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Fastlane prediction: Intercontinental Championship Match: Big E (C) Vs Apollo Crews
The Powerhouse of Positivity battles the "real" Apollo Crews this Sunday, with the Intercontinental Championship being on the line.
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After numerous failed attempts to capture the workhorse title from Big E, a frustrated Crews unleashed a brutal steel ring steps onslaught on the champion to complete his dramatic heel turn. Big E, who wanted Crews to step aside to make way for other would-be challengers, was badly injured and taken out on a stretcher.
Crews quickly resurfaced, embracing his Nigerian heritage, complemented with new gear and a refined persona. He said he was bringing the "real" Apollo Crews to the fore and on the following week on SmackDown, surrounded by his imposing Royal Guards, Crews demanded another shot at Big E's title.
Big E returned from his injury on the March 12th SmackDown and called out Crews for an Intercontinental Title match. When Crews didn’t appear, Big E successfully defended his strap in an Open Challenge against Sami Zayn. However, moments after the victory, Crews unleashed another vicious attack from behind. Then, in a WWE Network Exclusive, the attacker accepted the challenge for an Intercontinental Title showdown at Fastlane.
The heel has had the upper hand on the titleholder for weeks and has all the momentum going into Fastlane. Undoubtedly, this will be the pair's best match to date. Big E has been a dominant and fighting champion while Crews, trading his smiling nice-guy act for a darker persona, has been refreshing.
A change in character for an elite and physically gifted in-ring performer like Crews will hopefully up his game and finally propel him further up the card. By the looks of it, WWE creative are going to stretch this feud and culminate it at WrestleMania.
As for now, Big E retains.
Our Pick: Big E retains
