WWE Backlash 2023 Preview: Full Card, Match Predictions & More
WWE Backlash 2023 is coming up this Saturday and before the event takes place, let’s run down everything you need to know about the upcoming pay-per-view.
Who is scheduled for the card? How interesting does the show seem? What’s going to happen with all the matches?
Here is a full preview of WWE Backlash 2023.
PPV EVENT INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET (kickoff), 8 p.m. ET (main show)
Location: Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico
MATCH CARD, PREDICTIONS & HEAT INDEX ANTICIPATION LEVELS
(as currently advertised; card is always subject to change)
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
SINGLES MATCH:
Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins.
Thoughts: Boy, this sure would have been a lot more interesting if Cody Rhodes had won the title at WrestleMania and Lesnar was his first opponent. As it is right now, this is just “another obstacle” for Cody that ultimately doesn’t mean anything. That is, of course, if he were to even beat Brock. But it isn’t a number one contender’s match or anything of the sort. And for that matter, I don’t even think Rhodes is winning. I’m expecting this will be a story of how Cody gets beaten down, puts up a “good fight”, but ultimately loses, and that’s it. I’m still interested in the match, but not even a quarter as much as if this were a title match with Cody defending.
SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle vs. The Bloodline (Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa)
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Owens, Zayn and Riddle win.
Thoughts: This is another match that really doesn’t mean anything whatsoever. The only real hook here (beyond just watching six entertaining performers “have a match” for the sake of having a match, if that’s all you care about) is that it could be when Sikoa turns on The Usos. Frankly, it is a Raw or SmackDown main event, rather than a match that needs to be on this card, but that’s what Backlash has boiled down to. It is essentially filler.
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Iyo Sky
Heat Index = Chilly
Prediction: Bianca Belair wins.
Thoughts: No way is Iyo Sky winning that belt. Sorry girl. Not your time yet. Hopefully, in the future, but now? Not happening. If the draft worked out differently and Sky was the answer to solving the “Belair brings the Raw title to SmackDown” conundrum, that would be one thing. But since both are on the blue brand, Belair is keeping this. They’ll have a good match, but it won’t mean anything in the long run, and frankly, I’m sick of Belair feuding with this faction.
SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zelina Vega
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Rhea Ripley wins.
Thoughts: Likewise to the Sky situation, Zelina Vega doesn’t stand a chance. She’s like 1/3 the size of Ripley, who just won the belt at Mania. It’s great Vega is getting this opportunity to have a high profile match in Puerto Rico. That’s awesome. But she’s going to lose not only as a means to keep Ripley’s run going, but to give her considerable heat, too. Ripley will be booed more for beating Vega here than if she had beaten anyone else. And by Monday night, this belt will be around Bianca Belair after she and Ripley do a swap.
SINGLES MATCH:
Omos vs. Seth Rollins
Heat Index = Temperate
Prediction: Seth Rollins wins.
Thoughts: Why is this match happening? “Just for the sake of it” aka “Shut up and stop trying to make us put more effort into any kind of logic here. Go along for the ride. And if you don’t enjoy the ride, then, still, shut up. It’s a big guy against a guy who isn’t big. Isn’t that an attraction? You get to see the big guy in action. You’re not fascinated by Omos?” Am I right? Okay. Now that we’re on the same page. Rollins wins this so that it gives him momentum toward the World Heavyweight Championship.
SAN JUAN STREET FIGHT MATCH:
Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Bad Bunny wins.
Thoughts: This should be a lot of fun. I fully expect the other members of The Judgment Day and Latino World Order to get involved, rendering this less of a one-on-one and more of a multi-man segment with lots of people brawling. Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor will be backing up Damian Priest. Bad Bunny will have backup in a numbers advantage with not only Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar, but also Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde. Maybe Ripley and Vega get involved. But at the end of the day, Bunny will get the win after some help from Mysterio and company. This might even be the main event if they want to end on a high note instead of Lesnar beating Rhodes.
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Austin Theory wins.
Thoughts: Previously, before Theory was also drafted to SmackDown, I thought Lashley was going to win this. Now, I’m convinced Theory is retaining. Lashley will be a top contender for Roman Reigns down the line. He can’t be messing around with the United States Championship. Reed is on Raw, so he can’t win it, as Raw has Gunther and the Intercontinental Championship. That leaves Theory winning, likely by pinning Reed after Lashley does something to the behemoth.
OVERALL PPV:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Thoughts: For the most part, this is a filler show. Almost none of it matters. Even though you’d think having multiple title matches with the Raw and SmackDown women’s titles, in particular, would be a big thing with the draft, it isn’t truly once you look past face value. Some matches will be good. Others will be just time-wasters. It’s a C, most likely.
What do you think is going to happen at WWE Backlash? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
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