At WrestleMania Backlash, Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio conquered Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode to become the first father-son Tag Team Champions in WWE history. Plus, Universal Champion Roman Reigns triumphed over Cesaro, WWE Champion Bobby Lashley reigned supreme over Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman, SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defeated Bayley, Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley overcame Asuka and Charlotte Flair.
United States Champion, Sheamus defeated Ricochet. (Kickoff match)
Ricochet couldn’t overcome United States Champion Sheamus in a non-title bout on the WrestleMania Backlash Kickoff, but he left with the last laugh.
While The Celtic Warrior issued an open challenge, he declined to put his title on the line. Still, Ricochet, a former United States Champion, sought to put himself in line for a potential future title opportunity.
Ricochet dug deep into his bag of jaw-dropping tricks after a furious comeback, though he couldn’t keep Sheamus down. The champion dodged Ricochet’s 630 Splash and blasted his foe with a huge knee for the win.
Sheamus was intent on congratulating himself afterward until Ricochet swiped his trademark coat and hat and tried it on for size after knocking The Celtic Warrior out of the ring, leaving him humiliated and infuriated despite the victory. (Via WWE.com)
While The Celtic Warrior issued an open challenge, he declined to put his title on the line. Still, Ricochet, a former United States Champion, sought to put himself in line for a potential future title opportunity.
Ricochet dug deep into his bag of jaw-dropping tricks after a furious comeback, though he couldn’t keep Sheamus down. The champion dodged Ricochet’s 630 Splash and blasted his foe with a huge knee for the win.
Sheamus was intent on congratulating himself afterward until Ricochet swiped his trademark coat and hat and tried it on for size after knocking The Celtic Warrior out of the ring, leaving him humiliated and infuriated despite the victory. (Via WWE.com)
RAW Women's Championship: RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Rhea Ripley defeated Asuka & Charlotte Flair. (Triple Threat Match)
Rhea Ripley passed her first major test as Raw Women’s Champion with flying colors.
The Nightmare survived both Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a star-studded Triple Threat Match to retain her title at WrestleMania Backlash.
Charlotte, who was added to this match by assistant to Adam Pearce Sonya Deville, immediately looked to stir the pot between Asuka and Ripley and pit them in a war against each other. Neither Ripley nor Asuka took the bait, though, and Flair found herself facing off with both opponents, including a fiery showdown with Ripley.
Looking to retake her throne, The Queen used her veteran ring savvy to command the ring. But her trash talk may have backfired in the way of increased aggression from Asuka, who blasted Charlotte and Rhea with a bevy of strikes.
Charlotte later took down both foes with a moonsault to the outside before they answered with a double superplex to The Queen.
The action was dizzyingly fast from there with all competitors trading blows. But with Charlotte knocked outside the ring, Ripley took advantage by blindsiding Asuka with the Riptide, pinning The Empress of Tomorrow for the hard-fought win, and all Flair could do was stare daggers through The Nightmare and her coveted championship
The Nightmare survived both Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a star-studded Triple Threat Match to retain her title at WrestleMania Backlash.
Charlotte, who was added to this match by assistant to Adam Pearce Sonya Deville, immediately looked to stir the pot between Asuka and Ripley and pit them in a war against each other. Neither Ripley nor Asuka took the bait, though, and Flair found herself facing off with both opponents, including a fiery showdown with Ripley.
Looking to retake her throne, The Queen used her veteran ring savvy to command the ring. But her trash talk may have backfired in the way of increased aggression from Asuka, who blasted Charlotte and Rhea with a bevy of strikes.
Charlotte later took down both foes with a moonsault to the outside before they answered with a double superplex to The Queen.
The action was dizzyingly fast from there with all competitors trading blows. But with Charlotte knocked outside the ring, Ripley took advantage by blindsiding Asuka with the Riptide, pinning The Empress of Tomorrow for the hard-fought win, and all Flair could do was stare daggers through The Nightmare and her coveted championship
SmackDown Tag Team Championship: Rey & Dominik Mysterio defeated SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode.
The underdog gene seems to run deep in Mysterio DNA.
Both Rey & Dominik Mysterio lived up the Ultimate Underdog moniker at WrestleMania Backlash, overcoming Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode to win the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.
Rey was initially on his own thanks to a savage backstage attack on Dominik by The Dirty Dawgz during the Kickoff Show.
Though the odds clearly weren’t in his favor, Rey showed why he’s no stranger to overcoming them, stunning Ziggler & Roode from the opening bell with a picture-perfect game plan of fast-paced offense.
