WWE Fastlane 2016: Smart Builds for PPV's Top Feuds

Of all the pay-per-views on the WWE calendar, Fastlane occupies the most unusual spot. Held just ahead of WrestleMania, the event runs a tightrope of building anticipation for the Showcase of the Immortals without overexposing the matches scheduled for the biggest PPV of the year.

Last year, the only bout repeated from Fastlane at WrestleMania was John Cena vs. Rusev for the United State Championship. Some other matches contained some of the same participants but were otherwise changed significantly to keep the latter show fresh.

It seems likely we'll see a similar strategy executed in 2016. Expect to see Fastlane hint at the matches we'll see on the WrestleMania card—but the Feb. 21 event shouldn't make the Road to WrestleMania a foregone conclusion.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto

After a trio of back-and-forth U.S. title changes in January, it will be interesting to see whether Kalisto can accomplish some manner of stability as his reign extends into February. Hopefully, his efforts to keep hold of the gold will result in another match with Alberto Del Rio.

Wrestler	Date	Days Held	Event
John Cena	September 20, 2015	35	Night of Champions 2015
Alberto Del Rio	October 25, 2015	78	Hell in a Cell 2015
Kalisto	January 11, 2016	1	Raw
Alberto Del Rio	January 12, 2016	12	SmackDown
Kalisto	January 24, 2016	13+	Royal Rumble 2016

We've seen this pairing play out plenty in recent weeks, but the fact is both men work well together. They could likely feud all through 2016 and still find new ground to cover between the ropes—although, admittedly, this would perhaps be overkill.

Instead, it would be good to see Kalisto pick up the win in a competitive match with El Patron. With no clear challenger waiting in the wings, it seems like we could be headed for a multi-man United States Championship bout at WrestleMania—not too dissimilar from the Intercontinental Championship ladder match from last year's event.

If that is the case, Kalisto would benefit from entering the fray with some momentum behind him. His title win was a good start, but he's still on shaky ground. However, putting his feud with Del Rio to bed would establish he's not just the flavour of the month.

Brie Bella vs. Charlotte

When developments on the most recent edition of Raw began to point toward a Brie Bella vs. Charlotte match for Fastlane, few would have been excited by the possibilities. Brie is not the most capable wrestler on the roster, and this looks likely to be a dud—especially following on from the excellent program the champion recently had with Becky Lynch.

In short, this is one match in which a non-finish wouldn't displease the majority of those watching. Brie is seemingly only involved to capitalize on the recent premiere of the fifth season of Total Divas, which would be something of a step backward for the division as a whole.

Credit: WWE.com

However, it's a great opportunity to put the spotlight back on Sasha Banks, who seems to be in line for a title program at WrestleMania based on her appearance at the Royal Rumble. Have her kick-start that rivalry by interfering in the match at Fastlane, taking out both competitors.

Mowing down Brie would be a great way for Banks to demonstrate her capabilities while holding off on a showdown between The Boss and Charlotte. That match deserves to be on the WrestleMania card, but it'll be more effective with the sort of steady build both women became very familiar with in NXT.

Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar

Like last year, the Fastlane 2016 main event has been put together with the intent of extending speculation as to how WrestleMania will come to a close. This tactic has proved even more effective than Daniel Bryan's plight during last year's build.

There are still major questions being asked about whether Roman Reigns is the best choice to challenge Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship inside the AT&T Stadium. However, at this point, it seems any other eventuality would stray too far from a plan years in the making.

Credit: WWE.com

It's been clear for some time Reigns is earmarked for greatness, even if fans were reticent to back him completely. If nothing else, a match with Triple H is sure to produce the best main event The Juggernaut could hope for—look back at The Game's Match with Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30 for evidence.

However, simply putting Reigns back on the hunt for his nemesis risks the rest of the WrestleMania build coming off flat. If we saw the relationship between him and his best friend, Dean Ambrose, strained by the finish to the Fastlane main event, there would be much more depth to the program.

There would be some obvious benefits to having Reigns turn his back on the audience, but things don't even have to be that extreme. Severing ties with Ambrose would demonstrate the title pursuit has taken its toll on the Big Dog.

If Brock Lesnar seems like an afterthought here, it's because he largely is. He'll contribute to a great match, no doubt—but it seems quite clear The Wyatt Family will make sure he's not in contention to win, sparking a WrestleMania match.

What are your expectations for Fastlane 2016? What matches do you think should be added to the card, particularly with WrestleMania in sight? Let us know in the comments section below.