Fastlane 2019: Predicting the match order

Tomorrow is Fastlane, which feels like it should be titled "Roadblock" instead. Will the night be as slow and tedious as the build has been? The card isn't terrible on paper, but putting the matches in the right order will be crucial to the show's success. The incorrect order can bore the audience to death on any show, much less one like this.

Which match will be the opener? Which will go on last? We already know that Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio and the completely random match of the New Day vs. Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura will take place on the pre-show.

For obvious reasons, the New Day vs. Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura will be the "main event" of the pre-show, so to speak. Kofi Kingston will be built up as a rising hero to prepare him for the things that are now sure to come.

So what about the other seven matches on the main card?

With a look at the matches scheduled for tomorrow night, we can make some good predictions.

---

#1 The Usos vs. The Miz and Shane McMahon

WWE will want to open the show on an exciting note with a major leg into the show that really matters - WrestleMania. This match accomplishes both of those things.

The Usos can always be counted on to deliver an exciting match on the pay per view when the tag team titles are on the line. The Miz and Shane McMahon will be palatable dance partners at least.

Afterward, the alliance between "the best tag team in the world" will collapse, setting up their one on one WrestleMania match on April 7th. That will have been a more important point of note than almost anything else that happens on tomorrow night's show.

#2 The Boss 'n' Hug Connection vs. Nia Jax and Tamina

This match isn't exactly the most exciting, because Nia Jax and Tamina are in it. Therefore, it would serve as a good cool-down match of sorts after the hot opener. Sasha Banks in particular is good at carrying lesser women to some of their best matches, so her bumping for Nia Jax and Tamina will be a selling point.

There will be some anxieties that Nia Jax and Tamina will win here, because WWE loves using the former as a heat magnet. That could make for some intrigue, but Banks and Bayley will be the favorites.

---

#3 Asuka vs. Mandy Rose

There will certainly be a lot of angst with this match, as it's beyond evident that Mandy Rose isn't championship material, but Vince McMahon could take a liking to her as the latest Diva of the month experiment. The booking leading into this match suggests it's a strong possibility.

That would be a selling point, though, and a good way to anchor the middle of the card as Fastlane begins to move closer to its main event.

#4 The Shield vs. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley

Filler it might be, but it will still be a major selling point to see Roman Reigns back in his first match and, with the likely departure of Dean Ambrose next month, possibly the Shield's last match together on pay per view.

Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre will serve as good enough foils for them. That's enough to get this into the middle of the show, but no higher, since much higher stakes will be competed for later.

The match would be more fun if they gave it some kind of hardcore stipulation.

---

#5 Daniel Bryan vs. Kevin Owens

Last month, the WWE Championship match main evented a pay per view, but that was the rare exception. This time, things will return to the norm and the title will be high up on the card, but not at the top of it.

The title and Kevin Owens' return to the ring will make for good enough intrigue, but not enough to main event this show, given that a certain other match will be taking place on it.

Kevin Owens infamously disappointed in his matches with AJ Styles, so we'll just have to see what he does with Daniel Bryan.

#6 The Revival vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet vs. Chad Gable and Bobby Roode

It would at first appear unlikely that the Raw tag team titles would be this high up on the card, but when you consider that this is the cool down, semi-main event spot and it will be Aleister Black and Ricochet's first match on a main roster pay per view, there's more intrigue going for it this time than normally.

Chad Gable and Bobby Roode's placement in this match would seem random, but the likeliest scenario is that they're there to get pinned, even though putting the titles back on them would be the best course of action, given how badly The Revival have been booked as champions.

---

#7 Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair

Obviously. There wasn't ever going to be another choice to main event this show.

By far, the Raw Women's Championship match has gotten the most build of any heading into WrestleMania 35. For once, Fastlane will live up to its name, as Becky Lynch will emerge triumphant and punch her ticket back to MetLife Stadium.

It will be the ending everyone wants to see, so there's no better way for this pay per view to fade to black.