Cageside Seats - WrestleMania Backlash 2022 full match previews: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins, Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair, more! Inside Pro Wrestlinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48257/CSS-Logo-fv.png2022-05-08T20:00:00-04:00http://www.cagesideseats.com/rss/stream/228211182022-05-08T20:00:00-04:002022-05-08T20:00:00-04:00Your WrestleMania Backlash open thread
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<p id="VQxbKH">The latest WWE <s>PPV</s> Premium Live Event, <em>WrestleMania Backlash, </em>takes place tonight (Sun., May 8, 2022) at 8 pm ET from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on pay-per-view (PPV), <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/482924/896950/11640?subId1=SBNationCageSideSeats&sharedid=SBNation&utm_campaign=20200101evergreen&cid=20200101evergreenpdaffil001&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peacocktv.com%2Fsports%2Fwwe">Peacock</a>, and the WWE Network. </p>
<p id="pfB7C7">You can get full results and coverage of every single match on the card by clicking <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061754/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-results-live-streaming-match-coverage-ronda-rousey-charlotte-flair"><strong>here</strong></a>. In an effort to avoid bogging down the main live blog thread, comments for that post have been turned off and this will be your spot to talk about the show all throughout the evening.</p>
<p id="o8WfQ5"><strong>Reminder: Links to illegal streams are not allowed in this thread. Offenders will be banned without warning. There is a zero tolerance policy in effect. If you feel you have been banned in error, feel free to reach out to management via email. GIFs and pics are allowed.</strong></p>
<h5 id="fhcqOS">Quick results:</h5>
<ul>
<li id="jTMJ1C"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23063023/wrestlemania-backlash-results-ronda-rousey-wins-smackdown-womens-championship-charlotte-flair-i-quit"><strong>Ronda Rousey def. Charlotte Flair to win the SmackDown women’s championship</strong></a></li>
<li id="EyqdUf"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23063051/wrestlemania-backlash-results-the-bloodline-rk-bro-drew-mcintyre-awesome-main-event"><strong>The Bloodline def. RK-Bro & Drew McIntyre</strong></a></li>
<li id="mekXDq"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062989/wrestlemania-backlash-results-rhea-ripley-joins-judgment-day-edge-aj-styles"><strong>Edge def. AJ Styles</strong></a></li>
<li id="xYUlPh"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062945/wrestlemania-backlash-results-seth-rollins-cody-rhodes"><strong>Cody Rhodes def. Seth Rollins</strong></a></li>
<li id="6k48KG"><strong>Omos def. Bobby Lashley</strong></li>
<li id="SxYfQk"><strong>Madcap Moss def. Happy Corbin</strong></li>
</ul>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061773/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-live-resultsGeno Mrosko2022-05-08T20:00:00-04:002022-05-08T20:00:00-04:00WrestleMania Backlash results, live match coverage
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<p id="XKSJy8">The latest WWE pay-per-view (PPV), <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em>,<em> </em>will be going down tonight (Sun., May 8, 2022) from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island starting at 8:00 pm ET, live on <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/482924/896950/11640?subId1=SBNationCageSideSeats&sharedid=SBNation&utm_campaign=20200101evergreen&cid=20200101evergreenpdaffil001&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peacocktv.com%2Fsports%2Fwwe"><strong>Peacock</strong></a> (in the U.S.) and WWE Network (everywhere else).</p>
<p id="PsUEqx"><strong>CagesideSeats.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, match-by-match coverage of </strong><em><strong>WrestleMania Backlash </strong></em><strong>below, beginning with the first match of the evening and right on through to the main event.</strong></p>
<p id="3oq4jF">Kick your off your shoes, relax, and enjoy all the action with your favorite pro wrestling website. And remember to keep refreshing! Note: To get in on the conversation on this show, visit our open thread <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061773/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-live-results"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="p1sm0S">
<h4 id="QjA8fT">WWE <em>WRESTLEMANIA BACKLASH</em> QUICK RESULTS</h4>
<ul>
<li id="quMuWC"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23063051/wrestlemania-backlash-results-the-bloodline-rk-bro-drew-mcintyre-awesome-main-event"><strong>The Bloodline</strong> def. RK-Bro & Drew McIntyre</a></li>
<li id="hcScfx">
<strong>Madcap Moss</strong> def. Happy Corbin</li>
<li id="xFWvhh"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23063023/wrestlemania-backlash-results-ronda-rousey-wins-smackdown-womens-championship-charlotte-flair-i-quit"><strong>SmackDown Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey def. Charlotte Flair (c)</strong></a></li>
<li id="7yvymq"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062989/wrestlemania-backlash-results-rhea-ripley-joins-judgment-day-edge-aj-styles"><strong>Edge</strong> def. AJ Styles</a></li>
<li id="2xbCDJ">
<strong>Omos</strong> def. Bobby Lashley</li>
<li id="6J0WuS"><a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062945/wrestlemania-backlash-results-seth-rollins-cody-rhodes"><strong>Cody Rhodes</strong> def. Seth Rollins</a></li>
</ul>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="V7rf4k">
<h4 id="LLgC65">WWE <em>WRESTLEMANIA BACKLASH </em>LIVE BLOG & MATCH COVERAGE</h4>
<p id="KZgdi8">Waking up alone, no song to sing us off the edge. The speakers are blown, this planet is an orphanage, Deep abandonment issues at our core, but I’m gonna liveblog this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.</p>
