With WrestleMania Backlash tonight, I went back through the archives to check out matches from previous Backlash PPVs. The very first Backlash took place back in 1999!
We eventually saw Backlash PPVs that just consisted of the RAW brand and then the Smackdown brand. During the WWE ECW run, they also got thrown into the mix.
There are a lot of matches to look back at and no doubt I missed some good moments, so let me know your favorites in the comments. To be honest it was hard to pick matches that did not have the same competitors in it. At the beginning of Backlash’s PPV days, it was a big time for The Rock and Stone Cold.
While this list is a tad heavy on the early PPVs of Backlash, I did add in some matches or moments you should remember from recent years. I always found the Backlash PPV to be one to look forward to and 2021’s should be no different. Now lets’s get into the list shall we?
1) The Rock versus Stone Cold Steve Austin Backlash 1999
Of course Stone Cold and The Rock on the very first Backlash has to be on this list. Shane McMahon served as the special guest referee and at the time was not on the same page as his dad. Vince McMahon would later come to play a role in the end of this match.
The Rock walked into the match with Stone Cold’s flaming skull championship. Once Austin came out, as a rule he was not allowed to touch Shane or he would lose. Although The Rock came out with a title, he was not the rightful champion. The match was a No Holds Barred match and the two competitors definitely took advantage of the stipulation. Shane of course did not call the match down the middle at all. In fact he tried to help The Rock every chance he got.
In fact when Stone Cold did have The Rock covered, Shane-O only counted to two before giving Stone Cold a middle finger salute. Shane then rolled out of the ring and seemed to leave the match. Meanwhile, Vince McMahon and Earl Hebner were walking to the ring behind him. McMahon proceeded to hit Shane with a championship belt. This led to Stone Cold to retaining his championship, with a little help from the boss.
2) Randy Orton versus Mick Foley Backlash 2004
We have seen Mick Foley in many hardcore type matches over his career, but this one seemed to be particularly brutal. In fact on the anniversary of the match last year, Foley said this match with Orton was the best of his career. After everything Foley has done in his career that is pretty high praise.
This match at Backlash was for Orton’s Intercontinental Championship and took place in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Back in 2004 Orton was a young and extremely cocky superstar. This was just the beginning of The Legend Killer gimmick for Orton. Foley had said before this match he wanted Evolution banned from ringside, the title on the line, and no rules. Orton begrudgingly agreed and Cactus Jack returned.
Orton brought a trash can of weapons with him to the ring. Mick Foley brought a barbed wire baseball bat. Foley wasted no time in going after Orton with the bat. Orton did his best to duck and dodge the bat. A drop toe hold led to Orton gaining position of the bat, but after a test of strength really Foley got the bat back. We saw trash cans be involved, chairs, suplexes off the entrance ramp, and just all around chaos. It’s a moment in WWE history that deserves to be remembered.
3) John Cena versus Shawn Michaels versus Randy Orton versus Edge for the WWE Championship (2007)
Cena would walk into Backlash as the WWE Champion and he would walk out champion. While Cena has been apart of another Fatal Four Way at Backlash, I decided this one deserved a place on the list because of the tag team history between all four men. Cena and HBK just that year had beat Rated RKO for the tag team championships, so this match just had odd dynamics.
The match began with the four men yelling at each other in a circle before HBK and Cena took care of Orton and Edge. HBK immediately went after Cena though. As JR said on commentary HBK had an agenda to walk out WWE Champion. The script soon flipped when Edge and Orton soon were the only two in the ring.
Soon the action went to the outside and in typical HBK fashion, he hit a moonsault on the outside to the rest of his competitors. HBK tried to capitalize by throwing Edge back in the ring, but Edge fought back. Soon both men were down in the ring do to a double clothesline. A double leg drop from the top rope by Cena and the champ seemed to be back in business, until Orton showed back up.
Although HBK truly did come close to becoming champion again, he hit Sweet Chin Music on Cena that sent him landing on Randy Orton. Unfortunately for HBK he was not quick enough to make the save and Cena retained.
4) Becky Lynch wins the Smackdown Women’s Championship (2016)
Becky Lynch won her first championship match by defeating six other women (Nikki Bella, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Natalya, and Naomi). Lynch became the first woman to hold the Smackdown Women’s Championship as it was introduced at this PPV.
Elimination rules applied in this match, so if you were counted out, pinned, or submitted your night was done. The match truly began with Lynch and Naomi as the rest of the competitors were on the outside. Naomi was the one to light Lynch up at first, but soon was sent to the outside. Lynch looked to go off the top rope, but Carmella got back involved.
This was around the time Carmella turned heel and began a feud with Nikki Bella, which we saw come into play a bit during this match. We did truly get to see each competitor get their moment to shine in this one though. While Alexa Bliss was doing her very best to get the first elimination, she was having no luck. Naomi actually eliminated Bliss first!
The final two in the match were Lynch and Carmella. As we all know history was made and Lynch got her first gold in WWE.
5) The World’s Greatest Tag Team versus Los Guerreros (2003)
It only felt right to have some sort of match with Eddie Guerrero on this list and it being a tag team match is even better. This was Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin’s first big test as champions and Kurt Angle was not there to cheer them on.
Eddie and Charlie were the two to start the match. The match began quick as Eddie tried to put Charlie away with multiple pin attempts. Chavo was then tagged into the match after having a little fun. Whenever the Guerreros were in the ring, you knew you were in for a good time.
The match was filled with quick action, that did see the Guerreros take control often. In the end though, after Benjamin grabbed Chavo’s leg, The World’s Greatest Tag Team cheated to win.
Honorable Mentions:
- Dean Ambrose versus AJ Styles for the WWE Championship (Backlash 2016)
- Rhyno versus Raven for the Hardcore Championship (2001)
- Shane versus Big Show
- Triple H versus The Rock (2000)
Is this list is missing your favourite match? Let us know over on Twitter