WWE returns to pay-per-view (PPV) -- if your cable provider is carrying the event, of course -- tomorrow night (Sun., May 6, 2018) live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey with its Backlash event starting at 7:00 p.m. ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 8 p.m. ET on the WWE Network.
Set for the card: AJ Styles puts the WWE championship on the line against Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns takes on Samoa Joe, and much more!
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.
Let's get to it.
Backlash predictions
AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Geno Mrosko: The fact that’s it’s No Disqualification ensures they can each just low blow each other until one of the two simply can’t stand back up. Considering the build to this, wouldn’t that be fitting for a finish? May not be satisfactory for fans, though. Perhaps, then, just a revenge low blow for AJ before the pinfall. Pick: AJ Styles
Sean Rueter: As Based Haitch likes to say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint - so an AJ win here doesn’t have to signal the end of Shinsuke’s WWE Title ambitions. But after coming up short against Jinder F’n Mahal last year, if they still don’t go with him now after he’s become the most buzzworthy character on the internet post-WrestleMania... this isn’t so much a pick as it is a plea, is what I’m saying. Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Kyle Decker: If this weren’t no DQ, I’d say Shinsuke could pick up a win and still not win the title. Maybe AJ punches him in the nuts for a change. But the no-DQ stip means this will have a winner. And unfortunately for Nakamura, who’s been doing great work as a heel, it’s probably not going to be him. He’s been getting the best of Styles each step of the way. That kind of booking usually leads to AJ overcoming. Hopefully, another loss to Styles won’t keep him from being a top heel on Tuesdays. Pick: AJ Styles
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I’ll reiterate my request that the King of Strong Style go full-on Sublime Master Thief, especially since this is a no-DQ match and the kind of shenanigans his former Chaos stablemate Toru Yano indulges in can abound without restriction. Low blows, removed turnbuckle pads, maybe even some duct tape (Stoop so low?!), the whole deal. And naturally, it follows... Pick: Shinsuke Nakamura
Cain A. Knight: Nakamura is doing amazing work as a heel, and their match in Saudi Arabia was much better than the WrestleMania 34 dream match that barely had a story. I have big expectations for this main event, especially with the no disqualification stipulation. Going back to his feud with Jinder Mahal last summer, Nakamura has failed 4 times to win the WWE Championship. I don’t think that means he is due to win it here; I think it means Vince will probably book him to fail a 5th time. I hope I’m wrong, because they can get a lot of mileage out of nut-punching heel Nakamura as WWE Champion. Pick: AJ Styles
Pete Sweeney: In my opinion, Shinsuke Nakamura has been the most pleasant surprise of the new wrestling year, beginning with his heel-turn moment at Wrestlemania 34. Like Sami Zayn, he has risen his ceiling considerably as a bad guy. While I’d like to pick Nakamura for the third time in a row hoping WWE rides that momentum, I no longer get the vibe that is the direction it is headed in. I think Style keeps the title in what likely is the feud finale. Pick: AJ Styles
Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe
Geno Mrosko: If Joe is about to challenge AJ Styles for the WWE championship, and they set that up on SmackDown this past week, he really shouldn’t be losing here. Then again, can they afford to beat Reigns again? I can’t see that happening either. Raw is still the “A” show, so its stars are undoubtedly going to take precedent. Pick: Roman Reigns
Sean Rueter: I predict I will write a “thinkpiece” on Monday about what the outcome of this match says about how how WWE views The Big Dog, regardless of whether he wins or loses. Otherwise... #SadRoman4Life. Pick: Samoa Joe
Kyle Decker: There’s no reason for Roman to win here. Seriously, there’s not. The current portrayal of Roman is as a loser who can’t get the job done and then complains about it. Losing to Joe will help Joe establish his main event status for a run on SmackDown while continuing whatever their plan is with Roman. What would a Roman win accomplish? Joe looks worse and Roman’s reactions aren’t going to change. May as well keep rolling with what they’re doing. Pick: Samoa Joe
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I’ll be damned if I can figure Roman’s booking out anymore. Things are going well and he finally feels like he’s being pushed as a top guy badass? Nope, drop two in a row to Brock and whine about how he’s not on the next show. Feels like he’s being de-emphasized and moved on from? Probably means a victory. I guess. I have no idea, really. Pick: Roman Reigns
