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The card will include matches resulting from scripted storylines and have results predetermined by WWE on the [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]].<ref name="HSW">{{cite web|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|work=HowStuffWorks|publisher=[[Discovery Communications]]|accessdate=March 5, 2012<!--|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6LDla2zy5|archivedate=November 18, 2013-->}}</ref><ref name=WWEnt>{{cite web|title=Live & Televised Entertainment|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp|publisher=WWE|accessdate=March 21, 2012|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6LDleY7Lr|archivedate=November 18, 2013}}</ref> Storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television show ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/wwe-smackdown-live-usa-1201782569/|title=WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=2016-05-25|website=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref>
The card will include matches resulting from scripted storylines and have results predetermined by WWE on the [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]].<ref name="HSW">{{cite web|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|work=HowStuffWorks|publisher=[[Discovery Communications]]|accessdate=March 5, 2012<!--|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6LDla2zy5|archivedate=November 18, 2013-->}}</ref><ref name=WWEnt>{{cite web|title=Live & Televised Entertainment|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp|publisher=WWE|accessdate=March 21, 2012|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6LDleY7Lr|archivedate=November 18, 2013}}</ref> Storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television show ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/wwe-smackdown-live-usa-1201782569/|title=WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=2016-05-25|website=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref>


At the [[Royal Rumble (2018)|Royal Rumble]], [[A.J. Styles|AJ Styles]] defeated [[Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Handicap match|handicap match]] to retain the [[WWE Championship]], although [[Kevin Owens]], who was pinned, was not the legal man.<ref name="RR2018">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Royal Rumble 2018 live review: Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match for the WWE Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/01/28/wwe-royal-rumble-2018-live-review-mens-womens-royal-rumble-matches-brock-lesnar-vs-braun-strowman-vs-kane-wwe-universal-championship-aj-styles-vs-kevin-owens-sami-zayn-han/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=January 28, 2018}}</ref> On the following episode of ''SmackDown'', Owens and [[Sami Zayn]] interrupted 2018 Men's [[Royal Rumble#Match|Royal Rumble]] winner [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] and said that they should be the co-WWE Champions, but the referee failed at his job. Styles and Nakamura then teamed up and defeated Owens and Zayn. During the match, there were tensions between Owens and Zayn as a result of General Manager [[Daniel Bryan]] scheduling them to face each other the following week to determine the number one contender for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown01302018">{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 1/30: Nakamura celebrates winning the Rumble, Owens & Sami controversial Styles finish|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/01/30/kellers-wwe-smackdown-report-1-30-nakamura-celebrates-winning-rumble-owens-sami-controversial-styles-finish/|date=January 30, 2018|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref> Their match ended in a double disqualification, however, as Styles was provoked by Zayn and attacked both men, leading to Bryan scheduling a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|triple threat match]] between the three for the title.<ref name="SmackDown02062018">{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 2/6: Sami vs. KO for a right to face Styles, Shane takes issue with Bryan’s decision-making|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/02/06/kellers-wwe-smackdown-report-2-6-sami-vs-ko-right-face-styles-shane-takes-issue-bryans-decision-making/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref> Commissioner [[Shane McMahon]] then announced on [[Twitter]] that the winner of a match between [[Dolph Ziggler]] and [[Baron Corbin]] the following week would be added to the championship match to make it a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|fatal four-way]].