We thought we were going to get a WWE/Universal Title match.
Did we?
No.
We thought we were going to get a Tag Team Title unification match.
Did we?
No.
We thought we were going to get Brock Lesnar on the card.
Did we?
No.
With that said, it is time for yet another WWE pay-per-view. This time, the unfortunately named WrestleMania Backlash takes place. There’s no need to waste any more time. Are you ready?
Because I’m ready. If you’re ready… and if I’m ready… then there’s only one thing left to do. Say it with me…
LESS DEW EET!!!
(0:00) First and foremost, Happy Mother’s Day to the six or so mothers out there that actually read my wrestling columns. The work you put in isn’t always acknowledged, but it should be. You are loved and you are appreciated.
(0:05) It looks like we’re going to start the show with Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins. Very good choice to get things underway.
(0:09) Rollins is wearing the same lingerie he wore at WrestleMania.
(0:13) Almost 14 minutes into the show, we get the opening bell for the first match. I know I say stuff like this all the time, but it’s CRAZY how different WWE and AEW are with their show pacing. By now, AEW would’ve had three full matches and had a segment with a debuting wrestler.
(0:16) When it was first announced that Cody Rhodes was returning to WWE, I wasn’t sure how well it would work. The whole package and presentation was, obviously, different. Thus far, it has worked really well. He looks like a star. No pun intended. He is portrayed as a star, and the live crowds are accepting him as a star.
(0:18) WWE has to be happy that this show sold out. Even they would admit that this wasn’t exactly the greatest card on paper, and Providence, while it has a lot of history in the business, isn’t exactly a huge city.
(0:21) Cody’s in-ring style and matches seem to be more in tune with WWE than with AEW. Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, that isn’t a knock or a nod to either company. I just think he really fits in with what WWE wants its wrestlers to do. Especially the ones at this area of the card.
(0:26) After a bit of a slow start, the match has really started picking the pace up.
(0:28) Sure enough, we get our first “this is awesome” chant of the night.
(0:30) Cody hits Rollins with a Cross Rhodes, but Rollins gets his leg on the bottom rope to break the count. The crowd is really hot for this match, and they totally bought that as the end.
(0:32) Rollins hits Cody with a Pedigree, but Cody kicks out. Say it with me… the crowd is really hot for this match, and they totally bought that as the end.
(0:34) After a series of reversals and counters, Cody gets the pin with a bit of a boost by pulling Seth’s tights on the roll-up. To be fair, Seth just tried to do the same thing. Either way, Cody is now 2-0 against Seth, but Seth is pissed. WWE’s next pay-per-view is Hell In A Cell on June 5th. I’m just saying. Funny enough, Hell In A Cell takes place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. That’s 18 miles away from Chicago, which has become the de facto home of AEW. Cody’s reaction there, no matter what match he’s involved in, should be very, very interesting. As for this match, I’ll say 4 stars.
(0:38) Time to slow it down, as Bobby Lashley vs Omos is up next. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this match will be rated just a bit lower than the show opener.
(0:45) Lashley goes to charge the ropes, but he stops in his tracks when he sees MVP standing on the apron. This allows Omos to hit Lashley with a boot to the face. Why… would Lashley stop? He’s pissed off at MVP for turning his back on him. Lashley should’ve just continued running, hitting MVP and sending him flying into the 14th row. That was dumb.
(0:47) To the surprise of nobody, the crowd doesn’t seem to care about any of this so far.
(0:50) Omos breaks out of a Hurt Lock to zero reaction. Ouch.
(0:52) Some interference from MVP allows Omos to pick up the pin and the win. Now I’m picturing these two facing each other again inside Hell In A Cell, and I’m sad. Their two matches haven’t been terrible, but this isn’t doing anything good for Bobby Lashley. It’s not really doing much for Omos, either, for that matter. Let’s say this was 2.75 stars. If you’re keeping track, we’ve had two WrestleMania rematches tonight, and I’ve given both matches the same grade that I gave them the last time.
