Tag: WrestleMania Backlash

Daily Update: WrestleMania Backlash, UFC fallout, Jacare

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

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WON NEWSLETTER: May 17, 2021 Observer Newsletter: NJPW shows postponed, Brian Pillman Dark Side of the Ring

Dave Meltzer covers the state of emergency in Japan, the actual stats, shows canceled, when NJPW is set to return.

Lots more on the life of Brian Pillman, what Dark Side didn’t cover, his football career, contract disputes, booking idea if he stayed with WCW, children and legacy.

Also in this issue: 

  • Match and wrestler of the week
  • AEW & WWE back on the road and details
  • A look at the next two major pro wrestling PPV shows
  • UFC coverage of Saturday’s show, next week’s show, new fights, new financial info
  • Most detailed look at ratings, what shows do people watch longest, what shows do they watch live or most on DVR, Segment breakdowns and and exclusive info on how the different shows are consumed
  • U.S. Olympic wrestling preview
  • The amazing historical story of a fugitive in a foreign country who held the biggest tag team title in the world, and his shocking death
  • Notes on AEW television schedule for the next six weeks
  • 2016 Gold medalist talks WWE

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering WWE WrestleMania Backlash as well as taking email questions to [email protected]

UFC 262 was the No. 1 searched for item on Google yesterday at 1 million. That’s a lower than usual number for a PPV show.  It was the only thing in combat sports that made the top 20 all week.

At the press conference last night, Dana White confirmed that Triller’s Ryan Kavanaugh has been calling wanting to work with him and that he’s not answering his calls. Kavanaugh and Oscar de la Hoya were critical of White for not allowing a de la Hoya vs. Georges St-Pierre boxing match.

Ronaldo Jacare Souza suffered a fracture in his right humerus (a bone in his arm) and is scheduled for surgery in the next few days. Souza had his arm broken via an armbar by Andre Muniz on last night’s show. You could actually hear the break it was so loud, sounding like the spot that Pete Dunne does with the fingers. Souza, one of the greatest submission fighters in MMA history, losing via submission, was a pretty major deal last night. Muniz has since asked for a match with Nick Diaz.

Really, the judging was fine last night even though Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier were going off on it.  The only unjustifiable card I saw was Patrick Patlan in the Lando Vannata vs. Mike Grundy fight giving all three rounds to Grundy which is not justifiable. 95 percent of judges gave it to Vannata and the right guy won.

Media scores in Katlyn Chookagian vs. Viviane Araujo were 56 percent for Araujo. Chookagian got the decision and basically the first two rounds were close and the third round was clear for Chookagian so either one winning and any score from 30-27 Chookagian to 29-28 Araujo was justifiable.

Regarding tonight’s WrestleMania Backlash show, things are changing constantly. PWInsider listed Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka as the opener but even then noted that could change because that wasn’t the case this morning.No pre show match has been announced but the talk is there will be one.

Only six matches which is good because that probably means a three-hour show and every match will get time.

  • Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro for the Universal title – Cesaro wasn’t built up with big clean wins in this PPV cycle and Reigns is expected to retain, to the point the odds are -1000 in his favor. This should be a very good match and Cesaro could steal the show.
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre vs Braun Stowman – The three-way allows them to do weapons with the no DQ aspect.  Lashley is right now at -300 from BetOnline as compared to McIntyre at +250 and Strowman at +500.  I expect it to be good with McIntyre involved.
  • Rhea Ripley is at -250 as compared to +150 for Charlotte Flair and +600 for Asuka.  
  • Rey & Dominik Mysterio have gone to -400 favorites to win the tag titles over Dolph
  • Ziggler & Robert Roode.   Ziggler & Roode are your classic great working heel team, Rey is an all-time great and Dominik can hang with good people.  I expect a good match here.
  • Bianca Belair is listed at -1000 to retain her women’s title over Bayley.  It would make no sense to change that title this soon.  
  • Damien Priest is a -400 favorite to beat The Miz in a lumberjack match. Odds are a lot bigger than somebody if not many will interfere.

It looks on paper to be a good show, but not a show with a high interest level.

We’re looking for your thoughts on both this show and UFC 262 last night, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

A note for Canadian readers that my new book the 2014 Wrestling Observer Yearbook is now available at amazon.ca for Canadian readers and amazon.com for American readers as well as www.Wrestlingobserverbook.com for European readers. It’s currently listed as No. 8 best seller among wrestling books at Amazon and No. 1 best seller in the Kindle section among wrestling books.  A direct link and more about the book can be found here.

There will be an A&E Biography tonight on Shawn Michaels at 8 p.m. The Most Wanted Treasures show at 10 p.m. features Sgt. Slaughter looking for memorabilia of the Iron Sheik.    

