Last year was the first time that the company added Wrestlemania in front of the name, and Backlash has been a premium event for a long time. This year is apropos for the card for Backlash, where there will be a lot of rematches from this year's grandest stage.
The show will open with a match between Rhodes and Rollins. Their feud is the most important on Mondays in the leadup to Backlash, because they don't have a title to show for. The babyface of the company should only get better with his second match against Rollins, as he should solidify his position as the most prominent babyface.
All eyes will be on a match for the women's championship on the show. The bout will take their feud to a new level regardless of the outcome.
The titleholders will not be on the line at both WrestleMania and Backlash. Instead, the RAW tag team of Drew McInytre and RK-Bro will take on Roman Reigns and The Usos. The talent in this six-man main event should more than make up for the questionable build that led to the pivot from the winner-take-all tag team title match.
It was a huge success. Can the back-to-back event be more than a bad memory?
We will recap every match as it happens.
The 44-year-old Styles is an ageless wonder, pulling off an Asai Moonsault to the outside rarely seen from him. Edge is still very athletic at 48. The two veterans had a lot to do with psychology.
Styles launched Edge chest first into the exposed metal as Edge ripped off the turnbuckle. Styles landed a Styles Clash on the Edge, but he kicked out just as he did in their first encounter.
Edge was saved by the banned-from-ringside Damien Priest at the end of the match. Finn Balor attacked Priest, which distracted the ref. As Styles stood on the top rope, someone wearing a black hoodie pushed him and allowed Edge to lock in his crossface submission for the win.
The person with the black hair was identified as Rhea Ripley.
It's @RheaRipley_WWE!!! #WMBacklash pic.twitter.com/lvT4JtSVt8
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2022
The addition of Ripley to Judgment Day provides a much needed boost to the newly formed group. Ripley and Priest will benefit from Edge's leadership and experience. Edge and his crew are not done with Styles. The biggest question is if Balor will be the next member of Judgement Day or if he will stay in Styles corner.
It was worth tuning in immediately at the start of the card. The reason for falling short at the first match was because of the surprise element, and he appeared to be better prepared this time around, having a counter for every one of Rhodes' signature moves in the first half of the match.
The Architect stayed a step ahead, showcasing a level of storytelling that is refreshing to see in a sequel. The match was filled with near fall with the Providence, Rhode Island crowd eating up every 2.99999 count -- Rhodes missed moonsault leading to a Rollins Pedigree was a highlight.
.@CodyRhodes is starting to take over! #WMBacklash pic.twitter.com/nIEMVjmLan
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2022
They displayed chemistry beyond two singles matches. The ending had no signature moves. The finish had Rhodes counter into his own roll-up while grabbing a few of Rollins tights for the pin, as he was being rolled up by Rollins.
Would anyone complain about seeing these two go at once again? At Wrestlemania, he needed to cheat to pull off the victory. The cheap victory means the feud is not over. The title of the next premium event is Hell in a Cell and it could be a fitting end to the first two chapters.
There was another shot at Bobby Lashley and this time he was in his corner. The first half of the match was a retread of their first encounter, with Omos using his size advantage to physically dominate Lashley.
Lashley was able to mount some offense and even locked in the Hurt Lock, something he wasn't able to do at WrestleMania. From that moment on, it seemed the match could only end in one way. It was Lashley who lifted Spinebuster of the 7-foot-3 Omos, but it wasMVP who made the difference on Sunday. The official was distracted by the match and the official hit his former client with his cane.
.@fightbobby doing all that he can to stop @TheGiantOmos! #WMBacklash pic.twitter.com/TtpkVJiEeZ
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2022
A rubber match is in the cards for the next couple of weeks as Lashley and Omos each have a win. One would think that this feud wouldn't have enough steam to make it to Hell in a Cell, but it does. Lashley will have to figure out how to win with MVP being a thorn in his side. A cage match could do that.
Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin.
The Bloodline and Drew McIntyre are in a tag team match.
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