WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022: 10 Things That Must Happen
Will Backlash bring Edge's new Brood, WWE's new champion and Roman Reigns' new headache?
Sunday's pay-per-view could've been called 'WrestleMania Rematch'.
Four of the six scheduled bouts are repeats from 'Mania 38. Is that a major problem? No, not really, although WWE could've done more to make matches like Bobby Lashley vs. Omos and Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins must-see sequels - at least everyone knows the latter will still be high quality when the bell rings.
WWE's writers definitely have their eyes firmly trained beyond Backlash and on 5 June's Hell In A Cell. Fans should brace themselves for yet more rematches there, because one gets the sense the promotion isn't quite finished with some of these feuds.
'Mania Backlash isn't a blow off then. It's more of a bump in the road as things motor towards the summer months and into SummerSlam season. Again, this is hardly some terminal issue for ongoing storylines, but it does give the product a decided 'been there, done that' vibe.
Here's everything that must happen in Rhode Island regardless. WWE can bolster new stables, crown new champions, sow seeds for HIAC and drop hints about Roman Reigns' future as Undisputed Universal Champ.
They must.
10. Drew McIntyre Pins Roman Reigns
So, WWE went from The Usos vs. RK-Bro in a Tag Title unification match to...a non-title six-man that has nothing at stake. That's quite the downgrade, but they can rescue things by making Drew McIntyre look like the man against Roman Reigns. Why not? The Undisputed Champ isn't doing anything else anyway.
Plus, McIntyre is the right choice to challenge next.
Of course, creative has a decision to make. Do they hold off on Drew vs. Roman until September's Clash At The Castle in the UK, or do they push things forward to HIAC and book a rematch at SummerSlam the next month? Questions, questions, but hardly an awful dilemma.
One thing's for sure: McIntyre must get the jump on Roman this Sunday and pin him in that six-man tag outing. This is the ideal chance for Reigns to eat some sh*t without losing his title(s), and a win for Drew would get WrestleMania Backlash off to a hot start.