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The past four weeks been pretty hectic for the WWE. After presenting probably their biggest ever (and longest) show in WrestleMania 34 on April 7th, WWE took a normal house show in Saudi Arabia to a new level and made it their biggest show outside of USA in over 25 years when they presented the Greatest Royal Rumble on April 27th.
Now, merely 9 days after that humongous event, WWE presents its perennial 'Mania fall-out pay-per-view, Backlash, on May 6th. Pheww! That's a lot of wrestling in such a short span of time. I hope that isn't what WWE meant when they said that they were making changes to their pay-per-view schedule in 2018.
Since 1999, Backlash has been the show that has followed WrestleMania (except 2016, when it followed Summerslam), and is usually the event that features the end of a lot of feuds that started before 'Mania.
Over the years, Backlash has had some of the most memorable and surprising moments. Here are the 5 most memorable moments in the history of pay per view.
#5 Malenko and Scotty steal to show (2000)
How often have we seen a lower mid-card match steal the show in a pay-per-view when the main event of that show was the most important match in the company? Not very frequently, right? However, even in the presence of Rock vs HHH in the main event of Backlash 2000, which is one of the highest grossing B-level pay per view in the history of WWE, it was Dean Malenko vs Scotty 2 Hotty that turned out to be the best match of the night.
'The Man of 1,000 holds' and 'Too Hot' had been at odds with each other for some time, with the two fighting each other in a Tag Match at 'Mania 2000 and in two light heavyweight title matches within a month.
However, they saved their best for Backlash, where they told a phenomenal story. Malenko, the heel champion, targeted Scotty's injured knee, while Scotty, the face, continued fighting back with the crowd completely behind him.
The humongous pop that Scotty got while doing his patented Worm was only bettered by Rock's victory in the night's main event. After a series of close pinfalls, Malenko retained his title in arguably the best match for the now defunct championship.
#4 Big Show sends John Cena into a spotlight (2009)
The Triple Threat match for World Heavyweight Championship at 'Mania 25 was a fun little affair that fell victim to a drained crowd after Undertaker and Shawn Michaels' historic match.
However, that Backlash PPV is most fondly remembered for Cena's impressive feat of strength where he lifted both Big Show and Edge simultaneously to deliver the Attitude Adjustment and win the World Heavyweight Title.
Unlike the contest at 'Mania, Edge and John Cena were wrestling a phenomenal Last Man Standing Match for the World Title in the main event of the 2009 edition of Backlash. The added stipulation added something extra for both superstars as the action spilled outside the ring, allowing both of them to bring out more offensive maneuvers from their arsenal.
Near the end of the match, Cena had Edge on his shoulders and was about to send him down the stage when the third wheel in the 'Mania match, The Big Show, came on the stage, picked Cena up and chokeslammed him into a nearby spotlight to the surprise of everyone in the crowd.
The spotlight burst with a big explosion, which knocked Cena out cold. He failed to answer to the 10 count, giving Edge the victory and the World Title.
#3 AJ Styles' WWE Coronation (2016)
Ever since the demise of WCW, AJ Styles was inarguably the second most famous wrestler to have never worked for WWE, after Sting. Although he was already an established star in TNA, it was his two-year stint in NJPW that turned him into one of the biggest superstars in the whole world.
However, when he signed with WWE, he did not have a smooth start to his WWE career, losing his 'Mania debut as well as his two world title matches against Roman Reigns.
A heel turn during his feud with John Cena in the summer of 2016 did wonders for him, so did the fact that he came out victorious in the rivalry. With his place as Blue Brand's top heel cemented after the win, he set his sight on the Big Dog in his brand - WWE Champion Dean Ambrose.
Ambrose was in the midst of his monstrous push as WWE's biggest babyface, but his reign as the WWE champion had been rather lackluster. Even then, no one was expecting Ambrose to lose the title, merely three months after he won it.
The match itself was a well-fought contest, with the crowd support equally divided among both the participants. Just when everyone thought Dean was about to retain the title, Styles went low and hit a Styles Clash to win the match and the title.
This match was officially the start of Styles' run as the Face of WWE's blue brand, the title that he once again won.
#2 Orton and Foley's Barrage of Violence
In early 2004, Randy Orton was in the middle of a huge push in the mid-card as a member of Evolution. His new moniker, The Legend Killer, was well received and he slowly climbed up the ladder by feuding with, humiliating and defeating legends of the game. However, none of his feuds were as personal and violent as his feud with Mick Foley.
Foley and Orton had been at odds with each other for almost 8 months before Backlash 2004, with the duo eliminating each other at Royal Rumble and wrestling each other in a handicap tag team match between Evolution and Rock n' Sock Connection at 'Mania 20. The grudge match for the Intercontinental title, with the added no holds barred stipulation, saw Foley bring out his alter ego, Cactus Jack, to bring an end to this feud.
Despite coming in an hour before the close of the show, the match managed to steal the show. Barbed wire bats and trash cans were a common sight in the fight as both wrestlers were drenched in their own blood. Orton felt barbed wire on his nuts, Foley's flesh too tasted the barbed wire while Orton realized how it felt to have thumbtacks in his body.
After 23 minutes that saw the two smash each with every possible weapon, an RKO onto the barbed wire ended Foley's night. The match kick-started Orton career as a main-eventer in WWE.
#1 Shane McMahon's Leap of Faith
Despite not being a full-time in-ring performer, Shane-O-Mac has made a name for himself in the WWE ring because of his ability to make and execute high-risk maneuvers that are deemed tough even for the toughest of superstars.
Be it going headfirst through a plated glass window or jumping from the top of a Hell in a Cell, Shane McMahon has done some of the wildest and craziest spots in the past 20 years.
However, all of his stunts fail in comparison to his monumental jump from the top of the titan-tron onto The Big Show at Backlash 2001. This is inarguably the most famous jump or fall in the history of the company, on par with Mankind's twin falls in that infamous Hell in a Cell match.
Although Shane had already taken a similar bump at Summerslam 2000, it was this moment that kick-started his career as WWE's resident stuntman.
Engaged in a hellacious Last Man Standing match against The Big Show, McMahon was being dismantled when Test interfered on his behalf. Climbing to the top of the scaffolding, McMahon was urged by Test to jump on an unconscious Show.
While he first hesitated, Shane stunned everyone all around the world and executed a memorable Leap of Faith from 72 ft to knock both himself and Show out cold. Helped by Test, McMahon somehow made it to his feet to win the match.
