WWE Fastlane 2018: Preview and predictions

WWE United States Championship Match

Bobby Roode (c) vs. Randy Orton

I’m really surprised that this match for the United States Championship isn’t a Triple Threat, although I suppose it still could get to that before the show actually starts, especially with Jinder Mahal picking up yet another win over Randy Orton this past Tuesday night on SmackDown Live. Not shockingly, there were distractions involved … and not just from a Singh brother this time. It was actually U.S. Champ Bobby Roode himself that distracted Orton, which allowed Mahal to hit the Khallas and get the 1-2-3.

Outside of Mahal (back to him in a minute), this Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton bout actually has some build to it as the two have been at each other for the past month, starting with Orton hitting an RKO on Roode out of nowhere. It seemed strange at the time, but I actually like what they’ve done with this as the United States Championship is the one major title that The Viper has never won.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan got involved with this a little bit as Bryan thought that Mahal should be the one getting the shot at the title, but Shane pulled rank and we’ve got Orton vs. Roode, which is a very intriguing matchup if Orton shows up to work. He’s looked so bored over the past year, but this is one a match that I was looking forward to seeing when Roode signed with WWE. So we’ll see how the energy level is on Sunday night and hope for the best.

Prediction: If this doesn’t become a Triple Threat before or during the show on Sunday, I think that’s what we’ve got in store for WrestleMania, which leads me to believe that Mahal will somehow get involved here. If he’s going to cost anyone the match, it would probably be Orton given their history, and also with the story that he should have gotten the shot at Roode instead. Orton can then claim that he really didn’t lose and should get another chance, and then Bryan can say that it’s Jinder’s turn and we get Roode vs. Orton vs. Mahal in New Orleans.