Top 10 Backlash Matches of all Time
Backlash is a WWE PPV that ran annually from 1999 until 2009, in which is was removed from the WWE schedule only to return in September 2016, only 2 months after the Draft. Throughout it's 13 show history, which will become 14 on Sunday when Backlash takes place once more, the PPV has played host to some incredible matches. Here are my top 10 Backlash matches of all time.
10) Matt Hardy vs. MVP- United States Championship, 2008
9) Hardy Boyz vs. Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade- World Tag Team Titles, 2007
Another bout which is better than expected, and never gets the recognition it deserves, the Hardy Boyz vs. Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade is a true throwback to 80's tag team wrestling. Murdoch and Cade, the brash, brawling heals dominate the majority of the contest until an inevitable Hardy comeback allows the brothers to retain their World Tag Team Titles. This match is just one of 3 PPV bouts in 2007 between these two great teams.
8) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler- 2017
When Shinsuke Nakamura made his way up to Smackdown, from NXT, in April 2017 nobody knew where he would fit on the roster or who his first opponent would be. The answers were quickly given to us, when it was announced that the King of Strong Style and the Showoff would go one-on-one to open Backlash. This match lasted a solid 15 minuted, was truly athletic, and showed us why both competitors are two of the best all-round wrestlers in the company today. An amazing opener, to an overall average PPV.
7) The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler- Intercontinental Championship, 2016
In 2016, after the Draft, The Miz once again solidified himself as the greatest mid-carder of the 21st century, by bringing the Intercontinental Title with him to Smackdown and defending it in some absolute stellar bouts. The best bout came at Backlash, in September 2016, against Dolph Ziggler in an 18 minute showstopper. After a hard-fought, back and fourth, Maryse whipped out the perfume, sprayed it in Ziggler's face and allowed The Miz to hit the Skull-crushing Finale...for the Finale. One of the best in-ring contests of 2016.
6) Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho- Intercontinental Championship, 2005
A bout which sees relative newcomer to the singles scene Shelton Benjamin take on a mean, then at his peak, Chris Jericho, in a contest over the ever prestigious Intercontinental Championship, held by Benjamin. Having won the I.C. Title in October of 2004, Shelton had several key contests as champion, but it was Jericho who would prove his most intriguing challenger. This is the sort of technical contest you would expect from these two 'wrestlers' and one which would elevate Shelton's reign to the next level; he would go on to hold the title until October 2005.
5) Batista vs. Triple H- World Heavyweight Championship, 2005
After defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania XXI for the World Heavyweight Championship, the rivalry between once master and apprentice would continue on into the spring, and early summer, of 2005, when the two once again met at Backlash and Vengeance. The Backlash contest had a true big-fight feel and proved why Batista was known as 'The Animal' and allowed him to go down as one of the greats, defeating the Game for the second straight time. Also from 2005, like the previous entrant on this list, this match is a solid encounter.
4) Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels- World Heavyweight Championship, 2004
Chris Benoit finally won the big one at Wrestlemania XX in a match against the two men he faced here at Backlash not even a month earlier. This was a meeting of three guys you could say were the best in the business at the time and did not disappoint. Lasting a whopping 30 minutes and including several key moments, near falls, and emotion (if you that into it), this match is one of the best triple threats ever. Chris Benoit retained after making Michaels submit to the Sharpshooter in an interesting finish.
3) John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge- WWE Championship, 2007
Coming in at 3rd of the list is a fatal-4-way which included some of the biggest names the Raw brand had to offer at the time. John Cena was 5 months into his reign as WWE Champion and had defeated all comers, including Michaels and Edge, meaning Randy Orton was the newest competitor to face Cena and giving us the feel that anything could happen. In Orton's first ever WWE Title contest the crowd was sent on a roller-coaster of a ride which saw Orton and Edge's partnership shatter and Cena retain the title after being hit with a Sweet-Chin Music and falling onto Orton for the 3 count.
2) Batista vs. Undertaker- World Heavyweight Championship, 2007
Also taking place at the 2007 installment Batista vs. Undertake was the second meeting between the two, with the first being at Wrestlemania XXIII, under a month before. This was a Last Man Standing match that lived up to it's name, with both men going hell for leather in order to get the win. After 20 minutes of pure battle, Batista speared the Dead Man off the stage in a move that would end the match in a draw, allowing for the Undertaker to keep hold of the Big Gold, in a fashion that kept their rivalry alive and fans wanting more.
1) John Cena vs. Edge vs. Triple H- WWE Championship, 2006
Let's go back 12 years, to 2006, to the greatest Backlash match of all time, and also the greatest triple threat, and we get John Cena defending the WWE Championship against Wrestlemania XXII opponent Triple H and 2006 adversary Edge. After some shenanigans which included a low-blow and attempted Pedigree, Cena rolled up Triple H for the cover and victory. After the match, Triple H destroyed Cena, Edge, and the referee with his sledgehammer to rally the ravage crowd further. This was a 17 minute hard-hitting bout which kept the audience enthralled throughout and further enhanced the developing story-line.
So the awesome triple threat from 2006 tops the list. There were plenty of other matches that unfortunately didn't make the cut, but what is your favorite Backlash match of all time? let me know in the comments below!
