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Dual branded pay-per-views will make a return as Superstars of both Raw and SmackDown are ready to share the stage at WWE Backlash.
The event is set to radiate from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on 6th May 2018. We are just a few days out of the Greatest Royal Rumble, and WWE will look to carry the momentum to Backlash.
The match card is set and looks quite intriguing, to say the least. The following are the matches confirmed for the event:
1. Seth Rollins (c) vs The Miz - Intercontinental Championship
2. Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe
3. Nia Jax (c) vs Alexa Bliss- Raw Women's Championship
4. Carmella (c) vs Charlotte - SmackDown Women's Championship
5. Daniel Bryan vs Big Cass
6. Jeff Hardy (c) vs Randy Orton - United States Championship
7. Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
8. AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura - WWE Championship
With that stated, let's check out the complete predictions for WWE Backlash 2018.
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#8 Carmella Retains the SmackDown Women's Championship
Carmella became the new SmackDown Women's Champion on the post WrestleMania episode of SmackDown Live. She cashed in her money in the bank contract on Charlotte to win her maiden women's title.
Charlotte created history when she ended Asuka's undefeated streak at WrestleMania 34. But her celebrations didn't last too long as she lost her title on the following episode of SmackDown Live.
Charlotte was attacked by the new NXT call-ups Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. "The IIconics" laid waste to the queen and left her lying in the ring. Carmella would take advantage and cash in her contract to emerge as the brand new champion.
It seems the IIconics will be playing a vital role on SmackDown Live going forward. So expect them to interfere in the match and cost Charlotte the championship.
#7 Alexa Bliss dethrones Nia Jax with underhanded tactics
Nia Jax won her first main roster championship at WrestleMania 34 when she won the Raw women's title. She defeated Alexa Bliss in convincing fashion to win the championship.
Alexa Bliss will look to reclaim the Raw women's championship when she takes on Nia Jax at Backlash. Bliss will have Mickie James on her corner which will be an added advantage.
Taking nothing away from Nia, but her reign as women's champion has not been as powerful as Bliss' reign. Nia Jax is usually better off as a heel and the position of a babyface champion does not suit her so well.
Ember Moon made her Raw debut on the Raw after WrestleMania 34 teaming up with Nia Jax. It's safe to say that WWE could be seeking to elevate her into the title scene earlier than later.
So it's fitting to have Bliss reclaim the title at Backlash to have a potential program with Ember Moon.
#6 Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton ends in a DQ
Randy Orton lost the US title in a fatal four-way match to Jinder Mahal at WrestleMania 34. Orton earned a rematch for the title when he won a No 1 contenders match against Rusev and Roode on SmackDown Live.
Orton was set to take on Jinder Mahal for the US title at the Greatest Royal Rumble but that didn't come to fruition. Jinder Mahal got drafted to Raw on the superstar shakeup and lost the title to Jeff Hardy.
Hardy would then get drafted to SmackDown Live taking the US title back to the blue brand. Hardy retained the title at the Greatest Royal Rumble and is set to take on Orton at Backlash.
It's likely that neither Hardy nor Orton will take a clean loss. It's viable that this match could end in a disqualification. An interference from a debuting Andrade Cien Almas would give the US title scene a boost.
#5 Seth Rollins retains the IC Title
Seth Rollins has been having a very good year so far. From an outstanding display in a gauntlet match to an IC title reign, Monday Night Rollins is back in full force.
Rollins won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 34 in a triple threat match. He defeated The Miz and Finn Balor to lift his first IC title and became WWE's 11th grand slam champion.
Rollins retained the title in a fatal four-way ladder match at the Greatest Royal Rumble. He is now set to defend the title against the Miz at Backlash.
The Miz was drafted to SmackDown Live during the superstar shakeup. Hence it is unlikely that he will reclaim the title at Backlash.
Rollins could be feuding with Finn Balor over the title in the future. So we can believe The Architect will be victorious at Backlash.
#4 Big Cass defeats Daniel Bryan
Big Cass made his return after 9 months on the shelf due to a torn ACL. Cass is now part of SmackDown Live and has started feuding with Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan made the news after his record-breaking performance in the Greatest Royal Rumble match. He broke Rey Mysterio's record for the longest time spent in a royal rumble match with 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Big Cass eliminated Bryan from the match and things are far from over between the two superstars. Bryan will look to settle the score with Cass in a singles match at Backlash.
WWE is looking to give Cass the role Baron Corbin was playing on SmackDown Live. A win against Daniel Bryan would result in Cass gaining a ton of heat from the crowd.
The feud has the potential to continue even after Backlash. Having Cass defeat Bryan would be the right call by the WWE.
#3 Strowman and Lashley pulverize KO and Sami Zayn
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are in for a rough night at Backlash as they are set to face Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley.
Braun Strowman won the inaugural Greatest Royal Rumble match at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The monster among men put on a strong performance in the 50 man battle royal and emerged out victorious.
Bobby Lashley recently returned to the WWE and does not have a proper storyline built around him. Fans were expecting Lashley to fight Lesnar, but we have to wait to find out if that match comes to fruition looking at Lesnar's limited schedule.
But for now, Strowman and Lashley will turn their attention towards Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at Backlash.
The result is quite predictable as there is no sense in having Strowman lose a PPV match after his historic win. Expect Strowman and Lashley to power their way to a win over KO and Sami Zayn at Backlash.
#2 Roman Reigns defeats Samoa Joe
Roman Reigns failed to capture the Universal Championship at the greatest royal rumble. Reigns took on Brock Lesnar in a steel cage match and once again came up short.
Lesnar retained the title after Reigns speared him through the cage causing him to fall out of the ring. But the result was controversial as Reigns' feet were the first to hit the ground.
Reigns would eventually reiterate the fact that he should be the Universal Champion. But before he could get another opportunity at Lesnar's title, he has a roadblock in Samoa Joe.
Samoa Joe returned from injury on the Raw after WrestleMania and challenged Reigns to a match at Backlash. Joe would then get drafted to SmackDown Live as a part of the Superstar shake-up.
The Big Dog is the favorite to win this match as it won't make sense to have Joe defeat Reigns and move on to SmackDown Live. We can expect Reigns to win the match and move on to a possible final showdown with Brock Lesnar.
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura becomes the new WWE Champion
AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34 and retained the WWE Championship. After the match, Nakamura low-blowed Styles after their match and turned heel for the first time in the WWE.
Nakamura would then go on to play games with Styles and low-blow Styles over and over in the following weeks.
Nakamura vs Styles ended in a double count-out at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Styles and Nakamura brawled outside the ring and could not answer the referee's 10-count.
Styles will take on Nakamura again at Backlash and the two would look to finish things off for good. Nakamura has been doing very good as a heel and it's time for him to have a run with the WWE Championship.
Gallows and Anderson got drafted to SmackDown Live and we can expect them to get involved in the match. Gallows and Anderson could unintentionally cost Styles the title. It can be the best way to have Styles look strong even in defeat.