But the harsh two-on-one reality soon set in as Roode & Ziggler stemmed the tide and took control with frequent tags.
A clearly less-than-100-percent Dominik emerged, taking the apron despite Rey’s protests out of concern for his son. Dominik tagged himself in, and while Roode & Ziggler again took the fight to him, he created an opening by beating Ziggler to the punch on a superkick and tagged in Rey.
Dropping Roode with a 619, Rey took out Ziggler after tagging his son, who delivered a frog splash to Roode for the stunning three-count, minting the Mysterios as the first father-son Tag Team Champions in WWE history. (Via WWE.com)
Both Rey & Dominik Mysterio lived up the Ultimate Underdog moniker at WrestleMania Backlash, overcoming Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode to win the SmackDown Tag Team Titles.
Rey was initially on his own thanks to a savage backstage attack on Dominik by The Dirty Dawgz during the Kickoff Show.
Though the odds clearly weren’t in his favor, Rey showed why he’s no stranger to overcoming them, stunning Ziggler & Roode from the opening bell with a picture-perfect game plan of fast-paced offense.
But the harsh two-on-one reality soon set in as Roode & Ziggler stemmed the tide and took control with frequent tags.
A clearly less-than-100-percent Dominik emerged, taking the apron despite Rey’s protests out of concern for his son. Dominik tagged himself in, and while Roode & Ziggler again took the fight to him, he created an opening by beating Ziggler to the punch on a superkick and tagged in Rey.
Dropping Roode with a 619, Rey took out Ziggler after tagging his son, who delivered a frog splash to Roode for the stunning three-count, minting the Mysterios as the first father-son Tag Team Champions in WWE history. (Via WWE.com)
Damian Priest defeated The Miz (with John Morrison). (Lumberjack Match)
The dead was raised at WrestleMania Backlash and so was the hand of The Archer of Infamy.
Damian Priest defeated The Miz in the most bizarre of Lumberjack Matches, overcoming a horde of zombies as well as The A-Lister.
With the archrivals set to square off, zombies overran the WWE Thunderdome, and they stopped Miz and John Morrison’s every attempt to flee, leaving Miz with no choice but to enter the ring with Priest.
While Priest and Miz had to worry about not only each other, but also the undead surrounding the ring, they both made a strong accounting of themselves. The zombies eventually struck, though, dragging both competitors to the outside.
In perhaps an even unlikelier sequence of events, the two enemies temporarily worked together to fight the zombies before returning to the ring.
Morrison also returned to ringside to help the Miz, only to find himself taken captive by the zombies. Priest dropped The A-Lister with the Reckoning for the three-count and made a quick exit as the zombies overtook the ring and seized upon The Miz, leaving him to suffer a fate unknown. (Via WWE.com)
Damian Priest defeated The Miz in the most bizarre of Lumberjack Matches, overcoming a horde of zombies as well as The A-Lister.
With the archrivals set to square off, zombies overran the WWE Thunderdome, and they stopped Miz and John Morrison’s every attempt to flee, leaving Miz with no choice but to enter the ring with Priest.
While Priest and Miz had to worry about not only each other, but also the undead surrounding the ring, they both made a strong accounting of themselves. The zombies eventually struck, though, dragging both competitors to the outside.
In perhaps an even unlikelier sequence of events, the two enemies temporarily worked together to fight the zombies before returning to the ring.
Morrison also returned to ringside to help the Miz, only to find himself taken captive by the zombies. Priest dropped The A-Lister with the Reckoning for the three-count and made a quick exit as the zombies overtook the ring and seized upon The Miz, leaving him to suffer a fate unknown. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Championship: SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Bianca Belair defeated Bayley.
The EST of WWE is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion thanks to a gusty and clever victory, as Bianca Belair prevailed over Bayley to retain the title at WrestleMania Backlash.
Perhaps surprisingly, Belair took clear control from the opening bell, using her signature swagger to dominate the much more experienced Bayley.
But The Role Model demonstrated her time-tested ring IQ, wisely regathering herself on the outside before grabbing Belair’s earring to take the offensive and pummel Belair. Bayley ramped up the intensity when she slammed Belair on the steel steps and suplexed her on the outside, suddenly putting the champion on her heels.
Having the advantage wasn’t enough for Bayley, as The Role Model mockingly deriding her “rookie” opponent. It backfired in a hurry, seeming to light a fire under Belair.
