SmackDown Live and Monday Night RAW are coming together for their first cross-brand show (outside of the Big 4 ) since the WWE Draft took place back in 2016: Backlash will stream live on May 6 with pre-show starting at 7 p.m. EDT. There are eight confirmed matches for the show.
As with past WWE pay-per-views, the Player.One crew are here to give their picks for every match. With the Greatest Royal Rumble being a glorified house show, Backlash looks to bring some possible title changes and push characters and stories forward as we head into the summer months. You can check out the Player.One predictions on the official Facebook page if you're into watching videos.
Backlash will begin with the kickoff show at 7 p.m. EDT on the WWE Network with the main show starting at 8 p.m.
BRAUN STROWMAN AND BOBBY LASHLEY VS KEVIN OWENS AND SAMI ZAYN
This grudge match was set up after the RAW go-home show, but Strowman and Lashley have been built up for awhile now and it should continue at Backlash. Bob feels Owens and Zayn will win through "shenanigans" but the rest of the crew don't think it's likely.
Bob - Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn
Phil - Braun Strowman/Bobby Lashley
Rocco - Braun Strowman/Bobby Lashley
Mo - Braun Strowman/Bobby Lashley
DANIEL BRYAN VS BIG CASS
This is Daniel Bryan's first one-on-one match since being cleared for in-ring competition in March. He won his debut at WrestleMania 34 and was the iron man at Greatest Royal Rumble so it's obvious that Bryan wins this match too, right? Don't tell that to Bob, who feels Cass needs the win and Bryan can take the loss. The rest of the crew isn't buying it.
Bob - Big Cass
Phil - Daniel Bryan
Rocco - Daniel Bryan
Mo - Daniel Bryan
SETH ROLLINS VS THE MIZ - INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Seth Rollins defends his Intercontinental Championship once again at Backlash with The Miz looking to tie Chris Jericho's record for most IC title reigns. This one is pretty obvious for the team, as the IC belt is not getting moved to SmackDown while the U.S. Championship occupies the blue brand.
Bob - Seth Rollins
Phil - Seth Rollins
Rocco - Seth Rollins
Mo - Seth Rollins
NIA JAX VS ALEXA BLISS - RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Alexa Bliss is looking to regain her RAW Women's Championship but we think it's way too early for Nia Jax to drop the belt to her former best friend. It seems clear to the crew that Bliss will be thrust into a program with Ronda Rousey and Natalya alongside Mickie James and Jax will go on to face a new opponent.
Bob - Nia Jax
Phil - Nia Jax
Rocco - Nia Jax
Mo - Nia Jax
JEFF HARDY VS RANDY ORTON - U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The U.S. Title scene has seen better days, and having a Champion who can hold the title for more than a month will definitely help. Jeff Hardy won the belt on the first night of the Superstar Shakeup and it's too early for him to drop it to Randy Orton who just lost it at WrestleMania.
Mo, however, is going to the Viper to give him the victory in our very important office predictions.
Bob - Jeff Hardy
Phil - Jeff Hardy
Rocco - Jeff Hardy
Mo - Randy Orton
CARMELLA VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR - SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Carmella, the first ever Women's Money in the Bank winner, is just a couple of weeks into her reign and it's waaayyy too soon for her to lose it. It's also very obvious that Charlotte Flair, who is more physically gifted, could squash the Princess of Staten Island into dust.
This match seems to have split the office in half as Bob and Phil feel Carmella will retain with the help of the Iconics while Rocco and Mo believe Charlotte will take back her rightful championship.
Bob - Carmella
Phil - Carmella
Rocco - Charlotte
Mo - Charlotte
ROMAN REIGNS VS SAMOA JOE
Another match that has split the P1 wrestling team. Roman Reigns is on a losing streak, and Rocco and Mo feel it has to end at Backlash against Joe. Bob and Phil feel Reigns' descent needs to continue and having Samoa Joe get a victory over Reigns will help him jump up into the WWE Championship scene with AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Bob - Samoa Joe
Phil - Samoa Joe
Rocco - Roman Reigns
Mo - Roman Reigns
AJ STYLES VS SHINSUKE NAKAMURA - WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH (NO DQ)
Speaking of Styles and Nakamura ... The match for the WWE Championship will be No Disqualification so anything can happen. Bob and Mo feel Styles will end up retaining while Phil and Rocco believe it's Shinsuke's time to be champ.
Bob - AJ Styles
Phil - Shinsuke Nakamura
Rocco - Shinsuke Nakamura
Mo - AJ Styles
What are your predictions for Backlash? Let us know in the comments section below.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Phillip Martinez is a game and culture reporter for Newsweek. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2018, he was a reporter ... Read more
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