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Sporting News: FastLane Preview and Predictions!


The excitement is building!  Can this show bottom out below TLC's 39,000 buys?  TUNE IN THIS SUNDAY TO FIND OUT!

Comments

  1. Usos/cesaro and Kidd could be 3.5 stars plus.
    Bryan/reigns could be a great big man/little man match like hart/diesel.
    Rusev/cena could get 3 stars.
    Thus, even though the story lines stink, we could get 3 good matches.

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  2. It really isn't that unreasonable to expect John Cena to just win clean on Sunday, because nearly a year ago, we had John Cena win clean as a sheet over Bray Wyatt and yet the feud continued the next night without missing a beat, because Reasons.

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  3. Your true post reeks of being very true. Any time they make a decision that could potentially cost them money up front, you know they're putting their job on the line, and this one worked better than anyone could have dreamed.

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  4. Put him against a big guy...Rhyno, Dempsey, Corbin maybe...and give them a nice long feud. Show how he'd be effective against the type of guys that the main roster has... He doesn't have to win every match (better if he doesn't) but he has to show that he can put on entertaining matches that tell a story that people get interested in how it plays out...

    (I'm assuming that the point of NXT is to develop talent...and to give that talent the best chance to succeed. That might not actually be the point of NXT, depending on who you talk to...so your mileage may vary.)

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  5. "Official Prediction: The girls of NXT watch this match on the Network and laugh at how Paige is being wasted."


    Joke's on them. They'll all get called up by the end of the year and are in for the exact same junk.

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  6. So in short, this is a free PPV and, boy howdy, is it ever going to feel like one.

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  7. Theberzerker, #HUSSAPPROVEDFebruary 18, 2015 at 10:33 PM

    It really wouldn't surprise me if they blew the whole Cena/Rusev program at this show, because I can't think of any scenario where a big Mania match was a rematch unless it hadn't happened since the previous one. Makes me think this will be a non-match a la what they did with Ambrose/Rollins over the summer. But year, ignoring the whole 'MURICA aspect to the match is just head-scratchingly dumb.


    Anyway, kinda an overly negative overview of the show, but it does show how lame and thrown together so much of this Mania is gonna be. They added Goldust/Stardust to FL too, and between that and the IC match, you can tell they're shooting through these matches just to have everyone dumped into another fucking battle royal...and we all know how much good that did Cesaro.

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  8. Theberzerker, #HUSSAPPROVEDFebruary 18, 2015 at 10:34 PM

    Yeah, though I must admit I am looking forward to Bryan/Reigns.

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  9. The fact that they're doing DustDust six days after the Stardust turn and not at Wrestlemania is insanely stupid.

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  10. Theberzerker, #HUSSAPPROVEDFebruary 18, 2015 at 10:39 PM

    11 minutes of an at least somewhat compelling family feud? BORING. A 12 minute throwaway battle royal chock full of wasted talent? ENTERTAINMENT!

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  11. It's kind of shocking how hard they blew the Cena/Rusev build. It's a guy who never loses in real life vs. a guy whose character has never really lost. This shouldn't be hard to build, people should really want to see who wins or at the very least how they wriggle out of the booking without making someone look like a geek. And it's not like Rusev has stunk up the build, he held up his end, they had a couple of decent little brawls and Rusev's "you can't see me" gag was actually funny. The fact that not even Cena's superfans care is really something.

    This card should be so much better than it is.

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  12. Cena vs Rusev could have been a really awesome feud.

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  13. Theberzerker, #HUSSAPPROVEDFebruary 18, 2015 at 10:55 PM

    It's not even shocking...what feud HAVEN'T they blown? Ambrose/Rollins, Ambrose/Bray, Bray/Jericho, Cena/Rusev, breaking up The Shield...ALL of it ended up complete shit! Even stuff that was GOOD like The Shield/Wyatts was over and done in a month, or Bryan winning the title led to a bullshit Kane feud no one cared about.


    EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH TURNS TO SHIT.

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  14. Adam "Colorado" CurryFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:17 PM

    Why the hell is Cena/Russev the main event?

    Also, there's nothing WWE can do to make me care less about Sting than I do now, and that goes for HHH too. If I watch the show that's the match where I go for a beer run.

