A number of announcements will take place on 5/17 regarding the future of AEW.
WBD will have its upfronts for advertisers that day at the Hulu Theater adjacent to Madison Square Garden which is expected to include the announcement of the new Collision show on Saturday night.
With that show will come a new deal with WBD, the announcement of the 6/17 debut date, believed to be at the United Center in Chicago, and the return of C.M. Punk on a show called “The Second Coming.”
Tony Khan already mentioned a big announcement and said it would be made next week “on TNT,” meaning that the announcement, besides at the Upfronts, will be on TNT, prior to Dynamite that night on TBS.
There are a lot of rumors going around regarding the new deal, from its length and its monetary value. Obviously, if this is not just a deal for a second show at a similar rate and picking up the option year by WBD, which would end at the end of September 2024, it would be among the biggest news stories in wrestling of this decade.
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the spot at Backlash on Saturday where Lesnar ran into a turnbuckle, causing himself to bleed hardway. As it turns out, that was part of the script, a rarity in modern day WWE.
“It’s unusual if it’s anyone else,” Meltzer said, pointing out that Finn Balor’s Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania was stopped after a ladder spot busted his head open. “Brock Lesnar has different rules than everyone else and if he wants color…Brock Lesnar can do color.”
Meltzer said that if WWE allowed Lesnar to bleed, they may as well allow him to use a blade instead of running head first into a turnbuckle as hard as he can. Meltzer also brought up the infamous match with Randy Orton where Lesnar elbowed Orton to the point where he suffered a major concussion.
Additionally, Meltzer brought up that it was ironic that WWE had called out AEW for its usage of blood, yet WWE allowed the blood spot in the match.
“But worse!” Meltzer added. “I’ve never seen anyone in AEW purposely smash their head into the turnbuckle to get blood. I mean, they usually do it with a blade, right?”
Meltzer also brought up the time that Billy Gunn, who was a trainer in WWE, was fired from the company after testing positive for steroids. However, when Lesnar failed a drug test in the UFC, WWE said Lesnar didn’t participate in their testing policy.
“The rules for Brock Lesnar differ from everyone else. Across the board. Not just because he can be on any brand at any time. And that’s just how it is,” Meltzer said.
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the spot at Backlash on Saturday where Lesnar ran into a turnbuckle, causing himself to bleed hardway. As it turns out, that was part of the script, a rarity in modern day WWE.
“It’s unusual if it’s anyone else,” Meltzer said, pointing out that Finn Balor’s Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania was stopped after a ladder spot busted his head open. “Brock Lesnar has different rules than everyone else and if he wants color…Brock Lesnar can do color.”
Meltzer said that if WWE allowed Lesnar to bleed, they may as well allow him to use a blade instead of running head first into a turnbuckle as hard as he can. Meltzer also brought up the infamous match with Randy Orton where Lesnar elbowed Orton to the point where he suffered a major concussion.
Additionally, Meltzer brought up that it was ironic that WWE had called out AEW for its usage of blood, yet WWE allowed the blood spot in the match.
“But worse!” Meltzer added. “I’ve never seen anyone in AEW purposely smash their head into the turnbuckle to get blood. I mean, they usually do it with a blade, right?”
Meltzer also brought up the time that Billy Gunn, who was a trainer in WWE, was fired from the company after testing positive for steroids. However, when Lesnar failed a drug test in the UFC, WWE said Lesnar didn’t participate in their testing policy.
“The rules for Brock Lesnar differ from everyone else. Across the board. Not just because he can be on any brand at any time. And that’s just how it is,” Meltzer said.
Filthy Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including Smackdown from Friday night, an incredible Backlash in Puerto Rico, and a new SPONSORSHIP SNACKDOWN as we sample MIKE’S HARDER! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including everything you ever wanted to know about WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico, a super memorable show, plus all the news including Darby Allin wanting to climb Mt. Everest and the WWE World Title tournament brackets — kinda. A fun show as always so check it out~!
The Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show is back with tons to talk about in our look at WWE Backlash from Puerto Rico. One of the most incredible crowds in WWE history and a great show from start to finish, lots of fun stuff to talk about. An exciting show as always so check it out~!
*AEW All In sets records, and looking at the biggest crowds in pro wrestling history and how this compares, what we’ve earned about ticketing, what records are within reach and what records are not, as well as the biggest crowds ever in Europe and a man named Jim Londos.
*Evaluating the WWE draft. We look at the depth charts of both brands, questions being asked, will the brand split really be what they say (of course it won’t long run), looking at the NXT talent brought up and more.
