WWE WrestleMania Backlash aired live from the ThunderDome. There were five title matches tonight on the PPV. Roman Reigns defended the Universal Championship against Cesaro in the main event of the PPV.
WrestleMania Backlash Results:
- Sheamus def. Ricochet (Kickoff Show)
- Rhea Ripley def. Charlotte & Asuka to retain the RAW Women’s Championship
- Rey Mysterio & Dominik def. Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
- Damian Priest def. The Miz in a Lumberjack match
- Bianca Belair def. Bayley to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
- Bobby Lashley def. Drew McIntyre & Braun Strowman to retain the WWE Championship
- Roman Reigns def. Cesaro to retain the Universal Championship
Here are the takeaways from the PPV:
Rhea Ripley Retained The RAW Women’s Title
Rhea Ripley defended the RAW Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair & Asuka in a Triple Threat match tonight at WrestleMania Backlash. Asuka caught Charlotte with an elbow tot he face and followed it up with two German Suplexes in a row.
Asuka hit Ripley with a Hip Attack in the corner of the ring and then delivered a kick to Flair’s midsection. Asuka knocked Ripley out of the ring with a knee to the face. Charlotte launched Asuka out of the ring and then made her way to the top rope. Charlotte climbed to the top rope and hit a massive Moonsault onto both superstars.
Charlotte climbed back up to the top rope but Ripley caught her with some punches. Ripley went for a Superplex but Charlotte blocked it. Asuka joined in and the two planted Flair with a Superplex. All three superstars traded punches from their knees in the middle of the ring.
Flair and Ripley hopped up and continued to trade punches. Ripley started unloading headbutts and then teamed up with Asuka again for a Suplex. Charlotte landed on her feet and planted them both with Natural Selection. Flair laid across both superstars for the cover but Asuka and Ripley both kicked out at two.
Charlotte went for a Moonsault but Asuka got out of the way. Flair landed on her feet but Asuka caught her with a Codebreaker. Asuka booted Flair in the face and then leveled Rhea with a kick. Rhea planted Asuka with the Riptide for the pinfall victory as Charlotte couldn’t break it up in time.
Rey & Dominik Captured The Tag Titles
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode defended their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against Rey & Dominik Mysterio tonight at WrestleMania Backlash. Before the match, it was ruled that Dominik could not compete due to an injury from an attack earlier in the night. Rey opted to compete in the match alone instead of finding a new partner.
Mysterio sent Ziggler out of the ring and connected with a Splash. Roode leveled Mysterio from behind but Rey battled back and sent Robert into the ring post. Mysterio hit Roode with a Senton and got back into the ring. Roode connected with a massive Clothesline and Dolph tied up Rey in the corner.
Roode stomped away on Mysterio while he was hung up in the ropes. Mysterio rolled out of out the ring and slammed his leg on the floor. Back in the ring, Dolph went for the cover but Rey kicked out at two. Ziggler hit a Fameasser but Rey was somehow able to kick out at two.
Robert threw Rey under the bottom rope and Ziggler caught him with a Superkick. Ziggler rolled Rey back into the ring and tagged in Roode. Rey planted Roode and Ziggler with a Tornado DDT out of nowhere. Dominik Mysterio limped down the entrance ramp holding his injured ribs.
Dominik climbed to the ring apron as Rey wondered what he was doing. Ziggler hit the Zig Zag but Mysterio was able to kick out at two. Roode tagged in and planted Rey with a Gutbuster for a near fall. Rey battled back and hit a Bulldog off the top rope.
Rey hit a Dropkick and Dominik tagged himself in as Roode laughed. Dominik knocked Ziggler off the apron but turned around into a Spinebuster from Roode. Ziggler tagged in and hit a Neckbreaker for a two count. Dolph launched Dominik into the ring post and taunted Rey.
Dominik caught Ziggler with a Superkick and tagged in Rey. Mysterio hit Ziggler with a Senton but Roode caught him with a Backbreaker for a near fall. Roode went for a Powerbomb but Rey escaped. Rey hit Roode with a 619 and tagged in Dominik. Dominik tagged in and climbed to the top rope. Dominik hit a Splash for the pinfall victory. Dominik & Rey are the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Damian Priest Won A Terrible Lumberjack Match
The Miz faced Damian Priest in a Lumberjack Match tonight at WrestleMania Backlash. The lumberjacks were zombies to promote the new Army of the Dead movie. The Miz spend the first couple minutes avoiding the zombies and walked into a massive Clothesline from Damian.
Priest leveled The Miz with a kick to the face and then climbed to the top rope. Damian hit a spin kick and went for the cover but Miz kicked out at two. Miz battled back and applied the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. The action spilled out of the ring and both superstars beat up some zombies.
Back in the ring, Damian hit Broken Arrow for a near fall. John Morrison rushed to the ring but the zombies dragged him away. Priest connected with Hit the Lights on The Miz for the pinfall victory. The zombies all crawled towards The Miz after the match.
