Cody Rhodes ended Roman Reigns’ historic WWE title reign at WrestleMania 40. (Credit: WWE/Getty … [+]
WWE is going international once again with Backlash France, its post-WrestleMania pay-per-view featuring Cody Rhodes’ first title defense as WWE Universal Champion.
The latest overseas live event is part of WWE’s new strategy to host its non-“Big Five” PPVs outside of the United States, which has worked out well for the company so far. Backlash follows in the footsteps of February’s Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, which, according to WWE, was “WWE’s highest-grossing and most-viewed Elimination Chamber in company history.”
With a strong match card headlined by Rhodes vs. AJ Styles and a blockbuster tag team match pitting the Kabuki Warriors against Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair, WWE Backlash should continue WWE’s recent hot streak of stellar PPV showings. As WWE officially moves on from the PG era, Backlash France represents a significant turning point for WWE’s overall product.
Here are five smart booking decisions WWE must make for a successful Backlash 2024.
Bayley Pins Naomi In WWE Women’s Championship Match
Given that Bayley just won the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40, it’s unlikely that she will drop the title so soon after such a monumental victory.
This triple threat match against Bayley and Tiffany Stratton has been built up quite well in recent weeks, but of course, there has to be a loser in France. Stratton is a massive star-in-the-making whose undeniable popularity—despite being a clear heel—has even taken WWE officials by surprise.
Stratton is a surefire future world champion, and though a world title reign doesn’t appear to be coming just yet, she’s a strong candidate to win the Money in the Bank briefcase later this year. Thus, Stratton needs to be protected by the booking moving forward, which necessitates Naomi taking the pin at Backlash.
Damian Priest Retains The WWE World Heavyweight Title
Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso feels more like a midcard title match than a World Heavyweight Championship bout, but the post-WrestleMania season is typically when WWE pushes stars who might not be featured as much at other times of the year.
Still, Priest is the definition of a transitional champion, and with Drew McIntyre re-signing with WWE, he’s the best bet to be the next World Heavyweight Champion. The most logical booking of Raw’s world title picture is for Priest—who cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on McIntyre at WrestleMania 40 to win the title—to lose it back to McIntyre.
The clear long-term direction is Punk vs. McIntyre, and that should be a red hot return rivalry whenever Punk is able to wrestle again. That means that Priest needs to retain over Uso at Backlash, if only to drop it to McIntyre—ideally at June’s Clash at the Castle in McIntyre’s home country of Scotland.
Tama Tonga Gets The Pin In First-Ever WWE Match
If WWE fans thought that The Bloodline saga was coming to an end when Roman Reigns lost at WrestleMania 40, boy, were they mistaken.
Instead, WWE has essentially formed a “New Bloodline” with Solo Sikoa and newcomer Tama Tonga taking over the reigns, pun intended, while Reigns is sidelined indefinitely. That has led to Sikoa and Tonga vs. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens at Backlash in a star-studded clash that has transformed Orton and Owens into unlikely allies.
As WWE takes this new direction with The Bloodline, it’s imperative that the new-look group continues Reigns’ momentum, which has carried the company for the last four years. WWE has masterfully presented Tonga as a vicious and important star in just a few short weeks, but that’s all for naught if he doesn’t win matches.
Remember, it was Sikoa who said after Reigns’ loss that “losing has consequences,” so The Bloodline shouldn’t suffer another major loss for months, at least.
Jade Cargill And Bianca Belair Win Gold
Jade Cargill vs. Bianca Belair is a true dream match that both stars have openly talked about wanting to have. That should be the end goal of their budding storyline, too.
But what better way to build to an eventual split than for Cargill and Belair to revitalize the women’s tag team division first? It’s no secret that WWE’s women’s tag team division has struggled to gain its footing over the past few years, but a lengthy title reign from two of its biggest stars could go a long way toward changing that.
There is an overall perception that the women’s tag titles don’t mean much right now, and that’s understandable. That’s nothing against the Kabuki Warriors duo of Asuka and Kairi Sane, but it’s time for a change.
Cargill and Belair should win the belts and elevate the tag division over the next half a year, if not more.
Cody Rhodes Successfully Defends Against AJ Styles
Now that Rhodes has “finished his story,” a new chapter has begun. Formerly the hunter, Rhodes is now the hunted.
WWE seems to be building up Rhodes as a fighting champion who takes on all comers, and AJ Styles will be the first man to get a chance at dethroning him. Too bad for Styles, that just isn’t happening. Especially with Rhodes vs. The Rock possibly taking place at WrestleMania 41, Rhodes—much like Reigns—figures to have a lengthy title reign.
Will it last three years or more like Reigns’ title run did? Probably not. But there’s no way that WWE spent the past two years cementing Rhodes as the face of WWE only to have him drop the Universal title to a less-pushed Styles just a few weeks later.
Rhodes should win in resounding fashion and move on to bigger and better feuds en route to SummerSlam.