<p id="eSxejk">The main show kicks off with a video package recapping our storylines heading into the show, after a pre-show that had no matches on it.</p>
<h4 id="Oe0RFP">Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins</h4>
<p id="xeHyJR">Circling, Rhodes with a hammerlock, Rollins with a back suplex, block the drop down slap, stalemate! Test of strength, backing Cody into the corner, breaking dirty with a front kick. Whip across, snap scoop powerslam denied, small package for two and Rollins is feeling himself! </p>
<p id="l4lDX6">Action to the floor, Seth gives a merry chase and cuts Rhodes off on the return with a flurry of grounded punches and chokes in the corner. Sending Cody back to the floor with a knee, back inside, reverse chinlock into a cravate, Rhodes fires back with punchs and hits the drop down slap this time!</p>
<p id="StJwhM">Delayed vertical into the gourdbuster, Seth passes him to the floor and back inside, putting boots to him as he re-emphasizes his momentum. Whip into the corner hard, choking Cody over the ropes, going back to the reverse chinlock to grind him down.</p>
<p id="LJodf3">Trading sunset flips, Rhodes back body drops him to the apron, catches a forearm, cuts Seth off on the climb up top and joins him... SUPERPLEX! Trading punches give way to slaps, just paintbrushing each other, into wild brawling punches, off the ropes, Cody with a shoulder block, up and over and into the snap scoop powerslam and then he clotheslines Rollins to the floor!</p>
<p id="bLeAYw">Double jump, nobody home on the floor! Back in, Cody Cutter... SO CLOSE! Back elbow, underhooks, Rhodes ducks the Pedigree but eats an enzuigiri and a basement superkick... NOPE! Block Cross Rhodes, put Cody on the apron, he pops up and dives into a front kick!</p>
<p id="7fPhHH">Underhooks, blocked, Cody with the underhooks, no Jay Driller, rolling elbow sets up Death Blow... FALCON ARROW CAN’T KEEP RHODES DOWN! Whips and knees, Rhodes with a front kick to set up Beautiful Disaster but Seth counters with a buckle bomb! Off the top... CODY KICKS OUT OF THE FROG SPLASH!</p>
<p id="3z0oFk">Off the top, roll through, Rhodes nails him with a superkick and he’s fired up! Cody up top, Rollins pops up, superplex, roll through, Cody reverses... CROSS RHODES CONNECTS BUT SETH’S FOOT IS IN THE ROPES! Out to the floor, brawling in front of the announce desk, Rhodes up top... NOBODY HOME ON THE MOONSAULT!</p>
<p id="81S2YY">Front kick, underhooks, Pedigree... CODY WILL NOT STAY DOWN! Seth with Kawada kicks while he jaws at Rollins, Tenryu jabs give way to a Flip, Flop, & Fly... CROSS RHODES! Seth with a knee, Cody goes for it again, underhooks, roll him around... ROLLINS COUNTERS THE COP KILLER! O’Connor roll, reversed...</p>
<p id="Jj4SQI"><strong>Cody Rhodes wins by pinfall with an O’Connor roll.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="W6R6In">
<h4 id="LzgOrs">Bobby Lashley vs. Omos</h4>
<p id="aMXYCY">Lashley going right in with punches, denying Omos opportunities to cut him off, the big mand shoves him away but he keeps the right hands coming! Standing neck crank, the Nigerian Giant taking control, Bob fights back with punches but Omos grabs the Iron Claw and shoves him over the ropes and to the floor!</p>
<p id="0edivH">Back inside, he scoops Lashley up on one shoulder, Snake Eyes, big boot! Bobby pops up, sleeper hold, wearing him down, lariats lead to trapping Omos in the ropes! Punches in the ropes, MVP tries to free his giant but Lashley goes after him on the floor, putting him in the Hurt Lock until Omos breaks free!</p>
<p id="nB2tLD">Bob pulls his arm over the top rope, basement dropkick, reverse STO! Half nelson applied, knee lift and he’s got the Hurt Lock in on the Nigerian Giant! Omos rams him into the corner but Bob won’t let go of the hold! Smashing the big man’s face in the corner, shoulder thrust, Lashley wants the delayed vertical but he can’t get it!</p>
<p id="0q23sR">Spinebuster on the big man, Omos lands a knee and posts Bob, and MVP jabs him with his cane! Omos capitalizes...</p>
<p id="HO3OqI"><strong>Omos wins by pinfall with the chokebomb.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HF7Yip">
<h4 id="PQ3Qw7">AJ Styles vs. Edge</h4>
<p id="RpPjmy">Charging right in, wild punches, Styles gains advantage and throws headbutts and stomps to wear Edge down in the corner. Big dropkick, to the floor, reverse STO into the announce desk! Going back inside, the Rated R Superstar blocks a slingshot and exacerbates AJ’s arm injury!</p>
<p id="DYXioK">Posting him after, kneeling armbar, grinding Styles down but he fights back with punches, whip across, Edge hits a Divorce Court to cut him off and gets two off it! Grounded armbar, boots in the corner, duck a lariat and AJ hits the Pele kick! Double crossbodies, both men down and out! </p>
<p id="y0jsFx">Corner lariat, Edge reverses, Styles hits the back suplex facebuster for two! Up in the turnbuckles, AJ with an avalanche Frankensteiner... NOT ENOUGH! Calling for the Styles Clash, blocked, fireman’s carry, Ushigoroshi connects... SO CLOSE! Trading submissions, AJ gets the Calf Killer in!</p>
<p id="NhsB7y">Edge mere inches from the ropes, reaching, clawing, posting up and smashing Styles’ head in but he won’t let go of the hold! Big German suplex, Edge pulls the turnbuckle pad off and AJ passes him into the exposed steel, cover... NOPE! AJ with a knee, hanging him over the ropes, Styles Clash! </p>
<p id="xNVzui">Rolling him over... EDGE KICKS OUT! Styles up top, Damian Priest comes down the aisle but stops short of ringside! Finn Balor rushes in to take care of him, a masked interloper pulls AJ off the top, Edge puts the arm-trap crossface back on...</p>
<p id="AV2RTK"><strong>Edge wins by referee stoppage with an arm-trap crossface.</strong></p>
<p id="ryjSUG">Our masked interloper gets in the ring after the match and kneels in front of Edge... It’s Rhea Ripley!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="GDWAEl">
<p id="eYRCLy">We get a Bianca Belair video package.</p>
<h4 id="QWyx3n">Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship “I Quit” Match)</h4>