But Bayley still continued the onslaught, catching her foe with a flying elbow and launching her face-first into the ring post. Bayley nearly pinned the champion with the help of the ropes for added leverage, though the referee caught her red-handed on a second attempt.
Belair later shockingly kicked out of the Bayley-to-Belly in the nick of time. While the challenger looked to use Belair’s ponytail to help apply the Rose Plant, The EST one-upped her, using it to creatively wrap Bayley’s legs and secure the pinfall. (Via WWE.com)
Perhaps surprisingly, Belair took clear control from the opening bell, using her signature swagger to dominate the much more experienced Bayley.
But The Role Model demonstrated her time-tested ring IQ, wisely regathering herself on the outside before grabbing Belair’s earring to take the offensive and pummel Belair. Bayley ramped up the intensity when she slammed Belair on the steel steps and suplexed her on the outside, suddenly putting the champion on her heels.
Having the advantage wasn’t enough for Bayley, as The Role Model mockingly deriding her “rookie” opponent. It backfired in a hurry, seeming to light a fire under Belair.
But Bayley still continued the onslaught, catching her foe with a flying elbow and launching her face-first into the ring post. Bayley nearly pinned the champion with the help of the ropes for added leverage, though the referee caught her red-handed on a second attempt.
Belair later shockingly kicked out of the Bayley-to-Belly in the nick of time. While the challenger looked to use Belair’s ponytail to help apply the Rose Plant, The EST one-upped her, using it to creatively wrap Bayley’s legs and secure the pinfall. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Championship: WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley (with MVP) defeated Braun Strowman & Drew McIntyre. (Triple Threat match)
Bobby Lashley used brains — not brawn — to overcome the opposition and retain the WWE Championship against Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre in a mammoth Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania Backlash.
The All Mighty initially joined McIntyre for a short-lived alliance against Strowman, with the two rivals begrudgingly working together to execute a double suplex on The Monster Among Men.
The unlikely duo quickly imploded, though, as Lashley and McIntyre exchanged strikes, and Lashley later ruled the ring with an awe-inspiring spinebuster on the towering Strowman.
Strowman fired back, clobbering Lashley with the steel steps after the action spilled to the outside. But Strowman was sent tumbling over the barricade just seconds later thanks to a huge Claymore from McIntyre.
McIntyre and Lashley battled throughout the WWE Thunderdome, with The Scottish Warrior repeatedly ramming The All Mighty into the entrance set before sending him crashing through it, causing an explosion of sparks and seemingly neutralizing the champion.
Strowman reemerged to blindside McIntyre and was on the verge of his first-ever WWE Title win as the fight returned to the squared circle. McIntyre dug deep into his arsenal and summoned every bit of strength to plant Strowman with a Michinoku Driver and toss Strowman with a belly-to-belly on the outside.
Moments later, Strowman intercepted McIntyre’s Claymore attempt and drove him through the announce table with a thunderous powerbomb.
Strowman scored a near-fall back in the ring, and McIntyre regathered himself to down The Monster Among Men with a Claymore, putting his third WWE Championship win in sight.
But Lashley stunningly reemerged, tossing McIntyre to the outside and flooring Strowman with a massive Spear, stealing the moment of opportunity away from McIntyre for the victory. (Via WWE.com)
The All Mighty initially joined McIntyre for a short-lived alliance against Strowman, with the two rivals begrudgingly working together to execute a double suplex on The Monster Among Men.
The unlikely duo quickly imploded, though, as Lashley and McIntyre exchanged strikes, and Lashley later ruled the ring with an awe-inspiring spinebuster on the towering Strowman.
Strowman fired back, clobbering Lashley with the steel steps after the action spilled to the outside. But Strowman was sent tumbling over the barricade just seconds later thanks to a huge Claymore from McIntyre.
McIntyre and Lashley battled throughout the WWE Thunderdome, with The Scottish Warrior repeatedly ramming The All Mighty into the entrance set before sending him crashing through it, causing an explosion of sparks and seemingly neutralizing the champion.
Strowman reemerged to blindside McIntyre and was on the verge of his first-ever WWE Title win as the fight returned to the squared circle. McIntyre dug deep into his arsenal and summoned every bit of strength to plant Strowman with a Michinoku Driver and toss Strowman with a belly-to-belly on the outside.
Moments later, Strowman intercepted McIntyre’s Claymore attempt and drove him through the announce table with a thunderous powerbomb.
