1. John Cena Going Through a Stage Spotlight (WWE Backlash 2009)
Closing out our list at the number one spot is the moment John Cena was launched through a massive stage spotlight. The visual was so shocking that it left fans genuinely fearing for Cena’s well-being in the immediate aftermath of the explosion.
Cena and Edge were battling in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship on this year’s WWE Backlash. Cena seemingly had the upper hand until Big Show interfered, hoisting him up and chokeslamming him directly into a massive stage spotlight.
This moment left Cena “unconscious,” allowing Edge to walk away as the new champion via count-out. The image of Cena lying motionless amidst shattered glass was a haunting visual, made even more dramatic as he was stretchered out of the arena. It is clear why critics and fans describe this as one of the most stunning finishes in not only WWE Backlash but WWE history.
If fans ever wonder why WWE named this event “WWE Backlash,” this list proves it. It is the night when the dust finally settles from WrestleMania, and the fallout creates a new reality. History suggests this year will be no different, with rumors swirling around a shocking return for Kairi Sane or the potential image of the “Samoan Werewolf” taking the throne by slaying the “Tribal Chief” to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
From unexpected returns to violent title changes, WWE Backlash is a show that thrives on the unexpected, proving year after year that nothing is ever truly settled in the wake of WrestleMania.