*A look at WWE business including heavy quotes from Nick Khan and Paul Levesque on the current state of the business, how much WWE is looking a cutting with the merger with UFC, Khan talks about working under Endeavor.
*Levesque talks the booking of talent
*WrestleMania business notes
*How many people watch Raw or Smackdown on a weekly basis, and the number is far more than you think
*Plans for another major overseas event on hold
*WWE Backlash notes
*Looking at the last three months of wrestling numbers and how it compares with television as a whole
*New Japan Dontaku full coverage as well as the next month of New Japan major shows
*Gable Steveson and others who have done pro wrestling and then gone back to amateur wrestling including the top worker of the 80s who the Olympics banned from competing due to an archaic rule
*Full Saturday UFC coverage
*Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Sumo Hall and the matches and angles
*The most detailed look at pro wrestling ratings, as well s where the changes were, competition and what can be learned from them
*CMLL Champion of Champions tournament
*Major League baseball players go to Arena Mexico
*Unique new idea for running pro wrestling shows explained and talks of it going t the U.S.
*Why a world title recently changed hands
*A new jump that hasn’t happened but essentially is about to
*Champion Carnival tournament goes to the finals
*Will Ospreay’s future
*70s and 80s star returning to the ring
*Vikingo goes to Australia
*Lots of changes coming to AEW
*Update on plans for the new and revamped AEW television plans
*Hire of Will Washington
*Update on Double or Nothing show
*Lots of competition of AEW next week
*DVR viewership of AEW
*Advance ticket sales for WWE and AEW shows
*Jon Jones talks future
*Lots of new UFC fights
*Bare Knuckle Boxing business notes
*Bare Knuckle MMA shows coming
*More on gold medalist signing with WWE
*Other gold medalists WWE has signed over the years
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Sunday Update
We have two weekend shows up. Garrett Gonzales and I have a show talking the news of the week, including Wembley, WWE world title, and the big weekend that just ended, while last night’s show with Bryan Alvarez talked Backlash, UFC, Sara Lee and the connection between the character Matt Damon played in Air, Sonny Vaccaro, and his connection with two key people during the boom years of WCW.
Backlash had one of the most amazing crowds in WWE history, very similar to the famous 1997 Canadian Stampede PPV show in Calgary. The place came unglued for Bad Bunny, Carlito and Savio Vega in particular.
WWE announced today the 12 wrestlers in the tournament for the World title. On tomorrow night’s Raw sho, there were will two three-way matches early in the show involving Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, The Miz and Shinsuke Nakamura. The winner of the two three-ways probably face off in the main event. Similarly on Smackdown, it’s Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley, Sheamus, Rey Mysterio, A.J. Styles and Edge. The winner of Monday’s main event faces the winner of Friday’s main event on 5/27 in Saudi Arabia.
The reason for the tournament on Raw & Smackdown is to combat the hit the shows would normally take in the ratings this week due to the NBA & NHL playoffs, especially since Warriors vs. Lakers is doing record viewership for this early in the playoffs. For tomorrow, the Knicks vs.. Heat go against the first two hours and Warriors-Lakers against the third hour. For Tuesday, NXT goes against 76ers vs. Celtics. For Wednesday, AEW goes against Heat-Knicks most of the game and then the West Coast replay goes against Lakers-Warriors and that will hurt it badly on the West Coast. Obviously AEW is trying to combat that with a loaded show headlined by Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley in a cage match.
The blood in last night’s match with Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes was attempted and not an accident. Lesnar is allowed to do that although blading, which is far safer then smashing your forehead hard into steel to get blood, is not allowed in WWE.
Tony Ferguson was arrested at about 2 a.m. last night for a DUI after allegedly crashing into two parked cars outside a nightclub in Hollywood, CA. Ferguson’s truck flipped on its side after the accident and he was arrested after reportedly refusing a field sobriety test and being “very uncooperative” while on the coast. Ferguson, nor anyone else, were injured. He was being held on $30,000 bail earlier today. Rapper Cash Gotti told TMZ that he found his Mercedes wrecked when he came out of the club and reportedly it was one of the two cars Ferguson allegedly hit.
As far as Google searches for the weekend comparing the big events:
Warriors vs. Lakers was 2.8 million
UFC was 1.1 million
Kentucky Derby was 3 million
The Canelo Alvarez fight was 700,000
WWE Backlash was 200,000
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 opened this weekend and the estimates are that it will do $114 million. Of course Dave Bautista got the role of a lifetime in this movie and the first two as Drax the Destroyer. It’s supposed to be the finale of the series.
