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WWE Backlash 2020 is just around the corner as the WWE Universe gears up to witness 'The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever'.
After their enthralling Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36, Randy Orton challenged Edge for another bout, where both the Superstars will have to follow the rules of a typical wrestling match. The Creative has also added some high-profile fights to the match-card, which is why this PPV promises to deliver.
Backlash is one of the oldest B+ pay-per-view of WWE. The first edition of this show was hosted way back in 1999, where Stone Cold Steve Austin defended the World Championship against The Rock in a No Holds Barred Match. WWE kept Backlash in their PPV calendar for ten years before dropping it after the 2009 event.
Four years ago, WWE brought this event back after the brand split. However, they abandoned it once again in 2019, only to announce its return this year. The company has publicised five matches for Backlash 2020 thus far.
Over the years, fans have witnessed a particular trend in the booking technique at this event, as Vince McMahon pushes certain Superstars during this season. Here's a look at the 5 WWE Superstars who always get a push on the road to Backlash.
#5 Jeff Hardy
Former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy made his return to WWE a few months ago, and currently, The Charismatic Enigma is involved in an intense rivalry with Sheamus. The two Superstars will collide in a grudge match at Backlash next Sunday, and the hardcore match specialist is the favorite to win this battle.
Hardy has an exceptional record at the WWE Backlash event. He successfully defended his United States Championship against Randy Orton at Backlash 2018, while in 2009, he overcame a challenge from his brother Matt in an 'I Quit' match. Two years ago at the same event, he had united forces with Matt to retain the world tag team titles against the team of Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.
In 2002, Hardy clashed with Brock Lesnar in an one-on-one encounter at this pay-per-view event, where The Beast Incarnate defeated him via TKO. He even lost a multi-man match for the Hardcore Championship in 2000.
However, he is still on a three-match winning streak at this event, and given that his only singles defeat had come against The Beast Incarnate, one can conclude that the WWE Creative team loves to push him whenever this PPV approaches.
#4 Carmella
An unexpected name to feature on this list is that of the former SmackDown Women's Champion, Carmella. The Princess of Staten Island has competed at this PPV thrice, winning two of those bouts. It is not that Carmella has recorded wins at kick-off shows or against the lower-mid card Superstar.
Four years ago, she took part in the inaugural SmackDown women's title match at Backlash, where she battled Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Naomi, and Alexa Bliss in a six-pack elimination match. Despite being a newcomer, Carmella stayed till the end and even eliminated Bella before falling short to The Irish Lasskicker.
At Backlash 2017, WWE booked her to team up with Natalya and Tamina Snuka to take on the trio of Charlotte Flair, Lynch, and Naomi. The Welcoming Committee upset the star-studded trio in that match to stun the WWE Universe.
Next, Carmella defended her SmackDown Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair in a singles match. Even though The Queen was the favorite to dethrone Carmella, she failed to do so and the champ defeated her via pinfall.
This year, WWE has not announced any match featuring Carmella. However, there is still one more SmackDown episode left before the event. Perhaps, the former 2-time Ms. Money in the Bank can earn herself a shot at Bayley's title or even team up with Dana Brooke to challenge for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
#3 The Miz
As mentioned earlier, Vince McMahon loves to push select Superstars at this event, and one of them is The Miz. The A-Lister of WWE will compete for the Universal Championship in a handicap match at Backlash this year. He will unite forces with his buddy John Morrison to take on Braun Strowman.
The Miz has always found himself in a Championship match whenever he has been on the main card of WWE Backlash. Two years ago, he put on a fantastic fight against Seth Rollins for the Intercontinental title, whereas, at Backlash 2016, he defeated Dolph Ziggler in another grueling encounter for the Intercontinental Championship.
Besides, The Miz and John Morrison had overcome a challenge from the unit of Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore in a dark match at Backlash 2008.
Very few Superstars have managed to earn regular Championship shots at a particular event, and The Miz belongs to that rare club of WWE Superstars.
He is not the favorite to pick up the Universal title along with JoMo next Sunday, but as Strowman has faltered in handicap matches, 'The Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century' has an outside chance of beating The Monster Among Men.
#2 Edge
Edge made his triumphant return to the ring earlier this year at the Royal Rumble event. He competed in his first singles match in nine years at WrestleMania 36 and defeated Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match. After a small break, the two veterans returned to WWE TV as the company announced the 'Greatest Wrestling Match Ever' featuring Edge and Orton.
However, WWE has always booked The Rated-R Superstar in premier matches at Backlash. Edge had successfully defended the tag team titles along with Christian at this PPV in 2000. In 2004, he defeated Kane in a singles encounter, and the following year, he beat Chris Benoit in a Last Man Standing match.
The WWE Hall of Famer headlined the show in 2006 along with John Cena and Triple H in a triple threat match for the world title. He featured in the main event again in 2007 (a Fatal 4-Way match against John Cena, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels ), and in 2008, he challenged The Undertaker for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Edge closed the show again in 2009 as he outlasted John Cena in a Last Man Standing match to seize the WWE World Heavyweight title. If The Rated-R Superstar headlines the show against Randy Orton next Sunday, he will main event the same PPV he did 11 years ago.
#1 Randy Orton
Randy Orton has always been a part of crucial matches at WWE Backlash. In 2018, he challenged Jeff Hardy for the United States Championship, and the year before, he put his WWE Championship on the line versus Jinder Mahal. Orton was going to face Bray Wyatt in a singles match at Backlash 2016, but the WWE medical team did not clear him to compete.
The Viper featured on the poster of Backlash 2009 and even won the WWE Championship from Triple H. The two Evolution members had headlined the PPV in 2008 along with John Cena and JBL in a fatal four-way elimination encounter for the world title. Besides, Orton had even been a part of the fatal four-way WWE Championship match at Backlash 2007.
Back in 2004, Randy Orton successfully defended his WWE Intercontinental title against Cactus Jack in a hardcore match. Over the years, The Legend Killer has featured in some prominent bouts at Backlash.
Given that WWE has likely planned a trilogy for Edge and Randy Orton this year, the 2017 Royal Rumble winner is the favorite to win their upcoming technical wrestling match. This victory would enhance his win-loss record at the PPV besides establishing the fact that Vince McMahon gives the most significant push to him during this time of the year.
