We are just three days away from WWE Backlash, the first PLE since WrestleMania 42. Held at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, the card promises to thrill fans all around the globe.
Danhausen’s third WWE match sees him facing off against The Miz and Kit Wilson in tag team action. The catch? Danhausen doesn’t have a partner yet, leaving the WWE Universe to speculate on who might be lurking in the shadows.
The next two matchups, despite having no titles on the line, have the potential to be standouts, as they feature heated rivalries that have been building for months.
First, IYO SKY is set to face off against Asuka. Some fans are already speculating that Kairi Sane, recently released by the company, could make a shocking return to interfere in the match.
In another high-profile singles match without a title on the line, Bron Breakker competes in his first match since the Royal Rumble against Seth Rollins. Tension has been building for months, especially after Breakker infamously cost Rollins his WrestleMania match against Gunther.
Moving to our championship matchups, Trick Williams is set to defend his United States Title for the first time. He faces Sami Zayn in a highly anticipated rematch of their WrestleMania clash, where Williams first became champion.
Finally, Roman Reigns makes his first World Heavyweight Championship defense since defeating CM Punk at WrestleMania, taking on his cousin Jacob Fatu. With Reigns not scheduled for any June appearances, speculation is mounting that WWE could deliver a complete bombshell by having Fatu walk away with the gold.
Considering the massive shockwaves a Jacob Fatu victory would send through the industry, it is the perfect time to take a trip down memory lane. A Fatu win would arguably be the most stunning upset in the event’s history, so let’s look back at what we believe are the five craziest WWE Backlash finishes in WWE history.
5. Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship Win (WWE Backlash 2017)
Given the potential for a historic upset at this year’s event, it’s only fitting that our trip down memory lane begins with one of the most polarizing title wins ever: Jinder Mahal. His crowning as WWE Champion was a move that stunned the WWE Universe and solidified him as one of the most infamous champions ever to hold the gold.
Randy Orton, fresh off defeating Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 33 to become WWE Champion, was quickly challenged by Mahal for a showdown at WWE Backlash. At the time, few viewed Mahal as a legitimate threat, as he had primarily been utilized as an underdog “jobber” for several years.
The match concluded when the Singh Brothers provided a timely distraction, allowing Mahal to connect with the Khallas to pull off the ultimate upset and become the new WWE Champion. The resulting crowd shots showed fans in a state of pure disbelief, a level of shock not seen since the night Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to end the legendary WrestleMania streak.
4.“The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” (WWE Backlash 2020)
Next up is a match that might surprise you, but it’s one we couldn’t leave out. Billed as “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever,” this WWE Backlash showdown between Randy Orton and Edge carried perhaps the most intense pressure of their careers to live up to that monumental catchphrase.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic meant this match would occur in an empty Performance Center, leading many to doubt it could live up to the hype. To compensate, WWE used cinematic techniques to enhance the match, including unique camera angles, heightened audio, and piped-in crowd noise from various eras to evoke a sense of nostalgia for those watching at home.
It wasn’t just the audio that evoked memories of the past; the competitors brought it themselves. In a display similar to John Cena and AJ Styles’ recent clash at Crown Jewel, Orton and Edge delivered a love letter to wrestling history by trading signature maneuvers from legends like Kurt Angle, The Rock, Triple H, and the late Eddie Guerrero.
The match lasted nearly 45 minutes, ending when Orton shockingly reverted to his iconic Punt Kick, a move that had been retired for years, to defeat Edge. Winning with a banned move was a controversial choice that left the fans in a state of total shock.
