8 HUGE WWE Backlash 2023 Predictions You Need To Know

4. Bianca Belair (c) Vs. Iyo Sky

Backlash Brock Lesnar Cody Rhodes
WWE

Per WWE's draft, Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair is going to SmackDown and SmackDown Women's Champion Rhea Ripley is going to Raw. This has kicked a lot of conversation about Iyo Sky scoring an upset win into touch, even though all of Damage CTRL are heading to the blue brand too.

It's not that Sky couldn't be involved in a pathetic belt-swap with Ripley in the grim tradition of Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, but Belair feels as though she's been moved to the company's A-Show to be the company's A-Star, especially on weeks - and there are plenty of them - where Roman Reigns chooses not to get involved. For all Sky would and should be an awesome champion, the timing feels off with the changes coming into effect immediately following Backlash.

At very least, the gentle erosion of Damage CTRL could be continued following the loss and Belair's new spot is at least in keeping with her immense ability, but this all increasingly feels like a chance to switch things up in the division might have been temporarily parked.

Winner - Bianca Belair

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