Here are my WWE Backlash Thoughts:
Here's the Entire 24-Year History of WWE Backlash Updated with this Year's ResultsMy Backlash Picks: Bad Bunny, Cody Rhodes, Owens, Riddle, & Zayn, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Austin Theory, Seth Rollins
They need to change the format of Kickoff Shows. This is so boring. No one cares about people talking about the matches & we don't have to see the video packages that we will see later. Make it a half hour & add a match or keep it an hour & add more matches.
Wow. 7 years ago tonight Wade Barrett was part of a mass WWE Release. 7 years later, he's hanging out on the beach with beautiful women. That's not Bad News.
There is no need for Cody Rhodes VS Brock Lesnar to main event Backlash tonight. It's going to be a great match, but there's no need to end the show with it.
Bad Bunny VS Damian Priest should be the main event. The crowd will be disappointed especially with the way Smackdown ended last night.
Awesome opening video with Bad Bunny.
Like Smackdown, I love the idea of the Drone going through the arena to start the show.
I will say this now as it will probably be a running thing all night. Who cares if the "heels" are being cheered over the "faces"? Let the fans cheer or boo for who they want.
Bianca Belair VS IYO SKY was an incredible match & an amazing way to kick off Backlash. If the crowd is this crazy for the opening match, it's going to be one hell of a night. After this, IYO needs to be a Singles star. But there was no need for Damage CTRL to get involved. That lowered the match a little bit, but I get why they did it. Backlash Picks: 1 for 1.
Awesome. Savio Vega hanging out with Rey Mysterio & Bad Bunny.
I didn't know if it was possible as Seth Rollins is one of the best wrestlers in the world, but Seth Rollins VS Omos was horrible. We did not need to see this match. This definitely had Vince McMahon's grubby dirty hands all over it. BL Picks: 2 for 2.
Bobby Lashley VS Bronson Reed VS Austin Theory was a fun Triple Threat Match. All 3 men had their time in their spotlight. I love that Theory showed he can hang with the big guys. I figured Theory would steal the win like that. BL Picks: 3 for 3.
It was great to see Big E in that Commercial. He is so missed right now. I'm looking forward to Night of Champions, but I might be late as I think I have to work that Saturday. We'll see. Good video on Rhea Ripley.
Wow. What a moment for Zelina Vega to make her entrance in her home country of Puerto Rico at 9:11 PM. Her Dad who died on that tragic day is watching over her right now. I love the emotion in her face. From one Queens, New York native to another, she deserves this moment. Thank you for making me cry.
Zelina Vega VS Rhea Ripley was a great match. What a spotlight on Zelina. I hope this isn't a one-time thing for Zelina & she gets pushed & used more. She's too good of a wrestler to be used just as a manager for The LWO. So now that both Bianca & Rhea retained their titles, I guess we will see them physically switching the titles. Therefore Belair as the Longest Reigning Raw Women's Champ will end like the record she beat, Becky Lynch, by vacating it. BL Picks: 4 for 4.
I hope Arnold Schwarzenegger makes another appearance on WWE TV to promote Fubar, his new show on Netflix. Maybe Triple H can avenge what Arnold did to him years ago on Smackdown.
Damn it, Bad Bunny VS Damian Priest should be closing the show. This is the 2nd mistake of the night after Omos wrestling Seth Rollins in a 10 minute match. Bunny's entrance was incredible. He is the 12th Longest 24/7 Champion of All-Time.
Bad Bunny VS Damian Priest was amazing. I think with this, Bunny surpassed Logan Paul as the best celebrity that has ever competed in a wrestling match. I respect him for taking bumps like he did in this match. I guess Finn Balor didn't get the memo that the rest of The Judgment Day were all wearing white tonight. Holy crap Carlito. The last time he was in WWE for the Royal Rumble a few years ago he couldn't spit the apple because of the Pandemic. Now, Savio Vega. Where are the rest of Los Boricuas? BL Picks: 5 for 5.
Kevin Owens, Matt Riddle, & Sami Zayn VS The Bloodline as a fun 6-Man Tag to close the book on Owens, Riddle, & Zayn VS The Bloodline. Also, a lot of great stories being told during the match. Give everyone an Emmy. BL Picks: 5 for 6.
Great video on GUNTHER. Looking forward to seeing him against new opponents on Raw.
As much as Cody Rhodes is getting a great reaction, he's not getting a Bad Bunny Reaction. He should not be main eventing Backlash.
Cody Rhodes VS Brock Lesnar was an awful match. Cody's worst match since coming back. This has to be the worst mistake of the
tripleh Era by having this as the Backlash Main Event. I think this was the decision of that senile mind of Vince McMahon. And we didn't need blood. BL Picks: 6 for 7.
Here are my Backlash Match Rankings:
1) Bad Bunny VS Damian Priest
2) Bianca Belair VS IYO SKY
3) Kevin Owens, Matt Riddle, & Sami Zayn VS The Bloodline
4) Zelina Vega VS Rhea Ripley
5) Bobby Lashley VS Bronson Reed VS Austin Theory
6) Cody Rhodes VS Brock Lesnar
7) Seth Rollins VS Omos
Besides Cody Rhodes VS Brock Lesnar & Seth Rollins VS Omos, I loved everything about Backlash. The crowd was fantastic. It might top WrestleMania as my favorite PPV of 2023.