Cain A. Knight: These guys could have a great match, and Reigns’ recent losses really do add some legitimate intrigue regarding how the finish of this match will be booked. Will WWE double down on the story of Reigns talking a big game but failing to get the job done, or will he beat the villain and proceed as usual going forward? I think WWE’s top heels in general should be protected more, so a win for Samoa Joe makes the most sense. But I’m not quite ready to guess that Vince McMahon is going to make Roman look bad this many times in a row. Pick: Roman Reigns
Pete Sweeney: I’m looking forward to this match, especially since Reigns won’t be fighting Brock Lesnar for change. If Samoa Joe were fighting anyone else in the company, I think he wins. But he isn’t, and since Reigns has a good case built for another Lesnar rematch, I don’t see how Joe could possibly go over. He deserves to, but he won’t. (Unfortunate) Pick: Roman Reigns
Seth Rollins vs. The Miz
Geno Mrosko: This sure looks like a great argument for waiting to do the Superstar Shakeup and/or waiting to book matches for the next PPV until its finished. They’ve already spoiled the result of this. Pick: Seth Rollins
Sean Rueter: Ahhh, the one match on every PPV where even my trolling/non-conformist ass can’t come up with a halfway logical way to justify picking against the rest of the staff. Which probably means Miz wins. But with Raw’s top men’s belt already on someone who isn’t around that much, would WWE really move both secondary titles to the blue brand? Even setting that aside, management seems to know they have a hot babyface act on their hands in The Kingslayer, and Miz has proven himself to be pretty loss-proof. Pick: Seth Rollins
Kyle Decker: The US title isn’t an interbrand match so Seth retains here. Wouldn’t make any sense otherwise. Pick: Seth Rollins
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: We gotta give Chris Jericho time to win and lose the IWGP Intercontinental Championship before he can come back and feud with Miz over who gets to be the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, right? Right. Pick: Seth Rollins
Cain A. Knight: I don’t really understand why this match exists. There is no way that Jeff Hardy’s US Championship will move to Raw at Backlash, so it’s hard to think Miz has any shot here to bring the IC Title to SmackDown. The double whammy on top of that is there’s very little chance that Miz and Rollins can meet the standard of the great match we just saw on Raw from Balor and Rollins in Montreal. Pick: Seth Rollins
Pete Sweeney: Part of me thinks this is proof that I just don’t think Backlash was well planned. Another part of me thinks this is another golden opportunity for a WWE curveball, which we’ve begun to see much more often recently. If it’s the latter, I think it plays out like this: The Miz defeats Seth Rollins, and as he approaches the longest reigning Intercontinental champion record, Rollins surprises him with a rematch clause on Smackdown Live. Rollins takes the belt back to Raw, making the record impossible for at least a year. I’m going with the BOLD pick. Pick: The Miz
Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton
Geno Mrosko: I can 100-percent see Orton winning the title back here and Hardy chasing him. Perhaps it’s time the talk of an Orton heel turn heats up once more? Pick: Randy Orton
Sean Rueter: This is either just giving two name-brand Superstars something to do, or a way to refresh one of their characters with a tweener/heel turn while freeing the other up for one last push toward the main event as a singles act while he’s healthy. Going to not be cynical for a change and guess it’s the latter. Pick: Randy Orton
Kyle Decker: I’m surprised they haven’t added Shelton to this. There’s no reason to take the title off Jeff, who’s back as a single’s competitor, and put it back on Orton. Keep it on Jeff until they move him into the title picture. Pick: Jeffrey Nero Hardy
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I’m just glad Randy Orton will probably be in position for Whisper in the Wind. Pick: Jeff Hardy
Cain A. Knight: Does it count as 50/50 booking if the first match was over 10 years ago? I am still irrationally annoyed that Randy Orton beat Jeff Hardy to retain the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2008. I’m somewhat confident that Hardy will get that win back here. Orton only won the US Championship at Fastlane to cross the Grand Slam Winner off his checklist, so he doesn’t need to win it back. If Backlash is going to exceed expectations, it’s because an undercard match like this one has the potential to reach 4 stars, thanks to Jinder Mahal being replaced by Jeff Hardy. Pick: Jeff Hardy