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  15. Adam "Colorado" CurryFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:22 PM

    He was the best face in wrestling even when he was an indy guy, and that's when he rarely even talked.

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  16. Adam "Colorado" CurryFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:23 PM

    Yeah. I completely buried that idea. I was dead wrong.

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  17. Adam "Colorado" CurryFebruary 18, 2015 at 11:25 PM

    "The question now is what is he going to do with the title, because Zayn can't possibly be back that soon."

    Face the #1 contender?

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  18. Man this card looks like the drizzling shits. The sad part is it's mostly due to the shitty buildup of every feud leading up to it and not the pairings themselves. I should be excited to see Ambrose wrestling for a major title. But the title is shit and both him and the champion are booked like losers. I should be excited to see which man will go to Wrestlemania. Instead I don't care about a jackass rookie and a whiny baby both of whom were overexposed in shitty Big Show and Kane matches. Who cares who wins at this point? I bet Brock gets rooted for more than either of them at this point.


    Who cares about Cena beating Rusev? As though he hasn't done all that there is to do at this point anyways. Let me see someone fresh who could use the win beat him. Who cares about any of this shit? Who cares about a stupid Sting "confrontation?" He doesn't need to talk. Sting wrestling in a WWE ring for the first time ever should sell itself but this company will find some way to fuck that up between now and then I'm sure. Who cares about any of this crap?

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  19. I'm thinking they knew this card was going to be trash even before the RR fiasco so they gave the month away.

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  20. The reason I can't even watch the PPVs anymore (despite owning the network) is that the matches, even if good, can't exist in a vacuum. The emotional investment needed for me to really engage with a match just isn't there because I have no faith in the booking and wins and losses don't matter. I may as well just watch some dancing, because all you can do with modern WWE matches is appreciate the athleticism, as the result and the story leading in mean nothing, It's all utterly pointless. TLC was a great example: so many guys busting their ass and putting their bodies on the line and for what? Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper near killed themselves in their match and two months later it means nothing and neither are in a better position.

    I know some people can just enjoy a match for the athleticism and ignore all the outside factors but doing that eliminates so many of the elements that make wrestling fun for me. If there's no story, no stakes, there's just no fucking point.

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  21. What a marketing campaign. "We'll try to get people hooked on the network by offering it for free and giving them a subpar experience!"

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  22. Don't forget the part where they call you a dumbass for paying for it instead of getting the Network as you watch.

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  23. Maybe Cena/Rusev is being blown off here so both will be doing different things at Wrestlemania. Stay with me now, because this is some admittedly crazy speculation.

    We all know that a Undertaker/Wyatt match makes no sense, right? Either Bray wins and it doesn't mean much since UT's Mania mystique is already over, or else Taker wins and another promising talent gets buried. So what if, instead, we get Rusev vs. Undertaker? You might think it's the same situation, yet a Rusev win could be special if he makes Undertaker tap out....it'd be the first time Taker has EVER submitted, Mania or no Mania. Rusev gets a huge feather in his cap and then move on to feud with either Cena again or whomever the WWE champ is during the spring. As for Undertaker, this could be turned into a story for his retirement match at WM32. He's been pinned, and submitted, yet next year Cena or Sting wants "Wrestlemania's greatest performer" as their partner for a big tag match. Then Taker goes out on top with one more victory in front of his home-state crowd.

    As for Bray, his promos calling someone out for a return could be redirected for a match with Orton or even Sheamus. As for Cena....uh, ok, well, here's where my theory kind of falls apart. Cena vs. Rollins?



    There is only a 0.000001% this situation happens yet in my mind it's the only logical way to resolve this Undertaker situation. Taker submitting is a unique rub that's basically the only thing he has left to give.

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  24. There were already hints of it in NXT when he won the title and came out the next show doing a promo about how he's got a weird accent and his face is ugly and his ears are strange. Just take that promo, amp it up x 10, base a gimmick around it and have him constantly lose to Big Show and that'll likely be his run on Raw.

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  25. I liked that the doc admitted Sami was in Abu Dhabi. It would have been easy to simply write Zayn off as injured, but the writers didn't do that and as a result they still managed to serve the story without insulting the intelligence of the fans. Just another example of how smartly written the show is.

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  26. From the first time I saw them, I loved it, because they were so DIFFERENT. I don't know if it's a main roster gimmick, but for developmental it really is a lot of fun.

