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

After an enthralling few months for WWE as it embarks into a new era, the first brand-exclusive pay-per-view sees SmackDown take center stage with the return of Backlash.

With six matches and some new champions guaranteed to be crowned, the show offers plenty of promise that the blue brand can continue to stand on its own two feet since the move to Tuesday nights.

The climb of AJ Styles continues at pace as he battles Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship, and The Miz's Intercontinental Championship reign continues with a match against Dolph Ziggler. 

With unpredictability a given and some genuine confusion over who will win what on Sunday, this is the ideal chance for SmackDown to show it is the dominant brand in the new era following the draft.

Live Stream, PPV Info

Following the four-hour marathon that was SummerSlam, Backlash will mark the start of WWE's switch back to more conventional pay-per-view timings.

The action gets underway for real at 7 p.m. ET, with a one-hour pre-show preceding the actual action itself.

As is always the case, that pre-show will be headed up by Renee Young, who will be joined by a whole host of major names as the pre-match hype and analysis step up another gear.

With a one-hour slot to fill, there's no hint yet as to which bouts will go on the pre-show. There's always the possibility that some new bouts could be created, perhaps including the continued return of Kane following his recent appearances on the blue brand.

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

Match Card

• The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler (Intercontinental Championship)
• The Usos vs. The Hype Bros (SmackDown Tag Team Championship tournament semifinal)
• TBD vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno (SmackDown Tag Team Championship tournament final)
• Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
• Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch vs. Carmella vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Bella (SmackDown Women's Championship)
• Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles (WWE World Championship)

Previews

New Tag Champions to Be Crowned

It was difficult to see how WWE would make the Heath Slater storyline surrounding him being a free agent work at first, but it's fair to say the company has done a good job of elevating him.

Various appearances on Raw and SmackDown eventually saw him settle down on the blue brand, in a bid to impress Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan enough to win a WWE contract.

He was thrown straight into the tournament for the new SmackDown tag titles, and he and Rhyno have made it all the way to the final two.

Who they will face is up in the air after The Usos took American Alpha out of the picture, but they have to be the overwhelming favorites.

Expect Jason Jordan to exact some form of revenge on Jimmy and Jey after they attacked Chad Gable, with The Hype Bros not putting up enough of a challenge to stop the Slater bandwagon from rolling.

Can Ambrose Hang On at the SmackDown Summit?

After his victory against John Cena at SummerSlam, Styles heads to Backlash as one of SmackDown's biggest stars and a genuine threat to Ambrose and the WWE World Championship.

Ambrose rarely looked or had the air of a man in trouble during his previous world title feud with Ziggler, but this one is much different.

Styles is arguably the favorite, and he is a man seriously in form both in and out of the ring.

Can Styles live up to his own billing as the new face that runs the place? Or will Ambrose hold on and retain the WWE World Championship and live to fight another day?

This one has all the makings of a classic. Their feud so far has been excellent to watch, and it seems like it could be just the start for the duo.

Whether the title goes back and forth between both men for the next few months or Ambrose holds on to it, don't expect this Sunday's main event to be dull.