<p id="Lpk9zB">Rousey with a knee early, waistlock, Flair smacks her with a back elbow, Ronda gets a few judo throws but charges into a boot. Charlotte with a lariat and a big German suplex! Action crashes to the floor, Rousey refuses to quit against the barricade and then eats a big boot!</p>
<p id="nVdbsJ">Flair with a kendo stick, she misses and Ronda hits a few elbows and grabs the stick before heading back inside. Charlotte rolls out the far side and runs away up the stage, Rousey gives chase with two kendo sticks and beats her down with abandon! Brawling out into the crowd, Flair choking her over a guardrail but Rousey won’t quit!</p>
<p id="DhaBSY">Ronda introduces a chair and Charlotte books it out of the crowd and back to ringside! Cutting Ronda off, powerbomb into the barricade! Piefacing Rousey, Ronda fights back, fireman’s carry, Flair slips out and puts her into the ringpost! Charlotte goes up top, Rousey cuts her off, armbar in the ropes but Flair won’t give!</p>
<p id="zd2vZ5">Ronda gets full extension and hangs off the top but Charlotte’s hold on the ropes gives before her willpower does! Back inside, Natural Selection on the chair! Spinning toehold, figure four leglock applied, piefacing Rousey, bridging back into the Figure Eight, Ronda screaming agony but she won’t quit and she smashes Flair in the face! </p>
<p id="dwLsBF">Charlotte with a boot, she sets up a chair and tells Ronda this is her last chance and wishes her a happy mother’s day but Rousey slides her arm through the chair and puts the armbar on! Flair won’t give, Ronda readjusts and this time she breaks...</p>
<p id="bqMtwc"><strong>Ronda Rousey wins by submission with an armbar through a chair to win the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="6fLyQz">
<h4 id="gl7shb">Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss</h4>
<p id="IFGB9J">Collar and elbow, Moss pushes him into the ropes and Corbin breaks dirty with a leg kick. Right hand, smashing Madcap’s face into the turnbuckles, back elbow, knees from Moss, leg kicks, Happy fires back with a big chokeslam! To the floor, Corbin with a big knee to the back and then raining elbows down on Madcap’s neck!</p>
<p id="w84WOz">Back inside, clubbing blows, overhead elbows and Happy locks the half nelson chinlock on! Elbows and pins, pumphandle slam into a senton... MOSS KICKS OUT! Passing Corbin to the floor, back in, off the ropes, pounce sends him back to the floor and Madcap follows out after him to beat him down!</p>
<p id="5KhdW4">Posting Happy, right hands, back inside, boot up but Madcap catches him with a fallaway slam for two! Blocking the Punchline, back suplex... NOPE! Right hands, setting Moss up top, back down, Deep Six... NO GOOD! Pass to the floor, back in, Madcap catches him...</p>
<p id="S1M2eh"><strong>Madcap Moss wins by pinfall with a sunset flip.</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="iw6Ve5">
<p id="7aq3O0">We get a medical update on Charlotte Flair, who has a fracture of the radius.</p>
<h4 id="Tc94A2">Drew McIntyre & RK-BRO (Matt Riddle & Randy Orton) vs. the Bloodline (Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, & Roman Reigns)</h4>
<p id="JsHmgL">Jimmy and Orton to start, Uso with punches, Randy cuts him off, tag to Riddle, assisted moonsault, no deal! Hard whip puts Matt into the corner, up and over, chest kick sets up a Karelin lift, tag to McIntyre! Working Uso over, he gets away and tags Reigns in!</p>
<p id="0cai3J">Roman and Drew circling, Reigns immediately tags out to Jey and leaves McIntyre frustrated but blasts Uso with a boot! Tag to Riddle, working him over, Jey turns the tide and Matt finds himself on the wrong side of a heat segment. Reigns taking the lead to try and send a signal to McIntyre before tagging Jimmy back in to resume working Riddle over.</p>
<p id="VbHEBz">Jey on the offense when Matt powers up and lands a knee for some separation! The path is clear, Riddle tags Drew in! McIntyre and Reigns squaring up and trading forearms, Drew with neckbreakers on everybody, Superman Punch sends him crashing to the floor!</p>
<p id="p9YWLz">Back inside, running boots, corner lariats, both men end up down and out and Orton wants the tag! He gets it and comes in hot with lariats on Jimmy Uso! Snap scoop powerslams, hanging DDT, RKO on Reigns, one for Uso... JEY BREAKS IT UP! The match breaks down, Claymore blocked with a superkick, Superkick Party!</p>
<p id="vEB0T5">Riddle in, a flurry of knees and kicks, perching, corkscrew moonsault... STILL NO! RKO reversed, folding press for two, back suplex neckbreaker from Jey but Randy breaks up the pin! Action to the floor, uppercuts and right hands from Orton on Jimmy, Roman comes in with a Superman Punch!</p>
<p id="5e3v3b">McIntyre throws him into the steel steps, he clears the announce table, Reigns Rock Bottoms him through it! Jey dives on Riddle, throwing him back inside, back and forth, enzuigiri connects, jumping knee, superkick, Uso up top, Matt runs in, avalanche RKO but Roman is right there and legal...</p>
<p id="2hfUdf"><strong>The Bloodline win by pinfall with a spear from Roman Reigns on Matt Riddle.</strong></p>
<p id="zmN5wv">That’s the show, folks, </p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061754/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-results-live-streaming-match-coverage-ronda-rousey-charlotte-flairClaire Elizabeth2022-05-08T18:00:00-04:002022-05-08T18:00:00-04:00Watch the WrestleMania Backlash Kickoff show here
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<p id="O3RBnP">WWE <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em> goes live on <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/482924/896950/11640?subId1=SBNationCageSideSeats&sharedid=SBNation&utm_campaign=20200101evergreen&cid=20200101evergreenpdaffil001&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peacocktv.com%2Fsports%2Fwwe">Peacock</a> & WWE Network later on tonight (Sun., May 8, 2022) at 8 pm ET from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, but the promotion is also offering a free live stream of its Kickoff show starting at 7:00 pm ET.</p>
