Wednesday Afternoon Rundown - March 21, 2018

Welcome to the Wednesday Afternoon Rundown, where we break down all the biggest stories from this week's Monday Night Raw and Tuesday's Smackdown Live. By the end, we'll determine which brand reigned supreme and delivered a superior product for their faithful audience.

The wrestling universe received a shot of adrenaline this week with the announcement that Daniel Bryan has officially been cleared to return to the WWE ring. Already embroiled in a feud with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, a match featuring Bryan at the Show of Shows will have fans salivating. With mere weeks until Wrestlemania, superstars on both rosters will be looking to ensure their place on the biggest card of the year. Without further ado, let’s break down the highs and lows, the ups and downs, and everything in between from this week’s episodes of Raw and Smackdown.

RAW

THE HIGHS

The Beast Emerges

                Although he was suspended by Mr. McMahon last week, Roman Reigns made his way to the ring Monday night, “trespassing” in the process, to interrupt GM Kurt Angle and demand that Brock Lesnar come out to face him. Security soon attempted to escort Reigns out of the ring, handcuffing him in the process. With Reigns incapacitated, the Beast finally struck. Lesnar sprinted to the ring, unleashing strikes and suplexes on the helpless Reigns. Each time it seemed Lesnar was finished, he would go back for more, until Reigns was ultimately left lying limp strapped to a stretcher. While this may not have been the most devastating beatdown we’ve seen Lesnar unleash, his appearance alone was enough to make the segment work. Fans have grown tired of Lesnar showing up sporadically, so it’s nice to see the Beast in action. Expect Reigns to look for retaliation next week, further stoking the flames for the Wrestlemania headliner.

“Do Something” Deadman

                After finally challenging the Undertaker last week, John Cena stepped into the ring Monday to inform the WWE universe that he has still heard nothing from the Deadman. Not a “yes”, not a “no”, just nothing. Cena worked the crowd into a frenzy, pleading that the Undertaker “do SOMEthing!” Cena would go on to call Taker an egomaniac, and a coward, claiming the Deadman has gone from a “mythical God” to merely “a man”. Even after all the provoking, there was no sign of the Undertaker. Instead, the Devil’s Favorite Demon made his way to the ring, ultimately planting Cena with a chokeslam. The inclusion of Kane is an interesting one, as it seems WWE is merely using the Big Red Machine to fill the void until Taker finally appears. Cena has done an incredible job of promoting the match on his own, a task that Taker’s past five Mania foes have been faced with. Except Cena to make quick work of Kane next week before finally come face to face with Undertaker on the penultimate Raw before Wrestlemania.

THE LOWS

The Royale Revival

                After coming up short in the Raw tag team battle royale, Titus Worldwide and the Revival squared off in hopes of regaining some traction in the tag team division. Dash and Dawson utilized crisp team wrestling to dispatch their opponents in quick fashion. Following the bout, the Revival announced their entrance into the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, stating that they would become the first tag team to win the trophy. The idea of a tag team winning the Battle Royal is definitely intriguing, similar to the prospect of Braun Strowman single-handedly winning the tag team titles. But considering how good the Revival are, and how good their NXT matches were, it’s a shame they won’t be mixing it up with a top team like the Bar, the New Day, or the Uso’s on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

A Tragic Miztake

                With a triple threat match for the IC Championship looming, The Miz and his trusty Miztourage took to the ring against Finn Balor and the Club, with the Architect Seth Rollins sitting in on commentary. A late clash of heads between Miz and Curtis Axel led to Balor rolling up Miz for the win. A melee broke out, with Rollins and Balor standing tall over a fallen Miz. While the match was fine, Miz + Balor + Rollins have been featured together so often lately that there isn’t much more that can be done to intensify this feud. The clash of heads between Miz and Axel, paired with the Miz’s opening promo, could potentially be planting the seeds for dissension within the Miztourage; something to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks.

