You know the drill: I am betting imaginary jellybeans for each match (based on PaddyPower’s odds) and keeping track of my “winnings.” I’m dividing my picks into three categories: 🔒Locks™, Solid Picks and Stay Aways. I will bet 10 jellybeans on the 🔒Locks™, five on the Solid Picks, and none on the Stay Aways.
Here are my WWE Fastlane picks. Remember that I’m not necessarily picking the winner, but the one that I feel is the best bet.
🔒Locks™
None.
Solid Picks
Tag team match for the Raw Tag Team Championship
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (c): 1/4 (-400)
Enzo Amore & Big Cass: 5/2 (+250)
Pick: Enzo Amore & Big Cass
I have zero confidence in WWE booking Gallows & Anderson properly. It is almost a WrestleMania trope at this point for there to be a multi-tag team match for the titles, and those matches generally aren’t good for first-time champions, so Enzo & Cass could win the belts here. It wouldn’t shock me if Gallows & Anderson win, but the odds are good for the realest guys in the room.
Stay Aways
Tag team match
Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa: 4/11 (-275)
The Brian Kendrick & Noam Dar: 15/8 (+188)
Pick: Rich Swann & Akira Tozawa
Kendrick and Dar have each been doing a great job as of late. The Kendrick-Tozawa rivalry has been unique and interesting, and Dar gets better on the mic every week. But I always tend toward the babyfaces in preshow matches because they get the crowd excited.
Singles match
Nia Jax: 1/10 (-1000)
Sasha Banks: 5/1 (+500)
Pick: Sasha Banks
Banks is more over than Jax and Jax is a monster, so everything points to Jax getting the much-needed win.
Singles match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (c): 1/7 (-700)
Jack Gallagher: 4/1 (+400)
Pick: Neville
As over as Gallagher is, it’s too soon to end Neville’s reign as King of the Cruiserweights. The division hasn’t had one dominant champion yet, and Neville has been excelling in that role, so he should keep it going.
Singles match
Samoa Joe: 1/10 (-1000)
Sami Zayn: 5/1 (+500)
Pick: Samoa Joe
This is the favorite for match of the night, but it would be completely shocking if Joe doesn’t win. Zayn gets over by losing better than anyone else on the roster, and Joe has top-of-the-card heel potential. This should be a slam-dunk booking decision.
Singles match
Braun Strowman: 1/8 (-800)
Roman Reigns: 9/2 (+450)
Pick: Braun Strowman
This match will end dirty, because I can’t forsee either of these guys losing clean. This is a stay-away if I ever saw one.
Singles match for the Raw Women’s Championship
Charlotte Flair: 1/3 (-300)
Bayley (c): 2/1 (+200)
Pick: Charlotte Flair
It’s way too hard to bet against Flair. There is the possibility that Bayley somehow retains the title only to lose it to Nia Jax in the near future, but if the plan is to give Jax a big push, it makes sense for her to end Flair’s streak.
Singles match for the WWE Universal Championship
Goldberg: 1/18 (-1800)
Kevin Owens (c): 9/2 (+450)
Pick: Goldberg
As I said in the roundtable, Goldberg will still probably win, I’m just more excited to see how it happens now. Either Chris Jericho or Brock Lesnar could show up (although you’d think a Lesnar appearance would mean Owens retains the belt).
Overall record to date: 127-80-10
Jellybeans won to date: 17.57 on a 46-45-9 record
Wrestledelphia.com columnist Evan Cross can be reached at . Follow him on Twitter .
Evan Cross
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