Countdown to WWE Backlash

Word is we should settle in for a long one. With Randy Orton having never been awarded a five star match from Dave Meltzer and all his 4.5 stars matches being multi-man matches except his Backlash match against Mick Foley in 2004, it is safe to say that this match will not be the Greatest Wrestling Match of all time as it takes two or more to make a “greatest match”. This will be decent but it won’t live up to its billing. Winner: Randy Orton.

While I don’t expect this to truly be the greatest wrestling match in history based on the talent involved this should be a very high caliber contest.  Booking logic says that since Edge won at WrestleMania, Orton gets the win at Backlash in order to setup a rubber match at SummerSlam.

Randy Orton: -160. Edge: +250. Winner: Randy Orton.

I can’t fathom why this match would be saddled with this tagline. It can only create doubt at best, ridicule at worst. Would these two, even in their absolute prime, have ever been considered a bet to put on the greatest match of all time? In any case, there’s no reason for Orton to go in the hole 0-2 to Edge, so look for an RKO (the greatest finishing move ever – cough, cough) to help even the score. Winner: Randy Orton

Note: As I will be reviewing the show along with my son Gavin for Slam Wrestling, he’s offering his predictions as well.

Seeing as how this isn’t WrestleMania III, and the names of the wrestlers involved aren’t Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat, there is a 0% chance this will be the greatest match of all time. Edge will win this one, cementing his return and putting Randy Orton behind him for good. Winner: Edge

I admire McIntyre for climbing back to the top of the WWE  but he is a really boring, lifeless champion. Not expecting much out of this match-up and not looking forward to it either which is weird since it is a main event match. Winner: McIntrye.

To be blunt Bobby Lashley should have be given a championship reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion or Universal Champion years ago.  Will he finally reach the top of the mountain in WWE by beating McIntyre for the WWE Title at Backlash?  I really want to say “yes”, but I suspect what will happen is that Lashley will win the match by count out or disqualification setting up several rematches until the program culminates at SummerSlam.  (Though I do hope I’m wrong.)

Drew McIntyre: -850. Bobby Lashley: -850. Winner: Drew McIntyre.

As opposed to the formulaic WrestleMania match between McIntyre and Lesnar, at least this will allow both of these big men to work creatively with each other. See, already I’m thinking that this could be a better match than Edge VS. Orton, and I don’t expect great things from this one to begin with.  The champ will retain, but it won’t be decisive. Winner: Drew McIntyre

McIntyre just started his title reign, and if he were going to lose it that quickly it wouldn’t be against someone who hasn’t been in a title match (or a good storyline) since April 2019. McIntyre will win, but Lashley is going to put up a fight by not selling the Claymore as well as 70% of the roster. Winner: Drew McIntyre

Asuka has pushed past her crappy main roster booking returning back to her glory days in NXT. She also has a wicked and fun YouTube channel you should check out here. Asuka deserves to run with the title and is the WWE’s best choice at present…as long as Nia Jax plays nice. Winner: Asuka.

This is my upset of the night.  Nia Jax currently has an incredible amount of online criticism being hurled at her for injuring not only Kairi Sane, but several others during her time in WWE.  That’s why I think Jax is going to pull the upset win and beat Asuka.  Yes it is far too soon for Asuka to lose the Raw Women’s Title, but WWE management have pulled the rug out from under Asuka several times since she came to the main roster and I think they are going to do so here again.

Asuka: -700. Nia Jax: +400. Winner: Asuka.

There are some intriguing factors here. With reports of Jax’s careless ways upsetting her fellow workers, what is the message by even granting her an opportunity like this? Perhaps the reports are untrue or exaggerated, or perhaps the message is that (almost) anything you do to grab the spotlight will be rewarded. Also, while Asuka is deserving of being a champ, this reign began with the belt being handed over to her. I say Jax wins, embraces the maybe true-to-life character of being unsafe and unpopular, and Asuka starts a lengthy chase for the belt. Winner: Nia Jax

Nia Jax is formidable, but people seem to underestimate Asuka since her winning streak ended and since her time in the tag division. Just because she lost a couple times doesn’t mean she wasn’t NXT Women’s champ for 510 days. She’s still the Empress of Tomorrow, and Nia is going to tap to the Asuka Lock. Also be on the lookout for some green mist shenanigans.  Winner: Asuka

The only way this entire angle isn’t shameful is if Hardy is willingly a part of this because he wants to bring attention to the issue and his personal battle. Otherwise, this is just ridiculous. If Hardy beats Sheamus again then that really takes the steam out of the Celtic Warrior’s return. Methinks nothing will be settled here.  Winner: Sheamus.