WWE

  • Based on the fast nationals, Smackdown did 1.77 million viewers and 0.4 in 18-49, its worst numbers since the Thunderdome.  The final number would be expected at around 1.9 million. 

AEW

  • Regarding ticket sales to the first Dynamite on the road in Miami, it’s basically sold out (52 tickets left) but they are only running 50% of the Knight Center as the city still has a 50 percent rule.  
  • Tickets for the 5/30 Double or Nothing PPV, which is at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, and is set up for more than 5,000, go on sale tomorrow.  
  • Christopher Daniels’ eye was still a mess a few days ago as far as being all red from a photo released after the Young Bucks match where he bled heavily on Wednesday night.

OTHER NEWS

  • Wrestlerock Brewery Brawl from last night in Melbourne: Caveman Ugg b Mad Dog, Anth Cave b Cletus, Mitch Waterman b Lochy Hendricks, Aysha b Charli Evans, Adam Brooks b Royce Chambers, Gore b Ritchie Taylor to defend the WrestleRock title for his brother Kraker Jack (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
  • Stardom results from today in Nagoya: Momo Watanabe b Ruaka, Konami won three-way over Saya Kamitani and Lady C, Mayu Iwatani & Starlight Kid b Natsuoka Tora & Fukigen Death-DQ, Giulia & Syuri b Utami Hayashishita & AZM, Tam Nakano & Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka drew Maika & Himeka & Natsupoi over 30:00 to retain the Artists of Stardom titles
  • Rob Van Dam has a show tonight at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. He will be doing an autograph signing and they will show a documentary on him done by WWE. Tickets are $65 which includes a photo with him or  an autograph. Masks are required to attend.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: TNA Sacrifice 2010

CONTACT INFORMATION

Lumberjack match added to WWE WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A lumberjack match is the latest addition to the card for WrestleMania Backlash.

WWE has announced that Damian Priest will face The Miz in a lumberjack match at WrestleMania Backlash this Sunday (May 16). In storyline, the stipulation was chosen by Priest after he defeated John Morrison on Raw tonight.

The winner of Priest vs. Morrison on tonight’s Raw got to choose the stipulation for Priest and Miz’s match at WrestleMania Backlash. This was the second straight week that Priest has defeated Morrison after a distraction by Miz backfired.

Miz attacked Priest after tonight’s match, but Priest fought out of the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz then bailed when Priest went to hit a big boot. With Miz on the stage, Priest laid out Morrison in the ring with Hit the Lights.

There was a segment earlier on tonight’s Raw where Miz was initially going to say no to the idea of the winner of Priest vs. Morrison getting to choose the stipulation for Priest and Miz’s match at WrestleMania Backlash, but Morrison accepted on Miz’s behalf.

Priest teamed with Bad Bunny to defeat Miz & Morrison at WrestleMania 37 last month. Miz & Morrison won a handicap match against Priest on the Raw after WrestleMania, but Priest has defeated Miz once and Morrison twice in singles matches since then. Priest & The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) also defeated Miz, Elias & Jaxson Ryker in a six-man tag match on Raw two weeks ago.

WrestleMania Backlash will air live on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network everywhere else this Sunday. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cesaro
  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
  • Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode defend against Rey & Dominik Mysterio
  • Lumberjack match: Damian Priest vs. The Miz

Cesaro to challenge for Universal title at WWE WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cesaro is getting his shot at Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship.

Reigns will defend the Universal Championship against Cesaro at WrestleMania Backlash. It will be Cesaro’s first one-on-one shot for a WWE World title.

Cesaro getting the Universal title shot was confirmed when he defeated Seth Rollins on tonight’s Throwback edition of SmackDown. Before Cesaro and Rollins’ match, Teddy Long made an appearance and announced that Cesaro would challenge Reigns at WrestleMania Backlash if he defeated Rollins. Cesaro pinned Rollins after hitting the Neutralizer.

Rollins argued with The Usos when they tried to get involved in his match against Cesaro. Jimmy Uso, who returned to WWE television earlier on tonight’s show, then dropped Rollins with a superkick. Cesaro hit a plancha on Jimmy, threw Rollins back in the ring, and hit the Neutralizer to get the win.

Reigns talked down to Jimmy Uso for messing things up after Cesaro defeated Rollins. Jimmy told Reigns that Reigns wasn’t going to talk to him the way that he talks to his brother Jey. Jimmy said he’s nobody’s bitch.

Cesaro had interrupted Reigns, The Usos, and Paul Heyman in the opening segment of tonight’s SmackDown. Heyman started the show by eulogizing the career of Daniel Bryan and giving it a 10-bell salute. After Cesaro interrupted, Rollins ambushed Cesaro and started brawling with him. Rollins also threw Cesaro into the steel steps before their match after Reigns knocked Cesaro out of the ring.

