WWE Backlash 2016: 10 Things That Must Happen
The Eater of Worlds needs to garner some serious momentum starting this Sunday.
With mere days to go before the show, WWE have yet to fully flesh out the card for Backlash. This will be the first single brand pay-per-view of the latest post-split era and the event is a SmackDown Live exclusive. At Backlash, WWE are going to crown brand new SmackDown Tag-Team and SmackDown Women's Champions.
There are certain things fans expect for both belts, but the tag situation has been thrown into disarray due to American Alpha's absence from the show. Chad Cable and Jason Jordan seemed a shoe-in to become the first champions, but it will now be one of either The Usos, Hype Bros or the unlikely duo of Heath Slater and Rhyno.
In the main event, Dean Ambrose defends the WWE World Heavyweight Title against AJ Styles. For that match to succeed, Ambrose and Styles must be allowed to dispense with hilarity, nobody wants to see comedy when it comes to the most important belt on the SmackDown brand.
Helping further ongoing storylines and aiding WWE's efforts to produce the best pay-per-view possible, here's what simply must happen at Backlash...
10. Major Match Opens The Show
This is the first pay-per-view in years to be promoted solely by one WWE brand. Therefore, it's imperative that the show kicks off in fine fashion, hopefully with one of the bigger matches on the card. There's a good chance that something like The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler will start things off, but wouldn't it be cool to see something like Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt in the opening match slot?
Picture the scene. Mauro Ranallo, JBL and David Otunga welcome everybody to Backlash amidst all the usual pyrotechnics and flashing lights. Right before the crowd dies down, the lights go out and the somber tones of Bray Wyatt's entrance music begin to play.
Instantly, everybody in the arena would get goosebumps, because they know they're already getting to see one of the show's biggest bouts. If Orton vs. Wyatt is then a killer brawl, Backlash has the necessary launching pad to be an excellent broadcast.
If WWE choose to open things with The Usos vs. The Hype Bros, for example, it may not have the same effect. Backlash needs to come bursting right out of the gate.