8 HUGE WWE Backlash 2023 Predictions You Need To Know

2. Cody Rhodes Vs. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

Cody Rhodes should already be the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Rhodes Vs Lesnar at Backlash is dream stuff with the belt on the line, not least because WWE could have played with the idea that 'The Beast' has never cared about dreams or stories and was chomping at the bit to ruin all of that at the first attempt. Instead, the contest will now serve to do what too many have over the last two decades - prey on audience anxieties.

Rhodes simply has to win this to show that he's not going to be held back by the injustice he was served. A loss on this scale wouldn't only send him spiralling in kayfabe, but may well chip further at the aura he's created around himself as a bona fide draw in towns and cities across the world. Again, not that this should even be part of the conversation.

Expect a bruising fight with maybe a bit of "accidental" blood, 'The American Nightmare' to survive the worst of Lesnar's offering, only for some cheap and nasty low blow finish to set up another run-in for the rubber chicken. Perhaps after that, Rhodes can demean himself by challenging for the new World Heavyweight Championship too.

Winner - Brock Lesnar

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 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. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, 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