<ref name="Fatal4Way">{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Adam|title=Shane McMahon adds big stipulation to Ziggler vs. Corbin on next week’s SmackDown Live|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/97845-shane-mcmahon-stipulation-fastlane-ziggler-corbin/|work=WrestleView|accessdate=February 8, 2018}}</ref> Before that match started, Owens and Zayn attacked Corbin in the backstage area and later went after Ziggler to prevent either from being added. In response, Shane scheduled Owens to face Corbin and Zayn to face Ziggler, with both Corbin and Ziggler being added if they won their respective matches, while also threatening that if Owens or Zayn interfered in the other's match, that person would be removed from the title match. Corbin and Ziggler won their respective matches, thus making it a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|fatal five-way]] for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02132018">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=2/13 Powell’s WWE SmackDown Live TV Review: Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler for a spot in the four-way WWE Championship match at WWE Fastlane, Bobby Roode’s U.S. Title open challenge, Charlotte vs. Sarah Logan, New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/02/13/2-13-barnetts-wwe-smackdown-live-tv-review-baron-corbin-vs-dolph-ziggler-spot-four-way-wwe-championship-match-wwe-fastlane-bobby-roodes-u-s-title-open-challenge-charlotte-vs-sa/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=February 13, 2018}}</ref> On the February 27 episode, free agent [[John Cena]], who was unsuccessful in becoming the number one contender for [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw's]] [[WWE Universal Championship|Universal Championship]] at [[Elimination Chamber (2018)|Elimination Chamber]] two nights prior,<ref name="EC2018">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 live review: Men’s and Women’s Elimination Chamber matches, Ronda Rousey contract signing, Asuka vs. Nia Jax, Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt, Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Titus O’Neil and Apollo for the Raw Tag Titles|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/02/25/wwe-elimination-chamber-2018-live-review-mens-womens-elimination-chamber-matches-ronda-rousey-contract-signing-asuka-vs-nia-jax-matt-hardy-vs-bray-wyatt-sheamus-cesaro-vs-titus-onei/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=February 25, 2018}}</ref> made his return to ''SmackDown'', determined to earn a match at [[WrestleMania 34]]. Bryan gave him the opportunity to be added to the WWE Championship match at Fastlane if he could defeat Styles in a non-title match. Cena defeated Styles, turning the championship match into a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Six-Pack Challenge]]. A brawl then ensued between all six competitors.<ref name="SmackDown02272018"/> To keep himself from being interrupted, Cena used his free agent status and appeared on the March 5 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'' and said that he would break his and [[Ric Flair]]'s tied record and become a 17-time world champion, and said Styles should use his rematch clause to make the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania a triple threat match with Nakamura.<ref name="Raw03052018">{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/03/05/kellers-wwe-raw-report-3-5-angle-stands-calls-triple-h-leading-mixed-tag-set-plus-asuka-jax-cena/|title=KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT 3/5: Angle stands up for himself and calls out Triple H leading to mixed tag being set, plus Asuka-Jax, Cena|date=March 5, 2018|last=Keller|first=Wade|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=March 5, 2018}}</ref>
At the [[Royal Rumble (2018)|Royal Rumble]], [[A.J. Styles|AJ Styles]] defeated [[Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Handicap match|handicap match]] to retain the [[WWE Championship]], although [[Kevin Owens]], who was pinned, was not the legal man.<ref name="RR2018">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Royal Rumble 2018 live review: Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match for the WWE Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/01/28/wwe-royal-rumble-2018-live-review-mens-womens-royal-rumble-matches-brock-lesnar-vs-braun-strowman-vs-kane-wwe-universal-championship-aj-styles-vs-kevin-owens-sami-zayn-han/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=January 28, 2018}}</ref> On the following episode of ''SmackDown'', Owens and [[Sami Zayn]] interrupted 2018 Men's [[Royal Rumble#Match|Royal Rumble]] winner [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] and said that they should be the co-WWE Champions, but the referee failed at his job. Styles and Nakamura then teamed up and defeated Owens and Zayn. During the match, there were tensions between Owens and Zayn as a result of General Manager [[Daniel Bryan]] scheduling them to face each other the following week to determine the number one contender for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown01302018">{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 1/30: Nakamura celebrates winning the Rumble, Owens & Sami controversial Styles finish|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/01/30/kellers-wwe-smackdown-report-1-30-nakamura-celebrates-winning-rumble-owens-sami-controversial-styles-finish/|date=January 30, 2018|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref> Their match ended in a double disqualification, however, as Styles was provoked by Zayn and attacked both men, leading to Bryan scheduling a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|triple threat match]] between the three for the title.