7 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania Backlash
3. Bianca Belair Vs. Bayley - SmackDown Women's Title Match
A let-down marred by a lack of chemistry, this wasn't awful, or even bad - it just wasn't memorable or electrifying. Or even particularly well-worked, nestling it below the damning gentleman's three.
The story was told quite elegantly at points. Bayley displayed her veteran ring IQ with the sort of beautiful drop down that served as a reminder of how marvellous the basics can be when done well, only for Belair to roll through it, putting over her advanced agility.
The work was somewhat clumsy and hesitant beyond that, and the pace of the match soon settled into WWE's trademark enervated rhythm in a reminder of how the basics can be just that, all too often: derivative, sapping playbook obligation. The struggle felt all too real as the match slowed to a crawl.
It wasn't so much a gnarly, tense scrap as an ugly emulation of one, and Bayley's body slam into a side slam reversal was very awkward. The idea was to get over Bayley's experience, but that story beat was undermined by the clunky execution. It was also undermined by the sight of f*cking zombies in the previous match.
Bayley's heel heat overacting was just irritating, and the finish was evidently too cute an idea.
Star Rating: ★★¾