Ranking Every WWE Backlash Main Event Ever - From Worst To Best
Multi-man clashes, 'Mania rematches, and interference from your favourite beer-drinking brawler...
This month marks the triumphant return of WWE Backlash to
the company’s pay-per-view calendar. I say triumphant because historically its
been one of the better B-tier shows in the WWE’s arsenal.
That’s typically been a result of Backlash’s former spot as the post-WrestleMania PPV, meaning that we’ve seen a number of epic rematches and rivalries grace the event in years gone by. Then again, we’ve also seen some fresher feuds deliver the goods at Backlash.
This year the show will feature one such feud in the main event, as Dean Ambrose faces AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship for the first time ever. It’ll likely be a top match, but how does it compare with some of the headlining contests we’ve seen at previous Backlash PPVs?
Today we have a bash at answering that question, as we look back at some of the very best moments in Backlash history and rank each of the PPV’s main events to determine which was the greatest.
First though, time to address the other end of the scale…
11. 2002 – Triple H Vs. Hulk Hogan
On paper this may look like something of a dream match, but
in reality Triple H vs. Hulk Hogan for the Undisputed WWF Championship wasn’t
quite as good as it sounded.
While the use of Hulk Hogan in the title picture helped the show post a strong buy-rate, it didn’t do too many favours for the main event match itself. By this point, Hogan was fast-approaching 50 and little more than a nostalgia act. Plus, his limited mobility—not to mention his lack of selling—was increasingly proving to be a bit of an issue.
One moment in this match where those issues became apparent was when Triple H began sweeping out Hogan’s leg from underneath him; seeing the Hulkster clumsily amble to the ground in stages was likely more painful for the viewers than it was for Hogan himself.
Perhaps in a bid to compensate for the clunky action, we saw run-ins from Chris Jericho as well as the Undertaker, the latter of whom caused Hogan to "hulk up" before he’d hit the leg drop on Triple H to win his sixth WWF Championship.
A fun match for the Hulkamaniacs, but not a particularly great one all in all.