WWE Fastlane 2016: Date, Start Time, Matches, Live Stream, PPV Info

With the right mix of narrative surprises and eye-catching action, WWE Fastlane 2016 will prove to be more than just a bridge from the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania.

It all begins on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland will host the second edition of the pay-per-view.

Much of the proceedings Sunday night will focus on setting up WrestleMania 32. A tag team match will likely clear up the Divas Championship picture. The main event will decide who takes on Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at The Show of Shows.

In that bout, Brock Lesnar will make his Fastlane debut when he takes on both Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.

WWE has done a tremendous job of building up that clash. Lesnar has looked like an unstoppable monster. Ambrose is looking like a dark horse who might actually get the upset.

It's Fastlane's other showdowns that, for the most part, have been hastily put together and lack needed momentum. That's most evident with the U.S. title match. It's not surprising, then, that WWE pushed it down to the pre-show. 

Live Stream, PPV Info

At 7 p.m. ET, an hourlong kickoff show will get fans ready for Fastlane. 

A panel of analysts will break down the night's biggest matches. Videos hyping the bouts will fill up much of the pre-show, as well. The in-ring portion of the program will feature a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the United States Championship.

Kalisto will defend against Alberto Del Rio.

That match and the full pre-show will stream for free on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus, in addition to the WWE Network.

Once the pay-per-view begins in earnest, the WWE Network (subscription required) will stream all the bouts. Fans can view it all using Amazon Fire, Roku, PlayStation or Xbox. WWE.com's help section features a full list of compatible devices.

The WWE Network has expanded to reach numerous countries, including both Germany and Japan. Visit WWE.com to check availability around the world.

Alternatively, viewers can order the pay-per-view through their local cable company in both high-definition and standard versions.

Match Card

• Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto (2-out-of-3 Falls match for United States Championship)
• Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch vs. Tamina and Naomi
• The Wyatt Family vs. Ryback, Kane and Big Show
• Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens (Intercontinental Championship)
• Brie Bella vs. Charlotte (Divas Championship)
• Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar (No. 1 contender match for WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

United States Championship

The underdog is set to prove his victories thus far have not been flukes. While the story seemed over after Kalisto knocked off Del Rio at the Royal Rumble, WWE has since added another chapter.

Del Rio's injured back has limited the progress of the feud since that title win. Little has happened of late. WWE only announced the bout and the stipulation on Monday's Raw.

The two rivals' chemistry has been up and down in their last few battles. At times, they churn up thrilling action. Other times, their matches sputter along thanks to awkwardness.

While it's unclear how good of a match this will be, it seems all but certain there won't be a new champion. It would be just plain nutty to have four titles changes in a month-and-a-half.

Banks and Lynch vs. Team B.A.D.

The Boss takes on her old teammates alongside a woman she barely trusts. After splitting from Team B.A.D., Banks has formed an uneasy alliance with Lynch.

Whether that partnership will implode is one of the key questions surrounding this match. Another is how this will set up the Divas title match at WrestleMania.

WWE could be looking to push both Banks and Lynch into the championship picture. Or this could be a means to showcase The Boss.  

Either way, it has show-stealer potential. This match features two of the division's top talents in Lynch and Banks and is a part of a story that is far from predictable. We could get a new powerful duo for the future, a full-on babyface turn for Banks or someone stepping out as a clear No. 1 contender to Charlotte's belt.

Family vs. Titans

The Wyatt Family is either set to get its comeuppance or offer another display of dominance.

Bray Wyatt has led the way as his clan beat down Ryback, Big Show and Kane. He talked of wanting to destroy all of WWE's titans. Those titans struck back on Monday's Raw, coming together as a unit.

Now all seven men are set to collide at Fastlane.

This looks to be a way to elevate The Wyatt Family ahead of WrestleMania. Beating on two giants and a powerhouse could make Wyatt look plenty ready for a big-name opponent at the massive event. Or WWE will make it even more clear how much it is behind Braun Strowman.

Should he end up being the star of the bout, count on him getting the most WrestleMania spotlight, not his fellow faction members.

Intercontinental Championship

Suddenly, the brewing Owens vs. Ziggler rivalry has a purpose.

Owens won a five-man match on Monday's Raw to become intercontinental champ for the second time. Ziggler, who bested the powerhouse in their two previous matches, laid out a challenge for the gold right away.

The matches have been excellent, but the rivalry has sagged. WWE Creative simply hasn't put in the level of effort that Owens and Ziggler have. There are no subplots to this story—no narrative outside of the fact these guys have been facing each other a lot.

That promises to hurt this next match, even with a championship at stake. Count on top-notch performances from both champion and challenger, however.

Divas Championship

WWE is looking to parlay Daniel Bryan's retirement and Nikki Bella's surgery into pathos for Brie. The No. 1 contender made a sudden switch to babyface status as the company looked to take advantage of those real-life situations.

That has yet to translate into compelling animosity between her and Charlotte, though. 

The bout feels like a transitional one. The general expectation is that Banks or Lynch will get a crack at Charlotte come WrestleMania. Brie may be just getting one last taste of the spotlight before she and her husband carve out their post-WWE lives.

Who Will Face Triple H at WrestleMania?

Lesnar wants to tear apart both former members of The Shield and return to the main event of WrestleMania for a chance to reclaim the title he wore last year. Reigns held that gold until the Royal Rumble. He's now forced to go through his best friend and The Beast Incarnate to get another shot at that championship.

Ambrose, meanwhile, has been the star of the build to Fastlane.

Fearless, he has begged Lesnar to take him to Suplex City. He's taken all the punishment the powerhouse has handed him—and asked for more afterward. Does all that compelling character work translate into a win?

Bleacher Report's Dan Pecoraro broke down Ambrose's chances of walking away as the victor:

It's hard to argue with him. WWE has focused so much on Reigns for the past year that the company putting him on the WrestleMania marquee remains the safest best.

Even if the bout ends as expected, there are still a number of other subplots to watch.

Reigns and Ambrose's relationship may splinter right in front of us. WWE has not been shy in teasing that possibility. In addition, The Wyatt Family may be lurking, looking to attack Lesnar as the group did at the Royal Rumble.

All that adds up to WWE sitting on a number of options to play with, giving Fastlane a strong shot at being more than a WrestleMania precursor.