<p id="b0nUlY">There are no matches announced for this pre-show, but it’s not inconceivable they could add one, considering there are only six matches set for the main card. Whether that happens or not, we will get the usual panel of analysts and experts to break down all the action before the event.</p>
<p id="6leoRS">The show starts at 7:00 pm ET, in the live stream you see above!</p>
<p id="JMRGYZ">Don’t forget to check out complete results and live match coverage of the entire <em>WrestleMania Backlash </em>event by clicking <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061754/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-results-live-streaming-match-coverage-ronda-rousey-charlotte-flair">here</a>, and join your fellow Cagesiders in conversation about the show as it happens by clicking <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061773/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-live-results">here</a>.</p>
<p id="MpLMJj"></p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062394/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-live-stream-kickoff-showGeno Mrosko2022-05-08T17:30:12-04:002022-05-08T17:30:12-04:00A fair rematch
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="http://WWE.com" target="_blank">WWE.com</a></figcaption>
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<p id="BiXWSO"><strong>The match</strong></p>
<p id="uBVr5O">Cody Rhodes will take on Seth Rollins at tonight’s (Sun., May 8, 2022) WWE <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em> pay-per-view (PPV) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.</p>
<p id="6xjYu6"><strong>The story</strong></p>
<p id="0wWxqk">There isn’t much of one, to be honest.</p>
<p id="dUmD8z">Rhodes made his return to WWE as a surprise opponent for Rollins at WrestleMania 38, the guy who was hand picked by Vince McMahon to ensure Rollins had a match on the show. They didn’t ever bother to go into why McMahon hand picked Rhodes, instead relying on everyone to simply go along with it for the sake of such a big return.</p>
<p id="KJekTW">The first major AEW player jumping over and all that.</p>
<p id="gpGi2N">They tore the house down with their match, and a rematch always made sense. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Rollins was asking for one. His reasoning was sound enough — Rhodes had an advantage going into the first match because he knew who he was wrestling while Rollins found out literally as Cody was walking in.</p>
<p id="eZXySh">So they’ll do it here.</p>
<p id="4NP7Ex">As for any added wrinkles, Rollins has gone down the route of bringing up Cody’s father, Dusty, but that’s likely more to do with the fact that the entire focus of Cody’s return is about his dad, and chasing the title Roman Reigns is currently holding. This is just another stop on his way to that.</p>
<p id="7j3muE">Good enough for you?</p>
<div id="cbO8YI"><div data-anthem-component="poll:11182515"></div></div>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062795/cody-rhodes-vs-seth-rollins-full-match-preview-wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022Geno Mrosko2022-05-08T15:00:00-04:002022-05-08T15:00:00-04:00Charlotte Flair can kiss the women’s championship goodbye
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.wwe.com/" target="_blank">WWE.com</a></figcaption>
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<h4 id="QkOLan">The match</h4>
<p id="UuTzoC">Charlotte Flair defends the <em>SmackDown</em> women’s championship against Ronda Rousey in an “I Quit” match at tonight’s (Sun., May 8, 2022) <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em> pay-per-view (PPV) in Providence, Rhode Island.</p>
<aside id="0bFM97"><div data-anthem-component="actionbox" data-anthem-component-data='{"title":"<a class=\"ql-link\" href=\"https://imp.i305175.net/n1vP3R\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Don’t miss <em>WrestleMania Backlash </em>on Peacock!</strong></a>","description":"WWE’s latest premium live event comes our way on Sun., May 8, and its only streaming on WWE Network’s home, Peacock - where right now you can get a <a class=\"ql-link\" href=\"https://imp.i305175.net/n1vP3R\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>great deal on annual subscription</strong></a>!","label":"<strong>Sign up here!</strong>","url":"https://imp.i305175.net/n1vP3R"}'></div></aside><h4 id="2uBhmS">The story</h4>
<p id="HzKV2J">Ronda Rousey forced Charlotte Flair to tap out last month at <em>WrestleMania 38</em>, but the referee was knocked out when it happened. Rousey tried to revive the ref, but that’s when Flair took advantage of the distraction and was able to pin Rousey to retain her gold. </p>
<p id="uoYmRS">Rousey demanded a rematch and wanted an “I Quit” stipulation added onto it. She got exactly what she wanted, and the title fight was made official for <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em>.</p>
<p id="m5pf1x">Flair has needed someone to beat up and humiliate since then, and interviewer / timekeeper Drew Gulak has repeatedly been her victim. Flair specifically blamed him for not ringing the bell fast enough during a recent Beat the Clock challenge where she fell short of Rousey’s time. But even Ronda locked Gulak in her armbar during the contract signing, so he’s gotten it from both sides here. Could Drew be a factor in the finish tonight?</p>
<p id="ozkV7K">If this is a straight up honest match in kayfabe, then of course Rousey is winning. The former UFC champion will never shout the words “I Quit” to lose a pro wrestling match. But one thing we know about pro wrestling is that straight up honest matches are often not the norm. Heels always have a trick or two planned to screw over the babyface. Do you remember when The Rock won an “I Quit” match over Mankind by using a recording of Mankind saying that phrase from an earlier promo? Who knows what Charlotte might be scheming to leave <em>Backlash</em> as champion. Keep in mind that Flair’s matches are notoriously <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2021/7/14/22573676/wwe-hell-in-a-cell-2021-staff-community-predictions-right-wrong-percentage">hard to predict</a>, just as we saw once again at <em>WrestleMania 38</em>.</p>