Jeff Hardy won the first contest so I think this is where Sheamus gets his revenge.  Mark my words the next bout between these two will be No Holds Barred Match where things will really get extreme.

Jeff Hardy: +110. Sheamus: -150. Winner: Sheamus.

One can only presume that the carrot in all of this for Hardy involves a redemption story in the end, but it certainly won’t come this soon. A win almost doesn’t matter here, and it might be more about Sheamus handing an embarrassment to Hardy instead. I’ll call for a double count-out. No Winner

Hardy will get his revenge someday, but not this time. I see Sheamus distracting him with a Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet or something like that, and then beating him very quickly with a Brogue Kick. Winner: Sheamus

This sure is the traditional WWE booking style. When you don’t know what to do with a group of superstars just throw them into a match together. The WWE is obviously loving this Bayley and Banks run, all that it will lead up to so. Winners: Bayley & Sasha Banks.

WWE Superstar Paige recently posted comments online saying how she would like to see new superstars pushed into the main event and how the Women’s Tag Team Titles could be a way to do so.  I completely agree with her.  However, this match features all former Women’s Tag Team Champions so alas it won’t be in this match.  I’ve actually been enjoying the promos that Bayley and Banks have been doing since they won the Women’s Tag Team Titles and because of the strong promo work I think they’ll retain at Backlash.

Bayley & Sasha Banks: -200. The Iconics: +200. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross: +275. Winners: Bayley & Sasha Banks.

I think that The IIconics are very entertaining; they really toe the line of serious threat and comic folly very well. That being said, in this match of all-champion teams, there’s no feeling that either of the challengers have any momentum for toppling Bayley & Banks. Should be an entertaining tilt, though, given all involved. Winners: Bayley & Banks

Bayley & Banks have too much momentum to be defeated right now, but I don’t think they’ll get a clean win. They’ll most likely steal a pin on one of the IIconics after Bliss or Cross deliver a finisher. Winners: Bayley & Banks

Apollo Crews was fantastic in NXT. His run in the main roster has been awful but that’s due to booking not anything he has or hasn’t done. The WWE should use this title run as a way to develop him into the superstar he should be on the main roster. Winner: Apollo Crews.

If WWE management are serious about Apollo Crews current push he should get the victory here in order to establish his reign as US Champion.  

Apollo Crews: -550. Andrade: +325. Winner: Apollo Crews.

I will lay down the gauntlet here and say that this is will be the best match of the night. Yes, you read that correctly: better than the greatest match ever. Crews deserves a strong showing, and will secure a decisive win. Winner: Apollo Crews

I see Crews restoring the prestige of the U.S title to its former glory (Like the Miz and the Intercontinental Title in 2016), seeing as how it’s been tossed around quite willy-nilly as of late. He’ll win this match and have a long, well deserved title run. Winner: Apollo Crews

Like McIntyre, Strowman is a bore. His attempts at humour are just so cringeworthy to watch. It would be an interesting angle for Morrison and Miz to be co-champions. However, I expect WWE to do the obvious. Winner: Braun Strowman.

Does anyone know what to make of this whole angle?  It is almost as if WWE can’t figure out any proper challengers for Strowman at this time (and they’re not ready for Otis to try cashing in the Money in the Bank Briefcase) so they came up with the bright idea of having The Miz and Morrison challenge Strowman.  There is absolute no way that The Miz and Morrison will win unless someone else interferes on their behalf.  Thus, Strowman should destroy The Miz and Morrison in a fairly painful fashion.

Braun Strowman: -175o. Miz and Morrison: +600. Winner: Braun Strowman.

Sigh. This is your Universal Championship match, folks. If there weren’t health and safety issues at stake, I would predict a returning Nicholas, Strowman’s former tag-team partner, to aid in his victory. Instead, I foresee the backfiring of an elaborate Wile E. Coyote stunt by Miz & Morrison that ends up hurting them and giving Strowman the Road Runner-style win. Winner: Braun Strowman

Strowman is going to run these two over, plain and simple. Strowman is just holding on to the title until Reigns comes back, but hopefully this match will be worth a few laughs. Winner: Braun Strowman