In last night’s UFC bantamweight title match where Aljamain Sterling beat Henry Cejudo via split decision, Judge Michael Bell gave Cejudo rounds 2, 3 and 5 and a 48-47 win Judge Derek Clearly gave Cejudo 2 and 3 while judge Eric Colon gave Cejudo 3 and 5. So the decision came down to Carly giving Sterling round five. As far as media scores went, Sterling got 91 percent of the media scores so the vast majority did believe it was the right decision.
After the fight there was another situation where Sean O’Malley was brought out to confront Sterling since that’s the next title fight. They started exchanging words when Merab Dvalishvili a teammate of Sterling, grabbed O’Malley’s jacket away from him and jumped on the cage to pose with it. O’Malley then confronted Dvalishvili and Sterling got involved there before things were calmed down. Dana White blamed himself for the problems, saying that he’s had better ideas than what happened tonight and it was a bad idea to bring O’Malley into the cage.
In the split decision in the Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya undercard fight, it was a 53-47% split in favor of Williams among media scores. Michael Bell gave Williams the first two rounds. Dominic Carolei gave Williams the first two rounds. Cleary gave Bedoya all three rounds.
We’re doing a couple of polls. We are doing our usual polls on Backlash and today will be the last day for our poll on NJPW Dontaku from Wednesday, so thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected] We are doing another poll for which of these people would you most like to see face Kenny Omega in London at Wembley Stadium, with Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada or MJF. Before pick ask, C.M. Punk is not listed because at least as of yesterday there was no chance that match could happen. If that changes we will do another poll and include him.
Tonight on A&E, at 9 p.m. has WWE’s Most Wanted Treasure looking for old DX items including the Jeep from the WCW Invasion and at 10 p.m., Steve Austin Takes on America going through fast food restaurants among other things
Rampage on Friday 5/19 will be airing at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Big E will be a celebrity judge on the new TV show “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge” which will start on 5/30 on NBC in the 10 p.m. time slot.
Other Notes
Kevin Martel, the nephew of Rick Martel, will return to pro wrestling t team with his son, Shawn Martel, for the first time ever in a show on 6/17 in Quebec City, Quebec. Shawn has just started wrestling. Kevin wrestled in the late 90s and early 2000s and was very talented, and was voted Quebec Wrestler of the Year in 2002, but he stopped wrestling in 2004.
The match I’ve heard the most about this week as far as the match to try and see is the Yuya Aoki win of the Big Japan Strong world title from Yuji Okabayashi will took place on Thursday night.
Eve results from Friday night in London: Billie Starkz b Safire Reed, Emersyn Jayne b Laura Di Matteo, Rhio & Lucy Skye b Alexxis Falcon & Lizzy Evo, Jetta & Charlie Morgan b Rhio & Lucky Skye, Janai Kai b Skye Smitson, Miyu Yamashita b Millie McKenzie in a 30:00 Iron Woman match.
Eve results from yesterday in London: Emersyn Jayne b Darcy Stone, Skye Smitson b Lizzy Evo Alexxis Falcon b Safire Reed, Emersyn Jayne b Janai Kai Miyu Yamashita b Bilie Starks to keep the Eve title, Charlie Morgan & Jetta b Laura Di Matteo & Rayne Leverkusen to win the Eve tag titles,. Promoter Dann Read thanked the crowd and the women noting they’ve promoted for 13 years and he said he doesn’t know how much he has left in him to continue and told the fans to enjoy the ride while it lasts. The next show is 5/25 at the Yard Theater. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Miz and Maryse were at the Kentucky Derby. (thanks to Barry Werner)
Defy results from Friday night in Tacoma, WA: Ricky Gibson & Eddie Pearl & Levi Cooper b Ethan HD & Kris Brady & Malcolm Phlex, Amira b Kikyo Fallen Flower, Bollywood Boyz won three-way over Juventud Guerrera & Guillermo Rosas and Judas Icarus & Travis Williams, Artemis Spencer b Cody Chhun, Nicole Mathews b Lliza Hall, Nick Wayne retained the Defy title in a three-way over Gringo Loco and Arez. (thanks to Matt Farmer)
United Wrestling Coalition on 5/13 in Bordenton, NJ at the Elks Lodge.
Central States Wrestling on 5/13 at the National Guard Armory in Lenexa, KS with Dak Draper vs. One Called Manders for the Central States title an d Jeremy Wyatt vs. Kenny Alfonso for the DWF title.
