10 Expectations Vs. Reality For WWE Backlash 2020

9. OK, So They'll Add One More

Backlash Expectation Reality
WWE.com

Expectation:

Seriously, they've stopped. Money In The Bank went two hours. It's as if they've realised that it's not in their best interests to churn out a wearying volume of uncanny valley content.

Reality:

Then again, WrestleMania 36 hosted a particularly weird (but not bad at all) Kickoff match between Liv Morgan and Natalya, two babyfaces with no preexisting beef when one of the babyfaces had preexisting beef with a heel in Ruby Riott. WrestleMania 36 - the WrestleMania too big for just one night! - suddenly had space for two more matches.

I thought it was too big.

So the last-minute match doesn't necessarily have to involve two wrestlers in conflict. Austin Theory Vs. Ricochet? How much does Vince McMahon hate him now, exactly? Remember Brendan Vink and Shane Thorne? Bianca Belair? Riddick Moss? Shayna Baszler? It's sad that Vince has conflated these names in the "F*ck off, pal" recess of his mind, but there they remain, until two are plucked from the void to work 10 tight medium-paced minutes on the Kickoff.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!