WWE Backlash has delivered high-stakes main event matches ever since it began in 1999. Backlash, also known as the big stop after WrestleMania, frequently continues tense rivalries or crowns new champions. Each year, the main event sets the mood for what's next in WWE. Backlash has featured stars like Batista, Edge, John Cena, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes, and their matches are packed with emotion, drama, and often unexpected twists. The final match of the night always stands out, whether it's a title match or a personal feud being resolved. Backlash's main events, which range from street fights to championship matches, have provided fans with numerous memorable moments.
List of WWE Backlash Main Events Year by Year
WWE has put a main event match in all of its Backlash editions since 1999; 19 main events took place as of Backlash 2025. Among these matches, only four were non-title main event matches: in 2003, 2018, 2020, and 2023. The 2025 edition marked the 20th main event of Backlash history.
| Event | Date and Year | Main Event | Winner |
| Backlash 1999 | April 25, 1999 | No Holds Barred Match for the WWF Championship: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (c) vs. The Rock with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee | "Stone Cold" Steve Austin |
| Backlash 2000 | April 30, 2000 | WWF Championship Match: Triple H (c) vs. The Rock with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee | The Rock |
| Backlash 2001 | April 29, 2001 | Winners Take All Match for the WWF Championship, WWF Intercontinental Championship, and WWF Tag Team Championship: The Two Man Power Trip ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Triple H) vs. The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) | The Two-Man Power Trip ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Triple H) |
| Backlash 2002 | April 21, 2002 | Undisputed WWF Championship Match: Triple H (c) vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan | Hollywood Hulk Hogan |
| Backlash 2003 | April 27, 2003 | Goldberg vs. The Rock | Goldberg |
| Backlash 2004 | April 18, 2004 | Triple Threat World Heavyweight Championship Match: Chris Benoit (c) vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H | Chris Benoit |
| Backlash 2005 | May 1, 2005 | World Heavyweight Championship Match: Batista (c) vs. Triple H | Batista |
| Backlash 2006 | April 30, 2006 | Triple Threat WWE Championship Match: John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Triple H | John Cena |
| Backlash 2007 | April 29, 2007 | Fatal Four-way WWE Championship Match: John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels | John Cena |
| Backlash 2008 | April 27, 2008 | Fatal 4-Way Elimination WWE Championship match: Randy Orton (c) vs. JBL vs. John Cena vs. Triple H | Triple H |
| Backlash 2009 | April 26, 2009 | Six-Man Tag Team WWE Championship Match: Triple H (c), Batista, and Shane McMahon vs. The Legacy (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase) | The Legacy (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase) |
| Backlash 2016 | September 11, 2016 | WWE World Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs. AJ Styles | AJ Styles |
| Backlash 2017 | May 21, 2017 | WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal | Jinder Mahal |
| Backlash 2018 | May 6, 2018 | Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe | Roman Reigns |
| Backlash 2020 | June 14, 2020 | Edge vs. Randy Orton | Randy Orton |
| WrestleMania Backlash 2021 | May 16, 2021 | WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cesaro | Roman Reigns |
| WrestleMania Backlash 2022 | May 8, 2022 | The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso) vs. Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Matt Riddle) | The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso) |
| Backlash 2023 | May 6, 2023 | Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar | Cody Rhodes |
| Backlash France (2024) | May 4, 2024 | Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles | Cody Rhodes |
| Backlash 2025 | May 10, 2025 | Undisputed WWE Championship Match: John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton | John Cena |
FAQs on WWE Backlash Main Event Matches List
A. WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Money in the Bank, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble are the big five of WWE.
A. Randy Orton hails from St. Louis, Missouri, as per WWE.com.
A. Backlash 2025 will be held at the Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
A. Randy Orton won the 2009 and 2017 Royal Rumble.