<p id="TsgL6I">That being said, Charlotte is still the clear underdog at <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em>. And the show is on Mother’s Day. What better way for Ronda to celebrate her <a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2021/9/28/22698326/ronda-rousey-announces-birth-baby-girl-pics-travis-browne">first Mother’s Day</a> as The Baddest Mom on the Planet than by submitting Flair and winning the <em>SmackDown</em> women’s championship? This has been one of the longer championship reigns of Flair’s career, but she should be prepared to kiss the title goodbye tonight.</p>
<p id="jEn0fr"><strong>Find out who wins by tuning into </strong><em><strong>WrestleMania Backlash</strong></em><strong> and keeping it right here at Cageside Seats!</strong></p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23062349/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-charlotte-flair-ronda-rousey-full-match-previewCain A. Knight2022-05-08T13:00:00-04:002022-05-08T13:00:00-04:00An early sign that unifying the titles was a bad idea
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<h3 id="rAx8tr">The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & the Usos) vs. Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro</h3>
<p id="f4llP9"><em>WrestleMania Backlash</em> is looking <em>weak.</em></p>
<p id="8MWrAK">This isn’t to say certain matches won’t be good and a couple programs aren’t interesting. But on a whole, this card screams “Skip me.”</p>
<p id="E0Jg9s">Some of that blame could be laid at the feet of the unified WWE championships. </p>
<p id="Ien8Uz">Roman Reigns winning both men’s titles at <em>WrestleMania</em>, in essence unifying them, always felt short sighted. (<a href="https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/4/10/23019404/wwe-roman-reigns-unified-titles-raw-smackdown">Reports</a> seems to back that up.) Roman is on a legendary run, and it’s not as if he doesn’t deserve the accolade. And the image of him with a physical strangle hold on the titles is great. But it’s going weaken the overall product that doesn’t have much room to spare as it is.</p>
<p id="mSnHwH">Tonight’s underwhelming show is a prime example.</p>
<p id="8U1pAp">Normally, a WWE premium event will have at least a men’s title and a women’s title match to help anchor the show. They have about 12 shows a year so this helps make them feel somewhat worth while. Even if Roman wasn’t defending his title (which to be fair, he does often), the Raw champion normally would. </p>
<p id="MqMqLv">Now that they’ve merged the titles, they lack options for marquee matches for these shows. Now they’re teasing merging the tag team titles as well. Those titles are represented in a six man tag involving Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro teaming with Drew McIntyre against Roman Reigns the SmackDown Tag Team Champion Usos. That’s four title tied up in this one match where none of them are being defended. The sole title match on this show as of writing this is Charlotte Flair defending her SmackDown Women’s title against Ronda Rousey. That leaves WWE to carry a show with programs built around stories without titles, which is not a strength of this promotion.</p>
<p id="URcuaY">The 6-man tag match is probably going to be entertaining, but it carries no stakes. It has all the intrigue that any random tag match on Raw or SmackDown does. At the same time, it monopolizes four titles. </p>
<p id="x5y7ft">This isn’t going to be a problem that confines itself to <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em>, especially if the Usos eventually unify the tag team titles. To be fair to Reigns, he defends his title at almost every pay-per-view. It’s not a Lesnar situation where the title may disappear for awhile. But if there’s any reason the title isn’t defended, which Roman is banged up and needs to miss a show or the story just doesn’t call for it, that special event is suddenly less special.</p>
<p id="f8oxV8">Unifying the titles isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But WWE has shown a dearth of creativity and it’s easy to envision they opt not to fill the void left by losing a major title. They <em>could</em> tell some strong stories to help make up for the lack of a title match. But there’s a good chance they won’t. And this isn’t even getting into the fact that <em>Raw</em> is a show that needs to have a title to help justify its three hours. </p>
<p id="x9Rq9h">As for this 6-man match here and now, it’ll be fun. RK-Bro is super over. The Bloodline are killing it. I still enjoy the goofy Scottish Warrior. But it holds little stakes and it could portend a string of less exciting Premium Live Events in our future.</p>
<p id="AIgNTm"><em>The Bloodline will face RK-McBro tonight at WrestleMania Backlash, starting at 8 pm ET on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else. Keep it here at </em><a href="http://CagesideSeats.com"><em>CagesideSeats.com</em></a><em> for all your WrestleMania Backlash coverage.</em></p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23060830/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-roman-reigns-rk-bro-drew-mcintyre-unifying-bad-ideaKyle Decker2022-05-08T12:00:00-04:002022-05-08T12:00:00-04:00WrestleMania Backlash 2022 predictions
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="http://WWE.com" target="_blank">WWE.com</a></figcaption>
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<p id="ZfWKWG">WWE <em>WrestleMania Backlash</em> is all set to take place tonight (Sun., May 8, 2022) from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. It begins at 11:00 am ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 12 pm ET <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/482924/896950/11640?subId1=SBNationCageSideSeats&sharedid=SBNation&utm_campaign=20200101evergreen&cid=20200101evergreenpdaffil001&u=https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/wwe&subId2=[]sb[p]22662826[t]w[r]google.com[d]D"><strong>on Peacock</strong></a> in the U.S., WWE Network everywhere else, or your local cable pay-per-view provider.</p>