THE IN-BETWEEN

Ignorance is Bliss

                Alexa Bliss wasted no time in reminding the WWE Universe what she said about Nia Jax, and reiterated that she meant every word of it. Bliss then turned her attention to the ring, and ending Asuka’s winning streak. Surprisingly, Bliss dominated much of the match, keeping her undefeated foe grounded for extended periods of time. Asuka rallied late, catching the champion in an ankle lock. Alexa eventually broke free, Mickie James pulling her to safety. Alexa had herself counted out, but before she was able to retreat backstage, Nia Jax came charging down the ramp. Bliss’s ankle injury quickly vanished as she sprinted away from Jax. Mickie James would attempt to help, only to be tossed aside by Jax, who continued to chase Bliss into the backstage area. While the segment ultimately led to Kurt Angle making a Women’s Championship match at Wrestlemania between Bliss and Jax, the match itself was a head scratcher. Asuka, who’s supposed to be the most dominant woman on the roster, was treated like nothing more than a pawn here. Seeing her manhandled by Bliss so easily doesn’t do Asuka any good in regards to building towards her mania match. 

A Monster Raises The Bar

                Braun Strowman took on Cesaro in a mini preview of his upcoming Wrestlemania bout against the Bar. While Cesaro put up a good fight, and Sheamus did everything he could to distract Strowman, it still wasn’t enough to stop the Monster Among Men. Strowman planted Cesaro with a powerslam to pick up the win. The match plants the idea that the Bar will need to exhaust all resources to defeat Strowman. Unfortunately, WWE seems to have a dilemma on their hands; a mystery partner joining Strowman to take on the Bar at Wrestlemania is very intriguing, but Strowman going it alone and challenging for the tag titles by himself may be the more intriguing storyline here. Look for Strowman to square off with Sheamus next week, with a potential tag partner still undecided.

The Slow Burn Turn

                Sasha Banks and Bayley took the ring, questioning their friendship which has been deteriorating since Elimination Chamber. The two women teamed up to take on Absolution, but it was clear they were unable to get on the same page. After controlling most of the match, Sonya Deville picked up the win for her team after a kick to Bayley. Wins like this are huge for Deville and Rose, who continue to grow as performers. The dissension between Banks and Bayley has been growing for quite some time now, with fans eagerly awaiting the kinds of legendary matches the duo had back in NXT. With Bayley’s refusal to forgive Banks, it appears the Hugger may be the one who finally turns heel, although she will have to do it quick with Wrestlemania just around the corner. Due to the already stacked card, it’s entirely possible that we see Banks and Bayley inserted into the Women’s Battle Royal, rather than a singles bout.

The Ultimate Deletion

                The seemingly never ending feud between Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy came to a head at the Hardy Compound in North Carolina in the form of Ultimate Deletion. Anyone who had seen the Final Deletion matches from TNA had an idea what this segment would be like, but after the disastrous match last year between Wyatt and Randy Orton, it was hard to know what to expect. The video segment featured Hardy introducing his family and his compound before Bray Wyatt arrived at the front gates. The match started in an outdoor ring, before moving into a field, an old warehouse and ultimately ending in the Lake of Reincarnation. Everything from chairs to fireworks to lawnmowers was incorporated into the match, with Hardy inevitably picking up the win before tossing Wyatt into the lake. It’s hard to call this segment a success or a failure. There were several aspects that worked very well, and several moments that were laughably bad. While these type of matches aren’t for everyone, it’s always refreshing to see a new spin on the typical wrestling match. It’s hard to tell whether this feud is now over, considering we’re so close to Wrestlemania. Will Hardy and Wyatt be left off the card? Will this feud continue? Time will tell.

SMACKDOWN

THE HIGHS

Return of the Goat

                Whether you consider Daniel Bryan one of the greatest of all time, or whether you just think he looks like a goat, there’s no denying the shockwaves that were sent through the WWE universe with the announcement of his return to in-ring action. Bryan kicked off this week’s Smackdown with an emotional promo, recounting the past few years since his “retirement”, and the support he had received from everyone around him, specifically Brie. There have been very few wrestlers over the past twenty years who have had the crowd on their side as much as Bryan does. His run to the Undisputed Championships at Wrestlemania XXX was nothing short of amazing. Now, five years later, Bryan will make his in-ring return at the same Superdome in New Orleans where he won that gold.

