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WWE Backlash is taking place tonight, and it’ll be intriguing to see how the first Smackdown-exclusive PPV goes down. In the main event, Dean Ambrose will put his WWE World Championship on the line against “Phenomenal” AJ Styles. The already thin card took a big hit today when it was announced that Randy Orton is out tonight due to an injury.
For how to stream this PPV live online, take a look at the link below. This page will be updated with results throughout the night, with WWE Fan Nation highlights added in as they’re made available. Let’s hope despite the thin card, WWE can pull off a great PPV.
WWE Backlash has finally returned! For the first time since 2009, WWE will be hosting
WWE Backlash- the first brand-exclusive PPV since the brand split- is this Sunday, so I’ll take
WWE Backlash Results
Baron Corbin def. Apollo Crews (kick off match)
Becky Lynch def. Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Carmella & Natalya in a six-pack challenge to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship
This was a fun match that gave everybody (except Alexa Bliss) a chance to shine. Becky Lynch makes history and becomes the first women’s champion. Here are all the eliminations in order.
- Naomi eliminates Alexa Bliss via pinfall after hurricanrana
- Natalya eliminates Natalya via submission to the sharpshooter
- Nikki Bella eliminates Natalya via pinfall after backbreaker
- Carmella eliminates Nikki Bella via rollup pinfall
- Becky Lynch eliminates Carmella via submission to the dis-arm-her
Bray Wyatt attacks Randy Orton backstage. This will be the kayfabe explanation for why the legit injured Orton won’t compete tonight.
The Usos def. Hype Bros via submission
The Usos ditched the face paint and wore all black, and were fully working heel. Zack Ryder tapped out after a solid tag match. And as expected, Mojo Rawley stayed hype.
The Usos will face Heath Slater & Rhyno later in the night with the SmackDown tag team titles on the line.
The Miz (C) (with Maryse) def. Dolph Ziggler via pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Before the match The Miz tries to renegotiate his contract with a stonefaced Daniel Bryan, and continues to insult the former champion.
This match was given a lot of time due to the relatively meager amount of matches on the card. The Miz nearly forced Ziggler to tap after having the figure-four lock in for a good while but Ziggler reached the rope. Then Ziggler nearly scored a pinfall after a sudden superkick but The Miz was able to get a foot on the rope in the nick of time. Then a few moments later when the referee had his eyes on Miz, Maryse pepper sprayed Ziggler in the eyes. The Miz capitalized on the blinded Ziggler by hitting the skull-crushing finale to pick up a cheap pinfall victory.
Kane def. Bray Wyatt in a no-holds-barred match via pinfall
Bray Wyatt comes out and the announcer gives him an honorary 10-count over the injured Orton. Then it is announced that he will have to fight, and Kane comes out to the displeasure of the Richmond crowd. They’re totally uninterested in watching Kane vs. Wyatt in what is clearly filler. Bray Wyatt pulls out a cool spot when he does a running senton to put Kane through a table. A limping comes walking down the ramp and when Wyatt returns his attention back to Kane, Orton lands an RKO outta nowhere. Then Kane hits a chokeslam to get the 1-2-3.
Even with the RKO, you have to question the decision to have Kane go over Bray Wyatt here.
Heath Slater & Rhyno def. The Usos via pinfall to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Heath Slater spent the majority of this match taking a mugging. After Slater tagged out and then back in he was able to pick up the pin after an ineligible Rhyno hit a gore on the eligible Uso behind the referee’s back. Heath Slater not only has earned a SmackDown contract but is one half of the brand’s inaugural tag team champions.
AJ Styles def. Dean Ambrose (C) to win the WWE World Championship
This match was probably too long, but really hit its stride by the end. Styles and Ambrose went back and forth for the better part of a half hour, with the story being Ambrose repeatedly kicking out of Styles’a impressive moves. Then when Ambrose knocked into the referee, Styles took advantage by kicking the champion in the groin. After the nefarious act, the phenomenal one hit the Styles Clash to win the WWE World Championship for the first time in his storied career. The fact that Styles cheated to win makes it appear that this feud for the title will continue.