<p id="I5ArKY">Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.</p>
<p id="LmhjD8">Let’s get to it.</p>
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<h4 id="nNoCWQ">WWE <em>WRESTLEMANIA BACKLASH</em> PREDICTIONS</h4>
<h5 id="QADMjQ">SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey</h5>
<p id="mvEG1s"><strong>Geno Mrosko</strong>: I keep thinking about that entrance Lacey Evans had on SmackDown, and am imagining a win for Rousey here followed quickly by a feud with the returning mother, sister, wife, United States Marine, damn sure ain’t better than her, you know the whole thing. Pick: Ronda Rousey</p>
<p id="Rl11aN"><strong>Sean Rueter</strong>: Especially given the stipulation, I’m having a hard time visualizing either of these two taking an L here. But barring a schmoz triggered by a Lacey Evans run in or something, they can’t have the UFC Hall of Famer lose this match. Pick: Ronda Rousey</p>
<p id="Xhy6Mo"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong>: I was surprised Rousey didn’t win at <em>WrestleMania.</em> Betting against Charlotte Flair is always tough and not following the rule to avoid that has burned me before, but I would be extremely shocked if Rousey didn’t just lose her first two Premium Live Event matches, but uttered the word “I Quit” in the second one. Pick: Ronda Rousey</p>
<p id="3AFDoS"><strong>Claire Elizabeth</strong>: Ronda is the most awkward human being on the planet. For real, what happened? She had her awkward moments but in her first run she generally looked like she had solid fundamentals to build on, and now it’s like she’s always at least a half step out of sync and sometimes even worse, like that disastrous <em>WrestleMania</em> match. I’m hoping and praying and picking that the Queen continues her reign. Pick: Charlotte Flair</p>
<p id="Sb0T6a"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: WWE has a bunch of stadium shows coming up soon, and they probably want Ronda Rousey to be holding championship gold for that stretch. Also, she’s a mother and won’t be losing on Mother’s Day. Pick: Ronda Rousey</p>
<p id="6H8iQy"><strong>Stella Cheeks</strong>: Under normal circumstances my response would be LOL Charlotte, but sadly Ronda seems to be the only one impervious to her powers. Especially since this is an “I Quit” match. If I had my way Ronda would scream I quit and we’d never see her again, but thankfully I do not work at WWE and am not in charge. Pick: Ronda Rousey</p>
<p id="78mtLn"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Let’s keep this short and simple: Ronda isn’t saying “I Quit” in any ring, much less a WWE ring on an uninteresting PLE. Yup, PLE is a thing now. Pick: Ronda Rousey</p>
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<h5 id="mIRP0Y">The Bloodline vs. RK-Bro & Drew McIntyre</h5>
<p id="dX5XMs"><strong>Geno Mrosko</strong>: There was an actually interesting thing going when they were talking about unifying the tag titles. Now that they aren’t doing that anymore, I’m having a hard time caring about this. It’s also likely means the heels go over. Pick: The Bloodline</p>
<p id="Kt9Wi3"><strong>Sean Rueter</strong>: Truly don’t think it matters, and not just because there are no belts on the line. Nothing that happens here will change our perception of either squad, or whoever takes the pin. With that in mind, why give the face of the company a loss? Pick: The Bloodline</p>
<p id="Ir0ZxA"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong>: If Drew McIntyre is going to eventually face Reigns, he needs to pick up a victory over him somehow to push that forward. Plus, it’s a good time to give RK-Bro a win before they inevitably lose their titles to the Usos. Pick: RK-McBro</p>
<p id="CzSu2S"><strong>Claire Elizabeth</strong>: Yeah, with no titles on the line we’re prime for a babyface win to deepen the stakes for the next round of title matches. Easy-peasy, the only real question is whether Roman drops the L to Drew directly or if one of the Usos catches heat from the Tribal Chief and gets yelled at some more. Pick: Drew McIntyre & RK-BRO</p>
<p id="UuSrjU"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: This is the one match where Roman Reigns can take a loss, but he probably won’t. Pick: The Bloodline</p>
<p id="cQTnCD"><strong>Stella Cheeks</strong>: If they are headed toward Drew vs. Roman they need to give us some reason why. If Drew is the reason RK-Bro wins that seems like a good reason for Roman to retaliate. Pick: Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro</p>
<p id="moTb2G"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Let’s go with RK-Bro and Drew getting the dub. Drew is primed for a feud with The Tribal Chief, and RK-Bro is still the hottest tag team in the territory. Pick: Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro</p>
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<h5 id="XUzBmP">AJ Styles vs. Edge</h5>
<p id="ukcHRJ"><strong>Geno Mrosko</strong>: Damian Priest is banned from ringside but the NEW MEMBER of Judgment Day is not! But whoever will it be?!? We’ll find out here! We’re outta time! Pick: Edge</p>
<p id="kP8N6D"><strong>Sean Rueter</strong>: Assuming Styles is going to eventually get a meaningful win at the end of this program (which isn’t a lock, but I’m old and still expect good to conquer evil despite being dumb), no need to give him a win on a technicality here. Keep the big bad new faction rolling with another victory. Pick: Edge</p>
<p id="a3x1eb"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong>: This match is probably the toughest on the card to pick. Beating AJ Styles in this feud twice does him no favors. But on the other hand, Edge losing so early in the formation of the stable hurts them a bit. I think protecting AJ is a bit more important here as Edge can add another group member to get back any excitement he losses in defeat. Pick: AJ Styles</p>