                With all the excitement surrounding his return, it was a no-brainer that Daniel Bryan bookend the show. Following a vicious assault on Shane McMahon by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Bryan confronted the two superstars in the ring, ultimately firing them for their heinous actions. Owens and Zayn didn’t take kindly to the news, and began unloading on Bryan. Then it happened. That boy D-Bryan fought back! A series of YES kicks and corner dropkicks had Zayn and Owens reeling, and had the WWE Universe erupting in cheers. Unfortunately for Bryan, he fell victim to the numbers game, as Owens and Zayn were able to quell Bryan’s uprising. A Helluva Kick and Apron Powerbomb left Bryan lying limp outside the ring. It was hard not to chew your nails off every time Bryan went flying through the air, but at the same time, it was incredible to see DBry bouncing around the ring. Expect Bryan and McMahon to return to television over the next two weeks, seeking revenge against Zayn and Owens.

Happy Rusev Da…Nakamura Day!

                 Shinsuke Nakamura took on Rusev yet again, with AJ Styles sitting ringside. With how “over” Rusev currently is, it’s a shame to see him constantly taking losses against Nakamura. While the match was good, there was little doubt who would win, as Nakamura once again came away the victor. Following the match, Rusev and Aiden English teamed up on Nakamura, with AJ Styles appearing to be in no rush to come to the aid of his “friend”. Nakamura was fortunately able to save face and clear the ring. A match that was initially built around mutual respect, Nakamura vs Styles may now have some animosity introduced.

THE LOWS

The Lone Wolf Feeling Awfully Lonely

                Baron Corbin squared off with Tye Dillinger this week. Dillinger is hardly ever featured on tv, and Corbin hasn’t been in a meaningful feud in weeks. With each man seemingly headed for the Andre Battle Royal at Wrestlemania, it was hard to find any reason to invest in this match. Corbin picked up the win with End of Days, and that’s all there is to say about that.

Another Secondary Triple Threat

                Jinder Mahal rejoiced at his addition to the United States Championship match between Bobby Roode and Randy Orton, making the bout a triple threat match. Roode and Orton soon joined, with all three men bickering amongst themselves. Nothing else was accomplished other than a Singh brother taking a beating from Roode and Orton. It’s a surprise it took this long for Mahal to be added to this match, as he’s been involved with this feud for weeks. What’s more surprising is how incredibly flat this feud feels. WWE would have been wise to throw guys like Corbin, Dillinger and even Dolph Ziggler into the mix, and make this a multi man ladder match. Unfortunately, it seems that we will get a triple threat match which has given us very little reason to care who wins.

Building to a Royale Riott?

                After Ruby Riott fell short in her title match against Charlotte at Fastlane, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan would look to get a measure of revenge on the top babyfaces of the blue brand, Becky Lynch and Naomi. The Riott Squad got off to a good start, working over Becky Lynch. A late distraction allowed Lynch to latch on the Disarmher, forcing Logan to tap out. And with that, the Riott Squad has now lost any and all momentum they had built over the past several weeks. While Absolution continues to win matches on Raw, the same can’t be said for the Riott Squad, who are now floundering in a crowded women’s division which is poised to add Asuka to its ranks. The best bet for the Riott Squad at this point will be to work together in hopes of winning the Women’s Battle Royale at Wrestlemania.

THE IN-BETWEEN

The Queen of Smackdown vs The Queen of Harts

                While this may be a match we have seen multiple times, dating back to NXT, Charlotte and Natalya never fail to put on a good match. Both women are near the top of the company as far as technical ability, so it’s no shock that they work extremely well together. Deep in the match, a superplex by Natalya left both women lying in the ring. In a flash, Carmella’s music hit and the Princess of Staten Island was in the ring, Money in the Bank briefcase in hand. Before the ref was able to ring the bell, Charlotte caught Carmella with a big boot, knocking her out of the ring. Natalya pounced on her unsuspecting opponent, rolling up Charlotte for the surprise win. Although Carmella has been teasing her cash-in a lot lately, it’s hard to picture her as a believable champion, especially with the likes of Charlotte, Asuka and Becky Lynch at the top of the division. Don’t be surprised if Carmella takes her briefcase and attempts to cash-in on the Raw Women’s Champion at Wrestlemania.

