Steve Cook reminds you that WWE Fastlane takes place this weekend, and does so with your entertainment-purposes-only gambling picks!

WWE FastLane is this weekend!

Yeah, caught me off guard too. There’s a lot going on, but we’re still on that Road to WrestleMania and we need to start making more matches for that show here at some point. It’s two nights and we only have four matches booked! FastLane might help us in that regard, and it might also help the transition from WWE Network to Peacock. Don’t wanna wait until WrestleMania Saturday & Sunday to figure that all out.

We’ve got seven matches booked for FastLane here at the time I’m writing this, and five have odds from BetOnline via 411mania! Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon was originally announced for this show but seems to have been pulled. Naturally, as you have to save a classic like that one for WrestleMania. Seth Rollins seems like an easy pick over Shinsuke Nakamura, while I’ll be pulling for Mustafa Ali over Riddle.

Here’s what you can put money on for entertainment purposes!

Alexa Bliss (-200) vs. Randy Orton (+150)

What’s a “Soulja boy”? 🧐 Well, whatever it is … Randy is not happy with it. #watchmeyuuuuuu

— Lexi Kaufman (@AlexaBliss_WWE) March 2, 2021

Hey, if this is your kind of thing, good for you. Spooky shenanigans are big with some folks. It’s not my deal, so I’ll just tell you there probably won’t be a finish to this match that makes any sense and you shouldn’t bother betting on it. Moving on!

Drew McIntyre (-550) vs. Sheamus (+325)

Muted. Keep screaming into the void fella, your obsession is creeping me out. I’ll see you Sunday, bring your best cause I’ve guaranteed everyone a war https://t.co/3rbo0Zmg9E pic.twitter.com/nUccvdU155

— Drew McIntyre (@DMcIntyreWWE) March 16, 2021

Don’t look now, but Sheamus is quietly putting together one of the best years he’s had in a long time. He’s bringing the intensity in these matches with big dudes like Drew & Bobby Lashley, and has been one of the highlights of Raw. We’ve probably already seen his ceiling as a top star, but he’s got plenty left in the tank on the performance side.

That all being said, it’s obvious why he’s the underdog here. Drew McIntyre is being built for a shot at Lashley at WrestleMania, and a big win over Sheamus here will help that along. Sheamus’s main hope is that Lashley interferes and beats the crap out of Drew, much like how he beat the crap out of Drew after the Elimination Chamber. I wouldn’t count on that happening, at least not until after the match ends.

Intercontinental Championship Match
Big E (-300) vs. Apollo Crews (+200)

You don’t have to like me. You don’t have to love me. But you will respect me. 🇳🇬🥇 pic.twitter.com/MTYHpUnA6i

— Apollo (@WWEApollo) March 13, 2021

There’s been a lot of talk about Crews’ new gimmick, where he’s embraced his roots as part of Nigerian royalty. It’s nice that he’s gotten a chance to show some personality, as he had shown approximately zero since his arrival on WWE’s main roster. There’s only the small issue of the character playing into some stereotypes. Like carrying a spear around, or suddenly speaking with an African accent. People get a little uncomfortable with these things, as it’s not like WWE has the best history when it comes to tastefully portraying race.

I haven’t been offended by it, but I’m not one to tell people what they should or shouldn’t be offended by. Your decision. What I will say is that Crews is a fine talent in the ring and deserves an opportunity. Unfortunately, he’s running into a better talent with more natural charisma that also deserves an opportunity. No reason to take the title off of Big E now.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax (-300) vs. Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair (+200)

B O S S#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/RtO2acY2EZ

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 13, 2021

No, I’m not a big fan of the idea of tag team champions wrestling each other at WrestleMania. Theoretically, you could have the Women’s Tag Team Championship defended in a separate match. The question then is who you have Jax & Baszler defend against, and that’s a pretty doggone good question. It’ll be a multi-team match to get everybody on the card, no doubt.

Were Vince Russo booking this show, I’d definitely tell you to put some money on Sasha & Bianca. As far as I know, he isn’t, so Shayna & Nia should be retaining.

Universal Championship Match
Roman Reigns (-1000) vs. Daniel Bryan (+525)

Inevitable. Undeniable.
Main Event. Tribal Chief. #Smackdown pic.twitter.com/8jHnwsDHLJ

— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) March 12, 2021

Closer odds than usual for Roman Reigns, but the outcome is as obvious as it usually is. I’m writing this prior to SmackDown, which is fine because it really doesn’t matter who the “Special Enforcer” is. Whether it’s Edge or Jey Uso, the end result is going to be the same. The Head of the Table stays Head of the Table and moves on to face Edge at WrestleMania.

Where does Daniel Bryan go from here? Some crazy multi-man thing, I’d assume. Battle Royal, MITB, Intercontinental Title doo-hickey, something like that. Should be fun!