8 Early Predictions For WWE Backlash 2016

At SummerSlam, Randy Orton fell victim to the most brutal Brock Lesnar shellacking in years. He bled buckets after taking a hard elbow strike to the top of his head, and after weeks of being presented as a credible threat, Orton’s big return from injury ended in disaster for the broken, bloodied Viper.

He’s not letting it get to him, though. Orton addressed the SmackDown Live crowd to vow that his business with Lesnar was far from over, but he was interrupted by Bray Wyatt, who called himself a “god” to Orton’s “mortal man.” Orton called him to the ring, but Wyatt pulled one of his disappearing acts and vanished into the darkness.

We’re heading for Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt at Backlash: a match thats outcome will be highly indicative of each man’s place in the SmackDown pecking order. Wyatt was widely assumed to become one of the brand’s top heels following the Draft, but he’s yet to feature in his own significant storyline yet, and it’s unclear whether or not he and Erick Rowan will continue as a unit. Regardless, he’ll welcome the opportunity to face the slithering Orton, who remains one of WWE’s most marketable stars.

There’s no shame in losing to Brock Lesnar, but the manner of Orton’s defeat left a huge dent in his armour. He needs to bounce back strongly, but the trouble here is that both he and Wyatt badly need a big win. Who needs it more? Most likely Orton, and that’s who’ll have his hand raised by the end of it.