8 HUGE WWE Backlash 2023 Predictions You Need To Know

5. Austin Theory (c) Vs. Bobby Lashley Vs. Bronson Reed

Backlash Brock Lesnar Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

Ugh.

Who exactly is getting anything out of any of this?

The obvious answer to the question seems like its Bronson Reed, with the big man earning his first singles title shot on a kind-of-major show against an extremely established WWE Champion and a performer still tipped for great things as one of the company's obvious favourites. But there's less under the hood of this ostensibly attractive aesthetic.

Austin Theory got nothing out of his dalliance with John Cena at WrestleMania, Bobby Lashley and Theory have feuded so much that there's nothing left for either man to get out of a victory over the other, and Reed defeating either subsequently won't improve his standing anywhere but on Wikipedia's lengthy records page for the once-proud title. Which might at least give The Miz something to say when Reed rocks up on Miz TV, but those two have their own lore to mine anyway.

This is purpose-serving in only one respect and it's not a good one. The rest of the card appears quite hot and something will have to suffer a crowd calming or coming down from a major high. WWE will surely know that, and book a result accordingly.

Winner - Austin Theory

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett