Backlash 2018 Review

WWE Backlash 2018
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center
5/6/18

Kick Off Match 

Ruby Riott w/ Riott Squad def Bayley via Pinfall
Before the match, we get more arguing between Bayley and Sasha that will probably lead to nowhere once again as this circle keeps going around and around and around.

I really liked this match and it may be my favorite kickoff show match since the New Day vs Usos match back at SummerSlam. This is one of Ruby's better matches since coming to the main roster and it's nice to see her shine in a match that is given some time and had minimal shenanigans from Sarah & Liv at ringside. Bayley has a nice chain of pinning combinations at the start of the match. Bayley does all she can to overcome the three on one disadvantage but in the end, a distraction ends up costing her the match. Both women looked great in this match and I look forward to more matches between the two of them. Rating: **3/4

Match #1

Seth Rollins (c) def The Miz via Pinfall (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

This was an amazing way to start the show and set the bar really high for everyone else on the show. I will state that I am officially behind the idea of having Rollins be the one that ends up beating Brock Lesnar as he has had such a strong year so far and if he keeps this up he could be the 2018 WWE MVP. I'm so glad to see that over the last couple of years The Miz's in-ring work has finally caught up to his work on the microphone as he too is putting on really great matches and this match would pretty high on that list for me. It's rare that I fall for the near falls in a match, but I fell for a couple of them in this match. This match had me on edge as there was a moment when I thought they may do what many didn't expect and give Miz the title as the near falls were very believable and well placed in the match. I can't really say anything negative about this match except for Rollins hopping to the top rope after Miz kicked him in the bad knee that Miz had been working on during the match. If this is a sign of what I have to look forward to for the rest of the show this is going to be really good. It should also be noted that Miz got a big bruise on the side of his leg during this match.
Rating: ****1/4

Match #2
Nia Jax (c) def Alexa Bliss via Pinfall (Raw Women's Championship)

This was a pretty fun match with Alexa getting the best of Nia for most of the match and Nia getting a few hope spots of throwing Alexa around the ring. There was a spot where Nia was throwing Alexa from one side of the ring to another and I didn't really like it because Alexa looked like she was doing forward rolls from one side to the other instead of landing like I'm used to seeing during a spot like that. Really surprised Alexa got as much offense in as she did, in both of these matches against Alexa, Nia hasn't really looked like the unstoppable force as she gets beat up for most of the match only to come out in the last minute with a Samoan Drop to get a win. It will be interesting to see who gets to be Nia's next challenger and where Alexa will go after this as I would imagine she is going to be rotated out of the title picture for a while. Rating: **1/4

After the match, Nia cuts a feel-good promo about being yourself and anti-bullying which was really good and then it immediately gets ruined when you find out that was just so Michael Cole could plug their damn Be A Star program. Nia did more in that promo for the Be A Star program than Michael Cole could ever do schilling it and forcing it down people's throats. I never pictured Nia as a babyface and was even against it at the start of the feud with Alexa, but it has worked out great for her and I actually have come to like her as the babyface. On a side note, my heart broke seeing Alexa's sad face at ringside as she walked to the back. 

Match #3

Jeff Hardy (c) def Randy Orton via Pinfall (WWE United States Championship)

This was the match I was least looking forward to and for a good reason as this was pretty much a standard Randy Orton match and nothing else. Randy Orton has gotten to the point where when he comes out he instantly makes me turn my attention to something else as he brings any match he is in down, older Jeff Hardy hasn't been too much better lately as he is noticeably a lot slower than he used to be and he doesn't even have a unique character to fall back on like Matt does.  One thing I did like about this match was Hardy learning from his match with Orton ten years ago at the Royal Rumble as this time he blocked the attempted RKO counter of the Twist of Fate that Orton hit in 2008 to win that match. Rating: **

We get a really fun comedy segment with Elias coming out to sing only to get interrupted by New Day and then Rusev Day and then No Way Jose who was with his conga line which included Titus Worldwide and Breezango. This would lead to Bobby Roode showing up out of nowhere to hit the Glorious DDT on Elias and then everyone dancing to the back. Fun segment and a great way to kill some time.

