WWE Backlash 2024: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True

4. It Feels More Like A Glorified Raw

WWE Backlash 2024 France Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

Think of this as an extension of the prior point.

It's anyone's guess whether or not injured stars like Drew McIntyre and CM Punk will be in the house to take in Backlash. Neither man has been cleared to wrestle, so the only thing they could do is continue working angles like the one showcased on the Draft special this past Monday.

Lyon would be happy to see Punk or Drew, but WWE has to be careful of one thing: Backlash becoming a glorified episode of Raw or SmackDown. Each PLE should have its own identity that elevates it above the weekly fare, after all. Saturday's card can't turn into a weird mish-mash of house show-esque bouts and segments better suited to Raw.

Balancing everyone's need to see star power in person live and what's best for people watching at home is one of the toughest tasks facing Triple H, not least when booking a feud between two guys who can't work matches. Would McIntyre and Punk repeating their trick from Raw dilute the PLE vibe?

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.