The backlash is upon us, a WrestleMania Backlash. For the second year in a row, WWE have shoehorned the word WrestleMania into one more event as we see several rematches and follow up matches from last month’s extravaganza. Join Jez and Dan on The Main Event Podcast as we take you through the entire event.
Seth Freakin’ Rollins vs. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
The opening contest was the rematch between Seth Freakin’ Rollins and Cody Rhodes. At WrestleMania, Rhodes was a “surprise” opponent but on this occasion Rollins knew exactly who he was facing. Rollins began the match with his trademark confidence as the pair locked up and exchanged holds. Rollins avoided Rhodes’ drop down ‘Goldust’ style punch, suggesting that this time he had done his homework on The American Nightmare. As the match progressed, Cody’s offense was able to bed in and he was able to hit the drop down punch on his second attempt as well as a Disaster Kick. Rollins continued to act like he had the number of his opponent while at the same time not doing enough to put Rhodes away. After avoiding a trademark move himself, punching Rollins as he attempted to dive through the ropes, Rhodes hit the Cody Cutter but was only able to achieve a two count. Rollins went for the Pedigree but Cody fought out of it and set up one of his own however Seth escaped that as well. Seth started to build his own momentum and hit a Frogsplash but Cody was only kept down for a two count. Rollins caught Rhodes in a Superplex and was setting up to chain together a second but The Architect was instead caught in Cross Rhodes. Cody made the cover but Rollins got his leg on the bottom rope. Seth delivered a Pedigree but Rhodes kicked out of the pinfall attempt. After this, the end of the match came by surprise. Rhodes hit another Cross Rhodes and tried to chain together another but Seth escaped and rolled Cody up. Despite a handful of tights, Cody reversed the roll up and with his own fistful of lycra, Cody Rhodes was able to collect a three count and defeat Seth Freakin’ Rollins for the second time in a row.
Jez’s Pick: Cody Rhodes
Dan’s Pick: Cody Rhodes
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Jez 1 – Dan 1
Omos (with MVP) vs. Bobby Lashley
Next up, in a massive change of pace, was the rematch between Bobby Lashley and Omos. Lashley tried to strike fast on The Nigerian Giant and tried to overwhelm the big man with continual offense. This plan was working well until MVP climbed on to the apron and provided the opening Omos needed to go on his own physical offensive. MVP continued to jaw at Lashley throughout the match but this did not stop The All Mighty tying Omos up in the ropes and teeing off on him. Omos saved MVP from oblivion but this distraction allowed Lashley to regain the control once again. Lashley locked in the Hurt Lock but, unlike Lashley’s usual opponents, Omos was able to break out of it. Omos launched Lashley shoulder first into the ringpost but when he went in for the kill, the referee moved him away. With this distraction, MVP jabbed Lashley in the throat with his cane which Omos followed up with the Two Hand Chokeslam and picked up the 1-2-3.
Jez’s Pick: Omos
Dan’s Pick: Omos
Winner: Omos
Jez 2 – Dan 2
AJ Styles vs. Edge
Damien Priest is Banned from Ringside
The third WrestleMania rematch of the night came when AJ Styles went one-on-one with Edge one more time. Damien Priest was the difference in their first meeting but, on this occasion, Priest was barred from ringside. AJ Styles brought the frustration of the last month to the ring with him and launched into a ringside assault on the Hall of Famer to start the match. Styles looked to end the match quickly, setting up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Edge kicked Styles in the injured shoulder and went to work exploiting the damage he and Priest set up weeks previously. AJ tried to fight back but each time he would get any offense in, Edge would return to the shoulder and ground the Phenomenal One again. When Styles was able to execute manoeuvres or lock in submissions, he was unable to capitalise because of the weakness in his arm. AJ used the ropes to help him set up for the Styles Clash and although he delivered the move, Edge kicked out at two. Styles, unable to springboard, went to the top rope to deliver the Phenomenal Forearm but as he climbed Damien Priest came to the ramp and caused a distraction followed by a black clad figure that pulled him down from the ropes. Edge locked in The Gallows, a tight sleeper hold, and AJ Styles passed out to award the match to Edge. After the match, this dark figure revealed themself, the newest member of Judgment Day: Rhea Ripley.