Match #4
Daniel Bryan def Big Cass via Submission

This was an ok match, but far from any dream match that we had imagined with Bryan being back. Bryan doing tried to chop Cass down to size and gain control early until Cass used his power to turn the match in his favor and the longer he was in control the cockier he became. After much struggle from Big Cass and Bryan hitting him with crossface strikes Bryan would finally lock in the YES Lock to get the win. Not really to sure what else to say about this match as it was just there really and could've easily been any match you would see on Smackdown. Early on in the match, some idiots in the crowd were chanting for Enzo ugh. Rating: **1/4

After the match, Cass attacks Bryan and after throwing him around ringside he hits him with the Big Boot in the ring and stands over a fallen Daniel Bryan and this feud will continue.

Match #5

Carmella (c) def Charlotte via Pinfall (Smackdown's Women's Championship)

If you had told me that Carmella would beat Charlotte in this match completely clean with zero help from anyone I would have told you that you're insane, but that's exactly what happened in this match. This match was better than I expected it to be and Carmella had a good showing in her first major title defense and to me, she showed that she has improved quite a bit and is deserving of the spot she is in. Just like Alexa, Carmella's character work is really great (although the constant screaming does wear on you after awhile) and her in-ring skills are coming along quite nicely as well. There was a sleeper spot in this match and the by the way Charlotte was selling it I started to question if Carmella actually had the thing locked in for real as to me she sold it as if she was literally fixing to pass out. If Carmella keeps putting on performances like this and isn't a complete chicken shit heel the entire time she is champion then her title reign might be pretty fun to watch. Rating: **

Match #6
AJ Styles (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura - Double Countout (WWE Championship - No DQ Match)

It took an entire two years and a heel turn but I finally got another match out of Shinsuke Nakamura that I really enjoyed. This is the first match in a while where it actually felt like Nakamura wasn't just mailing it in and was giving the kind of performance that everyone wanted him to. I guess aside from the finish this match was exactly what I wanted it to be, a fun back and forth match with some weapons brought in to put the cherry on top. I bet that unintentional chair shot to the face of AJ hurt a lot especially since I doubt he was expecting it to do that. I liked that AJ finally got some payback on Nakamura by hitting him in the balls, but not sure how I feel about the double nut shot finish. The finish would've probably worked better if they hadn't just done a double count out finish 10 days prior at the GRR. I guess the only place to go now is a cup on a pole match or maybe a ladder match with a cup hanging above the ring instead of the title. Aside from the finish this was a great match and heel Nakamura is so much better and I love his kick-ass new music. Rating: ****

Match #7
Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley def Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn via Pinfall

This was a glorified squash match with a bit of comedy and tension with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Zayn wants to leave the match after getting worked over by Strowman but KO wants to stay and fight, KO and Zayn argue and throw each other into the ring until finally, Lashley hits the delayed vertical suplex on KO to get the win. Rating: *3/4

After the match Strowman hits Powerslams on both KO and Zayn.

Match #8

Roman Reigns def Samoa Joe via Pinfall

This match started out fine with Joe getting the jump on Roman before the match and putting him through a table, but once the match actually started it became a snooze fest as 90% of the match was Joe putting Roman in rest holds and Roman trying to make a comeback only to be locked in another hold. The latter part of the match did pick up some but never reached the level it needed to be at, this match should've been these two beating the shit out of each other for 15 minutes but instead, we got what we expect to see in a Randy Orton or Jinder Mahal match. As good as Roman is at taking a beating that is not what the fans want out of him as we want a bad ass guy who kicks ass and takes names, not a guy getting sympathy for an entire match and coming back to get the win. I did like the spot where Roman goes for the drive by but Joe caught him in the Coquina Clutch. The finish comes when Roman makes a miraculous recovery minutes after looking to be completely out of it (and also after being worked over for the majority of the match) to jump over Joe (who had him on the top rope for a Muscle Buster) and do a forward roll and then hitting a spear. This wasn't the worst match but it sure as hell wasn't as great as it could've been and have seen them have on Raw many times before. Rating: **

This show wasn't quite as bad as I've seen everyone says it is since I did get two 4 star matches out of it, but the main event was horrible and everything else was below average. Show Rating: D+

Backlash 2018 Match Rankings
9. Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn 

8. WWE United States Championship 
7. Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe

6. Smackdown Women's Championship

5. Raw Women's Championship 

4. Daniel Bryan vs Big Cass 

3. Ruby Riott vs Bayley 

2. WWE Championship

1. WWE Intercontinental Championship