Cesaro also defeated Rollins when they faced off at WrestleMania 37 last month.

On SmackDown two weeks ago, Reigns told Cesaro that he would never give him a shot at the Universal Championship. Reigns said Cesaro isn’t on his level.

Reigns retained the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan in the main event of last week’s SmackDown. As a stipulation of the match, Bryan has been banished from SmackDown. Reigns laid out Bryan with a con-chair-to after the match as Cesaro was forced to watch on. Cesaro had tried to make the save for Bryan, but he was attacked by Jey Uso and tied up in the ropes.

WrestleMania Backlash is taking place on Sunday, May 16. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cesaro
  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
  • Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode defend against Rey & Dominik Mysterio

SmackDown Tag Team title match set for WWE WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Mysterios are getting a SmackDown Tag Team title shot at WrestleMania Backlash.

WWE has announced that SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode will defend their titles against Rey & Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania Backlash. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, May 16.

Rey & Dominik are looking to become the first father and son team to hold Tag Team titles together in WWE history. 

Ziggler & Roode have been SmackDown Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from The Street Profits this January.

On SmackDown’s go-home show for WrestleMania 37 last month, Ziggler & Roode retained their titles against The Street Profits, The Mysterios, and Chad Gable & Otis in a fatal four-way match. Ziggler & Roode also retained against The Street Profits on SmackDown three weeks ago. Last week’s SmackDown saw The Street Profits & Bianca Belair defeat Ziggler, Roode & Bayley in a six-person tag match.

The Mysterios defeated Otis & Gable on SmackDown two weeks ago.

This is the fourth match that’s been announced for WrestleMania Backlash. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
  • Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode defend against Rey & Dominik Mysterio

Triple threat Women’s title match set for WWE WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Charlotte Flair has been added to the Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash.

On Monday’s episode of Raw, it was announced that Rhea Ripley will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka and Charlotte in a triple threat match at WrestleMania Backlash. It had originally been announced as a singles match between Ripley and Asuka before Charlotte was added.

In storyline, Charlotte being added to the title match was a decision made by WWE authority figure Sonya Deville. Deville also reinstated Charlotte from her “indefinite suspension” on Raw last week. Fellow authority figure Adam Pearce wasn’t happy with Deville and confronted her after both of those decisions.

Ripley won the Raw Women’s Championship by defeating Asuka at WrestleMania 37 last month. On the Raw after WrestleMania, Charlotte returned to WWE television and voiced her displeasure with being left off WrestleMania. It was the first time Charlotte had appeared on WWE TV since testing positive for COVID-19 in March.

A Raw Women’s Championship rematch between Ripley and Asuka on the Raw after WrestleMania ended in a no contest when Charlotte attacked them both. On Raw the next week, Asuka defeated Charlotte after Ripley helped cost Charlotte the match. Charlotte snapped after the match and attacked referee Eddie Orengo. Adam Pearce announced that Charlotte had been suspended indefinitely for the attack, but she was reinstated by Deville last week.

Charlotte defeated Dana Brooke on Raw tonight. Following the match, Deville announced that Charlotte has been added to the WrestleMania Backlash Raw Women’s Championship match. Ripley and Asuka were both unhappy with the decision.

WrestleMania Backlash is taking place on Sunday, May 16. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
  • Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat match

Braun Strowman added to WWE title match at WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash is now a triple threat.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley will defend his title against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match at WrestleMania Backlash. The title match had originally been announced as Lashley vs. McIntyre, but Strowman was added to the match after defeating McIntyre on tonight’s episode of Raw.

Lashley, MVP, T-Bar, and Mace all got involved in McIntyre and Strowman’s match tonight. Lashley and MVP wanted McIntyre to win so that Strowman wouldn’t be added to the WrestleMania Backlash title match, but Strowman won with a powerslam after McIntyre was distracted by T-Bar and Mace.

It was mentioned on tonight’s show that it was a triple threat match that Lashley lost the United States Championship in this February. Lashley lost the title without being involved in the fall.

McIntyre & Strowman were set to face T-Bar & Mace in a rematch from last week on Raw tonight. But before the match got started, Strowman approached McIntyre and asked why he hasn’t thanked Strowman for saving him from T-Bar and Mace last week. After Strowman and McIntyre argued, Strowman said he was going to defeat T-Bar & Mace on his own and do what McIntyre couldn’t do last Monday.

Strowman vs. T-Bar & Mace ended in a disqualification after T-Bar and Mace wouldn’t stop attacking Strowman in the corner. McIntyre then came out to the ring and tried to fight off T-Bar and Mace. After McIntyre and Strowman sent T-Bar and Mace out of the ring, McIntyre asked Strowman if he was going to thank him.