Jez’s Pick: AJ Styles
Dan’s Pick: AJ Styles
Winner: Edge
Jez 2 – Dan 2
SmackDown Women’s Championship “I Quit” Match: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
In the first championship match of the night, Charlotte Flair defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Ronda Rousey. As the bell rang, Rousey went on the offensive quickly but Charlotte used her experience to surprise her challenger with a deep German Suplex and take over the contest. Charlotte took the fight to Ronda at ringside and offered her her first opportunity to quit. Flair grabbed a Kendo Stick and looked to continue her beatdown but Rousey liberated her from her stick and chased the champion up the ramp. Ronda tee’d off on Charlotte with two Kendo Sticks but she refused to quit. As the match spilled into the crowd, it turned back in the champion’s favour and this momentum continued as the contest went back into the ring. Charlotte hit Natural Selection on a steel chair and also locked in the Figure 8 Leg Lock but, on each occasion, Rousey still refused to quit. It would be the chair that Charlotte introduced that would be the downfall of the champion as after Rousey used it to escape the Figure 8, she used the chair for extra leverage in an Armbar, forcing Charlotte to say the words, “I Quit.”
Jez’s Pick: Ronda Rousey
Dan’s Pick: Ronda Rousey
Winner: Ronda Rousey
Jez 3 – Dan 3
Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss
The first contest of the night that was not a rematch from WrestleMania saw Happy Corbin take on his former court jester, Madcap Moss. As the bell rang the pair locked up in the middle of the ring but Corbin soon resorted to a cheapshot that allowed him to take control. Corbin wore down his former employee fairly systematically as the match progressed. However, when Madcap turned up the intensity he was able to fire up and wrest control from Happy. Moss tossed Corbin into the ringpost and sent him back into the ring to deliver a Fallaway Slam. Despite Corbin mounting a small comeback and hitting Deep Six, Moss was able to surprise Happy with a Sunset Flip and collect a big victory.
Jez’s Pick: Happy Corbin
Dan’s Pick: Happy Corbin
Winner: Madcap Moss
Jez 3 – Dan 3
Six Man Tag Team Match: The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & The Usos) vs. RK-McBro (Randy Orton, Riddle & Drew McIntyre)
In the main event of WrestleMania Backlash, the team of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, and the SmackDown Tag Team Champion, The Usos, took on the RAW Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro, and Drew McIntyre. The Bloodline vs. RK-McBro. Randy Orton and Jimmy Uso started the match but the babyface team made frequent tags and isolated Jimmy from his family. It wasn’t long though before Drew McIntyre thrust the Uso cousin into the corner and insisted that Roman Reigns make the tag and join the match. Reigns did indeed tag in but after doing a circle of the ring, he tagged back out to his right hand man, Jey Uso. From there, The Usos were able to reverse the early strategy and worked to isolate Riddle away from his partners using quick tags between the brothers. The Undisputed Champion did spend some time in the match but refused to square off with McIntyre and continued the destruction of the Original Bro. However, later in the match, Reigns tagged into the match and was not quick enough to prevent the tag to the Scottish Warrior. The two big men came to blows in the middle of the ring and Reigns got the best of the exchange. The Tribal Chief took the time to pose in the ring with his championship belts and received a surprise Claymore Kick from McIntyre for his trouble. Both men tagged out and Randy Orton went on a tear, delivering RKOs from every direction and securing a nearfall on Jimmy Uso. The Viper continued his tear at ringside and McIntyre joined the fun, trying to put Reigns through the announce table, but it would be Drew that would go through the announce table at the hands of a Urinagi from the Tribal Chief. Reigns followed this up with a Spear to Riddle in the middle of the ring to bring home a win for The Bloodline.
Jez’s Pick: The Bloodline
Dan’s Pick: RK-McBro
Winner:
Jez 4 – Dan 3
Final Rating
Dan awards 3.5 out of 5 Cloaked Rhea Ripleys
Jez awards 3 out of 5 Cloaked Rhea Ripleys
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