<ref name="SmackDown02062018">{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 2/6: Sami vs. KO for a right to face Styles, Shane takes issue with Bryan’s decision-making|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/02/06/kellers-wwe-smackdown-report-2-6-sami-vs-ko-right-face-styles-shane-takes-issue-bryans-decision-making/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref> Commissioner [[Shane McMahon]] then announced on [[Twitter]] that the winner of a match between [[Dolph Ziggler]] and [[Baron Corbin]] the following week would be added to the championship match to make it a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|fatal four-way]].<ref name="Fatal4Way">{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Adam|title=Shane McMahon adds big stipulation to Ziggler vs. Corbin on next week’s SmackDown Live|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/97845-shane-mcmahon-stipulation-fastlane-ziggler-corbin/|work=WrestleView|accessdate=February 8, 2018}}</ref> Before that match started, Owens and Zayn attacked Corbin in the backstage area and later went after Ziggler to prevent either from being added. In response, Shane scheduled Owens to face Corbin and Zayn to face Ziggler, with both Corbin and Ziggler being added if they won their respective matches, while also threatening that if Owens or Zayn interfered in the other's match, that person would be removed from the title match. Corbin and Ziggler won their respective matches, thus making it a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|fatal five-way]] for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02132018">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=2/13 Powell’s WWE SmackDown Live TV Review: Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler for a spot in the four-way WWE Championship match at WWE Fastlane, Bobby Roode’s U.S. Title open challenge, Charlotte vs. Sarah Logan, New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/02/13/2-13-barnetts-wwe-smackdown-live-tv-review-baron-corbin-vs-dolph-ziggler-spot-four-way-wwe-championship-match-wwe-fastlane-bobby-roodes-u-s-title-open-challenge-charlotte-vs-sa/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=February 13, 2018}}</ref> On the February 27 episode, free agent [[John Cena]], who was unsuccessful in becoming the number one contender for [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw's]] [[WWE Universal Championship|Universal Championship]] at [[Elimination Chamber (2018)|Elimination Chamber]] two nights prior,<ref name="EC2018">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 live review: Men’s and Women’s Elimination Chamber matches, Ronda Rousey contract signing, Asuka vs. Nia Jax, Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt, Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Titus O’Neil and Apollo for the Raw Tag Titles|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/02/25/wwe-elimination-chamber-2018-live-review-mens-womens-elimination-chamber-matches-ronda-rousey-contract-signing-asuka-vs-nia-jax-matt-hardy-vs-bray-wyatt-sheamus-cesaro-vs-titus-onei/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=February 25, 2018}}</ref> made his return to ''SmackDown'', determined to earn a match at [[WrestleMania 34]]. Bryan gave him the opportunity to be added to the WWE Championship match at Fastlane if he could defeat Styles in a non-title match. Cena defeated Styles, turning the championship match into a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Six-Pack Challenge]]. A brawl then ensued between all six competitors.<ref name="SmackDown02272018"/> To keep himself from being interrupted, Cena used his free agent status and appeared on the March 5 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'' and said that he would break his and [[Ric Flair]]'s tied record and become a 17-time world champion, and said Styles should use his rematch clause to make the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania a triple threat match with Nakamura.<ref name="Raw03052018">{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/03/05/kellers-wwe-raw-report-3-5-angle-stands-calls-triple-h-leading-mixed-tag-set-plus-asuka-jax-cena/|title=KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT 3/5: Angle stands up for himself and calls out Triple H leading to mixed tag being set, plus Asuka-Jax, Cena|date=March 5, 2018|last=Keller|first=Wade|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=March 5, 2018}}</ref> On the final SmackDown before Fastlane, Owens and Zayn caused a double disqualification in the Match between Styles and Ziggler; a 5-Men Match with the addition of Baron Corbin was scheduled, and said Match saw Zayn picking up the win.


