The first pay-per-view of Season 4 is Backlash, co-branded between Raw and SmackDown. Let's breakdown the card.
Backlash 2018 Card
AJ Styles(c) vs Ricochet- Intercontinental Championship Match
After defeating AJ is a non-title match in February, Ricochet has seemed to be the unofficial number one contender. The champion attempted to strike first, but Styles was sent packing from his own post-match ambush. The Phenomenal One has made it clear that this is a personal issue, as he has already declared that The Club will not be at ringside for this championship match. But could this just be mind games from a man that has perpetrated more diabolical acts than any other in Universe Mode?
Tommaso Ciampa(c) vs Kassius Ohno- United States Championship Match
Following his recent signing to Raw, Kassius Ohno made an immediate impact, saving his former tag partner Cesaro from the wrath of the Psycho Killer. The two men engaged again six days ago, with Ohno again standing tall. Raw GM Shane McMahon made this match official shortly afterward, as per the request of Tommaso Ciampa, who looks to show the newcomer what he's capable of.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn(c) vs The Usos- SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
These two teams put on a classic ladder match at WrestleMania, as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn reclaimed the championships, dedicating the victory to many of the greatest Canadian professional wrestlers. But The Usos were not pinned, and they seek retribution, engaging in some wild brawls with the champions. This led to Jey Uso pinning Zayn on SmackDown just five nights ago, as momentum is in the Samoans' corner heading into Backlash.
Becky Lynch(c) vs Alexa Bliss- Raw Women's Championship Match
A rematch of their No Mercy encounter, we will once again see two of the best lock horns to end Part 1. Alexa Bliss earned this opportunity by defeating Mickie James and Natalya, and has since assisted the Queen of Harts to defeat champion Becky Lynch. Can Little Miss Bliss become the third woman(behind Bayley and Paige) to win the Raw and SmackDown women's titles?
Shane McMahon Promo
Opening Part 2, one of the most despised men in wrestling, Shane McMahon, has decided to address Braun Strowman, face to face. The Raw GM cost Strowman a shot at reclaiming his Universal Championship, saying Braun did not represent true professional wrestling. He told the Monster Among Men to remain home or be terminated, and Strowman has actually obliged McMahon. What will happen when these two men finally meet face to face?
The New Day vs The Shield
These teams also met at WrestleMania, with the New Day becoming the new Raw Tag Team Champions. It's since become clear that Raw isn't big enough for these two factions, and The Shield are determined to take out Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. This will be a six man elimination match, and will be huge for the future of the tag team division.
Nia Jax(c) vs Asuka- SmackDown Women's Championship Match
No woman has been more dominant than Nia Jax, who has destroyed everyone in her path. No woman is more dangerous than Asuka, who posses wicked knockout power from her strikes and extremely deadly submissions. The Empress of Tomorrow beat two of the best in Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks to earn this chance, and looks to prove that no one is ready for Asuka.
Aleister Black(c) vs Randy Orton- Universal Championship Match
The Viper reaped the rewards of Shane McMahon's distraction, defeating Braun Strowman by count-out to become number one contender. He delivered a message to Aleister Black, hitting the champion with an RKO before striking his iconic pose, belt in hand. The Dutch Destroyer answered back, dropping the Apex Predator with a Black Mass on the go-home episode of Raw. This will be Aleister Black's first defense of the Universal Championship, and Randy Orton is determined to make sure that it will be his last.
Drew McIntyre(c) vs Samoa Joe- WWE Championship Match
There may be no man with more momentum in Universe Mode than Drew McIntyre. After taking Brock Lesnar to his limits and betraying former ally Tyler Breeze to capture the WWE Championship, McIntyre has continued his epic rise. He defeated John Cena clean, in the middle of the ring on SmackDown, and it seemed that no one could take on the Scottish Terminator. But Samoa Joe easily took Drew down with a Coquina Clutch, shocking everyone. Joe earned a championship match at WrestleMania, defeating former WWE Champion Cesaro in a Brand Warfare match. We've seen Samoa Joe capture the Universal Championship in the past, and with his deadly submission already proven effective, it may only be a matter of time before he is champion once again. It's the main event of the evening! Drew McIntyre versus Samoa Joe, in a clash for the ages.