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  27. On the one hand, if Reigns does beat Bryan, Cena standing tall against Rusev would send the crowd home happy. But if you've got Cena closing show, it speaks volumes about how little confidence they have in Reigns and that's not the message they need to be sending about a guy that they want to main event Wrestlemania.

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  28. The other thing is, they made sure to SELL the beating that Zayn took. It would have been so easy to have Zayn pull a Cena and come right back, but it would have diminished that memorable ending so much. It's also a testament to how deep the top of the NXT card is right now, because they just as easily have Neville and Balor to keep Owens busy while Zayn comes back.

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  29. That 450 from the apron was SICK.

    Please god don't let them ruin him when he gets called up!

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  30. Y'know, there's certainly an appeal to do unbeatable guys facing each other, but isn't there also an appeal in two guys who ALWAYS lose facing each other?


    One man must win, after all.

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  31. that's what's awesome about the Owens character. He plays such a heelish character, but the minute the crowd decides to rally behind him they have a perfect story for why he can be a good guy

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  32. My Wrestlemania:
    Daniel Bryan vs Brock Lesnar
    John Cena vs The Undertaker (Career vs Career - UT's retirement match)
    Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose (The Shield EXPLODES)
    Bray Wyatt vs Finn Balor (Old NXT vs New NXT)
    Everything else...

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  33. Justin Gabriel's entire appeal was his 450 splash, which he got to use approximately 0 times in the last three years he was employed.


    Just saying.

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  34. How was Bryan exposed? Bryan will survive this since he won the crowds RESPECT long ago. Reigns hasn't done that yet.

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  35. I wish English would start doing his pre match promo/songs again

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  36. So Sting or Cena are going to call Michaels out of retirement? Lol. I know what you mean buddy just looking it at from non kayfabe.

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  37. You know this card could actually save the day but I certainly can't see most these matches happening. The Shield Triple Threat will happen some day but at the minute the E just don't see Ambrose as at the other guys levels so no chance and they've booked themselves into a corner with Cena/Rusev - in that to end that feud at Fast Lane Cena has to win the US Title. Can anybody really see Taker/Cena (which should have been done years ago) for the US Title?

    We are looking at this and we will like it:

    Lesnar vs Reigns (vs possibly Bryan)
    Cena vs Rusev - REMATCH BABY
    Orton vs Rollins - actually makes sense this one
    Wyatt vs Taker - could be really awful
    Sting vs HHH - yeah that's a lock
    Bryan vs Sheamus or Dolph (if Bryan doesn't make the Main Event)
    Battle Royal (they may throw Ambrose a bone here)
    Tag Match
    Divas

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  38. Rhino looked really happy to be there. Good for him.

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  39. Neville's deadlift german suplex was unbelievable. The guy has some truly impressive stuff in his arsenal: the second rope phoenix splash, the reverse rana, etc. A great showing for him after a couple of significant losses.


    Owens' character is so well drawn. Like all good villains he believes he is right, and indeed fighting for his family is a legitimate cause, but he fights without honour and that - ultimately - is why he's a heel. I find 'pop up powerbomb' amusing because I associate the term 'pop up' with hipster restaurants.


    Another fun show.

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  40. NXT is a super-smart crowd and he still had girls in the crowd on the verge of tears at the end of the Owens match.

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  41. The Carmella thing is a prime example why NXT is so much better than Raw right now. They keep it so simple that usually the obvious booking is the right booking.


    The fans love Enzo and Cass but hate Carmella. The solution is clear and simple - have Carmella turn on them. Everyone knows that's where they're going, but the fans are OK with it being obvious because it makes sense and gives the crowd what they want. They want to sing along with Enzo without having to cheer for a bitch like Carmella.


    On Raw, you have 25 different writers that all need to justify their employment, so they have to make it as complicated and nonsensical as possible. Not to mention Vince thinks faces should be horrible human beings for some reason, probably because of his inability to relate to the average human.


    They'd come up with some convoluted booking to make it like Carmella was the face because Enzo is a loser, break up Enzo and Cass for no reason, and then have Big Cass do 8 clean jobs in a row before putting the IC Title on him, also for no reason.

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  42. "Why is he suddenly portrayed as old and beat up?"