<p id="cDCrOD"><strong>Claire Elizabeth</strong>: I’m thinking Judgment Day are going to want to send a message here, and that message is probably “here we have a third guy and care more about beating AJ up than actually winning”, so Ciampa or whoever will run in and Styles will get the win by DQ and then Tom will get renamed Scrappy Gary and the best we can hope for is that maybe they string AJ up and do some cool Age of the Fall shit as a post-match angle. Pick: AJ Styles w/ Finn Balor turning heel. </p>
<p id="0dsUAo"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Edge’s new group still needs to be established as a top level act, and having the leader lose this early won’t help them get there. Pick: Edge</p>
<p id="yFMeqA"><strong>Stella Cheeks</strong>: I can see the arguments for either of them to win so I’m not totally sure. What I do know that this will go at least ten minutes to long. Rolling the dice here... Pick: AJ Styles </p>
<p id="O2GLtk"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Taking what Kyle said and running with it, I’m going with protecting AJ through Edge adding another member to his stable. Damian Priest is barred fro ringside, meaning the door is wide open for someone to fill the void. Ciampa? Rhea Ripley? Someone we’re not thinking about? Finn Balor recently entered the fray and him joining the group, while turning on his Bullet Club bro intrigues me. Pick: AJ Styles. </p>
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<h5 id="z1p1l9">Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes</h5>
<p id="MuFVOY"><strong>Geno Mrosko</strong>: If they’re doing a series, and it seems like they just might be, Rollins needs to score one here, right? Pick: Seth Rollins</p>
<p id="npleaj"><strong>Sean Rueter</strong>: There’s no better way to welcome someone back than with some good old fashioned 50/50 booking. Pick: Seth Rollins</p>
<p id="4yBGS8"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong>: Cody losing his second big match back would be very WWE, but I think they’re going to book him a bit stronger than I’d usually expect. The more I think about it, the more it feels like it’s going out on a limb, but going with the American Nightmare here. Pick: Cody Rhodes</p>
<p id="bfhc7c"><strong>Claire Elizabeth</strong>: Eventually WWE is going to do something that will take the shine off of Cody’s debut and make it clear that despite getting to keep his entrance and his music and the American Nightmare tagline and just generally his whole AEW presentation, it’s still Vince behind the wheel, but I don’t think that’s happening just yet. Pick: Cody Rhodes</p>
<p id="gO2Fp2"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Cody should be protected for a future match against Roman Reigns. Pick: Cody Rhodes</p>
<p id="69lH5W"><strong>Stella Cheeks</strong>: Pretty sure it’s in Cody’s contract that he won’t lose for at least six months. Pick: Cody Rhodes</p>
<p id="iscgnU"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Cody isn’t losing this match. Dude is clearly <em>the</em> guy on Monday nights, and aiming for a big title match down the line. Pick: Cody Rhodes</p>
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<h5 id="jyKiuE">Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss</h5>
<p id="QtNODV"><strong>Geno Mrosko</strong>: The story seems to be trending toward Corbin losing the Happy and Moss becoming something more interesting. That makes for an obvious outcome. Pick: Madcap Moss</p>
<p id="NsSp7T"><strong>Sean Rueter</strong>: No way they would devalue the Andre winner by having him lose his first PLE match after winning the trophy, right? Even if it did get stolen already. Pick: Madcap Moss</p>
<p id="jYmUlo"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong>: WWE clearly likes Madcap Moss, but I don’t think they like him enough to beat Corbin on pay-per-view. Pick: Happy Corbin</p>
<p id="G8AdQT"><strong>Claire Elizabeth</strong>: Once again I am asking if a pit could just open in the earth and swallow both of them? I kid (if nothing else my wife and girlfriend both like Corbin enough that I can’t wish him away) but also I feel like this feud has lasted twenty years already and I’m done with it. So babyface picks up the shine and maybe we blow it off at the next show in a gimmick match. Pick: Madcap Moss</p>
<p id="Zcbuhd"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: This could’ve been the most important match on the card if they just put that prestigious Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy up for grabs. Pick: Madcap Moss</p>
<p id="oCJ7x6"><strong>Stella Cheeks</strong>: If Moss loses here they will kneecap whatever momentum they are tryin to build with him. Corbin has proven he can bounce back from anything and is really adaptable. Moss has not. Pick: Madcap Moss</p>
<p id="5ctabx"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Madcap Moss is a big deal in WWE...eventually. Eventually isn’t here just yet. Especially at an event of this magnitude. Everything holds serve. Pick: Happy Corbin</p>
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<h5 id="iJ6G3b">Bobby Lashley vs. Omos</h5>
<p id="O7Vf5a"><strong>Geno Mrosko</strong>: The idea here has been to get Omos over as the big monster, but Lashley has been beating him at every turn, first at <em>WrestleMania</em>, then in an arm wrestling match. MVP turning and aligning with the big fella makes for the wrinkle that could sway things in his direction but doesn’t that kill the idea of him as the big unbeatable monster? It’s all pretty dumb. Pick: Bobby Lashley</p>
<p id="Vph6td"><strong>Sean Rueter</strong>: Maybe they should pull the plug on the Omos experiment, but I don’t think they will pull the plug on the Omos experiment. Pick: Omos</p>
