WWE Backlash Match Card Preview and Predictions

Following the WWE Draft, the first premium live event is upon us, WWE Backlash in France. Five matches are on the card and who knows what’s going to happen Saturday morning across the globe. Cody Rhodes will be defending the WWE Universal Championship against “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles. Damian Priest will be defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey Uso. Bayley will be defending the WWE Women’s Championship in a triple-threat match versus Naomi and Tiffany Stratton. “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kari Sane will be defending the Women’s Tag Team Championships against the team of Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Lastly, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens will take on the Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and newly appointed Bloodline member Tama Tonga.

Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest (World Heavyweight Championship)

I feel that Backlash is going to open the event with the World Heavyweight Championship match between Damian Priest and Jey Uso. This match could go the distance and it could go either way. It’ll be highly competitive and the fans will be out of their seats “yeeting” like their lives depend on it rooting for Jey Uso to win the championship. But ultimately so, I believe Damian Priest will retain the title because his reign just started and I don’t think he’s ready to drop the title just yet. 

Prediction: Damian Priest retains the title over Jey Uso via pinfall.

Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton Triple-Threat Match (WWE Women’s Championship)

Next up should be the triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship between Bayley, Naomi, and Tiffany Stratton. This match should be pretty straightforward and easy to assume that Bayley will retain her championship because she most likely will. Both Naomi and Tiffany Stratton are not ready for that big push yet as Bayley is just starting her title reign as WWE Women’s Champion. I think that Bayley will get a clean pinfall over Naomi, which will lead to Tiffany Stratton complaining next week on SmackDown that she didn’t get pinned and will immediately demand a rematch. 

Prediction: Bayley retains the title over Naomi and Tiffany Stratton via pinfall.

The Bloodline vs. The RKO Show

The long-term storytelling in this next match is always a sight to see as the Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and newest member Tama Tonga take on the team of Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Tama Tonga arrived on the scene three weeks ago on SmackDown to help Solo attack his older brother Jimmy Uso after Solo claimed that “losing matters in the Bloodline,” following Jimmy’s loss to his twin brother Jey at WrestleMania. It’s safe to say that since then, there's a new order in the Bloodline, and “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman isn’t too happy about it. Tama Tonga has been wreaking havoc since he arrived including making Kevin Owens bleed in preparation for their match at Backlash. I believe this reinvented version of the Bloodline, Solo Sikoa, and Tama Tonga, will pick up the win at Backlash over Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Solo will deliver a Samoan Spike to Kevin Owens for the finishing touches and continue their carnage on SmackDown.

Prediction: Sikoa and Tanga pick up the win over Orton and Owens via pinfall.

The Kabuki Warriors vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill (Women’s World Tag Team Championship)

This next match should be the most interesting in my eyes as Asuka and Kairi Sane defend the World Tag Team Championships against the team of Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Just like the World Heavyweight Championship match, this one could go either way as well. A win could be great for Asuka and Kairi Sane because they’d keep Damage CTRL relevant by retaining the titles since Iyo Sky lost the WWE Women’s Championship to Bayley at WrestleMania. A win for Belair and Cargill would be great too considering the powerhouse duo they could be and their reign could last as long as they want it to. Also considering the fact that Asuka and Kairi Sane haven’t defended their titles since March 11, their title reign has been pretty lackluster. I think Belair and Cargill will win the titles here because it’s what’s best for business. 

Prediction: Belair and Cargill win the titles over Asuka and Kairi Sane via pinfall.

“Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. Cody Rhodes

Last but certainly not least, the main event for the WWE Universal Championship where Cody Rhodes will defend against AJ Styles. This match I believe will be an instant classic as fans will be up and out of their seats talking about it for years to come. Since it’s a new era and Cody is the one leading WWE into that new era, I don’t think he’ll drop the title here. AJ Styles is indeed phenomenal and he’ll put up one heck of a fight, but in the end, he’s gonna fall short to Cody in what should be the highest anticipated match on the card. As a sign of good sportsmanship, the two will shake hands at the end of the match as AJ looks to regroup and Cody looks for his next opponent.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains the title over AJ Styles via pinfall in an instant classic.