(0:57) We started with a banger, then moved on to something less, but now, it might be time for another banger. AJ Styles vs Edge is up next. Damian Priest is banned from ringside, which now has everyone speculating that we’re going to see a new member of Judgment Day revealed. We’ll see. For those keeping track, this is our third straight WrestleMania rematch to start tonight’s show.
(1:05) Shout-out to the kid in the front row with a Fiend mask on. Especially when they’re just sitting there, looking extra creepy.
(1:07) I completely understand the multiple reasons why they aren’t, but I really wish Edge’s matches were more fast-paced these days. His matches are far from bad. They’re just slow. Not only that, but it’s like he has it in his contract that every pay-per-view match he wrestles in has to be a minimum of 20 minutes, because he has yet to wrestle in a pay-per-view singles match since his return at the 2020 Royal Rumble that was less than 20 minutes long.
(1:10) Making the match even slower is the fact that AJ is working with a kayfabe shoulder injury, so he isn’t the same AJ that we would normally see.
(1:15) I think the pacing of the match is even hurting the crowd reaction. These are two super over competitors, but the crowd is pretty quiet.
(1:19) Damian Priest wanders out, but mentions that he hasn’t crossed the imaginary line that defines what “ringside” is. Finn Balor comes out to attack Priest. As AJ climbs up, someone in a hoodie runs in and knocks AJ down. This allows Edge to pick up the victory after choking AJ out. Sure enough, the speculation of a new member in Judgment Day was correct. After the match, it is revealed that Rhea Ripley was the person in the hoodie. The reports of Priest and Ripley joining Edge were correct. The match was good. Not great, but good. Call this a cop out if you want, but I’m giving it 3.5 stars, which is also what I gave their match at WrestleMania. Three WrestleMania rematches, and three matches that get the same grade from me.
(1:27) Well, it’s time for the “I Quit” Match between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey. Our fourth straight rematch from WrestleMania. I was not a fan of their match then, giving it 2.25 stars. Will I continue handing grades out that are exactly the same as WrestleMania? Let’s find out!
(1:29) This video package really highlights the fact that Ronda Rousey should either become a silent assassin or be given a manager. She is the dirt worst at this talking thing. Just let her handle being a badass. Accentuate the positives and hide the negatives. Come on, WWE.
(1:31) As is tradition, Ronda’s makeup artist continues to hate her guts. “Yeah, Ronda, don’t worry about it. Mantaur is a wrestling legend. We’re paying tribute to him tonight.”
(1:38) Are the ring ropes tightened more than usual tonight? There have already been three or four people with big-time welts and bruises on their body from hitting the ropes tonight.
(1:40) Not only is it stupid that there are always kendo sticks under the ring, but now, Charlotte is chased to the ring entrance area, and she pulls two more kendo sticks out of the Gorilla Position. Why??
(1:41) Now that I look at it some more, what I thought were bruises on Ronda’s body from the ring ropes might just be her Mantaur makeup smudging.
(1:43) As they brawl into the stands, there’s a guy in the crowd standing behind Charlotte who is making the unmistakable face where he’s looking in every direction as he tries his best not to look at Charlotte’s ass.
(1:45) A “we want tables” chant breaks out. I bet you’ll get some eventually.
(1:47) As Charlotte is hanging upside down from the top rope, Ronda locks her in an armbar. Ronda then hangs upside down from the ring apron to apply more pressure. That was a really cool visual.
(1:48) So far, this match is worlds better than their WrestleMania encounter.
(1:49) “Is that The Fiend in the front row?” – Pat McAfee
(1:52) Charlotte wishes Ronda a Happy Mother’s Day. Not one for being reminded about her motherhood, this merely incenses Ronda, who locks Charlotte in a steel chair assisted armbar. That makes Charlotte quit, and we have a brand new Smackdown Women’s Champion. Lots of enjoyable stuff there. A big jump up from WrestleMania. Let’s call that 4 stars.
