'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
This week on SmackDown Live, it was announced that WWE will return to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for the annual Backlash pay-per-view this May. One assumes that the date will be 6th of May, considering the listings on Ticketmaster.
Like last year, it will be a SmackDown Live exclusive pay-per-view. We wonder what the WWE landscape will be at that point in time.
In case you didn't know...
Backlash was the first post-WrestleMania SmackDown Live pay-per-view last year, following the Raw exclusive post WrestleMania pay-per-view Payback. The main event saw Jinder Mahal shock the world to defeat Randy Orton and become the WWE Champion.
Backlash has been a constant feature of WWE programming since 1999 right up to 2009. The pay-per-view returned in 2016 and the 2017 edition was held at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, one day after NXT Takeover: Chicago.
The heart of the matter
While we only have limited information as of now, all we know is the Ticketmaster Pre-Sale code is 'BACKLASH'. We also do not know if the event will be preceded by a Takeover like it was last year.
It is impossible to speculate on the card for the event, considering the landscape of WWE will be very different by then, for sure. All we do know for sure is the Newark, NJ crowd was on fire for SmackDown Live, and therefore, the reception should be quite fantastic indeed.
What's next?
For now, we're headed straight for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. The men and women of RAW will compete with performers from their own brand as well as those on SmackDown Live for a chance to go to WrestleMania's main event match. Backlash is a fair distance away, at this stage.
Author's take
What can I say? Bring on the pay-per-view. And since they're so few and far between, an NXT Takeover preceding the event as well!
