Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
WWE presents Backlash in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday night. Here's our take on what will happen in the matches.
Bianca Belair defends her Title against Iyo Sky.
Dave: First let me say that as I type this on Thursday, my enthusiasm has wained bigly for WWE. Knowing that Vince is exerting influence is a real bummer. It also makes me wonder if things will continued to be booked in a way that makes sense. I guess we will have a better idea by the end of Saturday night. With that said, there’s no world it makes sense for Sky to win here. I expect her to give a strong performance but the Title should not change, especially on a B show. Hopefully it’s one of those instances where the challenger comes out stronger in a loss.
Mike: I wish they'd switch the title to someone on the Raw brand, just so we don't have to do the illogical and insufferable title swap because it hurts the credibility of the title, but we know who's back to having the final say, don't we? This should be a really good match given their insanely gifted athletic ability but I don't see a title change here. It feels more like a set up to do Bayley vs. Bianca in my mind.
Richard: After the last nine months of booking for the Bayley Bunch, why should I assume that Iyo will win the title on Saturday night? This should be a good match but it feels more like two people fighting for a certain amount of time until the finish you expect to happen takes place. If they don't do a women's tag title match on the show, Bayley and Dakota can do their best to fail to successfully interfere in the match. At some point in the match, Iyo will go for some move and Bianca will catch her and hit KOD for the three count. Then we can have the title exchange ceremony with Rhea on Monday.
Rhea Ripley defends her Title against Zelina Vega.
Dave: As much as I don’t see Bianca losing, they’re no way that Ripley can lose in her first defense. The build for this has been very good and I love that Zelina is getting to show what she can do. I expect her to put on a great match but the champ retains.
Mike: Zelina should have been played up as the fiery hometown babyface, but instead they've done basically no true build at all. Rhea has been built to be a monster. Unless they do the surprise fluke win, which does nothing for anyone, I don't see Zelina winning this one.
Richard: This match is more about the story of Zelina Vega challenging for the Smackdown Women's Championship in Puerto Rico. I had more confidence in the Panthers beating the Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (which I did pick on my hotline before the start of the playoffs). Zelina will put up a good fight but it will not be enough to beat the best part of THE Judgment Day (even if she was too good to be drafted with Finn, Dom, and Damian).
Austin Theory defends The United States Championship vs. Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley in Triple Threat Match.
Dave: Groundhog Day. There’s no sane way that the champ should lose here. Reed and Lashley getting in each other’s way will probably how the champ retains.
Mike: Reed was drafted to Raw, so no way he's winning. Either Lashley wins or Theory. I am guessing Lashley has Reed beaten and Theory picks the bones.
Richard: With Bronson Reed staying on Raw, I don't see him winning since Gunther is already on Raw and he has the IC Title. Some might want Lashley to win the title, but I can see Lashley being one of the first to challenge Roman for the Varsity Championship after Night of Champions. Theory will find a way to steal the victory. It is a Triple Threat match so there is a 73% chance that Reed will hit Tsunami on Lashley but Theory will throw Reed out of the ring and get the easy three count.
Brock Lesnar vs Cody Rhodes.
Dave: If Cody doesn’t win here, feel free to go out on the ledge because Vince is definitely back soiling things. I don’t expect that to happen. Cody was given an obstacle in Brock and he needs to overcome it. If he doesn’t? He’s toast.
Mike: HARD TIMES. They need to put Cody through the ringer over and over, so that he keeps trying to battle back and finally does. I can see Lesnar almost being beaten but then cheating to win, perhaps a low blow and then a F5. Then Cody has a reason to dig deep, cut some great promos and go looking for vengeance against an insanely strong foe.
Richard: Cody made a good point when he said if he doesn't win, he will have to go to the back of the line. While I don't want to see Rollins/Rhodes IV in Saudi Arabia, Cody needs to win to stay on that path to "Finish the Story" to win a title that did not exist until after he failed to "Finish the Story" in Los Angeles. I don't really know how it will end, but Cody needs to have his hand raised.
Seth Rollins vs Omos.
Dave: The match we have all been clamoring for. Well, someone has been anyway. I expect Rollins to be the first holder of the “we really needed to screw up all the good we have done with making Roman’s reign (see what I did there) mean less Title so Rollins will be Omos. Even if he isn’t going to win the belt, no sane person would have him lose to Omos, not even Vince.
Mike: I cannot believe I am saying this, but I believe Omos wins that way Seth can then overcome him in the tournament. If that isn't Vince McMahon booking, I don't know what is!
Richard: I hope Omos watched Dynamite and he decides to one up 'Silo' Satnam and wear overalls for this match. Is this the thing that Seth has to do in order to be considered for the JV title at Night of Champions? He didn't beat Brock so he isn't beating Seth.
Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. The Bloodline.
Dave: The Usos need a win and since Solo is with them, I think they get it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Riddle turns, maybe with help from Randy Orton. Riddle has been less of a goof since he came back. If Orton helps him, you have ready made contenders for Owens and Zayn.
Mike: This should be a TON of fun. My feeling is the Bloodline get the win here since they'll be separated going forward, so that down the line, if and when they want, they can go back to it.
Richard: We have a week until Roman gets to tell Jimmy and Jey that they have disgraced him so this might be the time to redeem them before they get glared down by Roman in the 9:52 segment of Smackdown. Will we see Solo do most of the work because Roman doesn't trust Jimmy or Jey? Will Kevin get fed up with having to listen to Riddle that he and Sami let Riddle get beaten down. Do they have Kevin or Sami take the pin? If they do, it doesn't matter because they are not on the same brand as the Bloodline. If Randy is ready to come back, a feud between Riddle/Orton and Sami/Kevin could be fun. Let's go with Solo pinning Riddle.
Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest.
Dave: Bunny has to win this in Puerto Rico, he has to. I expect he will take a beating and find a way to bring it home in the end.
Mike: Damian Priest has looked every bit the star here but the story will be all the media they get from Bad Bunny shining and winning. Then Bunny can celebrate with LWO and hopefully give them the ESPN Sportscenter rub.
Richard: With it being a Street Fight, it allows for a lot of bells and whistles. The LWO will probably get involved in this so they can neutralize Finn and Priest. I hope Bad Bunny gets in a few good shots on Dom. There will be tables and other plunder in the match. A lot of pandemonium will not hurt Priest when he loses the match.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