(1:56) Fuck my life. Time for Madcap Moss vs Happy Corbin. They turned Moss face, and they have him doing EVERYTHING that made him a heel and hated by live crowds. Now you have a feud where the face is an insufferable douchebag and the heel is an insufferable douchebag. We all lose.
(2:00) By the way, I looked it up, and AJ Styles vs Edge went 16:25. We’ve done it! We finally have an Edge singles match on pay-per-view that didn’t go 20 minutes or more!
(2:02) I really don’t know if it would be possible for me to give any less of a fuck about this match, or this feud in general.
(2:06) There’s potential in Riddick Moss as a singles guy. It sure seems like crowds want to cheer for him, but WWE refuses to give them reasons to truly get behind him. That’s really frustrating.
(2:11) A Sunset Flip into a roll-up gets the win for Moss. We’ve had five matches tonight. Four of those five matches are rematches from WrestleMania. All five of those matches have ended in ways that signal the feuds aren’t over, which means… more rematches could be coming. WrestleMania Hell In A Cell should be fun. Let’s go with 3 stars for Moss vs Corbin. Nothing offensive. Perfectly acceptable.
(2:15) Main event time. Drew McIntyre teams with RK-Bro to take on The Bloodline in a six-man tag. I’m sure this is going to be a really good match, but it just seems like a bit of a weird match to go with for a pay-per-view main event. Television main event? House show main event? Fine on both counts.
(2:17) It is reported that Charlotte Flair fractured her arm during her match tonight. Kayfabe? Probably. Either way, looks like Charlotte will need some time off.
(2:25) Roman’s entrance music is so, so, so, so, so good. Just a perfect fit for his character.
(2:26)
Michael Cole mentions that Reigns has been the champ for 617 days, and that The Usos have held the Smackdown Tag Team Titles for 293 days. Epic.(2:28) Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp is reporting that Charlotte Flair’s injury is, in fact, kayfabe and that she is set to be taking some time off. There you go.
(2:31) McIntyre stares a hole through Reigns, beats the shit out of Jimmy Uso, stares back at Reigns, beats the shit out of Jimmy again, and then stares back at Reigns. Nice touch.
(2:33) Reigns demands the tag, and he gets it. Reigns and McIntyre in the ring together.
(2:33) It doesn’t last long, as Reigns walks around the ring and tags Jey Uso in. Now we’re getting more of Drew staring at Roman, only with Jey getting the ass kicking this time.
(2:37) Roman wants the tag again, and he gets it again. He comes in after Riddle has been beaten down for a couple minutes. Such an easy, yet effective, heel move.
(2:39) This has been fun so far. However, it has been “house show main event” fun. There’s plenty of time for things to pick up, though.
(2:45) “Did he catch him with a Claymore???” – Michael Cole, as Drew hits Roman with a Claymore that was almost missed by the production team. This is what happens when you’re not watching the match that is taking place mere feet in front of you, Michael. The monitors only do so much.
(2:46) An RKO to Reigns nearly blows the roof off of the arena. Another RKO nearly gets the win for the face squad, but the pin is broken up. Sure enough, things have picked up.
(2:49) A “this is awesome” chant breaks out. These folks are really into this match.
(2:50) Drew clears the announce table and goes to send Roman through it, but it gets reversed and Roman slams Drew through the table with a Uranage. Cole calls it a Uranage, and McAfee calls it a Rock Bottom. FORESHADOWING?!?!?
(2:52) Riddle hits an RKO on Jey Uso from the top rope, but Uso isn’t the legal man. As Riddle gets up, he turns and eats a Spear from the actual legal man, Roman Reigns. The Bloodline gets the win. The first half of the match was pretty good, but the second half was fantastic. Let’s balance that out and give it 4.25 stars overall. Really good. We go off the air with The Bloodline celebrating in the aisle.
Overall, that was a pretty good show. It probably won’t be remembered months from now, but three really good matches, and another that came close to that level, speaks for itself. Thank you for joining me yet again, folks.