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

With surefire instant classics on the card, WWE SummerSlam 2016 is poised to outdo WrestleMania.

John Cena will take on AJ Styles in a rematch of their spectacular showing at Money in the Bank. Finn Balor and Seth Rollins promise to deliver a high-energy, gravity-defying showcase as each man looks to become the inaugural WWE universal champion. Brock Lesnar, Sasha Banks and Dean Ambrose are all poised to thrive under the pay-per-view spotlight, too.

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will host the 29th edition of SummerSlam on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. ET.

As announced on Monday's Raw, Jon Stewart will again make an appearance at The Biggest Party of the Summer. Stewart played guest host to the event last year and got involved in the action, actually costing Cena his match against Rollins.

The retired talk show host will get a great seat as a number of in-ring thrill rides unfold.

Injuries held WrestleMania back. Cena, Rollins, Cesaro and Orton were all on the shelf at The Showcase of the Immortals. Now they are all healed and ready to turn SummerSlam into the must-see show on the WWE calendar in 2016.

Live Stream, PPV Info

SummerSlam is going to be an extravaganza of sports entertainment. As it has done with WrestleMania, WWE has continued to expand the length of the summer blockbuster.

Before the four-hour event kicks off, WWE will air a two-hour pre-show starting at 5 p.m. ET.

Renee Young will head a panel of experts who will break down the night's biggest matchups. Predictions, interviews and promo videos will take up much of the program, and there is usually at least one match on these kickoff shows.

WWE has yet to announce which of SummerSlam's contests will be pushed to pre-show status. Fans can stream it all on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+, as well as the WWE Network.

As for the PPV itself, SummerSlam will stream live on the WWE Network (subscription required). Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV are among the platforms carrying the network. Visit WWE.com's help section for a full list of compatible devices.

For those without access to high-speed internet, traditional pay-per-view is still an option. Some cable companies still carry WWE PPVs, despite WWE's claims that its network is the only place to get SummerSlam.

Match Card

• Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens
• Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. Natalya, Eva Marie and Alexa Bliss
• Cesaro vs. Sheamus (first match of Best of Seven Series)
• The Miz vs. Apollo Crews (Intercontinental Championship)
• The New Day vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (Tag Team Championship)
• Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte (Women's Championship)
• Rusev vs. Roman Reigns (United States Championship)
• John Cena vs. AJ Styles
• Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE World Championship)
• Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins (WWE Universal Championship)
• Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

Top Match Previews       

Banks vs. Charlotte II

The dynamics of a long-awaited showdown shifted when Banks dethroned Charlotte in July, becoming just the second wrestler to hold the current version of the Women's Championship. Banks is no longer on the hunt; she's the hunted. 

The Boss made sure this would remain a one-on-one affair when she beat Dana Brooke last week, a result that bars Charlotte's protege from ringside at SummerSlam.

Banks and Charlotte have flourished as opponents in the past, whether at NXT or on the WWE stage. Unless WWE decides to cut down their ring time, this latest collision promises to be another good one.

Rusev vs. Reigns

At this point in the feud over the United States Championship, the physicality has been compelling, but the narrative has been ineffective.

The title bout was brought about by Rusev mistakenly pushing his wife's face into a wedding cake. Rusev has since demanded an apology and fought for Lana's honor, but Reigns has instead fired off insults, calling her a mail-order bride.

But when these two men have traded shots in the ring, the silly story has given way to thrilling, hard-hitting action.

WWE has looked to rejuvenate Reigns by pushing him down to the midcard. The results have been mixed thus far, but this rivalry with The Bulgarian Brute is poised to truly get rolling at SummerSlam.

Cena vs. Styles II

One of 2016's top bouts to date is getting a sequel. Styles defeated Cena in a stunner at Money in the Bank two months ago.

Since then, the draft split up The Club, leaving Styles to fend for himself. Cena and The Phenomenal One's issues are far from over, though.

The story continues to revolve around Styles looking to push Cena out of the way en route to taking over WWE. The new guard seeks to down the old guard.

Whether Styles is successful or not, this promises to be spectacular. One would be hard-pressed to find two men on the current roster who can deliver in big matches better than Cena and Styles.

Ambrose vs. Ziggler

Long the struggling midcarder, Ziggler suddenly finds himself in contention for the world title. A surprising win in a recent Six-Pack Challenge on SmackDown vaulted him into that spot.

The Showoff now seeks redemption after years of floundering.

Ambrose stands in his way. The champ has now survived challenges from both Rollins on his own and Rollins and Reigns in tandem. Will he remain SmackDown's top champ, or does WWE have a curveball in mind?

With so many other marquee matches on the docket, it's easy to overlook this one. But if its promos are any indication, this will be a collision overflowing with intensity.

Balor vs. Rollins

The vacant WWE Universal Championship awaits the winner here.

Rollins has been one of WWE's top performers over the past two years and looked every bit like a megastar as he held the world title last year. He can again wear gold around his waist if he can knock off the newcomer from NXT.

Balor, the former NXT champ, has quickly made his mark on the Raw roster. And he didn't wait long to unleash his dark alter ego. On Monday night, he emerged as The Demon King.

WWE can make a definitive statement that it has entered the New Era by pushing Balor to the very top in record fashion. 

Athleticism will be in surplus here. This promises to be the fastest, most breathtaking showdown of the night.

Lesnar vs. Orton

Despite both men arriving in WWE's developmental system around the same time, Orton and Lesnar have yet to face off at a PPV. They have instead marched down parallel paths lined with championship gold.

Lesnar was WWE's next big thing before leaving for a shot at the NFL and a stint with the UFC. He has since returned and become a marquee attraction for the company.

Orton, meanwhile, has been a world champ several times over, a headliner and a workhorse.

After The Viper missed months of action with an injured shoulder, he returned ready to make a statement by stepping up to the monstrous Lesnar. Everyone is an underdog against The Beast Incarnate, but WWE continues to sell fans on Orton's chances, focusing on the power of the RKO.

That finishing move is Orton's only shot at downing Lesnar. The wrestling world will be watching as Orton looks to strike with that famous weapon.

It's not often that two stars of this caliber collide; it's not often that two certain future Hall of Famers meet when both are in their primes.