Backstage WWE Reaction To Backlash 2023 Revealed

Here's what WWE thought of last week's electric San Juan, Puerto Rico premium live event.

by Andy H Murray
Bianca Belair
WWE.com

Unsurprisingly, given the overwhelmingly positive response amongst fans and critics alike, WWE officials were very happy with Backlash 2023, which took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday (6 May).

Fightful Select has reported as much. Higher-ups were not only pleased with the reaction to Backlash, but "the numbers associated with it" as well. Now, WWE may look towards hosting more localised, specialised events like Backlash when it makes sense to do so.

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Backlash and Friday's accompanying episode of SmackDown were the first televised/streamed WWE shows to take place in Puerto Rico since January 2005. The crowd was raucous and engaged throughout the shows, lifting everything on the cards up a notch, though they were particularly loud for Bad Bunny, Savio Vega, and Zelina Vega, all of whom are of Puerto Rican descent.

Backlash was part of a three-show run of WWE premium live events taking place outside the United States of America. Night Of Champions (27 May) comes next from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, followed by Money in the Bank (1 July) in London, England.

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From there, WWE returns to the USA for SummerSlam on 5 August.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.