10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE Backlash
7. The Not-Quite-Right Return
After a seven-year break for the traditional post-WrestleMania pay-per-view, Backlash returned in 2016 when pay-per-views were no longer a thing and the post-WrestleMania show wasn't necessarily required to run rematches.
Three hour Raws and the WWE Network's ushering in of the content super-service era completely transformed the organisation beyond recognition during Backlash's lengthy spell on the sidelines, and after all bar one of the 11 original incarnations taking place in April, the car never again returned to the same spot.
Since 2016, it's been deployed in May, June and September, with the latter taking the unique spot of being SmackDown's first brand-exclusive pay-per-view following that year's fondly-remembered roster split. As if to celebrate a changing-of-the-guard, AJ Styles became WWE Champion for the first time, defeating Dean Ambrose in a contest that showcased how the company had finally moved on from the John Cena full-timer era with wrestlers other than Roman Reigns in top spots.
'The Champ' passing through the promotion in hot matches with Styles at the time furthered the narrative, with Backlash as signpost that made it so.