Immediately following the Royal Rumble, General Manager Daniel Bryan announced that there would be a first-ever "SmackDown Top Ten List" as voted on by the SmackDown roster. Bryan said the list would show who the wrestlers thought should get a title opportunity, but a wrestler could not vote for themselves.<ref name="SmackDown01302018"/> The Top Ten List was revealed on the February 6 episode of ''SmackDown''.<ref name="SmackDown02062018"/> The following week, [[WWE United States Championship|United States Champion]] [[Bobby Roode]], [[Jinder Mahal]], and [[Randy Orton]] all exchanged words as Mahal made fun of their spots on the list despite Mahal not ranking at all; Orton and Roode were 9th and 5th, respectively. The segment ended after Orton hit everyone with an ''RKO'', who then suffered a ''Khallas'' from Mahal.<ref name="SmackDown02132018"/> The next episode, Mahal again called out Roode and Orton, and a brawl broke out in which Roode hit Orton with a ''Glorious DDT'', but then Mahal delivered a ''Khallas'' to Roode, standing tall once again. Despite this, Commissioner Shane McMahon scheduled Roode to face Orton for the United States Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02202018">{{cite web|last=Barnett|first=Jake|title=2/20 Barnett’s WWE SmackDown Live TV Review: New Day vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin for a Smackdown Tag Title shot at WWE Fastlane, Charlotte, Naomi, and Becky Lynch vs. Riott Squad, WWE Champion AJ Styles appears|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/02/20/2-20-barnetts-wwe-smackdown-live-tv-review-new-day-vs-chad-gable-shelton-benjamin-smackdown-tag-title-shot-wwe-fastlane-charlotte-naomi-becky-lynch-vs-riott-squad-wwe-champion/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> The following week in a backstage interview, Roode said that in order to be the greatest United States Champion of all time, he would have to beat the best, and said that Orton was one of the best of all time. Orton interrupted and said the U.S. title was the one title he had never held during his WWE career and would be taking it from Roode at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02272018"/>
Immediately following the Royal Rumble, General Manager Daniel Bryan announced that there would be a first-ever "SmackDown Top Ten List" as voted on by the SmackDown roster. Bryan said the list would show who the wrestlers thought should get a title opportunity, but a wrestler could not vote for themselves.<ref name="SmackDown01302018"/> The Top Ten List was revealed on the February 6 episode of ''SmackDown''.<ref name="SmackDown02062018"/> The following week, [[WWE United States Championship|United States Champion]] [[Bobby Roode]], [[Jinder Mahal]], and [[Randy Orton]] all exchanged words as Mahal made fun of their spots on the list despite Mahal not ranking at all; Orton and Roode were 9th and 5th, respectively. The segment ended after Orton hit everyone with an ''RKO'', who then suffered a ''Khallas'' from Mahal.<ref name="SmackDown02132018"/> The next episode, Mahal again called out Roode and Orton, and a brawl broke out in which Roode hit Orton with a ''Glorious DDT'', but then Mahal delivered a ''Khallas'' to Roode, standing tall once again. Despite this, Commissioner Shane McMahon scheduled Roode to face Orton for the United States Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02202018">{{cite web|last=Barnett|first=Jake|title=2/20 Barnett’s WWE SmackDown Live TV Review: New Day vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin for a Smackdown Tag Title shot at WWE Fastlane, Charlotte, Naomi, and Becky Lynch vs. Riott Squad, WWE Champion AJ Styles appears|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/02/20/2-20-barnetts-wwe-smackdown-live-tv-review-new-day-vs-chad-gable-shelton-benjamin-smackdown-tag-title-shot-wwe-fastlane-charlotte-naomi-becky-lynch-vs-riott-squad-wwe-champion/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> The following week in a backstage interview, Roode said that in order to be the greatest United States Champion of all time, he would have to beat the best, and said that Orton was one of the best of all time. Orton interrupted and said the U.S. title was the one title he had never held during his WWE career and would be taking it from Roode at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02272018"/> On the final SmackDown before Fastlane, Mahal once again got the upper hand, by defeating Orton thanks to an interference by Roode.


