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The WWE Backlash pay-per-view is one of the most prestigious PPVs of all time. The inaugural Backlash event was held in 1999 and was the first PPV in the aftermath of the historic WrestleMania XV.
Backlash 1999 was headlined by newly crowned WWF Champion, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin who successfully defended the title against former champion The Rock in a No Holds Barred Match. Since the first Backlash PPV, it almost became a tradition for WWE to put out hardcore matches on the pay-per-view and over the past decade, the WWE Universe has witnessed some absolute classics under the Backlash banner.
Throughout the years, WWE veterans and legends, such as Triple H, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, and John Cena, have all been a prestigious part of the WWE Backlash pay-per-view. While WWE decided to scrap the PPV after 2009, Backlash made its comeback in 2016, as the first-ever SmackDown exclusive pay-per-view following the newly reinstated brand extension.
Since then, WWE Backlash has been a consistent pay-per-view, with the exception of 2019 when it was replaced by Stomping Grounds. However, as things stand, we are currently less than a week away from Backlash 2020 and the card will feature "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" between Randy Orton and Edge, a rematch from their Last Man Standing bout at WrestleMania 36.
With that being said, this definitely seems like the perfect time to look back on some of the greatest matches from WWE Backlash history, featuring some of the biggest names in the business from over the years.
Here are 5 of the greatest matches from WWE Backlash history.
#5 Batista vs The Undertaker - WWE Backlash 2007
During the prime stages of Batista's career in WWE, 'The Animal' was engaged in a historic feud against The Undertaker, mostly on the blue brand of SmackDown. The pair usually competed against each other for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and Backlash 2007 was no different.
The WWE Backlash PPV has featured some memorable Last Man Standing matches through the years and Batista vs The Undertaker stands as another classic example. The pair had developed quite the chemistry with each other and at Backlash 2007, the veteran duo delivered a classic/intense brawl.
With the use of several foreign objects, The Undertaker dominated 'The Animal', tossing around Batista from one corner of the ring to the other and even leg-dropping him through an announce table. The finish to the match saw the two men contest out a draw but that doesn't change the fact that the match itself remains an all-time classic.
#4 Dean Ambrose vs AJ Styles - Backlash, 2016
At the 2016 Royal Rumble, AJ Styles made his highly-awaited WWE debut when he entered the Royal Rumble Match at #3 and lasted over 30 minutes, in what was truly a 'Phenomenal' performance from the former NJPW sensation.
Within eight months of his debut for the company, Styles won the WWE Championship and made history at the Backlash 2016 pay-per-view. For his win, 'The Phenomenal One' overcame the threat possessed by Dean Ambrose, beating 'The Lunatic Fringe' on the night.
Backlash 2016 also marked the first pay-per-view in WWE history since the brand split and Styles win over Ambrose marked the beginning of Styles taking over the blue brand of SmackDown and eventually turning it into the 'The House that AJ Styles Built'.
The match against 'The Lunatic Fringe' still remains as one of Styles' best singles bout in WWE and the same can be said for the former, who has since then departed from WWE and joined AEW under the moniker of Jon Moxley.
Regardless, Styles win over Ambrose capped-off the perfect debut year for 'The Phenomenal One', an accolade that belongs to an elite list of WWE superstars.
#3 John Cena vs Edge vs Triple H - Backlash, 2006
10 years prior to AJ Styles' WWE Championship win over Dean Ambrose at Backlash 2016, the WWE Universe was treated to yet another classic world title bout featuring the then-champion John Cena, Triple H, and Edge.
The three men had quite the chemistry with each other, especially during the peak of WWE's Ruthless Aggression Era. Cena and Triple H, however, stood head and shoulders above the rest when it came down to in-ring chemistry and the duo once again proved the same during this classic three-way bout.
Edge, being the cowardly yet amazing heel he was, decided to bail out on the action and let 'The Game' and Cena do their thing in the early stages of the match. However, he was introduced to the match later and from there on, we witnessed another classic bloodbath from the Backlash PPV.
Triple H was busted open and went on a rampage, and at one point in the match, it did seem like The King of Kings was about to walk out with the WWE Title. However, Cena did manage to catch the former with a jackknife roll-up for the win and retained his WWE Title on the night.
Post-match, a bloodied Triple H hit both his opponents and the referee with his iconic sledgehammer and closed out the show to a standing ovation from the WWE Universe.
#2 John Cena vs Edge - Backlash, 2009
WWE Backlash has always had the reputation of being one of the most gruesome and brutal pay-per-views of all time. And, in 2009, we witnessed a classic showdown between two of WWE's biggest rivals in the form of John Cena and Edge.
Somehow, Cena and Edge once again ended up being together in a WWE Title bout at Backlash in 2009. The duo collided in a World Heavyweight Championship main event and the stipulation on the night was a Last Man Standing Match. You could probably predict the sheer brutality that was witnessed by the WWE Universe in Province on that night.
The match itself was excellent and WWE put on yet another classic between two of their biggest stars without the usage of a potential blade-job to depict a bloodbath.
Instead, one of the highlights of the match was The Big Show chokeslamming Cena through a spotlight, which to this date remains as one of the iconic spots in a WWE match. Edge ended up winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the night and if 'The Rated-R Superstar' puts up a match of such high caliber this weekend against Randy Orton, we're in for another instant classic.
#1 Randy Orton vs Mick Foley - Backlash, 2004
Arguably the greatest brawl in WWE Backlash history.
Mick Foley is quite possibly the greatest hardcore wrestler in WWE history and despite being at the peak of his career in the '90s, Foley didn't slow down when he stepped into the ring with Evolution's protege, Randy Orton at Backlash 2004.
WWE was high on Orton and the company was determined to push him as the next big Superstar. Adding him to a group consisting of Triple H, Ric Flair, and Batista should give you an idea of what plans WWE had in store for the former 'Legend Killer'.
In 2004, Orton shared the ring with one of these legends, as he and Foley put together a match that pretty much could be considered as the turning point of the former's career. With Orton walking in as the WWE Intercontinental Champion, the pressure was clearly on him. However, The Viper didn't crumble and ended up retaining his title in the most gruesome manner possible.
It is pretty unusual to see barbwire bats, barbwire tables, and thumbtacks on WWE TV these days but at Backlash 2004, WWE didn't hold back and let Orton and Foley go all out with their Hardcore Match. Foley even dropped Orton on thumbtacks and the final spot of the match saw the latter hit a brutal RKO to Foley on a barbwire bat. Quite an incredible finish!
As expected, the match was a bloodbath and Orton was graced by his Evolution stablemates after his win, whereas, a beaten Foley took pride in his incredible performance and held up the barbwire bat in the closing shot of the match.
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