WWE Fastlane 2018: Preview and predictions
By Luke Norris
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev
In yet another match that was added to the Fastlane card on the last episode of SmackDown Live, we’ve got Rusev taking on the man who will challenge the WWE Champion at WrestleMania 34, Shinsuke Nakamura.
The WWE Universe would have likely thrown a big hissy fit had Rusev been left off of the card, and with Shinsuke waiting patiently to see who will be the WWE Champion at the end of the night (like we don’t know who that’s going to be), this is simply a match to give them something to do.
The story here is that Rusev is angry with Nakamura for taking out Aiden English’s throat with his knees during their recent matchup, which rendered English unable to perform the “Rusev Day” song. The Bulgarian Brute challenged and The King of Strong Style accepted. Seems like a match for the top of the hour on a Tuesday night, but maybe that’s just me.
Even with the storyline, this actually could be a decent match. Both guys are hard-hitting and both are insanely over with the WWE Universe right now, so if nothing else, the crowd reactions and chants should be entertaining.
Prediction: The winner has to be Shinsuke Nakamura. Rusev may be over with the crowd right now, but he’s not the type of over that’s getting him big wins these days. I see him as a possible favorite for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but there’s no way Shinsuke loses a throwaway match like this leading into WrestleMania.