Pete Sweeney: This match doesn’t excite me all that much. Actually, I can’t recall a Randy Orton match that has in a very long time. I know he is a WWE international megastar (we saw that in Saudi Arabia), but for whatever reason, he just hasn’t been doing it for me lately. I hope this match pulls me in quickly. I like Hardy here. Pick: Jeff Hardy
Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss
Geno Mrosko: You would think the story dictates Jax continues to go over, and that’s probably exactly what should happen. Then again, do you reward Bliss for being as entertaining as she has with her “Moment of Bliss” segments? Talk about heat for a finish. Pick: Alexa Bliss
Sean Rueter: Yes, yes... Bliss is a hell of a promo and someone the company should absolutely have front-and-center as a public spokesperson. Doesn’t change the fact her title runs have been a recurring theme across the creatively stagnant women’s scene for roughly two years. I don’t know that removing her from the championship picture fixes anything, but I’m anxiously looking forward to finding out. Pick: Nia Jax
Kyle Decker: This definitely feels like a match to get Alexa’s rematch out of the way so Bliss can move onto whomever’s next. Who that is, I haven’t the faintest. Pick: Nia Jax
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Public service announcements do not a victory make. Crush her, Nia. Pick: Nia Jax
Cain A. Knight: It doesn’t really matter who wins here, Raw’s women’s division will continue to scuffle until Sasha and Bayley are given a more prominent focus. Jax and Bliss just aren’t on their level as performers, at least not when the bell rings. Pick: Nia Jax
Pete Sweeney: The Wrestlemania rematch. I think it is way too soon to take the belt off Jax, who has yet to do anything but continue to bicker with Bliss since the big show. Jax wins and moves onto the next challenge. Pick: Nia Jax
Carmella vs. Charlotte
Geno Mrosko: They seem to think they have something in Carmella, even if Charlotte is the clear top woman on the roster outside of Ronda Rousey and whatever big future plans they have for her. That means you can’t beat Charlotte too often, though The IIconics could certainly show up here to cost her. It becomes a question of whether or not they want to kill Carmella because a clean defeat would lead to another rematch and certain loss followed by an almost certain loss of television time. Might as well try to prolong everyone’s opportunity at the top spot. Pick: Carmella
Sean Rueter: The chicken$#!+ heel reign of Mella gets started in earnest. IIconics or the recently ronin-ed (can that be a verb? Somebody call Kevin Nash and find out for me) Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville probably get involved and get to feud with Charlotte and Becky Lynch. Pick: Carmella
Kyle Decker: I could see it going either way. It’s kind of early to take the title off Carmella, but I bet it’ll end up with Charlotte or Asuka sooner than later. I think Carmella loses the title by SummerSlam, but she’ll retain tonight just so the likes of Becky and then Asuka can get their shot. Pick: Carmella
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I agree with the notion that it’s probably too early to shift the title again, but I’m gonna be tricky and play the numbers and call for Charlotte winning by disqualification after the Iconic Duo rush the ring right as she’s about to put Carmella away. Pick: Charlotte Flair
Cain A. Knight: I’m sure Charlotte’s super push will resume at some point, especially because she will likely face off with Ronda Rousey in a major match down the line. But unless WWE is planning to rush that match for SummerSlam, they can afford to let Carmella slip by as champ at Backlash and continue telling a different story on SmackDown for a while besides “Charlotte always wins.” The IIconics will get involved in this match and continue being thorns in Charlotte’s side. Pick: Carmella
Pete Sweeney: The way these characters have developed over time, the assumption in this match is Carmella can’t walk out alive. And that’s why this match has drawn me way in because I think she not only stays alive but keeps her title. I just don’t know how. Pick: Carmella
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass
Geno Mrosko: This is a genuinely interesting match because there are so many ways they can go with it. Cass already got some nice heat for dumping Bryan from the Greatest Royal Rumble and doing the bit with the little person. Do they extend that with another win and go back to making Bryan the ultimate underdog type? They have to be careful here, what with the obvious Miz feud they’re still building up. Tough call. Pick: Big Cass
