5 Matches That Should Happen At WrestleMania Backlash

 

5. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair – Raw Women’s Championship

This pick seems highly possible watching the confrontations between these three women every Monday.

Rhea Ripley needs a big title defence to solidify her as a top star on the brand. Asuka has to prove she still has something left in the tank after losing her title at WrestleMania. Plus, Charlotte Flair has returned to her cocky heel persona and has to put Ripley’s title on the edge of a short-lived run.

These women have all proven that they have tremendous chemistry and can carry the Raw brand on their shoulders.

Therefore, a three-way would be the best option following WrestleMania as it would allow Ripley to retain while potentially keeping Flair strong in defeat.

This would mean WWE could reignite the Ripley vs Flair singles match at a later date.

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4. Apollo Crews (c) vs. Big E vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn – Intercontinental Championship

On the most recent edition of SmackDown, Apollo Crews retained his newly won Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens with help from his bodyguard Commander Azeez.

As Crews has his title rematch with Big E next week, expect more Azeez involvement. Also, Owens and Zayn don’t seem to be finished in their heated rivalry just yet as Zayn danced atop of Owens’ grave after he was whacked by Azeez’s Nigerian Nail.

To stop both feuds from going stale, it would be a good idea to combine them together heading into WrestleMania Backlash and have a four-way for the championship.

This would allow Crews to retain without Commander Azeez just hitting the opponent – which will get repetitive very quickly. Plus, Owens and Zayn could be too busy colliding with each other, which costs them the belt.

Giving their feud something to fight over would be very beneficial also, because WWE hasn’t given much reason why they want to continue fighting. It is fun and all but we need more weight to their rivalry.

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3. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode (c) vs. Dominik & Rey Mysterio – SmackDown Tag Team Championship

The SmackDown Tag Team Championship hasn’t been defended on pay-per-view since Clash of Champions in September last year! That was almost a year ago! They really don’t care about this title…

However, WWE could let the Mysterio’s gain ‘Backlash’ on the Dirty Dawgs on this show. The four-way took place on the WrestleMania edition of SmackDown, which saw Roode and Ziggler surprisingly walk away still as the champions.

With the Mysterios clearly being set up as the ones to beat them – commentary won’t let us forget that there hasn’t ever been a father-and-son dynamic as Tag Team Champions – the timing of WrestleMania Backlash would be suitable to hand the belts to Rey and Dominik Mysterio.

Rey is not getting younger and obviously has a limited time to be fighting alongside his son. Then once they win the titles as partners, we can build to the match where they are enemies.

A one-on-one match at WrestleMania 38, with the stipulation: ‘If Rey loses he must retire’, would be thrilling to see.

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2. Sheamus (c) vs. Damian Priest – United States Championship

As much as a rematch between Sheamus and Riddle would be fun – it was low-key one of the best matches of WrestleMania week entirely – Sheamus continuing with his open challenge on the show would be the best option.

Not only would this build intrigue and suspense on who will answer the challenge, but it would also offer an entertaining match and build a new star. That star should be Damian Priest.

Bad Bunny had an exceptional performance at the Showcase of the Immortals but I don’t think anyone said they want to see Priest vs Miz continue beyond that.

This is a problem with WWE. They either end good things too quickly or drag a good thing out too much that it becomes boring.

Timing is key. Therefore, having Damian Priest answer the United States Championship open challenge would be a great idea.

Priest is definitely the type of guy to answer an open challenge, he doesn’t back down to anything. Plus, Sheamus vs Priest could be a show-stealer. Sheamus certainly seems to be elevating the newer talent lately and this would potentially be the latest example of this.

Furthermore, they can either have Miz cost Priest to further that rivalry to no-one’s desire, or pull the trigger and have Priest become the US Champion only a few months into his main roster career.

The latter option would certainly make Priest one of the best NXT call-ups in quite some time.

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1. Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro – If Cesaro Wins, Daniel Bryan Gets His Job Back

Finally, let’s talk about what should main event this entire show.

Cesaro has been prominently booked as a main event star on SmackDown following his tremendous victory against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania.

Roman Reigns has been throwing all the obstacles he can gather in the Swiss Superman’s way, but he leaps over these with flying colors. Eventually, the Head of the Table will have to grant him a match for the Universal Championship.

This week, one of the biggest matches to take place on SmackDown since its move to FOX has been announced. Roman Reigns will be defending the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan. If Bryan loses, he will be banished from SmackDown. This has many potential options.

Bryan winning the title seems to be the least likely, so it has fans questioning whether we will see him move to Raw to help boost its falling ratings or even go to NXT or NXT UK to heighten their respective divisions.

Others believe that Edge will interfere and cost Bryan his SmackDown career. This will be the Rated-R Superstar’s first appearance since being toppled in the main event of WrestleMania.

With Bryan banished from the blue brand, Cesaro would have to scratch and claw even more for his opportunity against the Tribal Chief.

A scenario that offers many interesting options would be Reigns agreeing to a match with Cesaro at WrestleMania Backlash. However, instead of putting the title on the line, he gives him the chance to win D-Bry’s job back.

This could build to Reigns suffering his first loss in a very long time. Cesaro would once again prove how talented he is if he pins Reigns in a non-title match with the feel-good moment of Cesaro and Bryan celebrating at the end of the night.

This can then extend the story even further giving us the Reigns vs Cesaro rematch for the Universal Championship and can lead to Bryan seeking vengeance with a one-on-one match against the opportunistic Edge.

Two dream matches in the making – SmackDown would definitely be a must-watch following WrestleMania Backlash.

• WrestleMania Backlash
• Cesaro
• WrestleMania
• Roman Reigns

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