WWE Fastlane 2016: 5 pay-per-views that could replace Fastlane

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns faced off in the main event of last year’s Fastlane pay-per-view.Last year marked the first year that the WWE placed the Fastlane pay-per-view in February, between January’s Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania in late March. This year’s schedule is similar, with Wrestlemania shifting into early April as it sometimes does.While Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns put on a fine No. 1 Contender’s match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship last year with a decent storyline build, the event didn’t feel very special.Also read: WWE Fastlane 2016: 5 bold predictions for the pay-per-viewBeing between two of the company’s premier events makes it difficult to stand out, but there are certainly ways that could be done. Here are five pay-per-view ideas that might be better for that spot.

#5 Elimination Chamber

The Elimination Chamber is an imposing structure with plenty of chances for unique spots.

The most obvious replacement for Fastlane would be the Elimination Chamber, which held the February slot for five years. After all, the Elimination Chamber, with its unique construction and rules, is the exact opposite of the nondescript Fastlane event.

Reportedly, the reason the WWE replaced the Chamber because the structure itself can only be used in certain arenas. Still, the event would be worth the hassle because of the options for the main event inside the structure, which could be used as a No. 1 Contender’s match or a championship of some kind.

#4 WWE Lottery

The WWE most recently used the lottery tumbler to “decide” who would enter first for this year’s Royal Rumble match.

From time to time, the WWE has used a lottery or raffle tumbler to decide things, and they could make it the centerpiece of a pay-per-view. And that would be open to the writers to decide how that is manifested.

The idea would be simple; each match for the card would be decided – at least in parts – by a random draw on the night of the event or the Raw before. This could mean random title shots or random contestants for No. 1 contender’s matches, but the important thing would be the element of surprise.

As for the build, entry to the raffle for various matches could be earned in the weeks leading up to the event.

#3 Tag Team Triumph

Erick Rowan and Luke Harper have shown flashes of dominance in tag-team competition.

The WWE tag-team division has been something of a rollercoaster experience over the last couple years.

At times, groups like the New Day, Shield, Wyatts, Dudleys and Usos have helped lift it to prominence, but the championship has also suffered at times, even being contested on the preshow before pay-per-views,

An entire pay-per-view dedicated to tag wrestling would highlight the division while allowing the singles feuds an extra month to build. Also, this would allow dominant teams that are generally involved in different storylines, like the Wyatts, the chance to compete for the tag belts without having to spend an entire month working up through the division.

#2 NXT Takeover

WWE’s developmental NXT brand has drawn plenty of praise from wrestling fans in recent years.

What if the February pay-per-view wasn’t actually a WWE event?

Sure, the NXT brand is an extension of the WWE and has its programming on the WWE Network, but the developmental brand has its own roster, its own champions and its own unique feel.

While the WWE performers could certainly be included if the writers want, this would allow some of them to perhaps get a rest. If nothing else, turning the focus to the yellow and black ring would provide the rare chance for a two-month build from the Royal Rumble to the Wrestlemania matches.

#1 War Games

War Games was one of the most brutal and memorable match concepts from the 1990s.

The WCW had plenty of regrettable ideas when it came to pay-per-views, but the War Games cage match wasn’t one of them. Held annually at the Fall Brawl, the team event featured staggered entries and led to some iconic moments.

For the WWE, this match set-up would allow some of the singles storylines to take a break for the event between the Rumble and Wrestlemania, especially the World Heavyweight Championship picture.

Since most years, that match could already be set for Wrestlemania, the WWE writers could do something completely different without necessarily affecting long-term title storylines.