Sean Rueter: WWE is walking a tightrope between underdog and hero with DB 2.0. And after a Rumble elimination, a backstage beatdown and mini-impersonator, it’s time to kick it into hero mode. Pick: Daniel Bryan
Kyle Decker: Big Cass is getting a big push, but Daniel Bryan is still a top guy on the brand. And they’ll want him looking good for future matches against Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Jeff Hardy. Bryan will make sure his opponent looks good here and Cass will come out looking strong even in a loss. Pick: Daniel Bryan
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Cass got his shine at Greatest Royal Rumble, but he ain’t beating the American Dragon one-on-one no matter how tall he grows himself. Pick: Daniel Bryan
Cain A. Knight: I rolled my eyes super hard when Big Cass returned and was immediately put into a feud with Daniel Bryan. I didn’t see any reason why Cass would get that spot other than the fact that he’s tall. But then he cut a hell of a promo explaining his disdain for Bryan, so I’m much more interested in this one now. Cass still has to prove that he can hang in the ring with WWE’s upper carders, and if he can’t have a good match with Bryan, then WWE should slam the brakes on his push ASAP. That being said, WWE has something very rare in Daniel Bryan, and it’s in their best interests to only have him lose on special occasions. This is not one of those occasions. Pick: Daniel Bryan
Pete Sweeney: It has been very clear that while Big Cass was out, he put a great deal of work into improving his mic skills, which has made this feud all the more interesting. Seeing Big Cass involved with a name like Daniel Bryan is raising his stock in my eyes quite a bit, and I think that’s why WWE made that move—to build a star. But although that has been accomplished, I don’t think the Bryan return tour hits a speed bump in Cass. Pick: Daniel Bryan
Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Geno Mrosko: This just screams Lashley turning heel by attacking Strowman and costing his team the match, so I’ll go with that. Pick: Owens & Zayn
Sean Rueter: The Yep-ers have to win again sometime, right? If they can’t outsmart these guys, they’re doomed. Pick: The Kevin and Sami Show
Kyle Decker: Can’t wait to see Strowman destroy KO outside the ring some more. Pick: Strowman and Lashley
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Hell with it, I’m getting tricky again. There’s a little tension between Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley boiling under the surface, and Walking Armageddon’s gonna bring that right to the front and walk out on him. Even a Monster Among Men can fall to That Damn Numbers Game from time to time, after all, and then we get beautiful HOSS WARFARE between a freshly-turned Lashley and Strowman. Pick: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Cain A. Knight: I don’t understand how WWE expects Raw’s main event scene to catch fire when they keep running their top heels Owens and Zayn out there every week to get demolished by Strowman and Lashley. This match is just more of the same that we’ve been getting on Raw from these guys in recent weeks, and that’s not a good thing, because pay-per-view matches should have some additional feature or reason to care. There’s no added value here, and so this match feels like a complete waste of time. Pick: Strowman & Lashley
Pete Sweeney: It’s going to be a lonnnnnnnnng time on this website before I pick against Braun Stroman again. Pick: Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley
Bayley vs. Ruby Riott
Geno Mrosko: This match matters less than how Sasha Banks reacts to it. That’s fine with me. Good storytelling requires as much. Pick: Ruby Riott
Sean Rueter: Hug this. The Hugster has had just about e-huggin-nough of everyone’s huggin’ bullcrap. Pick: Bayley
Kyle Decker: It’s really all about how Sasha will affect this match. Will she help Bayley neutralize the squad or cost her a loss. Their feud needs to start heating up so I’m going to say the latter. Pick: Ruby Riott
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Bayley’s gonna squeak that win out and get just that tiny bit closer to Sasha losing any ability to put on a face of friendship. Pick: Bayley
Cain A. Knight: Let’s see, Ruby defeated Sasha on the go-home episode of Raw, so how about following that up by also beating Bayley at Backlash? Sure, sounds like a plan. Pick: Ruby Riott
Pete Sweeney: Backlash feels like a filler pay-per-view (and maybe it should because it kind of is, isn’t it) and this match is the perfect example of said filler. The end game is Bayley-Sasha Banks, which will have a massive build. This match is one of those (small) blocks. Pick: Bayley
That’s how we see the card playing out.
How about you?