WWE Backlash 2025: 7 Things That Must Happen
3. Cena & Orton Insert Cool Callbacks
John Cena vs. Randy Orton is up there with Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin or The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels as one of those combos WWE knew they could always come back to again and again without fans getting too bored. To that point, Cena vs. Orton has far surpassed the number of times Hart tangled with Austin. Their matches arguably haven't been as iconic as that 'Mania 13 classic which recently received WWE Hall Of Fame induction, but that doesn't invalidate the series either.
This pair have such a rich, rich history of working memorable bouts against one another on WWE's main roster, and that stretches all the way back to 2005 when they had their first major bout as rivals on the 14 November Raw that year (an Eddie Guerrero tribute show). Today, they've got so many moments to pick and choose from that'd act as neat callbacks come Backlash 2025.
Remember Randy caning the nips off a trapped Cena at Breaking Point 2009? Or, how about the the crazy pyro spot from Bragging Rights that same year? That’s just the tip of the iceberg, because they’ve had so many matches together. Sure, some fans were slightly sick of the format by the time TLC 2013's 'Winner Takes All' match rolled around, but what was stale now feels fresh again more than a decade on.
It'd be a sweet reversal if Cena was the one kendo-sticking Orton's chest and ribs on Saturday. Those who enjoyed the cartoonish vibes of the attempted murder by pyro after that would surely get a thrill out of seeing it being referenced too.
Make this a love letter to bouts of yesteryear.