Owens needs to retain vs. Goldberg
Raw presents Fastlane tonight on the WWE Network, and the main event pits Goldberg challenging Kevin Owens for the Universal championship.
Owens has held the title since the night after SummerSlam but played second fiddle to Chris Jericho in their 鈥渂est friends鈥� story line.
I am not saying that Owens needs to beat Goldberg.
In fact, Goldberg can win by DQ or count out as long as Owens retains.
Don鈥檛 get me wrong, as I expect Goldberg to walk out with the title.
But having Jericho interfere to cost Owens the match yet help him retain would work best in my book.
Owens is a full-time wrestler who is on the road every night whereas Goldberg is on a limited schedule and will not be wrestling at house shows.
On top of that, if Goldberg wins the title tonight, he faces Brock Lesnar, another part-time wrestler, at WrestleMania.
If Vince McMahon wants to go the route of name value for the top title on Raw heading into Mania, then Goldberg wins it tonight.
If he wants the title on a wrestler who has out-performed all expectations and have the belt defended nightly on the road, it has to stay on Owens.
Other matches include Bayley defending the Raw Women蘑菇视频 title against Charlotte, Roman Reigns takes on Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe takes on Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks faces Nia Jax, Gallows and Anderson defend the Raw tag titles against Enzo & Cass, Neville defends the Cruiserweight title against Jack Gallagher, and in a Kickoff Show match, Rich Swann and Akira Tozawa face Brian Kendrick and Noam Dar.
Will Undertaker show up? And will Finn Balor return at Fastlane or maybe on Raw?
Smackdown has been more set in its storylines heading into Mania, and tonight, Raw will fast track its set route.
Wyatt蘑菇视频 challenger determined Tuesday
It was announced Friday that A.J. Styles and Randy Orton will square off to see who faces Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania.
Will Wyatt and Luke Harper interfere, setting up a four-way at Mania?
Shaq and Big Show off?
Earlier this week, both The Big Show and Shaq have stated that it appears their one-on-one match at Mania that has been reported for months may be off.
Is this legit, or is it their way of throwing fans a curveball?
Shaq has been publically feuding with current NBA player JaVale McGee as if they are five-year-olds.
Wouldn鈥檛 it be something if that tied into the Big Show match?
Hardys back to WWE?
Earlier this week, Jeff and Matt Hardy announced that they were not going to resign with TNA.
How long until they are back in the WWE?
Smackdown in Pittsburgh
The WWE returns to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, March 14 when Smackdown airs live from the PPG Paints Arena.
Ample tickets remain for the event.
RYSE results
Speaking of events, RYSE ran its third show last Saturday.
Crusher Hansen defeated Brandon K and Beastman defeated Christian Black in the top matches.
RYSE returns to Lemont Furnace on Friday, March 24.
The New Day are Mania hosts
The WWE has finalized its card for WrestleMania and apparently, The New Day is without a match.
So the WWE has announced on Monday that the trio, which sold more merchandise at WrestleMania a year ago than any other performer, will host Mania this year.
There is no doubt that the popularity of the group is waning, but to leave them off of the card?
I smell a storyline.
Ex-champ requests WWE release
Former WWE World champion Jack Swagger has asked WWE to release him.
If it has not been granted as of this column, it could happen shortly.
Reviewing Mania X-7
This week, WrestleMania X-7 gets its own spot.
Why, you ask?
Because I think it is the greatest PPV of all-time, and countless experts agree.
Headlined by a pair of classics in the Rock vs. Steve Austin WWE championship match and the bout between Taker and Triple H, this show was solid top to bottom.
Notable undercard matches include the TLC match for the tag titles, Vince and Shane McMahon squaring off, and Kurt Angle facing Chris Benoit.
There were 12 matches in all including the preshow match, and if you have never seen the show, it is a must.
Some that don鈥檛 think it is the greatest PPV ever will admit that it is the best Mania to date.
This week蘑菇视频 question
I read online that the Rock was in Los Angeles for Raw last week but did not appear on TV and called C.M. Punk on the phone from the ring. Why didn鈥檛 he appear on Raw and is Punk coming back? Corey, Waynesburg.
The Rock and WWE are working together to make a movie based on the family of Paige and their run in the wrestling business.
They shot scenes at Raw and the reason that Rock did not appear on TV is that he is not scheduled to wrestle at Mania so why distract fans from the wrestlers who will be on the show?
Rock did call Punk, left him a voicemail, and he upset WWE management with his actions.
Punk and WWE are in litigation and had anyone besides Rock done that, they would have been fired on the spot.
The Rock, however, wears Teflon and can do whatever he wants without facing consequences as WWE needs him way more that he need WWE.