10 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Backlash 2018
These Superstars defined WWE Backlash 2018...for better or worse.
Any WWE pay-per-view is certain to have its fair share of winners and losers, Superstars who experienced creative highs and lows over the course of the ungodly long special presentations the company produces on its official streaming network, and the 2018 edition of Backlash was no different Sunday night.
The winners were those Superstars who seized the spotlight, delivering performances that stole the show and positioned them favorably to enjoy a red-hot summer in Vince McMahon's company.
They will enter the coming week of television prepared to shine even brighter, capitalizing on the roll they suddenly find themselves on.
The losers, on the other hand, suffered from questionable booking and lackluster performances that hurt their momentum and left their immediate futures in question.
They will face this week's television with one goal in mind: a quick recovery that puts them in the position to thrive as Money in the Bank approaches.
Where does intercontinental champion Seth Rollins find himself? How about his Shield teammate Roman Reigns? Was AJ Styles or Shinsuke Nakamura able to overcome relatively disappointing booking on the road to Backlash and emerge as "winners"?
The answers regarding those Superstars and more lie within.
10. Loser: Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan's return to the squared circle should mean so much more than it does.
Instead, he has been shuffled into the midcard and the pop that greeted him Sunday in Newark reflected as much. The crowd was not nearly as into the bearded wonder as they should have been, and with good reason. What should have been a momentous comeback has, instead, become an afterthought of sorts.
Bryan was tasked with putting over Big Cass Sunday night, bumping around the squared circle and really hammering home the ferocity of the big man. Though he won the match, the entire ordeal fell flat with the audience.
Making matters worse was that Bryan, a Superstar that has caught his fair share of ass kickings in the past, was stupid enough to turn his back on Cass and catch another.
Despite the victory, Bryan was portrayed as a typical nerd babyface Sunday rather than the courageous underdog that has fought through obstacles his entire career and continues to do so as he chases championship gold.
It is a version of the character fans will not be so quick to throw their belief and support behind.