McIntyre & Strowman then faced T-Bar & Mace in a tag match. T-Bar & Mace won by countout after McIntyre accidentally gave Strowman a clothesline on the outside. Strowman laid out McIntyre with a powerslam following the match and told McIntyre to never hit him again.

McIntyre went to WWE authority figure Adam Pearce after the tag match and said he wanted to face Strowman tonight. Later in the show, Strowman also met with Pearce. Strowman said he was fine with facing McIntyre but pointed out that he wasn’t pinned in the triple threat match where McIntyre became the number one contender to Lashley’s WWE Championship. Pearce agreed to add Strowman to the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash if he defeated McIntyre. 

Lashley has been WWE Champion since winning the title from The Miz this March. Lashley retained the title against McIntyre at WrestleMania 37 night one.

WrestleMania Backlash is taking place on Sunday, May 16. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:

  • WWE Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a triple threat match
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley

SmackDown Women’s title match set for WWE WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bayley will be the first challenger for Bianca Belair’s SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Ahead of Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, WWE announced that Belair will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, May 16.

Belair became SmackDown Women’s Champion by defeating Sasha Banks in the main event of WrestleMania 37 night one. During a backstage interview on last week’s post-WrestleMania edition of SmackDown, Bayley declared that she wants to challenge Belair and restore dignity to the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Bayley mocked Belair, saying the reason Belair was crying before her match against Banks began is because she didn’t think she could actually win.

The Street Profits hosted a victory party for Belair on SmackDown last week. Belair thanked Banks for making history with her at WrestleMania, but she also pointed out the mark she left on Banks when she gave Banks a hair whip shot during their match. Banks was then interviewed backstage but quickly stormed off in frustration.

The SmackDown Women’s Championship is the first title that Belair has held in her career.

Bayley is a two-time former SmackDown Women’s Champion, including having the longest reign in the title’s history 

Belair vs. Bayley is the second match that’s been announced for WrestleMania Backlash. Bobby Lashley defending his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre is also set for the PPV.

WWE Championship match set for WrestleMania Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Drew McIntyre is getting another shot at Bobby Lashley’s WWE Championship.

WWE has announced that Lashley will defend his WWE Championship against McIntyre at WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday, May 16. McIntyre getting the title shot was confirmed when he defeated Randy Orton and Braun Strowman in a triple threat number one contender’s match in the main event of tonight’s post-WrestleMania 37 episode of Raw.

Orton hit an RKO on Strowman near the end of tonight’s triple threat match, but McIntyre flew in and hit a Claymore on Orton as he was going for the pin. McIntyre then pinned Orton to get the win.

MVP came out to the stage after McIntyre won the triple threat match. While McIntyre’s attention was turned to MVP, former RETRIBUTION members T-Bar and Mace ambushed McIntyre and laid him out with a double chokeslam. The commentary team questioned why T-Bar and Mace attacked McIntyre and if MVP had anything to do with it.

Lashley retained the WWE Championship by defeating McIntyre in the opening match at WrestleMania 37 night one on Saturday. The finish of the match was McIntyre passing out in the Hurt Lock.

On tonight’s Raw, McIntyre interrupted a promo by MVP. McIntyre said he knew his match against Lashley was going to come down to the Claymore, the Hurt Lock, and whoever made the first mistake. McIntyre admitted that he made that first mistake when he allowed MVP to distract him. McIntyre vowed that he was going to get another title shot and defeat Lashley.

MVP told McIntyre that he would have to earn another title match. Strowman and Orton then appeared and also wanted the next WWE Championship shot. That led to their triple threat match being announced for tonight’s main event.

Lashley defeated Riddle in a non-title match on Raw tonight.

WrestleMania Backlash will air live on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network everywhere else on May 16. Lashley vs. McIntyre is the first match that’s been announced for the pay-per-view.

WWE announces ‘WrestleMania Backlash’ for May 16

Posted on by Josh Nason

During WrestleMania 37, WWE announced their next pay-per-view will be the rebranded WrestleMania Backlash, set for Sunday, May 16th on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else.

Since launching the Backlash name in 1999, the event has typically been the follow-up to WrestleMania, happening in April or May and featuring rematches from the big show. Recent years saw it move to September in 2016 and then to June last year.

It’s expected the show will take place at the ThunderDome in its new location: Tampa, Florida’s Yuengling Center. The venue will host its first show Monday for WWE Raw and will be their TV home until they are ready to resume touring, likely in the second half of the year.

Last year’s WrestleMania follow-up show was Money In The Bank which included a cinematic main event that saw Otis win the Money in the Bank briefcase, Drew McIntyre retaining the WWE title against Seth Rollins, and Braun Strowman retaining the Universal title against Bray Wyatt.