Throughout 2017, [[The Usos]] (Jey and Jimmy Uso) and [[The New Day (professional wrestling)|The New Day]] ([[Big E (wrestler)|Big E]], [[Kofi Kingston]], and [[Xavier Woods]]) wrestled at numerous events over the [[WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship|SmackDown Tag Team Championship]], with the original feud ending at [[Hell in a Cell (2017)|Hell in a Cell]] with The Usos winning the feud.<ref name="HIAC2017">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=Powell’s WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 live review: Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere HIAC match, New Day vs. The Usos in an HIAC match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2017/10/08/powells-wwe-hell-cell-2017-live-review-kevin-owens-vs-shane-mcmahon-falls-count-anywhere-hiac-match-new-day-vs-usos-hiac-match-smackdown-tag-titles-jinder-mahal-vs-s/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=October 8, 2017}}</ref> The Usos' next feud were with [[Chad Gable]] and [[Shelton Benjamin]], who were unsuccessful in gaining the titles at the Royal Rumble.<ref name="RR2018"/> On the February 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', The New Day's Big E and Woods defeated Gable and Benjamin to become the number one contenders against The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02202018"/> The following week, The New Day said that they wanted to be the SmackDown Tag Team Champions going into WrestleMania 34. The Usos interrupted and said that they had been with the WWE for a number of years, but have never had a spot on the main card at WrestleMania and said that would not be the case at WrestleMania 34. As the two teams got in each other's face, they were interrupted by [[Luke Harper and Erick Rowan|The Bludgeon Brothers]] ([[Luke Harper|Harper]] and [[Erick Rowan|Rowan]]) and retreated.<ref name="SmackDown02272018"/>
Throughout 2017, [[The Usos]] (Jey and Jimmy Uso) and [[The New Day (professional wrestling)|The New Day]] ([[Big E (wrestler)|Big E]], [[Kofi Kingston]], and [[Xavier Woods]]) wrestled at numerous events over the [[WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship|SmackDown Tag Team Championship]], with the original feud ending at [[Hell in a Cell (2017)|Hell in a Cell]] with The Usos winning the feud.<ref name="HIAC2017">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=Powell’s WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 live review: Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere HIAC match, New Day vs. The Usos in an HIAC match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2017/10/08/powells-wwe-hell-cell-2017-live-review-kevin-owens-vs-shane-mcmahon-falls-count-anywhere-hiac-match-new-day-vs-usos-hiac-match-smackdown-tag-titles-jinder-mahal-vs-s/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|accessdate=October 8, 2017}}</ref> The Usos' next feud were with [[Chad Gable]] and [[Shelton Benjamin]], who were unsuccessful in gaining the titles at the Royal Rumble.<ref name="RR2018"/> On the February 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', The New Day's Big E and Woods defeated Gable and Benjamin to become the number one contenders against The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Fastlane.<ref name="SmackDown02202018"/> The following week, The New Day said that they wanted to be the SmackDown Tag Team Champions going into WrestleMania 34. The Usos interrupted and said that they had been with the WWE for a number of years, but have never had a spot on the main card at WrestleMania and said that would not be the case at WrestleMania 34. As the two teams got in each other's face, they were interrupted by [[Luke Harper and Erick Rowan|The Bludgeon Brothers]] ([[Luke Harper|Harper]] and [[Erick Rowan|Rowan]]) and retreated.<ref name="SmackDown02272018"/>