Brothers Who Bludgeon Together…

                Following the vicious attack by the Bludgeon Brothers on both the New Day and the Uso’s at Fastlane, the Uso’s vowed to send the Bludgeon’s to the Uso Penitentiary. Jimmy Uso squared off against Luke Harper. Uce found himself reeling early, unable to deal with the power of Harper. Interference from Jey Uso proved effective, but ultimately was not enough, as Harper was able to dispatch Jimmy and pick up another big win for the Bludgeon Brothers. The destructive duo has been on an absolute role as of late, trampling everything in their path. Expect the triple threat tag team match to play out very similarly to the Revival vs DIY vs Authors of Pain in NXT, with the two smaller tag teams working together to try and topple their overpowering foes.

THE RUNDOWN

                With only a couple of weeks until Wrestlemania, it’s clear that WWE is shifting their focus towards the marquee feuds scheduled for the Show of Shows. The appearance of Lesnar on Raw was a welcome sight, while the absences of the Undertaker and Ronda Rousey will keep fans wanting more. While the red brand delivered several solid segments, many of the feuds seemed to gain little momentum, seemingly spinning their wheels. The Intercontinental Championship feud is dangerously close to growing stale.

                The return of Daniel Bryan to the ring has given Smackdown a much needed boost. With Nakamura vs Styles and Charlotte vs Asuka already on the docket, a match featuring Bryan will add another marquee bout to the Showcase of the Immortals, while the tag title match could very well steal the show. Everything seems to be clicking at the right time for Smackdown, outside of the United States title picture.

                While each brand delivered solid programming this week, Smackdown wins on the strength of Daniel Bryan’s return. No moment drew a bigger reaction than Bryan fighting back against Owens and Zayn, and it will truly be a special moment when Bryan’s music hits at Wrestlemania. Thanks for reading, and tune in next week for another edition of the Wednesday Afternoon Rundown, as we get one step closer on the road to WreSullMania!

Wednesday Afternoon Rundown (WAR - Mar. 7, 2018)

Welcome to the Wednesday Afternoon Rundown, where we break down all the biggest stories from this week's Monday Night Raw and Tuesday's Smackdown Live. By the end, we'll determine which brand reigned supreme and delivered a superior product for their faithful audience.

With just over four weeks until their annual Show of Shows, WWE has switched into full gear on the road to Wrestlemania, setting into motion many of their high profile feuds. For Raw, this means weekly appearances by newcomer Ronda Rousey, the inclusion of Seth Rollins and Finn Balor into the Intercontinental Championship picture, and building an aura of invincibility around the undefeated Asuka. For Smackdown, the road to Mania is somewhat cluttered, the looming Fastlane PPV serving as somewhat of a detour for the blue brand, slowing down potential feuds which could otherwise be rapidly picking up steam. Without further ado, let’s break down the highs and lows, the ups and downs, and everything in between from this week’s episodes of Raw and Smackdown.

RAW

THE HIGHS

Ronda's Mania Match Becomes Official

                 This week’s episode kicked off with a bang, as Ronda Rousey officially declared who her opponent would be for Wrestlemania: none other than Stephanie McMahon. Kurt Angle reminding the audience that Stephanie also has a “Superstar’s Contract” was a nice touch, as we’ve all seen Steph wrestle plenty of times. The inclusion of Triple H and Angle, creating a mixed tag bout, ensures that the match won’t be a dud, as each competitor is still more than capable of telling a captivating story in the ring even at this late stage of their careers. This should also piggyback nicely onto what has thus far been a successful Mixed Match Challenge.

A Symphony of Destruction

                The featured gimmick match of the evening came in the form of a Symphony of Destruction match between Braun Strowman and Elias. These types of matches are often times very hit or miss, depending on the performance of the superstars involved. As usual, Strowman delivered. After yet another impressive feat of strength – lifting the rear of Elias’ car off the ground to prevent him from driving away – the Monster Among Men laid waste to everyone’s least favorite Drifter. Strowman finished Elias by first smashing a cello, and then an entire piano on top of his battered foe. With Elias soundly dispatched, and such little time until the Showcase of the Immortals, it will be interesting to see what direction Strowman goes in order to ensure his place on the Mania card.

It Takes Three To Tango

                There’s little debate that The Miz has become the top heel on Raw, if not all of WWE, and he showed exactly why again on Raw. A “Mizzies” segment which had no business being funny, was very much so. Miz is without doubt one of the best mic workers in the company, and it’s hard to not be impressed by what he has done with the Intercontinental Championship over the past year. The introduction of Seth Rollins and Finn Balor into the Intercontinental Title scene shows the level of performer that Miz deserves to work with at Wrestlemania, and there’s a very good chance this triple threat match could steal the show.

