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We are just a couple of days away from this year's WWE Backlash, which will take place on June 14, 2020, at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. While Backlash has mostly been considered to be a B-level pay-per-view in the WWE calendar, this year's match card looks promising and worth attracting the fans.
The biggest match, which will probably be the main event, will be the "Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" between Randy Orton and Edge. Other than that, both the World titles are set to be defended at WWE Backlash this Sunday as well. Bobby Lashley will challenge the WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, while the Universal Champion Braun Strowman will defend his title in a handicap match against the team of The Miz and John Morrison.
As has been the case with WWE programming during this global pandemic period, the company will surely have some interesting tricks up their sleeves. And I for one am surely looking forward to the show this Sunday.
So without further ado, let me present my five bold predictions for WWE Backlash. Be sure to let me know in the comments section below which one of these do you see happening or would love to see happen!
#5 The Fiend makes his presence felt at WWE Backlash
The Universal Champion Braun Strowman will be defending his title against the mischievous team of Miz and Morrison (Hey Hey Ho Ho) in a handicap match at WWE Backlash. The last time the Monster Among Men was in such a situation at Elimination Chamber earlier this year, he fell prey to the numerical disadvantage. But the chances of him losing the Universal title at Backlash are very low. This feud is pretty much a filler for his next big feud.
Braun Strowman defeated his former master Bray Wyatt at Money in the Bank last month but the closing visuals of the match were a clear indicator of the fact that Wyatt is not done with Strowman. The Fiend is still lurking around somewhere waiting to get his revenge on the Universal Champion and we may see this rivalry reignite once again at WWE Backlash.
So, my first bold prediction for the show this Sunday is that The Fiend will make his presence felt in some way at WWE Backlash. Be it an after-match light-out and an attack, or just a staredown from the ramp, I believe we'll see The Fiend remind Braun Strowman that he's not done with him yet.
#4 The SmackDown hacker reveals another major betrayal at WWE Backlash
The gimmick of a hacker in professional wrestling is a very new and interesting concept. As intrigued and excited I am to see what WWE does next with him, it seems as though there's a sense of discontinuity in the storytelling. We saw him play a major role in the entire Mandy Rose-Sonya Deville break up saga, but the hacker is yet to do anything significant after that. Do you feel WWE is dragging this storyline? Moreover, could he be back at WWE Backlash?
Anyways, the hacker has previously revealed that another tag-team could be on the verge of breaking, but the question is who could be the culprit this time? Look no further than the three teams competing for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships this Sunday at WWE Backlash. The newly-crowned Champions, Sasha Banks and Bayley will defend their titles in a triple threat match against Alexa Bliss-Nikki Cross, and the IIconics.
The IIconics had an argument on RAW a few weeks ago and Billie Kay even slapped Peyton Royce. There have also been several teases of a Bayley-Sasha feud. As for Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, with them losing their titles, maybe Alexa Bliss could get back to singles action and for that to happen, we might see her turning on Nikki Cross as well.
So, for my second bold prediction for WWE Backlash, I predict that the SmackDown hacker will reveal another huge betrayal that will lead to another team breaking up soon. It could very well be one of the teams mentioned above.
#3 Paul Heyman offers to manage Bobby Lashley after his WWE Championship match at Backlash
The WWE Championship will be on the line at WWE Backlash as Drew McIntyre will defend his title against Bobby Lashley who has gathered an incredible amount of momentum. Now, as much as the All-Mighty has impressed in the last few weeks, the chances of him walking out with the WWE title around his waist this Sunday are low.
One of the biggest talking points recently has been the reported return of Brock Lesnar to WWE for this year's SummerSlam and a potential dream encounter with Bobby Lashley. But WWE needs to be very careful while booking this, as putting the title on Lashley at Backlash and putting the Beast Incarnate back in the title picture might not go well with the fans. There are many other interesting ways in which WWE can book this feud.
News broke out recently that Paul Heyman has been released from his duties as the Executive Director of Monday Night RAW and WWE wants him to focus on his on-screen character. What if Heyman appears at Backlash this Sunday after Lashley loses the WWE title match and offers to manage him instead of MVP?
Lashley could then deny him while taking a jab at Brock Lesnar, which would set up a future encounter between the two.
#2 Angel Garza turns on Andrade and Zelina Vega at WWE Backlash
The pairing of Angel Garza and Andrade with Zelina Vega managing them has so much potential to become the top tag-team of Monday Night RAW. Unfortunately, WWE doesn't seem to be too high on pushing these two as a tag-team unit, as has been evident by their actions this past week on the Red brand. Cracks have already started to appear between the two and it might not be long before the two completely explode and take out each other. Can it happen as soon as this Sunday at WWE Backlash?
Andrade will be challenging the United States Champion Apollo Crews for the title at WWE Backlash. The chances of Crews losing the title are relatively low but that doesn't mean he'll pick up another clean victory over El Idolo.
For my next bold prediction for WWE Backlash, I predict Angel Garza to turn on Andrade and Zelina Vega at the pay-per-view and cost Andrade the United States Championship. Paul Heyman was reportedly very keen on pushing Angel Garza and while he might not be in charge anymore, it won't be an overstatement to say that Angel Garza has managed to impress everyone with his in-ring work and charisma.
A feud between Angel Garza and Andrade could put the former in the big leagues as a singles competitor. I genuinely believe Angel Garza could be a huge Superstar for WWE in the future if they give him a proper chance.
#1 Edge and Randy Orton have the match of the night at WWE Backlash
Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying that Edge vs Randy Orton will be the greatest wrestling match ever, as advertised by WWE. But the two veterans are perfectly capable of having the match of the night, in what would likely be the main event of WWE Backlash.
There has been a largely negative response from fans on social media towards WWE for promoting this match under the tagline "The Greatest Wrestling Match ever". WWE has almost been shoving the tagline down the throats of the fans, with legends like Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and Kurt Angle appearing on RAW to promote the match.
If the rumors/spoilers are to be believed, the tapings for this match at WWE Backlash went on for 35 minutes, but WWE might trim and chop it down to avoid the match from dragging and make it as interesting for the fans as possible. Considering the expertise of the WWE creative team to present cinematic matches, if done properly, Randy Orton vs Edge might actually turn out to be a great match.
With the likes of Seth Rollins, AJ Styles and others absent from the match card, this might as well be the match of the night at WWE Backlash.
As for the ending, I'll pick Randy Orton to somehow sneak in with the victory. But, it's a tough pick. Anything could happen in the 'Greatest Wrestling Match Ever.'
Before you leave, check out this very interesting interview conducted by Sportskeeda's Riju Dasgupta with WWE Superstar, Randy Orton!
