WWE Backlash is a little over a week away and the company has had two RAWs and two Smackdowns to get us excited, with one more week to go.
The excitement levels at the moment aren’t too high. Recent events outside the ring may be contributing to this. Also, some aren’t excited about the card so far. But we love wrestling here! So, today let’s book the best Backlash we can with the tools we have been given by WWE.
I have 6 matches on the card for the show. Let’s get into it.
JEY USO vs LOGAN PAUL – WWE World Heavyweight Championship
I think this is a good first title defence for Jey, and that’s just what it is, a title defence. This won’t become a feud, it’ll just be the one off match. Makes sense in kayfabe, Logan beat AJ at Wrestlemania, that’s a big deal, in kayfabe.
We have Jey Uso, babyface champion against Logan Paul, who everyone loves to hate. You get him to give a shit about this and he might even put on a good match. I think since this is for the World Championship that he’ll provide his best, and Jey Uso will be Jey Uso.
In this match, you can’t book Jey as the babyface fighting from beneath. In this match, I would have Jey putting a cocky Logan Paul in his place. Countering his offence, controlling to match and getting the better of Logan. If the match can tell this story, make Logan Paul fight from behind it’ll pull a better performance out of Logan and make Jey look like he’s stepped up his game.
LYRA VALKYRIA vs BECKY LYNCH – Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Love to see the IC Title make its way to a PLE, and this match should be a great showcase for it. Heel Becky, taking on Lyra, will do wonders for Lyra like it did in NXT, and these two can put on a PLE worthy match.
In this match I would book Becky strong and have her dominant against Lyra. Giving Lyra all the hope spots, let her hit Becky with her finisher, only for Becky to kick out. Let Lyra kick out of Becky’s finisher. In the end, I’d book Lyra to LOSE to Becky and let Becky raise the status of the IC Title while Lyra chases for it.
GUNTHER vs PAT McAFEE – ST. LOUIS STREET FIGHT
This match is happening. I know there are a lot of people unhappy with this direction for Gunther, but this can be good for him. This match should serve as a reminder that no one should take Gunther lightly. This match should be a vicious display of relentless violence.
Gunther can underestimate Pat early, concede to a low blow, giving Pat some offence. However, when Gunther recovers, that should be it. He should make Pats chest bleed… his face bleed, kayfabe him breaking his arm or leg. Gunther should win by referee stoppage. Or Michael Cole throwing in the towel.
Perhaps trade Gunther to smackdowm after this?
JACOB FATU vs LA KNIGHT vs DREW McINTYRE vs DAMIEN PRIEST – US CHAMPIONSHIP
I had this match booked in after the first smackdown after mania like everyone else. But worried WWE wouldn’t do it. Thankgod they have because this match has all the potiental to steal the show.
It’s hard to put book this match as you really just want to absorb mayhem here. I expect to see tables broken, probably the announce table and maybe even a barricade taken out. I think we are building towards a Drew vs Fatu one on one here, so I would have the finish look like this.
Jacob hits a hip attack on Drew in the corner, does his best impression of someone having a standing seizure only for Drew to hit a claymore on Fatu. Then Damien comes in a hits Drew with a South of Heaven. Before he can pin him, LA Knight grabs Damien for a BFT, looks for the pin, and then they’re booth hit with a moonsault from Fatu. Fatu wins.
TIFFANY vs NIA JAX – WWE Women’s Championship – STEEL CAGE MATCH
This is the only match that hasn’t been announced yet that I’ve put in the show myself. There’s a no.1 contenders match on Smackdown this week between Jade and Nia. I’m sure Naomi interferes and costs Jade, setting up a Tiffany v Nia match at Backlash.
Why a steel cage? Why not. Also, last time these women fought, it had interference, so no conclusive victory over Nia for Tiffany. Combine that with Jade and Naomi looming, there needs to be precautions, and this would be a great way to sell the match.
Let Nia control the match early but underestimate Tiffany. Tiffany should have an answer for everything Nia has to offer. Use the cage a lot and later have Nia target Tiffany’s leg, and make it harder for her to climb out.
In the finish, I’d like to see Tiffany hit a moonsault on Nia but she kicks out. So Tiffany decides to climb out, it take times because of her leg, giving Nia a chance to get herself to the cage door. The cowards exit. Tiffany will be halfway up the cage, higher than the ropes, struggling to get up. With Nia almost at the door, Tiffany should spring off the cage and hit another moonsault and pin Nia there.
I wouldn’t ask someone to moonsault from the top of the cage but this could be a great spot for Tiffany and very manageable to execute.
JOHN CENA vs RANDY ORTON – Undisputed WWE Championship
Fortunately, the bar is low for this match. A match billed to be a massive final encounter between two guys that have maybe had 2 good matches together. Notorious for having ‘it’s fine’ to boring matches together.
Now wait, they have had a few good matches together, but usually these involve a stipulation. With Cenas recent, I want to ruin wrestling gimmick, it doesn’t look good going into things. BUT there is hope. I think I can provide some entertainment.
Cena starts the match jockeying with Randy and then gives him a big fat grin. He looks at the ref and slaps him. Randy is pissed to see this, and the referee goes to throw out the match, but Randy stops him and tells him “Don’t”. The referee tells Randy he has to, leaving Randy no choice but to hit an RKO on the referee.
Now Cena has shock across his face and those two start brawling, all around the ring, in the crowd and back to the ring. A bunch of other refs comes down to check on the first one while they brawl. They use steps and chairs, and then when they are finally back in the ring, Cena hits an AA on Randy, and calls another referee to come in the ring and count the pinfall, but Randy kicks out.
Cena goes to hit the other ref, but they run out of the ring. Cena looks for another AA on Randy, but he hits an RKO. Pinfall attempt, Cena kicks out. Randy waits for Cena to rise so he can hit another, Cena reverses and hits a few signature moves. When he looks for the 5 knuckle shuffle, Randy counters with a snap powerslam and a draping DDT. Linings Cena up again for an RKO. He hits it, but Cena kicks out again.
Randy knows what he has to do now, and that’s a punt to the head. Randy gets in position for the punt, and as Cena rises, the referee is pulled out of the ring by a hooded figure and then Randy is speared by another hooded figure. It’s Bron Breaker, and down on the floor it was Seth Rollins who pulled out the ref. Paul heyman walks down to the ring with a referee. Seth enters the ring and helps Cena into a pinfall, the referee slides in to count, and Cena wins.
Seth lifts up Cena and tells him, “The boss wanted us to look out for you.” All 4 men stand tall in the ring together. Cena looks a little confused.