Fastlane 2017: Smart or mistake?

This past Sunday I gathered around the television with friends and watched the WWE pay per view, a tradition that has been ongoing since 2014. This time it was the Raw brand pay per view Fastlane. Fastlane is a brand new pay per view that debuted in 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee. My buddy Ryan and I made the six and a half hour drive from Kentucky to watch in person and it did not disappoint. This past Sunday’s version however, did just that.

It was about 10:40 PM and the women’s championship match had just ended. I immediately began to sense a squash about to happen. Now it’s time for the main event. Both superstars made their entrances and then Kevin Owens exited the ring and began to pace the outside. It was then brought to my attention by the broadcast team that the bell had not yet rung (insert eye roll here). Owens then enters the ring, taunts Goldberg, and demands the bell to be rung. Then somewhat predictably, Chris Jericho’s music hits. The camera pans to the stage to him walking out into the arena, the camera pans back to Owens who is beside himself at the sight of his former best friend, and THEN the bell rings. Owens’ attention then shifts back to his opponent who charges forward and hits his signature spear, and then lifts the champion up over his head for his finisher, the jackhammer. Cover. One, two, three.

I had shifted from the TV to my iPhone at this point and as soon as the bell rung I double tapped my home button and closed the WWE app. Why squash your champion in that fashion? I was thinking we’d get a Lesnar run in to cost Goldberg the match putting more heat on their match heading into their April 2 bout at WrestleMania 33. Instead WWE chose to put the championship on their star part timer going into the Show of Shows. We have a match that wasn’t going to be great to begin with now being contested for a championship that neither competitor needs. That match could have done without the title and still have great meaning, but in typical WWE fashion they over thought their booking.

Am I shocked that Goldberg is the Universal champion? No. Am I shocked at the outside interference? No. The only thing I actually am shocked about is the fact they had Kevin Owens job to Goldberg. He deserves much better for the way he’s helped to carry Raw since winning his title in August. It seems they’re preparing us for another four to six months of bi-weekly or monthly champion appearances until either SummerSlam or Night of Champions where either man drops the title to someone else (presumably Owens, Balor, or Rollins if healthy). I really don’t care to see that again. WWE has made it clear they don’t care what we, or I think though. Share your thoughts with me below!