This past Sunday, WWE Raw presented "Backlash", live on PPV. Despite not compiling my usual predictions, I hadn’t forgotten about the event that could be dubbed "the aftermath of WrestleMania". I simply didn’t have time to analyse the card and make predictions and also complete my extensive account of the Raw crew’s recent trip to Cardiff .
However, I DID see "Backlash", and being as today is a Bank Holiday here in the UK, saw it a lot sooner than usual. So here without further ado, are my thoughts:
Carlito Beat Chris Masters
After my great meeting with "The Master-Piece" last week (and my general loathing of Carlito) I was secretly hoping for a Chris Masters victory here. Sadly, it did not come to pass.
Though Masters tried hard (choking Carlito with his own shirt and generally over-powering the young Caribbean), it was "Mr Cool" who had the crowd support and the eventual pin fall win (although in somewhat controversial circumstances; Carlito hit Masters with the "Back-Cracker" but then used the ropes for additional leverage).
Overall, this was a good opening match that had a great atmosphere. Carlito broke out some new and impressive moves, although the fan reaction to him was still astounding.
Umaga W/ Armando Alejandro Estrada Beat Ric Flair
The "man beast" Umaga had been squashing people left and right before "Backlash". The question was, could he dominate Ric Flair in a fair, one-on-one situation?
Not really, but there was still little doubt that Umaga would be leaving "Backlash" as the victor. Though "The Nature Boy" chopped the hell out of the "uncivilised monster" and even caused him to head butt the steel ring post, Umaga soon recovered and finished off "Slic Ric" with the crappy-looking "taped thumb" finish.
Overall, this match was much better than I had anticipated. Although Flair got led to the slaughter, he did put up a fight and also showed that he’s willing to put new acts like Umaga over (even if they look doomed to fail, at least that’s what it looks like at the moment, judging by the crowd reaction (or lack thereof) to the artist formally known as Jamal).
Mickie James Retained The WWE Women’s Championship Against Trish Stratus
Although this rematch had largely been built around the fact that Mickie had imitated Trish and Trish had imitated Mickie, both women came out dressed as themselves (which was kind of disappointing, as Trish makes for one hot brunette).
This match started off really well, with Trish executing a few new moves such as a "Stinger Splash" in the corner.
Unfortunately, when Mickie shoved Trish to the floor following a succession of rights on the turnbuckle, "The Canadian Beauty" landed awkwardly on her arm outside and spent the remainder of the match in a great deal of pain.
The seriousness of the injury became clear when Mickie refrained from working on the body part. Instead, she tried to choke Trish out, thereby earning herself the DQ. It was a terrible way to end the match, but under the circumstances there was no other way. I just hope that Trish isn’t hurt too badly as she’ll be a huge loss to the women’s division (or what’s left of it) if she misses any ring time.
Rob Van Dam Beat Shelton Benjamin To Become The New WWE Intercontinental Champion (RVD Also Retained His "Money In The Bank" Title Shot)
This was the first match of the show that made you feel like you were watching a PPV. A tremendous showcase for the talents of both men, this was an excellent display that had the crowd on their feet.
Throughout the match, there was shades of their previous clash in Cardiff (particularly the spot where Shelton bailed on a "Rolling Thunder", only to get wiped out by a cross-body to the floor from RVD).
Shelton soon hit an impressive sunset flip/power-bomb on Van Dam from the ring apron and tried to keep "Mr Money In The Bank" grounded.
In the closing moments, RVD missed the "Five Star", but Shelton connected with a delayed cross-body from the top.
In the midst of a referee bump, Shelton grabbed the briefcase but soon took it to the face when Van Dam connected with a "Van Daminator". A "Five Star Frog Splash" later and RVD was leaving "Backlash" as "Mr Money In The Bank" AND the new Intercontinental Champion!
Kane Beat Big Show Via DQ
I wasn’t expecting much from this match, but I was still taken aback with how truly awful it turned out to be.
Kane had Big Show’s "injured" eye to work on, so Show targeted "The Monster’s" choke-slamming arm. Over the years, Kane and Big Show have had few good matches together, but this was truly the worst by far.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Kane apparently went insane during the closing moments, as his own voice boomed over the PA ("May 19th, May 19th, You Know What Happened Then"). During the confusion (let’s face it, it was confusion), Big Show whacked his former friend with a steel chair, apparently "knocking sense back into him!"
I have no clue where this "May 19th" angle is heading, but after that abomination, fans will have trouble forgetting about this match as it was off the charts horrendous.