THE LOWS

Working Out The Kinks

                While the opening segment was a “High” in terms of star power and the match it confirmed for Mania, it was in many ways a Low as well. It come as no surprise that Rousey’s acting chops aren’t up to par, but Stephanie and Angle aren’t doing her any favors with equally painful performances. We can assume that by the time the match ultimately comes around, Ronda will be ready to perform in the ring, with Angle and Triple H leading a majority of the match. But until then, with Rousey scheduled to appear every week on Raw, something needs to be adjusted to make these segments less awkward and less painful for everyone involved.

Knocking Her Down To Build Her Up?

                With her undefeated streak still intact, Asuka has risen to the top of the division as the woman to beat on Raw. After failing to end Asuka's streak at Elimination Chamber, Nia Jax came up short once again on Raw in a match that seemingly diminished the stock of both women involved. Jax threw everything she had and then some at her undersized foe, but was unable to put Asuka away, ultimately tapping to a late submission. The fact that Jax limped away with an injured arm following the bout left her looking more like a bully who just got their comeuppance rather than a sympathetic warrior. As for Asuka, someone who is being presented as unbeatable, she sure took a beating for most of this match, before finally latching on the late triangle choke which forced Jax to tap. The undefeated Empress did not look strong whatsoever; resilient, sure, but not strong. Look for a rebound performance from Asuka to regain some of that aura of invincibility which has been fading of late.

A Bizarre Interaction

                Just days away from his World Championship match at Fastlane, John Cena appeared on Raw to plug the Smackdown pay-per-view, declaring he would win his record 17^th world title on Sunday. What followed was nothing short of bizarre, as Goldust would interject, stating his own desire to face Cena on the Grandest Stage of Them All. The segment seemed to come out of nowhere, and before we knew it, a match between the two was made (allegedly by Kurt Angle). As quickly as it had begun, Cena finished it with an AA, and that was that. The promo for Fastlane made sense, everything that followed left the audience scratching their heads. 

THE IN BETWEEN

Has The Bar Been Raised Too High?

                The Revival fell short against The Bar this week in a bid to earn a shot at the Tag Titles in New Orleans. With the win, The Bar continue their run of dominance over the Raw tag team division. Teams like Titus Worldwide, The Club, and now the Revival have been unable to stack up. While The Bar’s reign has been impressive, it will be tough to get excited for a Wrestlemania program without a formidable opponent to square off against them.

You Have Been Compoundly Invited...

                The seemingly never ending feud between Woken Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt may have finally taken a turn in the right direction this week, as Hardy invited Bray to a match at the Hardy Compound. While this feud has been spinning its wheels for months, this match may be the payoff fans have been waiting for. At the same time, it could be a massive dud. The introduction of the Hardy Compound, as well as the impending arrival of Brother Nero, make this feud one to keep an eye on.

The Big Dog and The Bitch

                The evening was capped off by a confrontation between Roman Reigns and the advocate for Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman. Last week, Reigns raised the interest level on this bout tremendously with a scathing promo calling Brock Lesnar “a bitch” for no-showing his appearance on Raw. The follow-up this week was average. Heyman did what he does best, reinforcing the prestige of the World Championship, even in the absence of his client. Roman again called Lesnar the “B word”, and that's as far as it went. With Lesnar expected to appear on next week's Raw, look for the feud to raise in intensity. For now, the audience's appetite for destruction by the Beast will remain unsatiated.  

SMACKDOWN

THE HIGHS

Sunday Will Be "Nakamura Day"

                The highs were few and far between this week for the blue brand. With Fastlane just days away, the PPV seems to be a hindrance slowing down the high profile feuds on tap for Wrestlemania. A backstage segment featuring Rusev and Aiden English in which the Bulgarian Brute challenged Shinsuke Nakamura to a match at Fastlane was undoubtedly one of the night’s high points. All three men were criminally absent from the rest of the night’s proceedings, so it was good to see them here and to know that the insanely over Rusev won’t be left off the Fastlane card. Nakamura also did an impression of Aiden English, singing that "Sunday will be Nakamura Dayy”, and it was phenomenal.

