Heated words and hostile actions were the order of the day at the Backlash press conference this afternoon as WWE superstars and Chief Content Officer Triple H took the stage.
Zelina Vega, Rey Mysterio, Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio were first up.
“I feel so great to be back in Puerto Rico! As soon as I heard the Coquí frogs I wanted to cry. I was so happy!” said Vega who was born in Queens, New York but is of Puerto Rican descent.
“It is no secret that I am the underdog here but I am happy to be representing each and every one of you here!” she continued.
Rey Mysterio chimed in citing his own experience and his illustrious career as the fans in attendance chanted…619! 619!
“I know you say you are an underdog but I have been an underdog my whole life but look at where it has gotten me,” said Rey.
Dominik then cut Rey off.
“We don’t want to hear this any more,” said Dominik complaining that Rey has been more of a father figure to Zelina than him, his own son.
“Maybe because she deserves it?” asked Rey.
Ripley made it known to Vega that the odds are very much against her tomorrow.
“You are not making any history. Absolutely not. You have been ducking and diving me. You are a slippery little fish,” said Ripley. “I am not only going to beat you. I am going to embarrass you in your hometown.”
Ripley called Vega a “pipsqueak” and a “pathetic little girl” before they left the stage.
HHH then introduced Bad Bunny and Damian Priest.
“You are the reason we are back here in Puerto Rico!” said Triple H to the fans as they thanked him with cheers.
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“I don’t care about the fact that we used to be friends. You disrespected me. You disrespected my family. This is personal. I am going to embarrass you in San Juan. Tomorrow, you receive your punishment,” said Priest.
Bunny reminded Priest he was in Puerto Rico. As he and Priest stood toe-to-toe, Priest shoved Bunny knocking him over.
Bunny got back to his feet and in Priest’s face. He then slapped him in the face. HHH had to hold both men apart.
WWE has held eight events in Puerto Rico, the last one being in 2017 during which Jinder Mahal defended the WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WWE Live.
The biggest WWE event was WWE New Year’s Revolution in 2005. That card was headlined by a Elimination Chamber match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship with Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit and Edge. The special guest referee was Shawn Michaels.
Backlash airs tomorrow night on the WWE Network and pay-per-view outlets.
