WWE Fastlane 2016: Undercard Matches Fans Deserve to See

Despite only being a matter of months apart, WWE Fastlane is a very different show to WrestleMania.

Particularly in recent years, there's an expectation that every match on the card for the Showcase of the Immortals needs to be worthy of the event—although opinions on what should make the cut will obviously differ from one person to the next.

Conversely, Fastlane offers up far more flexibility. While WrestleMania will obviously be about pomp, spectacle and part-timers, next Sunday's show is free to operate on a smaller scale and throw a spotlight on the undercard.

Here are the bouts that would best flesh out the card for the last stop on the Road to WrestleMania.

The Dudley Boyz vs. The Usos

Credit: WWE.com

As it stands, the best possible tag team match for WrestleMania is unquestionably The Usos vs. The New Day. These are the two standout tag teams on the current roster, and they're perfectly aligned to produce a compelling match. There's just one problem—Jimmy and Jey haven't earned it.

With The Ascension proving to be a flop on the main roster, and The Wyatt Family often busy with other matters, there aren't enough villainous tag teams in the division. The New Day are great champions, but it's difficult for a fan-favourite duo to earn a shot at their titles.

The new attitude the Dudley Boyz displayed last Monday seems poised to remedy that. With their unparalleled accomplishments as a team, they're the perfect competition to square off with The Usos before a likely title match at WrestleMania.

Of course, there should be little doubt that the match would be terrific, also. The Usos managed to do great work with the New Age Outlaws back in 2014, and it's more than likely that they could do the same with D-Von and Bubba Ray.

Natalya vs. Charlotte

Credit: WWE.com

Brie Bella is scheduled for a Divas Championship match at Fastlane, but her status as No. 1 Contender seems rather tied to her husband's retirement, rather than her fluke victory over Charlotte. It seems like this is a holdover bout designed to kill time until WrestleMania, so why give another underused competitor the spotlight?

Despite having been on the main roster for several years, Natalya has more in common with the recent crop of NXT graduates than the women she's competed against for most of her WWE tenure. She's got years of experience on the independent scene behind her, and that translates to great in-ring performances.

Natalya and Charlotte could likely have a match that stands up to anything else on the Fastlane card, given enough time. Such a bout would give the champion considerable momentum going into WrestleMania, as well as once again establishing Natalya as a contender in the division.

AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho

Credit: WWE.com

It seems like we're going to see AJ Styles and Chris Jericho meet once again at Fastlane. This is a match fans deserve to see, and it's being set up by a smartly laid-out program.

In recent years, it's become clear that Jericho's main role in the company is as an enhancement talent for burgeoning competitors. However, his feud with Styles has already proved to be more fruitful than the likes of his rivalry with Fandango.

Styles and Jericho both have found great success as Westerners working in Japan, and they are similarly praised for their in-ring abilities. Furthermore, it's something of a dream match that never seemed likely to take place until WWE signed The Phenomenal One  earlier this year.

More than anything else, it's a perfect way to debut Styles as a singles competitor, relaying to any unfamiliar sections of the audience that he's a top-tier wrestler.

However, if this bout takes place at Fastlane, it can be used to establish Styles as being on the verge of the main event ahead of WrestleMania. Based on the timing of his debut, it seems likely that he'll be in action at the biggest show of the year—and a great match with a legend is a great way to set that up.

What matches do you want to see at Fastlane? Let us know in the comments section below.