Shawn Michaels Defeated Mr McMahon & Shane McMahon In A "No Holds Barred Match"
Despite the unsavoury, anti-religion angles and promos that surrounded the build up to this match, I was still looking forward to seeing HBK wage war against the McMahon’s.
Unfortunately, Vince wasn’t through with his offensive rants. After putting "God" in this match as Michael’s tag-team partner, Mr McMahon also insisted that God "make his entrance", "get down" and "bring it" (out of all the crazy, ill-judged stunts Vince has pulled over the years, this was the most shocking and the most brazen. This man will exploit anything, won’t he?).
When it came down to the actual match, I was entertained. True, there was a shameless amount of over-booking and short cut tactics used, but for my money, this handicap match (let’s be honest, it was a handicap match) was far better than the singles match Vince and Shawn had at WM.
As usual, Michaels was on his "A Game" here. Early on, he took out Shane with a diving senton splash to the floor and before long, he had wiped Vince out with a cross-body onto the "Backlash" technical area.
However, Shawn soon got busted open by a wicked chair shot from Shane. He continued to work the match with a crimson mask, while Vince bashed a trash can over his head and yelled, "God Has Left The Building!" (The crowd booed uncomfortably at this remark).
Of course, this wouldn’t be a "Mr McMahon match" without the patented "sick chair shot", and lo and behold, we had one (Shane took a swing for Michaels, but absolutely drilled Vince in the cranium by mistake).
Shawn soon came back and wasted both McMahon’s with "Sweet Chin Music". Determined to get his revenge, Michaels laid out both father and son on separate tables and set up an extra long ladder.
Bizarrely, Shawn ultimately dived in the wrong direction (to the floor). His aim was to take out the interfering Spirit Squad, and he did (the camera didn’t catch them until Shawn wiped them out).
However, the strength in numbers soon overwhelmed Shawn. "Team Spirit" moved the McMahon’s out of harms way and proceeded to "Spirit Slam" Michaels through a table. This allowed Vince to make the cover and get the cheap victory (which was "Bull S***" in the eyes of JR).
John Cena Retained The WWE Raw World Championship In A Triple Threat Match Against HHH & Edge W/ Lita
This was by far, the "Match Of The Night". Brilliantly booked and executed, this was truly a match befitting of a main event.
HHH was easily the crowd favourite, and although the reaction to Cena wasn’t as hostile as it was at WM, it was still clear that "The Champ" continues to be hated no matter where in the world he goes.
Early on, Edge made the smart decision of standing outside the ring and letting "The Game" and Cena duke it out. However, it wasn’t long before they were both hauling him into the ring!
The true extent of the Cena hatred became clear when Lita pulled down the top rope (causing Cena to tumble to the floor) and actually got cheered for doing so!
Before long, HHH was bleeding (and I mean BLEEDING) and this match was turning into a blood bath. Edge went for an "Edge-Cution" DDT on the Spanish Announcer’s desk, only for it NOT TO BREAK and HHH’s bloodied head to rather sickly bounce off it!
Still gushing blood, "The Game" recovered in time to stop Edge tapping out to the "STFU" (he did this by walloping Cena in the head with the microphone). Then, HHH took aim and fired Edge into the front row with one of the hardest chair shots of the night!
During the last few minutes of the match, all 3 men got taken out with an innovative "FU/ Electric Chair" combo that really impressed the live audience.
With the referee now down, Lita ran in with a chair, but got drilled with a "Spine-Buster" from "The Game" (which caused the chair to bounce off the back of her head).
HHH went to use the sledgehammer, but Edge gave him a "Spear". Cena had Edge ready for an "FU", but HHH broke it and "The Rated R Superstar" got dropped to the floor.
HHH then went for a "Pedigree" but Cena reversed it into a pinning combination to defy the odds once again and retain his title!
Post match, HHH went crazy and knocked out referee Mickey Henson, Edge and Cena with the sledgehammer. A lot of fans cheered, although there were a few noticeable boos. "Backlash" closed out with a bloody "Game" surveying the damage while the majority of the crowd lapped it up.
Overall, I enjoyed "Backlash". Coming straight after a highly successful European tour, this was the sort of show that could have got "lost in the shuffle" and been "just another PPV". However, though it had its share of faults, "Backlash" was still a great follow-up show to WM and another positive step for WWE.
Previously posted on Smash Wrestling:
http://www.firetank.com/smashwrestling/