Revision as of 09:42, 7 March 2018

Fastlane (2018)
Promotional poster featuring AJ Styles
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)SmackDown
DateMarch 11, 2018
CityColumbus, Ohio
VenueNationwide Arena
WWE Network event chronology
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Elimination Chamber (2018) 		Next →
NXT TakeOver: New Orleans
Fastlane chronology
← Previous
Fastlane (2017) 		Next →
—

Fastlane (2018) is an upcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and WWE Network event produced by WWE for the SmackDown brand. It will take place on March 11, 2018, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.[2] It will be the fourth event under the Fastlane chronology and the final SmackDown-exclusive pay-per-view under the second brand split as following WrestleMania 34, all WWE pay-per-views will be dual-branded, featuring wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brands.[3]

Storylines

The card will include matches resulting from scripted storylines and have results predetermined by WWE on the SmackDown brand.[4][5] Storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television show SmackDown Live.[6]

At the Royal Rumble, AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match to retain the WWE Championship, although Kevin Owens, who was pinned, was not the legal man.[7] On the following episode of SmackDown, Owens and Sami Zayn interrupted 2018 Men's Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura and said that they should be the co-WWE Champions, but the referee failed at his job. Styles and Nakamura then teamed up and defeated Owens and Zayn. During the match, there were tensions between Owens and Zayn as a result of General Manager Daniel Bryan scheduling them to face each other the following week to determine the number one contender for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.[8] Their match ended in a double disqualification, however, as Styles was provoked by Zayn and attacked both men, leading to Bryan scheduling a triple threat match between the three for the title.[9] Commissioner Shane McMahon then announced on Twitter that the winner of a match between Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin the following week would be added to the championship match to make it a fatal four-way.[10] Before that match started, Owens and Zayn attacked Corbin in the backstage area and later went after Ziggler to prevent either from being added. In response, Shane scheduled Owens to face Corbin and Zayn to face Ziggler, with both Corbin and Ziggler being added if they won their respective matches, while also threatening that if Owens or Zayn interfered in the other's match, that person would be removed from the title match. Corbin and Ziggler won their respective matches, thus making it a fatal five-way for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.[11] On the February 27 episode, free agent John Cena, who was unsuccessful in becoming the number one contender for Raw's Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber two nights prior,[12] made his return to SmackDown, determined to earn a match at WrestleMania 34. Bryan gave him the opportunity to be added to the WWE Championship match at Fastlane if he could defeat Styles in a non-title match. Cena defeated Styles, turning the championship match into a Six-Pack Challenge. A brawl then ensued between all six competitors.[1] To keep himself from being interrupted, Cena used his free agent status and appeared on the March 5 episode of Monday Night Raw and said that he would break his and Ric Flair's tied record and become a 17-time world champion, and said Styles should use his rematch clause to make the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania a triple threat match with Nakamura.[13] On the final SmackDown before Fastlane, Owens and Zayn caused a double disqualification in the Match between Styles and Ziggler; a 5-Men Match with the addition of Baron Corbin was scheduled, and said Match saw Zayn picking up the win.

Immediately following the Royal Rumble, General Manager Daniel Bryan announced that there would be a first-ever "SmackDown Top Ten List" as voted on by the SmackDown roster. Bryan said the list would show who the wrestlers thought should get a title opportunity, but a wrestler could not vote for themselves.[8] The Top Ten List was revealed on the February 6 episode of SmackDown.[9] The following week, United States Champion Bobby Roode, Jinder Mahal, and Randy Orton all exchanged words as Mahal made fun of their spots on the list despite Mahal not ranking at all; Orton and Roode were 9th and 5th, respectively. The segment ended after Orton hit everyone with an RKO, who then suffered a Khallas from Mahal.[11] The next episode, Mahal again called out Roode and Orton, and a brawl broke out in which Roode hit Orton with a Glorious DDT, but then Mahal delivered a Khallas to Roode, standing tall once again. Despite this, Commissioner Shane McMahon scheduled Roode to face Orton for the United States Championship at Fastlane.[14] The following week in a backstage interview, Roode said that in order to be the greatest United States Champion of all time, he would have to beat the best, and said that Orton was one of the best of all time. Orton interrupted and said the U.S. title was the one title he had never held during his WWE career and would be taking it from Roode at Fastlane.[1] On the final SmackDown before Fastlane, Mahal once again got the upper hand, by defeating Orton thanks to an interference by Roode.

Throughout 2017, The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso) and The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) wrestled at numerous events over the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, with the original feud ending at Hell in a Cell with The Usos winning the feud.[15] The Usos' next feud were with Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin, who were unsuccessful in gaining the titles at the Royal Rumble.[7] On the February 20 episode of SmackDown, The New Day's Big E and Woods defeated Gable and Benjamin to become the number one contenders against The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Fastlane.[14] The following week, The New Day said that they wanted to be the SmackDown Tag Team Champions going into WrestleMania 34. The Usos interrupted and said that they had been with the WWE for a number of years, but have never had a spot on the main card at WrestleMania and said that would not be the case at WrestleMania 34. As the two teams got in each other's face, they were interrupted by The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) and retreated.[1]