Strowman scored a near-fall back in the ring, and McIntyre regathered himself to down The Monster Among Men with a Claymore, putting his third WWE Championship win in sight.
But Lashley stunningly reemerged, tossing McIntyre to the outside and flooring Strowman with a massive Spear, stealing the moment of opportunity away from McIntyre for the victory. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Universal Championship: WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) defeated Cesaro.
Seth Rollins attacked Cesaro.
Even after a courageous effort by Cesaro, Universal Champion Roman Reigns still sits at The Head of the Table. Meanwhile, The Swiss Superman’s night ended on the lowest of notes thanks to Seth Rollins.
But early, it became clear that Reigns had underestimated Cesaro, as an early flurry put The Head of the Table on his heels.
Special Counsel Paul Heyman shrewdly reminded Reigns to dictate the pace, and he did exactly that, appearing to injure Cesaro’s right arm. The Big Dog continued to brutalize the arm and further injure it, quickly putting the challenger in desperate territory and leaving him unable to deliver some of his signature offense.
As dominant as Reigns was, though, he grew frustrated as he was unable to put away the durable challenger.
A mistimed Superman Punch attempt by Reigns cleared the way for Cesaro to hit a devastating pop-up uppercut — a comeback catalyst. He kept his foot on the gas, dialing up a spectacular corkscrew plancha to the outside, and back inside, came within an eyelash of his first World Title with a near-fall following a top-rope crossbody.
The champion took the air out of Cesaro’s sails and quickly got his swagger back, battering Cesaro with strikes to the point that he appeared to be out on his feet.
The Swiss Superman’s apparent injury proved most costly when it caused Cesaro to fail a Neutralizer attempt, and Reigns took advantage by countering Cesaro’s springboard attempt with a massive Superman Punch.
Cesaro escaped Reigns’ initial attempt at the guillotine but later found himself trapped in the hold. He seemingly used his last remaining strength to slam The Head of the Table, and Reigns still refused to relinquish the hold, putting Cesaro out for the referee stoppage.
Jey Uso — whose help Reigns eschewed prior to the match after taking issue with him — came to the ring seemingly to repent, presenting The Tribal Chief with a ceremonial lei and blasting Cesaro with a superkick.
The nightmare ending to Cesaro’s fairytale only worsened, as Seth Rollins delivered a ruthless beatdown, sickeningly wedging Cesaro’s arm in a steel chair before slamming it against the ring post.
The SmackDown Savior added an exclamation point with a vicious Stomp, leaving the man who defeated him at WrestleMania in pieces. (Via WWE.com)
But early, it became clear that Reigns had underestimated Cesaro, as an early flurry put The Head of the Table on his heels.
Special Counsel Paul Heyman shrewdly reminded Reigns to dictate the pace, and he did exactly that, appearing to injure Cesaro’s right arm. The Big Dog continued to brutalize the arm and further injure it, quickly putting the challenger in desperate territory and leaving him unable to deliver some of his signature offense.
As dominant as Reigns was, though, he grew frustrated as he was unable to put away the durable challenger.
A mistimed Superman Punch attempt by Reigns cleared the way for Cesaro to hit a devastating pop-up uppercut — a comeback catalyst. He kept his foot on the gas, dialing up a spectacular corkscrew plancha to the outside, and back inside, came within an eyelash of his first World Title with a near-fall following a top-rope crossbody.
The champion took the air out of Cesaro’s sails and quickly got his swagger back, battering Cesaro with strikes to the point that he appeared to be out on his feet.
The Swiss Superman’s apparent injury proved most costly when it caused Cesaro to fail a Neutralizer attempt, and Reigns took advantage by countering Cesaro’s springboard attempt with a massive Superman Punch.
Cesaro escaped Reigns’ initial attempt at the guillotine but later found himself trapped in the hold. He seemingly used his last remaining strength to slam The Head of the Table, and Reigns still refused to relinquish the hold, putting Cesaro out for the referee stoppage.
Jey Uso — whose help Reigns eschewed prior to the match after taking issue with him — came to the ring seemingly to repent, presenting The Tribal Chief with a ceremonial lei and blasting Cesaro with a superkick.
The nightmare ending to Cesaro’s fairytale only worsened, as Seth Rollins delivered a ruthless beatdown, sickeningly wedging Cesaro’s arm in a steel chair before slamming it against the ring post.
The SmackDown Savior added an exclamation point with a vicious Stomp, leaving the man who defeated him at WrestleMania in pieces. (Via WWE.com)