WWE Fastlane 2017: 6 Shocks That Could Happen
KO reaching WrestleMania with the Universal Title would stun everybody...
Goldberg's blistering comeback has come as something of a surprise; WWE have been seduced by the ex-WCW star's success at Survivor Series and Royal Rumble, and it looks like Goldberg is all set to bag the Universal Title from Kevin Owens before defending against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 33.
A Goldberg triumph seems obvious, but it's far from certain, and we need only look at WWE's history of changing things right before 'Mania for proof of that. Traditionally, the proverbial rug has been pulled out from underneath fans in the February slot - but Fastlane could switch that formula by providing shock changes as late as March.
2004's shock win for Eddie Guerrero opposite Lesnar at No Way Out is a classic example of subverting what people expected from WrestleMania (namely, Brock heading into the show as champion), and the precedent has been set long before this year's Fastlane.
This all lends credibility to the idea that WWE might once again pull on that rug right before 'Mania, and as notable as it would be from a historical point of view, Goldberg winning Universal gold wouldn't be Fastlane's biggest shock...
6. WWE Cut Short The Club’s Raw Tag Title Reign
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson deserved the distinction of becoming Raw Tag-Team Champions following a quite brutal Summer crammed full of awkward, ill-placed comedy. Pretending to be doctors and retirement workers did nothing for The Club, and instead threatened to destroy the aura Gallows and Anderson had built for themselves in Japan.
Thankfully, WWE's writing team moved away from such hokey toilet humour, and the team are much better off for being presented as a serious, a**-kicking machine. As good as they are in that role, though, there's still a chance Gallows and Anderson will drop the belts to Enzo Amore and Big Cass.
A victory for the babyface duo would cut short The Club's reign drastically, but those feeling WWE would be silly to cut the cord on Gallows and Anderson as champs need only look at Cesaro and Sheamus, a team that ended The New Day's historic tenure with the straps - before quickly dropping those straps to the current titleholders themselves.
Could the Raw Tag belts be passed about with alarming regularity post-New Day? There's every chance, especially if WWE want to rekindle that babyface flame.
Enzo and Cass represent the opportunity to do exactly that.