<p id="QFeSUB"><strong>Kyle Decker</strong>: I think Omos has no business beating Bobby Lashley. It was a pleasant surprise to see The Almighty defeat him last month. But the MVP factor means it’s likely not going to be two for two for Bobby. Pick: Omos</p>
<p id="R8cT3F"><strong>Claire Elizabeth</strong>: Please do not sacrifice Bobby “Walking Armageddon” Lashley on the altar of a man that has all the articulation of a 1992 ToyBiz X-Men action figure. Please. Commander Azeez? Sure. Shanky? Hell yes. You have wonderful athletic big men on the roster, why are we pushing the one that can’t move? Anyway, Bobbo has outlined a path where he goes through Omos to get to MVP and I like the sound of that so let’s go with it. Pick: Bobby Lashley</p>
<p id="UwYwaT"><strong>Cain A. Knight</strong>: Like Cody Rhodes, Lashley should be protected for a future match against Roman Reigns. But I think we’re going to a third match here. Pick: Omos</p>
<p id="nYyIkV"><strong>Stella Cheeks</strong>: Why is this happening? Who is this for? Who does his serve? Pick: Omos</p>
<p id="lNTc0G"><strong>Marcus Benjamin</strong>: Omos all day here. MVP is the deciding factor, setting up an eventual rubber match. Pick: Omos. </p>
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<p id="Y1hBHX">That’s how we see the card playing out.</p>
<p id="uGzoJd">You?</p>
https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061216/wrestlemania-backlash-2022-predictionsGeno Mrosko2022-05-08T11:00:00-04:002022-05-08T11:00:00-04:00Character work makes this WrestleMania Backlash match must see tv
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/gallery/the-must-see-images-of-monday-night-raw-photos#fid-40571464" target="_blank">WWE.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>Will AJ Styles meet his Judgement Day at the hands of Edge? </p> <p id="vLXSds"><em>WWE WrestleMania Backlash </em>is basically a rerun. For those of you born in the age of streaming, a rerun is when networks aired past showings of television shows to fill out their broadcast schedule. Sometimes this was due to very understandable reasons, like shows on summer hiatus because actors, directors, writers, and crews need breaks too. But on occasion, we got reruns while a show was in the middle of production and networks needed something to placate the masses while the creatives figured out the next step. </p>
<p id="D8Qva5"><em>WrestleMania Backlash </em>is obviously in the latter category. Leave it to Edge and AJ Styles to find an interesting wrinkle for part two of a match we just saw one month ago. In fact, Edge’s character work is the only reason I’m looking forward to this rematch. This new version of the Rated R Superstar is one of WWE’s best characters in years. Everyone, including Styles, is benefitting from Edge’s desire to make everyone scale his Mountain of Omnipotence. </p>
<p id="RzCQop">According to Edge, Judgement Day is the cure for the common wrestler. Picking a “priest” as his first disciple is poetic, but also helps focus Edge’s story. Edge was softened up when he came back to WWE. The crowd was so happy to see him and he was thrilled by the mere fact he can still do what a doctor told him years ago was impossible; why wouldn’t he celebrate? Why wouldn’t he hit the stage as soon as his music hit and preen to a crowd who showered him with nothing but love? I get it. Wanting adoration is universal, which is one reason Edge’s motivation for becoming a bad guy, again, is understandable. </p>
<p id="MoBpyt">He grew tired of letting his desire for cheers interfere with his need for championships. Edge remembered his best days came when he gave little to no sh*ts about how anyone felt with regards to his conduct in or outside of the ring. More importantly, he took stock of everything he suffered since coming back, like, ya know, Seth Rollins waltzing into his home, and remembered those fateful words from the late Owen Hart: Enough is enough and it’s time for a change. </p>
<p id="ODhFzE">AJ Styles just so happened to be in the way while said change happened, but he can tell a similar story. The AJ Styles before us isn’t the same guy who ran <em>SmackDown Live many </em>moons ago. There’s no way that AJ Styles loses to Omos, or takes his eye off of the WWE championship for the sake of tag team glory. The Champ that Runs the Camp focused on being the best at all costs. According to Edge, AJ should blame the fans for that. </p>
<p id="j8OsCF">Edge’s transformation incorporates every aspect of his WWE career. His spookiness with The Brood and The Ministry of Darkness? Check. The arrogance and conceitedness from his tag team of awesomeness days with Christian? Check. His unrepentant villainy from those Rated R glory days? Also check. Who he is today makes complete sense when looking back on his career. </p>
<p id="rTP80Q">When WWE engages with longterm storytelling like this, it’s a thing of beauty. Especially when it conveyed from someone like Edge. If there’s one criticism for this feud, it’s that AJ isn’t truly engaging with the material. Edge is hitting psychological beats while AJ seems stuck in 1980s babyface mode. On the other hand, I don’t believe for even a second this feud ends with this match. </p>
<p id="8YeFEd">In truth, the story just started. I’m less interested in the match than I am the aftermath. Judgment Day—terrible name aside—can soar if given the right set of wings. AJ and Edge, if given <em>less</em> time than their <em>WrestleMania </em>match, will produce dopeness. We know they can wrestle better than most, but less is more. Hopefully, with this story more in focus now than it was a month ago, they heed that edict. Plus, with Damian Priest banned from ringside, maybe Edge adds another member to his stable. One can dream.</p>
<p id="MzYLHg"> Even in a rerun, we find jewels we missed the first time. </p>
<p id="zTpCUf">What say you, Cagesiders? Am I crazy or crazy like a fox?</p>
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https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/5/8/23061238/wwe-wrestlemania-backlash-2022-full-match-preview-aj-styles-edgeMarcus Benjamin