Bianca Belair Retained The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Bianca Belair defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley tonight at WrestleMania Backlash. Belair absolutely dominated the first few minutes of the match and sent Bayley out of the ring. Bayley turned the momentum by slamming Belair into the steel steps.
Bayley controlled the next few minutes and went for the Rose Plant but Belair sent her to the ropes. Bianca planted Bayley with a Spinebuster and went for the cover but Bayley kicked out at two. Bayley connected with a Clothesline and made her way to the top rope.
Bayley connected with a flying Elbow Drop and went for the cover but Bianca kicked out at two. Bayley bounced Bianca’s face off the ring post and the SmackDown Women’s Champion fell to the floor. Bayley went for a Suicide Dive but Belair got out of the way.
Bianca bounced Bayley off the ring apron and went for the cover but Bayley kicked out at two. Bayley rolled up Belair and used the ropes for leverage but Belair was able to kick out at two. Bayley tried to do it again but the referee caught her this time.
Belair unloaded some strikes but Bayley raked her eyes. Bayley connected with a Bayley to Belly but Belair kicked out at two. Belair then used her hair to roll-up Bayley for the pinfall victory in a clumsy finish. Bianca Belair is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Lashley Retained The WWE Championship
Bobby Lashley defended the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre & Braun Strowman tonight at WrestleMania Backlash. Lashley tried to form an alliance with McIntyre at the beginning of the match and they beat Strowman down. Lashley and McIntyre planted Strowman with a massive Suplex before trading punches in the middle of the ring.
McIntyre slammed Lashley to the canvas and delivered the Glasgow Kiss to Braun. Lashley brought McIntyre out of the ring and slammed him into the barricade surrounding the ring. Strowman came out of nowhere and leaped onto Lashley and McIntyre.
Back in the ring, Strowman hit Lashley with a Chokeslam and went for the cover but Bobby was able to power out at two. Bobby went for the Hurt Lock but McIntyre broke it up with a ridiculous Crossbody off the top rope. Drew sent Strowman into the ring post and delivered another Crossbody to the Lashley.
McIntyre hit Strowman with a slam and went for the cover but Lashley broke it up at two. Lashley connected with an overhead throw on McIntyre and then a Spinebuster on Strowman for a near fall. Lashley threw McIntyre into the barricade and then bounced his head off the ring post.
Braun Strowman leveled Lashley with the steel steps but turned around into a Claymore from McIntyre. Drew and Lashley battled up the entrance ramp and Lashley connected with an overhead throw. Lashley slammed McIntyre into a screen but Drew responded with a Glasgow Kiss.
Drew bounced Lashley’s face off the screens and then threw him through the stage. McIntyre looked around but the WWE Champion was nowhere to be found. Strowman brought McIntyre to the ring and hit him with a Senton for a near fall. McIntyre hit Braun with an unbelievable Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
McIntyre hit an overhead throw on the floor but Strowman hopped up and Powerbombed Drew through the announce table in an awesome sequence. McIntyre hit Strowman with a Claymore but Lashley showed up again. Lashley threw McIntyre out of the ring and hit Strowman with a Spear for the pinfall victory in a great match. Bobby Lashley is still the WWE Champion.
Reigns Retained & Rollins Attacked Cesaro
Roman Reigns defended the Universal Championship against Cesaro in the main event of WrestleMania Backlash. Before the match, Roman Reigns told Jey that he was sounding like Jimmy and didn’t like his attitude. Reigns told Jey that maybe he should go find his brother and went to the ring with just Paul Heyman.
Roman Reigns shoved Cesaro to the corner of the ring to start off the action. Reigns took Cesaro down and applied a Headlock. Cesaro broke free but Reigns decked him with a shoulder tackle for a one count. Cesaro battled back with a shoulder tackle of his own for a one count.
Reigns rolled out of the ring to regroup and had a conversation with Paul Heyman. Roman slowly made his way back to the ring and Cesaro allowed him to do so. Cesaro went for a Waist Lock but Reigns blocked it and threw Cesaro to the corner. Roman bounced Cesaro’s face off the top turnbuckle but Cesaro responded with a springboard uppercut.
Cesaro hit an Atomic Drop and went for the Swing but Reigns grabbed the bottom rope to break it up. Roman sent Cesaro out of the ring and Cesaro appeared to tweak his right arm/shoulder while landing on the floor. Back in the ring, Cesaro hit a couple uppercuts but Reigns shrugged them off with a Clothesline.
Roman targeted Cesaro’s injured arm and launched him into the ring post. Roman bounced Cesaro off the announce table a couple times before rolling him back inside the ring. Cesaro went for a Suplex but Roman countered into a Suplex of his own in the middle of the ring for a one count.
