9 Things You Didn't Know About WWE Backlash

5. Backlash 2017 Was Jinder Mahal's Big Moment

For most wrestling fans, it's still a little bit nuts to think that Jinder Mahal managed to become WWE Champion. And not just that, but the Modern Day Maharaja embarked on a 170-day, six-month reign with what was then the SmackDown brand's biggest prize.

All wrestling fans remember this slightly Bizarro World time, but chances are that the majority of those fans will be able to tell you at just what event it was that Mahal became WWE Champ. As it happens, it was 2017's Backlash PPV where Jinder got his big moment, toppling Randy Orton to reach the top of the mountain.

Mahal would remain as WWE Champion until the cusp of that year's Survivor Series, where he'd be promoted to face Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at WWE's annual November PPV. Jinder would famously lose his prize to AJ Styles on an episode of SmackDown just 12 days before his proposed Survivor Series meeting with the Beast Incarnate.

As another interesting footnote, a year later, at the 2018 Backlash PPV, fans got to see Daniel Bryan's first singles match since his return from retirement. There, D-Bry would make Big Cass tap out.