In the first-brand exclusive pay-per-view since the Brand Split, Smackdown Live’s pay-per-view WWE Backlash brought a whole new look to the Smackdown brand, crowning three new champions in Becky Lynch, Heath Slater and Rhyno, and new WWE World Champion AJ Styles.
Becky Lynch became the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion, besting five other women in an entertaining six-pack challenge that opened the show. Heath Slater and Rhyno’s unexpected run as a`tag team reached its pinnacle, as the team became the inaugural Smackdown Tag Team Champions.
But, most notable of all, AJ Styles became WWE World Champion in a spectacular match with Dean Ambrose. These were the focal points of WWE Backlash, but what did other matches contribute to the show?
Here is reading between the lines of each match from WWE Backlash.
Note: I will not be including Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews, but despite the lack of build, it was a fun match between two highly underutilised talents, and it was a great way of adding an additional bout to the card.
Six-Pack Challenge for the Smackdown Women’s Championship:
In an entertaining and spot-filled match (including a tower of doom and a Naomi springboard dive onto all five other competitors), Becky Lynch finally captured the Women’s title in an emotional win, with the crowd firmly behind her.
Although there were some troubling moments in the match, including Carmella’s lack of varied offence on Becky in the final stages and the repetitiveness of throwing others out of the ring, this was still a really solid match, with the right woman coming out on top.
Alexa Bliss shined with a couple of nice moves, Naomi’s athleticism was on full display, Natalya was showcased well and Carmella and Nikki Bella’s feud continued. All six women were highlighted throughout the bout, and being given the opening match on the show certainly helped proceedings, as did the ample time given for the match itself.
Overall, a great performance and a deserving title win for Lynch that has fans of hers (including me) extremely excited.
Hype Bros vs The Usos:
This was nothing to write home about, and was on the card simply to further the storyline of the tag tournament. The winners were never in question, as the Hype Bros had no chance of victory here. But, the Usos’ transformation as heels has already been great, with the changed attire, entrance, and in-ring style working to perfection.
Rather than the colourful face-paint, crowd pandering and high-flying, Jimmy and Jey were concentrated, arrogant and malicious, beating down Ryder’s knee towards the end of the match and using a submission rather than a frog splash or superkick.
These subtle changes will and already have done wonders for the brothers, and I am looking forward to their feud with American Alpha. Overall, a decent match that was held back from full-throttle due to the Usos pulling double duty later on.
The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler (Intercontinental Championship):
With a lack of star-studded matches to fill out the card, Backlash needed a match like this one to deliver. It did, adding another Intercontinental Title match on to the best matches this year. Both men were fired up, and the result was an extremely solid bout that exceeded expectations, as we had already seen these two clash multiple times.
Ziggler’s selling of his knee injury, along with his overall technical ability, brought out the best in the Miz. The viscious, yet coward-like nature of the Miz’s character shone throughout the contest, and was the main takeaway from this matchup.
The length of time given for the match added to the emotional investment as well, as fans immersed themselves in the story, something that is all too uncommon in these midcard feuds.The finish with Maryse interfering only further added to Miz’s growing heat, and was a nifty way of continuing the feud.
If we keep getting matches like this, I’m not complaining.
Bray Wyatt vs Kane (No Holds Barred):
A strong showing despite the lack of build, Orton’s injury was woven well into storyline, and we got a decent No Holds Barred bout out of it. But, the finish is what turned this match sour. After dominating Kane for the majority of the contest with chair shots and a wicked announce table senton, Wyatt should have put away The Big Red Machine.
Even with Orton’s interference and subsequent RKO, Wyatt should have picked up the win over the aging Kane, who didn’t really gain much from the victory. A strong way to continue the Orton-Wyatt rivalry despite the injury, but a weak way to book the end of the bout.
Another Bray Wyatt loss on pay-per-view was the last thing anyone wanted, but it’s what we got. Let’s hope he wins the next match against Orton, hey?
Rhyno and Heath Slater vs The Usos (Smackdown Tag Team Championships):
In what wasn’t a classic match by any means, the emotion and storytelling present in this bout carried it to the success it achieved. Slater’s quest for a Smackdown Live contract culminated in this match, and with his new tag partner Rhyno, the duo captured the titles to become the inaugrual champions.
The crowd firmly behind the odd pairing, the pop they received when Slater covered one of the Usos after a Gore from Rhyno was one of the biggest of the night. An emotional moment for the two, who were both non-existent a few months ago on WWE TV.
A wonderful moment capped off by a hillarious Slater promo after the match, the culmination of the underdog story for the duo was a great way to satisfy the fans, rather than having the Usos win their third Tag Team Championships.
AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose (WWE World Championship):
In what was expected between two high-calibre performers like Styles and Ambrose, this match was intense, dramatic and a great performance overall by both men. Ambrose’s brawling style meshed well with Styles’ technical prowess, and the two relied on big moves and 2-counts, but not finishers.
In fact, the only finisher hit throughout the entire bout was the Styles’ Clash that won AJ the title. An excellent match and one of my favourites so far this year, Ambrose is due for a rematch that should be just as good or even better than this one.
Styles’ use of the low blow was great in my opinion, as he is a heel and that is how they win matches. It also allowed Ambrose to look strong in defeat, who would have looked like a chump if Styles had won clean.
Overall, a wonderful match, but the main talking point is AJ Styles as WWE World Champion. Finally, in one of the best first year performances in WWE history, Styles has won the world title. After incredible matches against Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns and John Cena, AJ captured the gold against Ambrose in another incredible matchup.
Let’s hope Cena doesn’t return and win the title, and hopefully Styles can hold the title all the way into Wrestlemania 33 next year.
Thanks for reading! Drop a comment on your thoughts on the matches at Backlash!
