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WWE presented WrestleMania Backlash - the first pay-per-view since The Shows of Shows last month. It was a typically great event, following in the footsteps of a successful WrestleMania.
The company's recent pay-per-view record has been outstanding, with zero duds since moving to the ThunderDome in August. Hopefully, WWE can keep the momentum rolling from WrestleMania Backlash until the permanent return of live crowds.
Every match on the card, except for one, delivered well. We saw some great action, feel-good moments, and insane car crash spots which ultimately led to a successful show. All four world title matches at WrestleMania Backlash were brilliant, with the men's ones sticking out in particular.
Here is every match at WrestleMania Backlash graded and ranked, from worst to best. What was your favorite match on the show? Sound off in the comments section below.
#6 Damian Priest vs. The Miz in a Lumberjack Match at WrestleMania Backlash
WWE dropped an extended advertisement for Batista's new movie, 'Army of the Dead' right in the middle of WrestleMania Backlash. That was the only purpose of this Lumberjack Match between Damian Priest and The Miz. The Animal did warn us of something like this.
The two of them could have had a fun contest at WrestleMania Backlash, with the RAW roster playing a supporting role. But the lumberjacks in this match were people dressed as zombies. Yeah. Zombies.
While Priest and The Miz could have had a cinematic match to incorporate the zombies, this was just bizarre. The action wasn't that great, but it was better than what was happening outside the ring. Both superstars tried to avoid the undead, before eventually fighting them off.
The highlight of this match may have been John Morrison using parkour to take out some of the zombies, but it was pretty terrible. Damian Priest got the win and jumped out of the ring so the lumberjacks could take over The Miz. Hopefully, he moves on to bigger and better things after WrestleMania Backlash.
This was possibly WWE's worst pay-per-view match of the past year. At least the worst of the ThunderDome era. Zombies in a wrestling ring. In 2021. Wow.
Grade: E
#5 The Dirty Dawgs vs. Rey and Dominik Mysterio for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania Backlash
Rey and Dominik Mysterio made history at WrestleMania Backlash, as they became the first father and son duo to become Tag Team Champions in WWE history. Their journey towards that milestone wasn't seamless, though. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode made it very hard for them.
The story may have been predictable but it did make sense. Dominik was attacked backstage by The Dirty Dawgs, only to show up towards the end. In the meantime, his father valiantly took on the SmackDown Tag Team Champions on his own.
Both Mysterios were subject to convincing near-falls before their eventual comeback. Rey hit Robert Roode with a 619 and Dominik finished him off with a Frog Splash, with the two celebrating one hell of a moment at WrestleMania Backlash.
Even if WWE has told this underdog story too many times in the past, the action was good enough to make it enjoyable. Rey Mysterio remains a timeless performer and is now sharing his glory with his son. WrestleMania Backlash will remain a significant night in their careers.
Grade: B
#4 Bianca Belair vs. Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship
Bianca Belair defended the SmackDown Women's Championship for the first time at WrestleMania Backlash. It would have been difficult to follow her main event victory over Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37, but Belair and Bayley tried to match up to that high level.
This match was technically proficient, with Bayley looking incredible. She felt like a threat to The EST of WWE. The Role Model got quite a lot of offense in, with a hair-assisted Bayley to Belly for a close two-count. However, Bianca Belair's hair braid ended up helping her get the victory at WrestleMania Backlash.
She rolled Bayley up to keep her title. The final spot may have seemed a little weird, but the action was solid throughout. It also looks like the feud will continue beyond WrestleMania Backlash, which would further boost Belair and her SmackDown Women's Title reign.
Grade: B+
#3 Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania Backlash
WWE opened WrestleMania Backlash with a similarly solid RAW Women's Championship match. Charlotte Flair and Asuka unsuccessfully challenged Rhea Ripley, who looked dominant in various stages of this match. Eventually, she and Flair went into it in a battle of strength.
The Queen eventually gained control of the contest, as she looked motivated to deliver at WrestleMania Backlash. She hit a double Moonsault on Ripley and Asuka to the outside, as well as a double Natural Selection in the ring.
The ending sequence was exciting, with all three stars coming close to winning the match. A small mistake from Charlotte Flair gave Rhea Ripley an opening to hit the Riptide on Asuka and pin her. The aggression shown at WrestleMania Backlash bodes well for a potential rematch between her and the RAW Women's Champion.
Grade: A-
#2 Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania Backlash
The final two matches at WrestleMania Backlash truly elevated this event. First off was this colossal car crash between three of WWE's most powerful heavyweight stars. Bobby Lashley defended his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman, with all three men destroying each other.
The spots in this match ranged from impressive to unbelievable. Lashley and McIntyre lifted Strowman for a double vertical suplex before The Monster Among Men came back with a dive off the apron. The match got increasingly violent, with the breaking point coming on the WrestleMania Backlash stage.
Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre fought their way to the stage, with The Scottish Terminator throwing the WWE Champion through a part of it. This set off an explosion, seemingly taking Lashley out of the match. The subsequent combat sequence between McIntyre and Braun Strowman was incredible.
The Scotsman hit his larger opponent with a Michinoku Driver and a belly-to-belly suplex, before being taken out with a massive powerbomb through the announce table. McIntyre eventually managed to land a Claymore Kick on Strowman but was thwarted by a returning Lashley.
The All-Mighty WWE Champion sent him out of the ring and proceeded to spear Strowman to pick up the victory. This match exceeded expectations, delivering some high-quality powerhouse action. All three men brought it at WrestleMania Backlash and are better off following this incredible contest.
Grade: A
#1 Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania Backlash
The main event of WrestleMania Backlash saw Cesaro challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. It isn't a surprise at all that this would be the match of the night, but it was truly phenomenal. This match did a lot in making the challenger feel like a megastar.
It started a bit slow, with Reigns dominating Cesaro and working over his arm. This was an important aspect of the match as the action always hearkened back to the injured arm. The Tribal Chief maintained his monologues, talking trash throughout the match at WrestleMania Backlash. He even mocked Daniel Bryan at one point.
But for all of Reigns' dominance, Cesaro fought back. He built some momentum of his own over the course of this near half-hour contest. The Swiss Superman hit an incredible superplex from the apron, before an incredible back-and-forth sequence between the two stars.
Reigns turned a corkscrew uppercut into a Superman punch and tried to lock in the guillotine choke. Cesaro momentarily broke out of it and locked in the Sharpshooter, but the Universal Champion eventually got the better of him.
The struggle was long and hard, but Cesaro eventually faded away as Roman Reigns retained his Universal Championship. This match was excellent, telling a great story and making fans believe that the title could change hands at WrestleMania Backlash.
Reigns and Cesaro brought the perfect mix of intensity, power, and psychology to create a modern-day WWE classic. The best part about this match was that all the shenanigans involving Jey Uso and Seth Rollins were kept for after it was over.
Hopefully, WWE follows up from the events of WrestleMania Backlash and keeps Cesaro strong beyond his programs with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. He is a megastar in the making.
Grade: A+
