5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Backlash 2024 (Results & Review)

1. Cody Survives First Defense

First title defenses are a tricky situation: Unless the title-holder is purely a transitional champion, the outcome really isn’t in doubt, especially in this era of longer title reigns. The challenge is making that obvious match compelling for fans, both in the arena and at home.

For those reasons, you have to take your hat off to AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes, who turned in a really, really good performance at Backlash France. The outcome was never in doubt – there was no chance Cody was losing the title a month after finishing the story – and yet they made their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match a must-see affair.

AJ stood toe-to-toe with Cody during their standoffs, delivering probably his best performance in a while. Rhodes was his usual superhero self, firing up the crowd (as if they needed help) while revving himself up – the kickout of the Burning Hammer at one was a great example.

What makes the match even more intriguing is that they left some spots and sequences on the table for a rematch down the line. They made such a big deal about Styles defeating Dusty Rhodes 21 years earlier and barely scratched the surface on that during Saturday’s match itself.

Great first defense for the American Nightmare, and hopefully it’s a good sign for the future for Rhodes.