    Like anything else, age is illusory in wrestling. Reality-based, but not real. He's not actually that old, of course, at 37. But he's been The Guy for almost 11 straight years now, and he's had at least three major injuries. A 29-year old unstoppable rookie taunting the top guy for being old and washed up? It's not the most creative thing ever, but it works for me. Besides, they still have six weeks to do the USA/Russia thing if that's what they want.

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  43. Just saw a clip online of Regal taking about bringing in Rhyno. What a difference it makes when the authority figure isn't part of the story and treats wrestling like a sport.

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  44. I agree completely. Remember when Kanyon was taking huge bumps in WCW near the end? They were great, and he was a really good wrestler, but no one gave a shit because the storytelling was nonexistent.

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  45. Pessimistic Scott is Best Scott. I swear to god if you were a superhero, you'd be Sarcastro.

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  46. The builup is nothing like Rocky III. Where is Xavier Woods training John Cena and helping him find the eye of the tiger?

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  47. Like an Oilers/Leafs game.

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  48. I loved Consequences Apollo Creed!

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  49. The NXT crowd is such a great crowd... Rhyno had to feel like a million bucks after that pop for him. Meanwhile, if it happened on one of the main shows, it probably would have been a shrug of indifference from the crowd after being beaten down by the rest of the show.

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  50. TJ: The angle on this week's Lucha Underground with Mil Muertes, Catrina and Fenix was more dramatic and created more anticipation than almost anything WWE has done recently with its brand of storytelling.
    And hopefully this doesn't come across the wrong way, but what put the angle over the top was Lucha Underground's willingness to "go there" with violence against women. Catrina didn't get hit or take a bump -- you'll see just as much or more physicality in one of Lifetime's random movies this week, and surely no sponsors will be lost -- but it got everyone involved over as they should be: Muertes the abusive monster, Catrina in distress but still strong, Fenix as the hero, even Chavo in his slimy supporting role. Well done all around.

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  51. I marked out for Rhyno

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  52. Blake and Murphy seem to have good potential to be d-bag heels if that's the way they're going...

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  53. Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE title)
    John Cena, Undertaker & Sting vs. HHH, Big Show & Kane
    Roman Reigns vs. Rusev (U.S. title)
    Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus (Intercontinental title)
    Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins
    Bray Wyatt vs. Dolph Ziggler
    Goldust vs. Stardust (career vs. career)
    The Usos vs. The Ascension (tag team titles)

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  54. Clash of the Challengers?

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  55. The problem is that they've made the whole feud about John Cena and his legacy, and it will end with Cena going over in the end so Rusev won't benefit from this at all. Same thing with Wyatt last year. He was booked to be nothing more than an avatar for Cena's internal struggles (again, it's all about John) and it basically killed off the Wyatt Family.


    Rusev has really grown on me over the past several months - letting him speak has helped a lot. This is a huge opportunity for them to start building the future main eventers, but instead they're gonna ride the John Cena train until it goes off a cliff.

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  56. Drawback of the publicly traded corporation - heels can only be "so" bad. See Muhammad Hassan for what happens when WWE crosses the line. Lucha Underground doesn't have as much at stake and they have less visibility so less backlash. The risk is, El Rey's connection to Universal will eventually constrain what they can do.

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  57. HEELS DON'T ACT LIKE HEELS ANYMORE!


    BARBECUE SAUCE!

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  58. Yeah it's weird how for a while it was the most deadly move in the company. Of course, a lot of things were weird about the Nexus.

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  59. Key point: "in a few minutes". I loved it. It was proper Jack Tunney style. If that was on RAW it'd have taken 20 minutes and involved half a dozen people to make the same point.

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  60. Yeah, first impressions are that they'd be rather bland 1980's cookie-cutter babyfaces or rather good douchey heels.

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  61. That deadlift German was amazing. Someone needs that as a finisher.

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  62. I think Daisuke Sekimoto uses it in Japan, but last night was the most impressive instance I've seen it used.

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  63. This episode was really good, loved the pop Rhyno got and the main event was spectacular, Neville is a beast deadlifting Owens like that.

    As for Crowe I saw a tweet that resume well my feelings : "Crowe is exactly as greasy and disgusting as I imagined Ambrose old tag partner would look"

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  64. BRING BACK THE OLD THEME MUSIC

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