So no messing about with this one… we are well on the road to WrestleMania now, and this is our final stop! I have this blog on my final PPV before Mania, the next one will be all about my build to the show of shows, and then it’s time! My main matches for Mania are pretty much all set, so I’m using this show just to add that little bit of extra build. And also bare in mind when I go through the line-up that I’d have this PPV take place in Toronto, Canada! So… here is my card for my Fastlane PPV, and a brief explanation of the build and how I’d get to each match…
Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) & The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) vs The Rock & John Cena & Rikishi
This was a match I had planned for this PPV for a long time in advance. Mainly because I wanted to give The Rock a ‘tune up’ match before WrestleMania, but also I felt for the story of ‘who is the REAL Tribal Chief?’ needed a match with Roman, The Usos, The Rock and the final element which I wanted to add in some way, and I do think this man will play a part of the real life build to any Roman vs Rock match,… Rikishi. The John Cena part I would add because (spoiler alert) he’s on my Mania card too, and he has history with both The Rock and Reigns. I’d start the build with Rock’s first promo just being him talking, next week would be The Bloodline in the ring before not The Rock, but the father of The Usos Rikishi answer… he’d essentially defend The Rock before he catches a beating. Rock would make the save and we would look like we’re going towards Rock & Rikishi against The Usos… but then I’d have roman get real personal in a promo with The Rock, and this would see Rock want to get his hands on Roman before WrestleMania… That’s how we get to a 6 man tag IF Rock & Rikishi can find a tag partner… And on the go-home show that’s when we get the reveal of John Cena!
Brock Lesnar (C) vs Keith Lee for the Universal Championship
A dream match in every sense of the word. This felt like my last chance to do it, so now is the time to finally get the reinvigorated Limitless one to take on The Beast! I’d have Lesnar come out and trash Stone Cold on the mic, with Keith Lee coming out to respond, and as a great man once said this would be simply ‘Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat’.
Edge (C) vs Rey Mysterio for the WWE Championship
For obvious reasons, it’s tricky for me to book a heel Edge on this show. It’s also why I’ve chosen not to have his WrestleMania opponent Big E or any of The New Day on this show full stop. With Edge going up against a former friend, and a much beloved legend, I don’t feel like a likely Edge-supporting Toronto crowd would do too much long term damage to Rey in this match. And I did want Edge on this show before Mania, so someone like Mysterio felt like a good challenger. The actual build would see Edge turn on his former friend as he starts to become crazed to cling on to his title, with the WrestleMania challenger Big E and his fellow New Day members continuing to get in the head of the Rated R Superstar…
Charlotte Flair (C) vs Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship
Quite the blockbuster match here. One I in fact once had planned for my WrestleMania… but I guess things really do just… change… Although she couldn’t get the job done in the chamber, I feel Belair is the strongest candidate and biggest name to face Charlotte in the lead up to WrestleMania. These two have history in my universe mode over the title, I’d play on here this being Belair’s last chance to get to Mania, and Charlotte being desperate to prove she’s the best of the best, with Miss MITB Liv Morgan waiting in the wings for the winner (having already announced she will challenge for the Championship via her briefcase at Mania).
Seth Rollins (with Murphy) vs AJ Styles
Another huge match-up between two big names. This too is building to WrestleMania… I have a MONSTER of a match planned for the winner of this one…
Sheamus (C) vs Drew McIntyre for the Intercontinental Championship
I feel, given their real life matches, it would be criminal of me not to have these two clash on one of my shows. Sheamus has been on a solid run as IC Champion (at LONG last…) and now he has to defend against maybe his toughest challenge… so far… Got big ideas for the IC title for WrestleMania which should be CARNAGE!
Rhea Ripley (C) vs Mickie James for the Raw Women’s Championship
I’ll be honest now… I wanted Rhea on the card, and Mickie once had a great NXT match with Asuka in Toronto, and she’s a legend who I haven’t given enough love to over the course of my Universe Mode, so I wanted to give her a big match here. It’s another that’s tricky for me with this being just before WrestleMania, but I’m sure irl this would be a real goof match, so let’s see…
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
Can’t book a PPV in Canada and NOT have Owens and Zayn on the card can I? This would be part of a mini series with these two teams, with The New Day on Raw now and the tag tiles currently held by The Usos, it’s out of these two for who will get that last match for the titles before I end the series I think…
So that’s the card. Not bad if I don’t say so myself… NOW… On with the show!
Fastlane (Sunday March Week 4, Toronto, Canada)
We kick off the show with the hometown champion…
Edge marches on to Mania, STILL WWE Champion!
Next we have the SmackDown Women’s title on the line…
Charlotte takes the W and sets up a WrestleMania match with Liv Morgan.
Next it’s time for a great tag team match, with two more Canadians in action…
Owens and Zayn with the win in a good match. Maybe a pathway opens up towards tag team gold…
About as good an in-ring match on paper as you could get next between two of the very best…
Rollins with the win in a literally PHENOMENAL match! Onto Mania Rollins now goes… hmm..
The IC title on the line next in a battle of two men who are good friends, but maybe even better enemies…
So Sheamus keeps his title, but not exactly in the ‘right’ way… Maybe next time he wont have the same get out…
A HUGE match next of two literal titans…
I didn’t want to do this to Keith, but at this stage of the Mode, and with me not doing a second year of it, for me it was all about giving Brock the biggest win possible before WrestleMania… Needs must…
A Chance for a legend to get her shot next…
Not to be this time for James. Ripley retaining, but had this show been in the ‘real’ world, I’d of had Royal Rumble winner Sonya Deville attack Ripley after, hold up the Raw Women’s title belt ahead of their WrestleMania match.
And finally, a GIANT main event match. One that I’ve had planned for a LONG time…
Well… that was a lot of fun indeed! WrestleMania and the end of my Universe Mode is nearly upon us. My next blog will be my final shows (Raw and SmackDowns) before Mania (I thought it was important to tie everything up and end everyone’s stories properly), and then the blog after that will be my full WrestleMania show… So I best get booking!
Josh.