WWE Backlash

WWE Backlash is a series of professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming events made by WWE. They are usually held in April or May, following WrestleMania.[1]

WWE Backlash
Shane-backlash.jpg
The 2007 Backlash set
Information
Other name(s)WrestleMania Backlash (2021–2022)
Backlash France (2024)
Promotion(s)WWE
Brand(s)Raw
(2002–2009, 2018–present)
SmackDown
(2002–2003, 2007–2009, 2016–present)
ECW
(2007–2009)
First event1999
Event gimmickBig event after WrestleMania
(1999–2009, 2021–present)

History

The first event, which happened in 1999 was also supposed to be part of the In Your House series.[2][3] From 2004 to 2006, only Raw superstars appeared at Backlash. The 2007 event was the first WWE PPV event since Judgment Day 2003 (other than the "big four" shows WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series) to feature all three brands (Raw, SmackDown! and ECW) after WWE stopped with brand-only events.[4]

After the 2009 edition, Backlash no longer took place, with its April/May slot being taken over by Extreme Rules in 2010.[5] Backlash returned in 2016 (this was the only edition no to be held in spring) and has taken place yearly since (except in 2019). The 2016 and 2017 editions were exclusive to SmackDown.[6] The 2021 and 2022 editions were titled WrestleMania Backlash.[7][8] The following year's event, now simply called Backlash again, took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[9] The 2024 event, titled Backlash France, was the first big WWE show in the country, taking place near Lyon.[10]

Events

Raw-branded event SmackDown-branded event
# Event Date City Venue Main Event Ref.
1 Backlash (1999) April 25, 1999 Providence, Rhode Island Providence Civic Center "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (c) vs. The Rock in a No Holds Barred match for the WWF Championship with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee [3][11][12][1]
2 Backlash (2000) April 30, 2000 Washington, D.C. MCI Center Triple H (c) vs. The Rock for the WWF Championship with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee [13][14][15]
3 Backlash (2001) April 29, 2001 Rosemont, Illinois Allstate Arena The Two Man Power Trip ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WWF) and Triple H (Intercontinental)) vs. The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) (Tag Team) in a Winners Take All match for the WWF Championship, WWF Intercontinental Championship, and WWF Tag Team Championship [16][17][18][19]
4 Backlash (2002) April 21, 2002 Kansas City, Missouri Kemper Arena Triple H (c) vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the Undisputed WWF Championship [20][21][22]
5 Backlash (2003) April 27, 2003 Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester Centrum Goldberg vs. The Rock [23][24][25]
6 Backlash (2004) April 18, 2004 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Rexall Place Chris Benoit (c) vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H in a triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship [26][27][28]
7 Backlash (2005) May 1, 2005 Manchester, New Hampshire Verizon Wireless Arena Batista (c) vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship [29][30][31]
8 Backlash (2006) April 30, 2006 Lexington, Kentucky Rupp Arena John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Triple H in a triple threat match for the WWE Championship [32][33][34]
9 Backlash (2007) April 29, 2007 Atlanta, Georgia Philips Arena John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels in a fatal four-way match for the WWE Championship [35][36][37]
10 Backlash (2008) April 27, 2008 Baltimore, Maryland 1st Mariner Arena Randy Orton (c) vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield vs. John Cena vs. Triple H in a fatal-four-way elimination match for the WWE Championship [38][39][40]
11 Backlash (2009) April 26, 2009 Providence, Rhode Island Dunkin' Donuts Center John Cena (c) vs. Edge in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship [41]
12 Backlash (2016) September 11, 2016 Richmond, Virginia Richmond Coliseum Dean Ambrose (c) vs. AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship [6]
13 Backlash (2017) May 21, 2017 Rosemont, Illinois Allstate Arena Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship [42]
14 Backlash (2018) May 6, 2018 Newark, New Jersey Prudential Center Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe [43]
15 Backlash (2020) June 14, 2020 Orlando, Florida WWE Performance Center Edge vs. Randy Orton [44]
16 WrestleMania Backlash (2021) May 16, 2021 Tampa, Florida WWE ThunderDome at Yuengling Center Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cesaro for the WWE Universal Championship [7]
17 WrestleMania Backlash (2022) May 8, 2022 Providence, Rhode Island Dunkin' Donuts Center Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) vs. The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso) [8]
18 Backlash (2023) May 6, 2023 San Juan, Puerto Rico Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar [9]
19 Backlash France May 4, 2024 Décines-Charpieu,France LDLC Arena Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles for the Undisputed WWE Championship [10]
(c) – is the champion(s) going into the match

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Backlash 1999 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  2. Powell, John. "Austin wins title at WM15". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Powell, John (April 26, 1999). "Backlash: Austin wins, Stephanie abducted". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  4. "WWE Pay-Per-Views To Follow WrestleMania Formula". World Wrestling Entertainment. March 14, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
  5. "Pay-Per-View Calendar". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Pay-Per-View Calendar". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Lambert, Jeremy (April 11, 2021). "WWE Announces WrestleMania Backlash For May". Fightful. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-announces-wrestlemania-backlash-may. Retrieved April 11, 2021. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Lambert, Jeremy (February 11, 2022). "WWE WrestleMania Backlash Details Announced". Fightful. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Russell, Skylar (March 8, 2023). "WWE Bringing Backlash Premium Live Event To Puerto Rico In May; Bad Bunny To Host". Fightful. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wwe-bringing-backlash-premium-live-event-puerto-rico-may-bad-bunny-host. Retrieved March 8, 2023. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 Keller, Wade (November 16, 2023). "WWE adds France to list of international locations hosting PLEs, which also includes Germany and Australia next year". PWTorch. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  11. "Backlash (1999) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  12. "Backlash 1999 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  13. "Backlash 2000 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  14. Powell, John (May 1, 2000). "Rock victorious at Backlash, Game Over for Triple H". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  15. "Backlash (2000) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  16. "Backlash (2001) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  17. Powell, John (April 30, 2001). "McMahonMania at Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. "Backlash 2001 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  19. "Backlash 2001 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  20. "Backlash (2002) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  21. Powell, John (April 22, 2002). "Hogan champ again at Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. "Backlash 2002 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  23. Powell, John (April 28, 2003). "Goldberg suffers Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. "Backlash (2003) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  25. "Backlash 2003 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  26. Powell, John (April 19, 2004). "Feature bouts save Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. "Backlash (2004) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  28. "Backlash 2004 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  29. "Sokol, Chris (May 2, 2005). "Hulkamania rules Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. "Backlash (2005) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  31. "Backlash 2005 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  32. Elliott, Brian (May 1, 2006). "Heaven can't help Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. "Backlash (2006) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  34. "WWE Champion John Cena def. Triple H and Edge (Triple Threat Match)". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  35. Elliott, Brian (April 29, 2007). "No filler makes for a consistent Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. "Backlash (2007) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  37. "WWE Champion John Cena def. Edge, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels (Fatal Four Way Match)". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  38. Hillhouse, Dave (April 28, 2008). "HHH reigns again after Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  39. "Backlash (2008) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  40. "World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker def. Edge". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  41. "Backlash 2009". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
  42. Johnson, Mike (March 6, 2017). "Backlash in Chicago, concussion lawsuit update, Shane McMahon promotes MSG return and more WWE news". PWInsider. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  43. Scherer, Dave (November 22, 2017). "WWE Adds a Fifth Co-Branded PPV, Full 2018 WWE PPV Schedule with Dates and Cites for the Events". PWInsider. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  44. Toro, Carlos (May 10, 2020). "WWE Announces Return Of Backlash Pay-Per-View For June 14". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.

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