6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE WrestleMania Backlash
Reigns/Cesaro rules, Belair/Bayley delivers, triple threats are OK, and ZOMBIES.
Putting the word “WrestleMania” into the title of a PPV doesn’t automatically elevate its stature or make it more significant. If anything, it raises the stakes for the PPV to perform, or else it’s just “Boy Who Cried Wolf” false advertising.
But WrestleMania Backlash was a show that succeeded in spite of itself. The buildup was awful (especially on the Raw side), but the matches for the most part delivered at least competent action, giving fans a breezy evening of wrestling.
We got to see history in the making with a title change. We got to see two triple threat title matches that had their own issues with storylines pull through good in-ring action. We saw a veteran finally receive his just due in the main event and earn his stripes. And we saw a young champion stand up and look every much like she belongs where she is.
And of course, we got zombies.
No, seriously. Because this is WWE, we had to endure a horrifically stupid cross-promotion with a movie starring Batista that made little-to-no sense, and it was played as a joke of sorts. And worse, it was during a serious match, not a 24/7 segment (where it should have been relegated).
We’ve seen worse, but this was not the kind of show you’d want to have on the heels of a good WrestleMania 37. They recycled the name, but couldn’t channel the aura.
Let’s get to it.