WWE Fastlane 2021: 10 Things That Must Happen
8. But Still Rallies & Retains
... he should.
Big E is only getting started as the IC Champion. It's clear to everyone who watches SmackDown weekly that he's a future main event player on the brand, so WWE must be mindful not to let him rack up too many defeats along the way. Consistency is everything when building up a strong babyface.
They've smartly let Apollo look menacing without taking the belt too. The way Crews blasted E with the steps and put him on the shelf gave him an edge he'd been missing for years, but that doesn't mean E should be dropping that championship at Fastlane this Sunday.
Heels can justify losses by complaining about injustice. That's what Apollo should do when Big E rallies back against his pre-match attack to hit the Big Ending and score a popular win. WWE can squeeze a rematch from these guys at WrestleMania if they've got nothing else lined up for E too.