7 Match Star Ratings For WWE WrestleMania Backlash

2. Bobby Lashley Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Braun Strowman - WWE Title Match

Priest Zombies
WWE.com

Terrifically dumb fun all the more fun the dumber this got, WWE nailed the potential of this filler dynamic.

It was creative in an almost unfathomable way, and was more impressive for what it wasn't as much as for what it was. Yes, one of the meat monsters ate a table because they were always going to, but that spot ruled. Drew McIntyre just about made it look he was attempting a Claymore, not a Flying Nothing, and Strowman absolutely smashed the motherf*cker through it without messing around. It looked brutal.

And yes, Bobby Lashley was protected when he was banished to the back by way of sparklers, and funny, there was no ensuing furore.

So often, 'WWE does a WWE version of an indie match' feels soulless and undermined by the entrenched need to whack at least one too many rest hold spots in there. This was an undiluted frenzy of a 'Big lads do small guy spots match', and you'd have to be deliriously biased or dead inside not to pop daft at the sight of Braun Strowman taking a Michinoku Driver. That was just amazing, and even if he almost landed very, very badly, the inner ghoul rather enjoyed that overhead belly-to-belly on the outside too.

How could you not?

The ending was the ending to literally every WWE Triple Threat Match In Which There Is No Title Change ever, but...Braun Strowman...Michinoku Driver...lfg!

Star Rating: ★★★¾

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!