10) Matt Hardy vs. MVP- United States Championship, 2008
This is a classic example of a hidden gem, in which storytelling is at the forefront of the contest. The once tag team of Matt Hardy and MVP split up in shocking fashion in November 2007 when Montel Vontavious Porter had a change of heart and brutally attacked the knee of Hardy. 5 months later, in April 2008, Hardy got his revenge on MVP, defeating him at Backlash and walking away the new United States Champion in the process. The match was well worked, centering around Hardy's knee injury, with the Carolina native finally overcoming the odds to pick up the victory. Well worth a watch.
9) Hardy Boyz vs. Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade- World Tag Team Titles, 2007
Another bout which is better than expected, and never gets the recognition it deserves, the Hardy Boyz vs. Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade is a true throwback to 80's tag team wrestling. Murdoch and Cade, the brash, brawling heals dominate the majority of the contest until an inevitable Hardy comeback allows the brothers to retain their World Tag Team Titles. This match is just one of 3 PPV bouts in 2007 between these two great teams.
8) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler- 2017
When Shinsuke Nakamura made his way up to Smackdown, from NXT, in April 2017 nobody knew where he would fit on the roster or who his first opponent would be. The answers were quickly given to us, when it was announced that the King of Strong Style and the Showoff would go one-on-one to open Backlash. This match lasted a solid 15 minuted, was truly athletic, and showed us why both competitors are two of the best all-round wrestlers in the company today. An amazing opener, to an overall average PPV.
7) The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler- Intercontinental Championship, 2016
In 2016, after the Draft, The Miz once again solidified himself as the greatest mid-carder of the 21st century, by bringing the Intercontinental Title with him to Smackdown and defending it in some absolute stellar bouts. The best bout came at Backlash, in September 2016, against Dolph Ziggler in an 18 minute showstopper. After a hard-fought, back and fourth, Maryse whipped out the perfume, sprayed it in Ziggler's face and allowed The Miz to hit the Skull-crushing Finale...for the Finale. One of the best in-ring contests of 2016.
6) Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho- Intercontinental Championship, 2005
A bout which sees relative newcomer to the singles scene Shelton Benjamin take on a mean, then at his peak, Chris Jericho, in a contest over the ever prestigious Intercontinental Championship, held by Benjamin. Having won the I.C. Title in October of 2004, Shelton had several key contests as champion, but it was Jericho who would prove his most intriguing challenger. This is the sort of technical contest you would expect from these two 'wrestlers' and one which would elevate Shelton's reign to the next level; he would go on to hold the title until October 2005.
5) Batista vs. Triple H- World Heavyweight Championship, 2005
After defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania XXI for the World Heavyweight Championship, the rivalry between once master and apprentice would continue on into the spring, and early summer, of 2005, when the two once again met at Backlash and Vengeance. The Backlash contest had a true big-fight feel and proved why Batista was known as 'The Animal' and allowed him to go down as one of the greats, defeating the Game for the second straight time. Also from 2005, like the previous entrant on this list, this match is a solid encounter.
4) Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels- World Heavyweight Championship, 2004
Chris Benoit finally won the big one at Wrestlemania XX in a match against the two men he faced here at Backlash not even a month earlier. This was a meeting of three guys you could say were the best in the business at the time and did not disappoint. Lasting a whopping 30 minutes and including several key moments, near falls, and emotion (if you that into it), this match is one of the best triple threats ever. Chris Benoit retained after making Michaels submit to the Sharpshooter in an interesting finish.
3) John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge- WWE Championship, 2007
Coming in at 3rd of the list is a fatal-4-way which included some of the biggest names the Raw brand had to offer at the time. John Cena was 5 months into his reign as WWE Champion and had defeated all comers, including Michaels and Edge, meaning Randy Orton was the newest competitor to face Cena and giving us the feel that anything could happen. In Orton's first ever WWE Title contest the crowd was sent on a roller-coaster of a ride which saw Orton and Edge's partnership shatter and Cena retain the title after being hit with a Sweet-Chin Music and falling onto Orton for the 3 count.
2) Batista vs. Undertaker- World Heavyweight Championship, 2007
Also taking place at the 2007 installment Batista vs. Undertake was the second meeting between the two, with the first being at Wrestlemania XXIII, under a month before. This was a Last Man Standing match that lived up to it's name, with both men going hell for leather in order to get the win. After 20 minutes of pure battle, Batista speared the Dead Man off the stage in a move that would end the match in a draw, allowing for the Undertaker to keep hold of the Big Gold, in a fashion that kept their rivalry alive and fans wanting more.
1) John Cena vs. Edge vs. Triple H- WWE Championship, 2006
Let's go back 12 years, to 2006, to the greatest Backlash match of all time, and also the greatest triple threat, and we get John Cena defending the WWE Championship against Wrestlemania XXII opponent Triple H and 2006 adversary Edge. After some shenanigans which included a low-blow and attempted Pedigree, Cena rolled up Triple H for the cover and victory. After the match, Triple H destroyed Cena, Edge, and the referee with his sledgehammer to rally the ravage crowd further. This was a 17 minute hard-hitting bout which kept the audience enthralled throughout and further enhanced the developing story-line.
So the awesome triple threat from 2006 tops the list. There were plenty of other matches that unfortunately didn't make the cut, but what is your favorite Backlash match of all time? let me know in the comments below!
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