WWE Fastlane 2016: Top Takeaways from Latest PPV Event

WWE Fastlane 2016 was a tale of two shows. WWE told some strong stories in certain matches, setting up fans for weeks of solid builds heading into WrestleMania 32, especially with its midcard Superstars. 

On the other hand, there were plenty of questionable calls from the WWE Creative team, which left fans shaking their heads and wondering what they were watching. 

Now with 42 days until WrestleMania 32, WWE can not only build upon the successes that came out of WWE Fastlane 2016, but also move on from the missed opportunities from Sunday night's pay-per-view. 

The Roman Reigns-Triple H Feud Isn't Going Away Anytime Soon

Credit: WWE.com

For the past few months, Roman Reigns has been on a crusade against The Authority. It seems that fans have seen every conceivable angle. 

Reigns has snatched victory away from defeat on numerous occasions, only to have Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and even Vince McMahon bury him time and time again. It's been the running theme of Reigns' time as a main event Superstar for the past year and a half. 

With Reigns' victory at WWE Fastlane 2016 to become the No. 1 contender to Triple H's crown, WWE fans are left staring at the same story they've been told since the Royal Rumble last year. It's been the slowest of burns for WWE, but one it's been committed to ever since Reigns was anointed the next big thing.

As Justin LaBar of the Tribune-Review wrote immediately after WWE Fastlane 2016 ended: 

"

A lot of time has gone into preparation and positioning of Reigns as the long-term babyface hero moving forward for the company. ... The families and kids show up because they want to spend money to see guys like Reigns. The same formula has applied for years to John Cena. ... I already know the answer to who the next WWE Champion is. There's a lot of booing and cheering already going on about that answer in the WWE Universe—but that's the life of the top dog, and it's profitable either way.

"

WWE fans should get used to seeing Reigns tangle with The Authority. Even after WrestleMania 32, when most fans presume Reigns will walk out with the WWE title, the story is too good to let it go. One might disagree with the execution, but nothing sells like one man rising against those in control. 

How WWE makes this feud fresh in the weeks and months to come will be the interesting part. Does Dean Ambrose turn on Reigns? Does Reigns sell out to The Authority, paving the way for Ambrose or a returning Seth Rollins to take his place?

One thing is clear: Roman Reigns is taking the place of Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena and Daniel Bryan before him. 

Bray Wyatt and Brock Lesnar Still on Collision Course for WrestleMania 32

Usually WWE Creative buries Bray Wyatt during and after WrestleMania. The powers that be decided to get things started a little earlier in 2016. 

The Wyatt Family and their future are in shambles thanks to an inexplicable loss to the team of Big Show, Kane and Ryback at WWE Fastlane 2016. Even more stunning, the much-rumored run-in to set up a Wyatt Family-Brock Lesnar feud heading into WrestleMania 32 never happened.

That could mean a change is taking place for both men, a rumor that surfaced on Twitter early Monday morning courtesy of WWEAlerts:

Don't be surprised, though, if WWE sticks with its original script to have Lesnar and The Wyatt Family face off in Dallas. There's still six weeks until WrestleMania 32, however, and WWE Creative will use every bit of that time to make this long talked-about feud a reality. 

On one hand, why should WWE build up Wyatt into a monster only to serve him on a silver platter to Lesnar? Wyatt has been cheapened over the last few months, built every so slightly, only to get knocked down by the likes of Roman Reigns, Kane and Undertaker. Wyatt is no longer a credible threat to anyone, much less The Beast Incarnate. 

On the flip side, why would WWE risk making its biggest attraction, Brock Lesnar, a sacrificial lamb for The Wyatt Family? The aura of Lesnar has already taken a beating, as he's lost more in the last 12 months than he has since returning to WWE in 2012. Making Lesnar look weaker isn't best for business; in fact, it's downright foolish. 

Unfortunately, something's got to give. WWE has been storming down the Wyatt-Lesnar path since The Wyatt Family took out Lesnar on the go-home episode of Raw before the Royal Rumble. Add to that the family's interference during the Rumble match, and the reported match between Lesnar and Luke Harper at the WWE Network special "WWE March to WrestleMania: Live from Toronto" (h/t Wrestling Inc.), and you've got a recipe for a feud. 

The question is: Will anyone care?

The WWE Tag Team Division Is Surprisingly Weak

The main event scene was well-represented with Reigns, Ambrose and Lesnar headlining WWE Fastlane 2016. The midcard featured stellar performances from Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Kalisto, Chris Jericho, Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio. Even the Divas, save for a few botched moves, put on compelling matches. 

The tag team division, on the other hand, flunked big time. 

Not a single match on the card featured a traditional tag team, and the only one to even appear on the broadcast—the champion, The New Day—is apparently so over that it became a babyface without anyone knowing. 

During The Cutting Edge Peep Show segment on Sunday night's pay-per-view, The New Day called out a number of tag teams, but no one drew its ire more than a non-tag team, The League of Nations. That led to a face-to-booty, and apparently a feud will be started. 

A quick scan of Twitter found that no one knew what to make of the entire segment, much less the fact that everyone's favorite heels have now become the company-approved faces in a division void of entertaining acts:

It's not surprising, though. As B/R's Ryan Dilbert wrote recently, there is a dearth of top-flight tag teams on the roster. There's not a single team on the roster that can match the charisma and entertainment of The New Day, especially among the division's faces. Now, with The Dudley Boyz embracing their inner heel, WWE painted itself in a corner. 

Not only did it have no choice but to turn the most popular team in the division, but it needed a new cast to battle it. Enter The League of Nations, a group that is so hated by fans that they could turn anyone face. Just ask Roman Reigns. 

Perhaps the biggest disappointment in this entire segment was who was missing. According to numerous rumors, including one reported by Wrestling Inc.'s Marc Middleton on Sunday just before Fastlane, NXT Superstars Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady were to make their main roster debuts at the pay-per-view. 

The lack of NXT's premiere tag team at Fastlane didn't go unnoticed among WWE fans on social media:

"

WWE Has no plans for Enzo/Cass at Fast Lane. Dirt Sheets - "Enzo/Cass possible" - who let you down? WWE or The Dirt Sheets? Exactly.

— Tubby Emu (@TubbyEmu) February 22, 2016"

Instead, fans got more tired bookings from WWE Creative. Never mind The New Day and the League of Nations have teamed up on multiple occasions in the last two months. Never mind that it's WrestleMania season, a time to jolt some life into the product. 

Instead, it's another lackluster decision heading into the biggest event of the year. There's only one word for it: booty.