Reigns unloaded some right hands and then stomped Cesaro down to the canvas in the corner of the ring. Cesaro hit a couple uppercuts but the champ responded with a massive shot to the face. Reigns applied a Headlock and brought Cesaro down to the mat.
Cesaro broke free but Roman hit a Clothesline for another one count. Reigns smiled that it was only a one count and started unloading punches to Cesaro’s face. Roman went back to the Headlock and the action slowed down again. Cesaro battled to his feet and booted Reigns in the knee.
Cesaro hit an uppercut but Reigns immediately responded with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Heyman chuckled ringside as Roman made his way back to his feet. Reigns set up for the Superman Punch but Cesaro avoided it. Cesaro connected with a Pop-Up Uppercut and both superstars fell to the canvas.
Roman stumbled to the corner and Cesaro hit him with a flurry of uppercuts. Cesaro hit a boot to the face and went for the cover but the Universal Champion powered out at two. Cesaro booted Reigns in the knee a few more times and locked in the Sharpshooter in the center of the ring.
Reigns quickly reached the bottom rope to break the hold and then rolled to the apron. Cesaro leaped onto Reigns outside the ring and then rolled the Universal Champion back inside. Reigns quickly rolled out of the ring again and Cesaro went after him with an uppercut that sent Roman into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Cesaro climbed to the top rope and hit a Crossbody for a near fall. Reigns and Cesaro then battled on the turnbuckle. Cesaro slammed Reigns’ face off the ring post but Roman responded with a punch to the face. Reigns booted Cesaro in the face and stretched out Cesaro’s injured arm over the top rope.
Roman hit the Drive By and rolled Cesaro back in the ring. Reigns went for the cover but Cesaro kicked out at two. Reigns smiled at Cesaro as the challenger was grimacing in pain. Cesaro got up and punched Roman in the face. Reigns shrugged it off and went back to work on Cesaro’s arm.
Reigns started taunting Daniel Bryan and said “I hope you are enjoying this from your house DB” and hit Cesaro with a Clothesline for a near fall. Reigns continued to trash talk Cesaro while punching him in the face. Roman unloaded some knee strikes and dropped Cesaro with a big boot to the face.
Roman said he has a lot of responsibility and delivered a headbutt to Cesaro. Roman shrugged off an elbow to the face but Cesaro followed it up with an uppercut. Cesaro hit another uppercut and grabbed his arm in pain as both superstars fell to the mat. Reigns and Cesaro traded punches from their knees and battled to their feet.
Cesaro hit an uppercut and unloaded some stomps in the corner of the ring. Cesaro climbed to the middle turnbuckle and shook off the pain in his arm. Cesaro hit an awesome Superplex and went for the cover but Roman powered out at two. Cesaro went for the Neutralizer but his arm gave out.
Reigns brought Cesaro down to the mat and locked in an Armbar in the center of the ring. Cesaro countered into a roll-up for a two count. Reigns connected with a big Superman Punch and went for the cover but somehow Cesaro was able to kick out at the last moment.
Roman went a Spear but Cesaro countered with an uppercut. Cesaro went for another Pop-Up Uppercut but his arm gave out. Reigns capitalized with the Guillotine choke but Cesaro broke free with a Spinebuster for a two count. Cesaro unloaded some punches and locked in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Roman reached for the ropes and Cesaro transitioned into a Crossface.
Reigns broke free and mounted Cesaro in the middle of the ring. Roman unloaded several punches to Cesaro’s face and deadlifted Cesaro for a massive Powerbomb for another near fall. Reigns unloaded some more punches but Cesaro grabbed his arm. Cesaro sent Roman across the ring but Reigns went right back to the Guillotine choke. Cesaro slammed Reigns to the mat but Roman didn’t let go. Cesaro tried to break the hold but Reigns kept it locked in and Cesaro passed out. Roman Reigns is still the Universal Champion.
After the match, Jey Uso came to the ring and attacked Cesaro. Reigns laughed in the corner with Paul Heyman as Jey beat Cesaro down. Jey climbed to the top rope when Seth Rollins’ music hit. Rollins marched to the ring in an absurd suite and stood across from Roman Reigns. Rollins and Reigns stared at each other and then Seth laughed. Rollins attacked Cesaro and slammed him into the steel steps.
Seth slammed the injured arm into the announce table and then hit him with a steel chair. Rollins put Cesaro’s arm in the chair and shouted that nobody makes a mockery out of him. Rollins slammed the injured arm into the ring post and laughed about it. Seth then delivered the Stomp to Cesaro and posed in the ring to end the PPV.
Opinion: WWE WrestleMania Backlash was a very good show. The zombie Lumberjack match was the low point of the PPV but every other match delivered. The Triple Threat match was fun as hell and the Universal Championship match felt like a war. I hope Cesaro gets his moment in the future but it is impossible to take the title off Roman Reigns right now. He has been incredible as the Tribal Chief and it will be interesting to see who his next opponent is.