Every WWE Backlash World Title Match Ranked From Worst To Best
3. Dean Ambrose Vs AJ Styles (2016)
A worthy main event and the best match of Dean Ambrose's WWE Title run marked the improbable ascent of AJ Styles to the summit of World Wrestling Entertainment.
Headlining SmackDown Live!'s first ever brand-exclusive pay-per-view (and the first single show supercard overall) after the 2016 Brand Extension, Styles and Ambrose were tasked with delivering a showstealer befitting of the blue brand's burgeoning reputation as the 'Land of Opportunity'.
After a scintillating series with Roman Reigns earlier in the year, Styles had added polish to his performances with a summer heel turn on John Cena that yielded a match of the year candidate at SummerSlam less than a month earlier. Conversely, 'The Lunatic Fringe' had flagged as champion, but saved a note-worthy effort to ensure the incumbent titleholder had the best possible start.
The match saw Ambrose survive several of AJ's biggest assaults, heroically kicking out of a springboard 450 splash after the former Shield member had also escaped a wicked Calf Crusher attempt earlier in the encounter.
Facing defeat via Dirty Deeds, Styles shoved Ambrose into the referee in a fit of desperation, and took advantage of the official's momentary distraction to nail the champion with a low blow and match-winning Styles Clash to scoop the title for a transcendent moment the entire wrestling world assumed would never occur.