At the Royal Rumble, Asuka of the Raw brand won the inaugural women's Royal Rumble match for the right to challenge for either the Raw Women's Championship or SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 34.[7] The following night on Raw, Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon convinced Asuka to wait until after Raw's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view to make her decision.[16] The next night on SmackDown, SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair wondered who her WrestleMania opponent would be. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, and Liv Morgan) interrupted and said Flair would not make it to WrestleMania before attacking her.[8] Over the next couple of weeks, Flair defeated Morgan and Logan in non-title matches.[9][11] On the February 20 episode, Flair teamed with Becky Lynch and Naomi in a six-woman tag team match against The Riott Squad where Riott pinned Lynch. Later that episode, Flair offered to put her title on the line at Fastlane against Riott, who accepted.[14]

On the February 27 episode of SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Aiden English.[1] The following week, English and Rusev interrupted a backstage interview with Nakamura, where Rusev challenged Nakamura to a match at Fastlane for damaging English’s vocal cords and Nakamura accepted.[17]

Matches

No.Matches*Stipulations
1AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dolph ZigglerSix-Pack challenge for the WWE Championship[18]
2Bobby Roode (c) vs. Randy OrtonSingles match for the WWE United States Championship[19]
3The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) (c) vs. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and/or Xavier Woods)Tag team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship[20]
4Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ruby Riott (with Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan)Singles match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship[21]
5Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev (with Aiden English)Singles match[22]
6Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. Natalya and CarmellaWomen's Tag team match[23]
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
*Card subject to change

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Keller, Wade. "Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 2/27: Cena makes first appearance on Smackdown in months as he seeks Path to WrestleMania". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. ^ "WWE Fastlane 2018 tickets available now". WWE. December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  3. ^ WWE.com Staff (February 17, 2018). "WWE pay-per-views just got bigger for 2018!". WWE.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. ^ Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  6. ^ Steinberg, Brian (2016-05-25). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  7. ^ a b c Powell, Jason. "WWE Royal Rumble 2018 live review: Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match for the WWE Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Keller, Wade (January 30, 2018). "Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 1/30: Nakamura celebrates winning the Rumble, Owens & Sami controversial Styles finish". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Keller, Wade. "Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 2/6: Sami vs. KO for a right to face Styles, Shane takes issue with Bryan's decision-making". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  10. ^ Martin, Adam. "Shane McMahon adds big stipulation to Ziggler vs. Corbin on next week's SmackDown Live". WrestleView. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Powell, Jason. "2/13 Powell's WWE SmackDown Live TV Review: Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler for a spot in the four-way WWE Championship match at WWE Fastlane, Bobby Roode's U.S. Title open challenge, Charlotte vs. Sarah Logan, New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  12. ^ Powell, Jason. "WWE Elimination Chamber 2018 live review: Men's and Women's Elimination Chamber matches, Ronda Rousey contract signing, Asuka vs. Nia Jax, Matt Hardy vs. Bray Wyatt, Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Titus O'Neil and Apollo for the Raw Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Keller, Wade (March 5, 2018). "KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 3/5: Angle stands up for himself and calls out Triple H leading to mixed tag being set, plus Asuka-Jax, Cena". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Barnett, Jake. "2/20 Barnett's WWE SmackDown Live TV Review: New Day vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin for a Smackdown Tag Title shot at WWE Fastlane, Charlotte, Naomi, and Becky Lynch vs. Riott Squad, WWE Champion AJ Styles appears". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  15. ^ Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 live review: Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere HIAC match, New Day vs. The Usos in an HIAC match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  16. ^ Powell, Jason. "WWE Raw Live TV Review: Three Elimination Chamber qualifying matches, The Miz vs. Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Title, the night after the Royal Rumble". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  17. ^ Barnett, Jake. "3/6 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler, Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal, Charlotte and Ruby Riott meet face-to-face, the final push for WWE Fastlane". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  18. ^ Benigno, Anthony. "WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler (Six-Pack Challenge Match)". WWE. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  19. ^ Burdick, Michael. "United States Champion Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton". WWE. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  20. ^ Benigno, Anthony. "SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day". WWE. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  21. ^ Taylor, Scott. "SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riott". WWE. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  22. ^ Burdick, Michael. "Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev". WWE. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  23. ^ Burdick, Michael. "Becky Lynch & Naomi vs. Natalya & Carmella". WWE. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
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