A Sneak Peek At Fastlane

                The night’s main event, a matchup between Dolph Ziggler and AJ Styles which was subsequently turned into a Fatal 5 Way, accomplished exactly what it had to. Involving all of the competitors scheduled for Fastlane’s World Championship Six Pack Challenge, sans John Cena, the audience received a taste of what’s to come Sunday, while the match helped to plant the seeds of dissension between longtime friends-turned-rivals-turned-friends, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. With the impending Wrestlemania matchup between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura all but guaranteed, it’s refreshing to know there will be other storylines to pay attention to during Sunday’s championship bout.

THE LOWS

Mediocre US Title Feud Needs Shot of Adrenaline

                 The pacing throughout the night was clearly an issue, as the show got off to somewhat of a clunky start and failed to shift into a higher gear from that point on. A confrontation between Charlotte and the Riott Squad was interrupted by Flair’s MMC partner and US Champion, Bobby Roode. The segment then transitioned directly into a match between Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal, with no definitive conclusion to the opening segment. The match was mediocre at best, with all the usual elements of a Mahal outing: long holds and interference from the Singh Bros. It seems that all three men involved are capable of better, but for some reason this feud hasn’t caught on. Look for WWE to build towards a US Title Ladder match at Wrestlemania, inserting names like Ziggler, Corbin and Rusev into the picture to liven things up.

What Do You "Bex"pect?

                With Charlotte preoccupied with the Riott Squad, the rest of the Smackdown Women’s division has hit a stand still. This was never more apparent than Tuesday night when Becky Lynch took on Carmella. A lack of storylines has led the women of the blue brand to become stagnant, many just treading water at this point. Lynch is without question one of the best female workers in the WWE, and Carmella still holds the Money in the Bank briefcase, though it is rarely teased or featured. The match, which saw Lynch win via her Disarmer finisher, achieved little for either woman involved, and it’s hard to see these women finding anything of relevance on the Wrestlemania card other than a rumored Women’s Battle Royal. 

THE IN-BETWEEN

Usurping the Queen

                Ruby Riott confronted the resident Queen of Smackdown, Charlotte, ahead of their impending clash for the Women’s Championship this Sunday. Stating that she had formed the Riott Squad with the intention of bringing Flair down, Ruby rehashed the same insults we’ve heard a million times from Charlotte’s past opponents, that Ms. Flair has riden off the coattails of her family name and has had everything handed to her. Flair responded as she always does, stating that she’s been forced to work twice as hard to get to where she is because of her name. Riott doesn't quite feel like she’s in the same league as the champ yet, and while the presence of Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan may be enough to cause Charlotte some worry, it’s hard to see the Queen leaving Fastlane without her title. The interesting story to follow Sunday will be whether Asuka decides to use her Royal Rumble victory to challenge Charlotte for the Smackdown title at Mania, rather than challenging Alexa Bliss for the Raw championship as many expect.

THE RUNDOWN

With Wrestlemania on the horizon, it’s clear that both brands are ready to put their foot on the gas. While several of Raw’s segments may not have hit their mark, the feuds we can expect to see at the Showcase of the Immortals are becoming clearer each and every week. Currently, the following matches are confirmed for Wrestlemania for Raw:

                Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar for Universal Championship

                The Miz vs Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor for Intercontinental Championship

                Triple H & Stephanie McMahon vs Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey

With three marquee matchups already confirmed, Raw needs only to bolster these feuds while finding matchups for The Bar, Braun Strowman, and Alexa Bliss.

Unfortunately for Smackdown, this week’s episode was never able to get off the ground. With everyone’s attention on Wrestlemania, the blue brand will look to get the Fastlane PPV over and done with so they can move on to their premier storylines. It’s hard to see any titles changing hands this Sunday, so expect definitive finishes to most of the matches, with the champions moving on to face bigger and better things in New Orleans.

                Raw takes the cake as the top brand this week, beating out Smackdown due to the fact that the storylines on Raw have better direction on the road to Mania. As stated above, the Fastlane PPV seems like nothing more than a formality at this point, and the blue brand will be far better off once the event is in the rearview. Thanks for reading, and tune in next week for another edition of the Wednesday Afternoon Rundown as we get one step closer on the road to WreSullMania!