While the momentum is with Dean Ambrose, left, going into Sunday's main event at Fastlane, it will be Roman Reigns, right, who prevails. JP Yim / Getty Images
While the momentum is with Dean Ambrose, left, going into Sunday's main event at Fastlane, it will be Roman Reigns, right, who prevails. JP Yim / Getty Images
While the momentum is with Dean Ambrose, left, going into Sunday's main event at Fastlane, it will be Roman Reigns, right, who prevails. JP Yim / Getty Images
While the momentum is with Dean Ambrose, left, going into Sunday's main event at Fastlane, it will be Roman Reigns, right, who prevails. JP Yim / Getty Images

Triple H to win WWE title at Royal Rumble to set up revenge for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania


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Ahead of Sunday’s WWE Fastlane at the Quickens Loan Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, here are some predictions on what to expect from the action.

Roman Reigns to beat Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar and earn the No 1 contenders spot for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

The WWE have done a great job of making Dean Ambrose a serious contender here, and the build-up has been largely focused on him.

But he is not winning on Sunday. Roman Reigns is, as a revenge match with Triple H at WrestleMania 32, is the match the WWE want to close their biggest show of the year on April 3.

Reigns has almost played a supporting role in the lead-up to the encounter, which on the one hand is odd, but has also been refreshing as it has allowed Ambrose to demonstrate he could be a main event player for the WWE, if he was given the chance.

But right now the storyline calls for Reigns to gain his redemption over the Authority, who stacked the deck against him by making him defend the world title in the Royal Rumble match, and he lost the belt after Triple H tossed him out from behind.

Their rivalry goes back to November and should culminate at WrestleMania with Reigns regaining his championship.

Unfortunately Ambrose’s role is to take the pin, but the hope is WWE have something good in mind for him for WrestleMania as he deserves a starring role, even if it is not in the main event.

It may seem weird to have not mentioned Brock Lesnar until now, but Lesnar is not winning this match.

His role is to add some star power, brutalise both men, and then be distracted by the Wyatt family to set up a singles match with Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania.

Video: Cesaro on the WWE coming to Dubai, Daniel Bryan's retirement and his recovery from injury

Read more: Roman Reigns on wanting a match with Triple H, loving the Royal Rumble and winning the 2015 event

Kevin Owens to beat Dolph Ziggler to retain the Intercontinental title

Owens won the Intercontinental title on Monday, and I do not expect to see him lose it on Sunday.

Ziggler beat him twice in successive Raws earlier in the month, but that, in hindsight, was done to set up some intrigue here as Owens faces a man who has had the measure of him of late.

Owens is walking out as champion, probably with some nefarious tactics along the way, and he will carry the belt to WrestleMania where he could face either Sami Zayn or AJ Styles, both men with who he has history with and stories that would write themselves.

Charlotte to beat Brie Bella to retain the Divas title

Charlotte has improved sizeably on the main roster since becoming a heel and aligning herself with her father Ric Flair, and her cutting promos on Brie Bella in the build-up to this programme have been great.

Charlotte is on a collision course with Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch at WrestleMania and this will be a title retention for her.

Brie Bella will have the crowd support, given she is the wife of the now retired Daniel Bryan, and expect some good near falls from her, but she is not leaving with the gold.

AJ Styles to beat Chris Jericho in a singles match

I do not think the result is in too much doubt here. The men are at 1-1 in the series, and Styles, as the younger man, and the newer man to the WWE, needs to go over here.

It is what happens post-match that should be most intriguing. If Jericho reacts violently to losing, or even cheats to win the match, the WWE are setting up a further match at WrestleMania.

Jericho has consistently shown a willingness to put younger talent over, particularly now he is a part-timer, and Styles will come out on top overall, it is just a case of if that is on Sunday or on April 3.

If Styles wins cleanly and Jericho accepts the loss, it is likely to be feud over and both men will move on to different opponents for the build-up to the biggest event of the WWE year.

Read more: Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens among WWE Superstars coming to Dubai in April

Read more: Dean Ambrose on memories of touring Abu Dhabi and the success of WWE overseas

The Wyatt Family to beat Ryback, Big Show and Kane in a 3 x 3 tag match

This has been thrown together at the last minute, but this is designed purely to build up the Wyatt Family as a threat ahead of WrestleMania.

They will win this match to set up Bray Wyatt for his likely match against Brock Lesnar, while expect Braun Strowman to be given a good showing with rumours still high that he will get a singles match at WrestleMania too.

It is depressing, however, that every year the WWE have to make up for their poor booking of Wyatt, and his cohorts, by putting them over strong in January and February.

In 2014 they went over The Shield, only for Wyatt to lose to John Cena. Last year, the momentum of Dean Ambrose was sacrificed to make Wyatt look good so he could be a creditable threat to the Undertaker.

At least this year in Ryback, Big Show and Kane, the WWE are not hurting anyone likely to be in a main event spot this year, with the end goal being Wyatt looking strong before losing to Lesnar on April 3.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch to defeat Naomi and Tamina in a Divas tag match

This should be one of the most predictable matches on the card.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch are the unlikely tag partners who will not get on, but will have enough to dispose of Banks’s former Team BAD teammates, before going back to rivals.

The pair will almost certainly go on to challenge for the Divas title at WrestleMania in a triple threat with Charlotte, and this is a good way of keeping them busy and looking strong, while keeping them away from the title picture for a month.

Kallisto to retain the United States title against Alberto Del Rio in a two out of three falls match

This rivalry was great last month as the pair traded the title with wins, and it is surprising they are having a fourth title match in just over a month here.

Presumably it is because Del Rio has little else to do, with the majority of his League of Nations teammates hurt, but given he has already lost twice Kallisto, a probably third loss will only hurt his character more.

Which is a bad thing as the WWE need strong heels right now and Del Rio, if given the chance, could be superb, but the early excitement of his return is being frittered away.

This should be a good match, but Del Rio will need protecting, if as expected, Kallisto holds onto the title.

WWE Fastlane will be televised on the WWE Network, which is available through OSN, on Monday morning in the UAE from 5am.

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

WTL%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3EDECEMBER%2019%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EKites%20v%20Eagles%0D%3Cbr%3EAliassime%20v%20Kyrgios%0D%3Cbr%3ESwiatek%20v%20Garcia%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Tiesto%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDECEMBER%2020%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Hawks%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Zverev%0D%3Cbr%3ESabalenka%20v%20Rybakina%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Wizkid%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2021%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Eagles%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Kyrgios%0D%3Cbr%3EBadosa%20v%20Garcia%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Ne-Yo%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2022%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EHawks%20v%20Kites%0D%3Cbr%3EThiem%20v%20Aliassime%0D%3Cbr%3EKontaveit%20v%20Swiatek%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20deadmau5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2023%20(2pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EEagles%20v%20Hawks%0D%3Cbr%3EKyrgios%20v%20Zverev%0D%3Cbr%3EGarcia%20v%20Rybakina%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Mohammed%20Ramadan%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2023%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Kites%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Aliassime%0D%3Cbr%3ESabalenka%20v%20Swiatek%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Mohammed%20Ramadan%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2024%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFinals%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Armin%20Van%20Buuren%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20ASI%20(formerly%20DigestAI)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Quddus%20Pativada%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20education%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243%20million-plus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GSV%20Ventures%2C%20Character%2C%20Mark%20Cuban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
While you're here
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder

Transmission: CVT auto

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 244Nm

Price: Dh122,900 

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5