Missouri Wrestling
Backlash is the next WWE pay-per-view. It takes place on June 14th without fans at the WWE Performance Center. It is the first Backlash pay-per-view since 2018. In this article we go over the matches that were announced and predict the rest of the card and what we can expect.
The backlash was going to be in Kansas City, Missouri but the COVID-19 pandemic changed WWE’s plans. It will be held at the WWE Performance Center, with no fans, just like Monday Night Raw, SmackDown, NXT are doing and like WrestleMania 36 and Money in the Bank did.
As of this writing, two matches have been officially confirmed: Edge vs. Randy Orton in a rematch that was billed as The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever and Bobby Lashley challenging Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship.
Superstars like Asuka, Nia Jax, The Street Profits, The Viking Raiders, Seth Rollins, Aleister Black, and Otis have been teased and the finals of the WWE Intercontinental Championship could take place at Backlash. We go over what all these superstars could be doing in the event as the WWE Backlash 2020 card is built.
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Nia Jax
Asuka’s best friend, her Kabuki Warriors teammate Kairi Sane was honoring her for winning the Raw Women’s Championship and even started a flute concert when Nia Jax interrupted them and told Asuka that she was handed the title. Jax and Asuka had an exchange and the champ prevailed but later on the show, Jax attached Sane backstage, so Asuka went after her again and dropped her.
We will likely get Asuka vs. Jax for the title at Backlash and I am not looking forward to it. I have nothing against Nia Jax, I’m sure that she’s a great person outside the ring but I can’t help to point out a few things about her character and in-ring skills.
Jax does have a menacing look but that’s pretty much all she has to offer. She should not be cutting promos and she is a danger to herself and others every time she wrestles. You have Natalya, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riot, and Shayna Baszler doing nothing significant on the Raw roster and you pick Jax? I do get why they might want to save Baszler vs. Asuka for a later date but Natalya, Liv Morgan, and Ruby Riot were all better, more deserving contenders. As for their match, I hope WWE gives Asuka the win in quick fashion. Asuka has to be a dominant champion and have a strong first title defense.
WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
Strowman beat “children’s television show host” Bray Wyatt at Money in the Bank and it’s safe to assume that WWE will make Wyatt’s “The Fiend” character go for Strowman’s WWE Universal Championship at Backlash. With Otis still in possession of the MITB briefcase, at least at the time of this writing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries cashing it in on the winner of Strowman and “The Fiend.” By the way, “The Fiend” character lost all credibility when Goldberg took the WWE Universal Championship from him at WWE Super ShowDown. This was one of WWE’s worst booking disasters, and they have plenty of them to spare, just read about Nia Jax again. We all know what happened with Roman Reigns and why Strowman got the title.
“The Fiend” should win the match but Otis will likely show up in the end, teasing a cash-in. If they have this match, Strowman can’t win. What they might do is disqualify “The Fiend” and then have Otis show up and maybe even cash in on Strowman.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Final
WWE has an ongoing WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament because Sami Zayn was stripped of it after refusing to go to the WWE Performance Center and have matches in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many talented wrestlers are part of this tournament. When I wrote this article, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sheamus, Jeff Hardy, Daniel Bryan, and Elias all have a chance to take home the prestigious award. WWE could make the final take place at Backlash and based on the matchups at both sides of the tournament bracket, AJ Styles going up against Jeff Hardy with the title on the line.
There are plenty of intriguing possibilities but the two wrestlers who deserve it and need it more are Styles and Hardy, who have never faced each other in a WWE ring. Styles and Hardy had numerous matches at TNA and they didn’t disappoint. These two wrestlers going at it at Backlash for the WWE Intercontinental Championship would be an epic encounter and it can easily steal the show.
