6 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022

WWE is an exponentially better promotion when it gets out of its own way.

Of course, WWE often gets in its own way because they won, they continue to win in the face of moneyed, rave-received opposition, and what they do now, despite not being rave-received, earns them more money than they've ever generated.

WWE gets in its own way in several different dire ways - a plague of televised non-finishes, wacky, convenient and or repetitive storytelling, a terrible and insulting approach to continuity - but principally, the company invites the most criticism through its weirdly fake promos and homogenised in-house style.

The talent roster, even the depleted 2022 vintage, is so strong that the LOLWCW comparisons can't possibly exist on Premium Live Event weekends. The homogenised in-house style is such that the stronger WWE 'PLEs' often only reach a 7/10, but at WrestleMania Backlash, two stirring developments unfolded. One match worked within these parameters to incredible effect, and the main event, after some customary dawdling, just got on with the task of making fans go apesh*t at an accelerated pace.

When WWE feels like the very best version of itself, or something different entirely, it's still a very fun time...

This was tremendous: just a great, very accomplished and deeply impressive professional wrestling match on multiple levels.

Stripped of the dual luxury that was the surreal, game-changing circumstances and big-time stadium atmosphere of WrestleMania, Cody and Seth had to work within a more normalised context. This was the real test of Cody's ability to get and stay over within a WWE system that makes getting over far more difficult than it needs to be - and he passed it in what was a rip-roaring, unqualified success. This thing just clicked so much that they feel like they were born to rival one another.

The word rival is used deliberately.

This was up there with Cody's most admirable career accomplishments; the man unfairly criticised throughout his AEW run as heavily reliant on the blade, fire and various other shortcuts showed that he can tell a pure wrestling story as well as anybody. The story of the match saw Seth, having time to prepare, counter almost everything Cody attempted in the opening phase. Without bleeding or rushing through anything, Cody and Seth told a focused story worked at an engaging pace. The tone was especially impressive; this felt like an ultra-competitive battle between two very prideful performers desperate to win and showing that intent to win throughout. It was built quite brilliantly - they never once lost a super-heated crowd - and it was a distinctly WWE match.

It was almost more impressive for how resourceful it was; head drops rule, but you don't get them in WWE. Cody and Seth didn't need them.

They succeeded in working a terrific match that felt as important to them as anything they'd fought for in their careers.

Star Rating: ★★★★½