WWE Backlash 2017: 10 Huge Predictions You Need To Know
1. Chicago Fire
WWE are acutely aware of the risk and reward of a high stakes show taking place at Chicago's Allstate Arena.
One night after the company will gift the venue a presumably satisfying NXT TakeOver card, some of the biggest creative gambles in a long time could play out in front of a vocal and partisan crowd.
Away from the usual CM Punk love that is almost certain to permeate through the audience in at least one of the major matches, the potential for fan service in the Owens/AJ Styles and Nakamura/Ziggler matches is such that they may be able to steer positive heat into the divisive Randy Orton/Jinder Mahal clash without the crowd completely turning on both men.
Mahal may face rejection for his sudden elevation to the top of the card, but Orton could possibly experience problems of his own thanks to some ill-advised criticisms of independent wrestling last weekend on Twitter.
The seemingly unprovoked assault took aim at the the risky flips and dives performed in front of smaller crowds by lauded talents unassociated with the WWE machine. Inadvertent or otherwise, Randy fired a laser-focussed shot at some of Chicago's nearest and dearest, and may suffer the consequences when he saunters out on Sunday.