Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho's Presence Makes WWE Fastlane 2016 a Far Bigger PPV

With the additions of Brock Lesnar and Chris Jericho, WWE Fastlane 2016 is set to undergo a metamorphosis, transforming from an also-ran pay-per-view to a marquee event.

The PPV stuck between Royal Rumble and WrestleMania boasts minimal history and even less identity. In 2015, it was clearly a transitional show, something to tide fans over before the meatier card that followed.

That's about to change. As Nick Paglino noted on Wrestle Zone, both Jericho and Lesnar are advertised for Fastlane on the Quicken Loans Arena website.

By booking both those names for Fastlane on Feb. 21, the PPV's significance shifts dramatically.

Anticipation for the second event under the Fastlane banner just skyrocketed. All of a sudden, it feels far more special, far more must-watch.

Both those Superstars aren't around consistently, and their constant breaks help make their eventual reemergence a newsworthy moment.

Jericho only wrestled one PPV bout in 2015 and competed in just three the year before, per CageMatch.net. Lesnar has been hibernating since Hell in a Cell in October. The Beast Incarnate hasn't shown up on TV since. His part-time schedule and massive presence elevate the magnitude of every match and promo he has.

As Fox Sports' Damon Martin put it succinctly, "Lesnar's appearances are always a major moment for the WWE Universe."

And for the first time ever, Fastlane will be home to one of those appearances. The Beast Incarnate has skipped a number of lesser PPVs in the past few years, so showing up to this one is a surprise. Like when he challenged Seth Rollins at Battleground in 2015, he's added prestige to the show with his name alone.

Fastlane has had just one edition thus far, and last year's card felt like a sub-PPV. WWE was obviously just using it as a transition to WrestleMania 31.

It featured Bray Wyatt talking about Undertaker, Triple H talking to Sting and Paul Heyman talking about Lesnar, all setting up what was to come at The Show of Shows. The fact that Undertaker and Lesnar were only mentioned but didn't appear at all was a clear sign that this was several rungs under the major shows.

Adding Lesnar this year with a bonus of Jericho elevates the perception of the show.

The move comes at a time when those wrestlers' star power is badly needed, especially with WWE.com reporting that John Cena is now out with a shoulder injury. That leaves WWE likely without him, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Rollins and Cesaro for that show.

As Adam Silverstein wrote for CBSSports.com, the growing injury list leaves WWE "in dire need of headline performers."

Fortunately for Vince McMahon, two former world champions and future Hall of Famers are available. That will be huge for the road to WrestleMania in general and Fastlane in particular.

The PPV now pulses with excitement born from the possibilities ahead.

Lesnar may be working his way back into the title picture at Fastlane, winning a No. 1 contender's spot to assure his place in the main event. Lesnar could be facing someone he's never stepped in the ring with before, as could Jericho. 

Y2J may be providing Big E with a major singles matchup or entering himself in the Intercontinental Championship picture.

Regardless of which of those paths WWE takes, Fastlane is far better off.