Sportster.
Until next time stick to you ideals, follow your dreams and check out my previous blogs and articles.
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