Backlash 2018 Card
AJ Styles(c) vs Ricochet- Intercontinental Championship Match
After defeating AJ is a non-title match in February, Ricochet has seemed to be the unofficial number one contender. The champion attempted to strike first, but Styles was sent packing from his own post-match ambush. The Phenomenal One has made it clear that this is a personal issue, as he has already declared that The Club will not be at ringside for this championship match. But could this just be mind games from a man that has perpetrated more diabolical acts than any other in Universe Mode?
Tommaso Ciampa(c) vs Kassius Ohno- United States Championship Match
Following his recent signing to Raw, Kassius Ohno made an immediate impact, saving his former tag partner Cesaro from the wrath of the Psycho Killer. The two men engaged again six days ago, with Ohno again standing tall. Raw GM Shane McMahon made this match official shortly afterward, as per the request of Tommaso Ciampa, who looks to show the newcomer what he's capable of.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn(c) vs The Usos- SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
These two teams put on a classic ladder match at WrestleMania, as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn reclaimed the championships, dedicating the victory to many of the greatest Canadian professional wrestlers. But The Usos were not pinned, and they seek retribution, engaging in some wild brawls with the champions. This led to Jey Uso pinning Zayn on SmackDown just five nights ago, as momentum is in the Samoans' corner heading into Backlash.
Becky Lynch(c) vs Alexa Bliss- Raw Women's Championship Match
A rematch of their No Mercy encounter, we will once again see two of the best lock horns to end Part 1. Alexa Bliss earned this opportunity by defeating Mickie James and Natalya, and has since assisted the Queen of Harts to defeat champion Becky Lynch. Can Little Miss Bliss become the third woman(behind Bayley and Paige) to win the Raw and SmackDown women's titles?
Shane McMahon Promo
Opening Part 2, one of the most despised men in wrestling, Shane McMahon, has decided to address Braun Strowman, face to face. The Raw GM cost Strowman a shot at reclaiming his Universal Championship, saying Braun did not represent true professional wrestling. He told the Monster Among Men to remain home or be terminated, and Strowman has actually obliged McMahon. What will happen when these two men finally meet face to face?
The New Day vs The Shield
These teams also met at WrestleMania, with the New Day becoming the new Raw Tag Team Champions. It's since become clear that Raw isn't big enough for these two factions, and The Shield are determined to take out Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. This will be a six man elimination match, and will be huge for the future of the tag team division.
Nia Jax(c) vs Asuka- SmackDown Women's Championship Match
No woman has been more dominant than Nia Jax, who has destroyed everyone in her path. No woman is more dangerous than Asuka, who posses wicked knockout power from her strikes and extremely deadly submissions. The Empress of Tomorrow beat two of the best in Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks to earn this chance, and looks to prove that no one is ready for Asuka.
Aleister Black(c) vs Randy Orton- Universal Championship Match
The Viper reaped the rewards of Shane McMahon's distraction, defeating Braun Strowman by count-out to become number one contender. He delivered a message to Aleister Black, hitting the champion with an RKO before striking his iconic pose, belt in hand. The Dutch Destroyer answered back, dropping the Apex Predator with a Black Mass on the go-home episode of Raw. This will be Aleister Black's first defense of the Universal Championship, and Randy Orton is determined to make sure that it will be his last.
Drew McIntyre(c) vs Samoa Joe- WWE Championship Match
There may be no man with more momentum in Universe Mode than Drew McIntyre. After taking Brock Lesnar to his limits and betraying former ally Tyler Breeze to capture the WWE Championship, McIntyre has continued his epic rise. He defeated John Cena clean, in the middle of the ring on SmackDown, and it seemed that no one could take on the Scottish Terminator. But Samoa Joe easily took Drew down with a Coquina Clutch, shocking everyone. Joe earned a championship match at WrestleMania, defeating former WWE Champion Cesaro in a Brand Warfare match. We've seen Samoa Joe capture the Universal Championship in the past, and with his deadly submission already proven effective, it may only be a matter of time before he is champion once again. It's the main event of the evening! Drew McIntyre versus Samoa Joe, in a clash for the ages.
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