Great North Wrestling from last night in Ottawa, ONT before 300 fans: Blood Hunter (managed by Kevin Sullivan) b Nick Sullivan, Aces & Eights Quebec b The Mounties, Jessika Black b Persephone Vince, Ayatollah Bin Hamin b Vance Nevada, Vance Nevada b GGP, Magnum McLaren b Wes Brisco, Bruiser b Stevie McDaniel, Blood Hunter b James Storm. Next show is 7/15 in Smiths Falls, ONT (thanks to Anthony Ambrose)
IPSW Rock N Wrestling from last night in Morristown,NJ: U-Gene b Dirty Dango, Afa Jr. b Snitsky, Michael Mars b Tony Atlas, Danny Morrison b Val Venis, Hale Collins & Vik Dalishus won three-way over Headbangers and Powers of Pain, GKM b Homicide to keep the Tri States title Rey Calitri won Rumble.
All Star Wrestling & FWA have joint show son 7/1 and 7/2 in different suburbs of Sydney,Australia. Announced for the shows are Dirty Dango, Samuray del Sol (Kalisto), Amale, Lince Dorado, Lady Frost and Mila Moore. Carlito will also be on the 7/1 show. (thanks to James Stanios)
Cody Rhodes is continuing his story, but will it have a happy ending?
Rhodes did beat Brock Lesnar in front of a hot crowd in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Saturday’s Backlash. It was an effective, explosive back and forth main event, perhaps best known for the spot towards the end of the match where Lesnar hit his forehead on an exposed turnbuckle and proceeded to bleed buckets.
Unlike at WrestleMania when the Hell in a Cell match had to be stopped so Finn Balor could be stapled up, Lesnar continued the match as a bloody mess (probably because no one is going to tell Lesnar what to do) until the finish when Rhodes pinned Lesnar’s shoulders on the mat while Lesnar had the kimura locked in.
With the World Heavyweight title tournament set to become the major story over the next few weeks, it only makes sense that Rhodes is an early favorite. For whatever reason, I don’t feel like this is the end of Lesnar at the moment, especially when there’s a Saudi Arabia payday incoming later this month. I could see Rhodes winning the Raw portion of the tournament and Lesnar winning the SmackDown portion of the tournament, leading to a rematch at Saudi Arabia later this month.
The question if that happens: will Lesnar do two jobs in a row?
Rhodes and Lesnar headlined this year’s Backlash, but after watching the show it was clear that the main event should have been Bad Bunny and Damian Priest’s San Juan street fight.
This was a fun match and better than most of WWE’s weapon matches lately. Bunny came out and instantly felt like one of the hottest acts in pro wrestling. It was something special. The crowd, who was the real story of this show, was super hot for everything. It might have gone on a little too long, but the cameos of Savio Vega and Carlito towards the end were fun and I have no real complaints other than Bunny nearly spiking his head on a sliced bread spot.
Still, he’s gotten pro wrestling down pat, and it’s quite amazing how talented he and Logan Paul are at picking up pro wrestling this rapidly.
On the undercard, The Bloodline managed to defeat Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in what looks like the final blow-off match between the six.
Although I guess as undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, Zayn and Owens could still appear on the other brand.
This had to follow the street fight and while it was a perfectly fine match, it felt way too long at 22 minutes especially after having just gone through a 25-minute match. The main story of the match was the dysfunction between The Usos and Solo Sikoa. The question now is if they will manage to make up or if it’s the start of The Bloodline crumbling like Rhodes predicted a few months ago.
Austin Theory retained the United States title over Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed.
It was fine with every single triple threat trope you’ve ever seen in WWE, including the finish. Let me know if you’ve seen this finish before: participant one hits participant two with their finish. Participant three, a heel, then throws participant one out of the ring and covers participant two for the win. Very predictable. The Theory run is doing nothing for me still.
Rhea Ripley defeated Zelina Vega to retain the SmackDown Women’s title as expected.
Vega got a tremendous response in Puerto Rico to the point of being moved to tears. The match was alright, but the story was more about the hot crowd as opposed to the match. The Raw Women’s title match that opened the show was far better with Bianca Belair defeating IYO SKY to retain. In terms of overall wrestling, it was probably the best match on the show. They have been teasing off and on for months that Damage CTRL may be in the midst of splitting up, and based on the commentary during this match and the finish (Damage CTRL attempting to interfere but fail), it seems like the group is heading in that direction again after weeks of start and stop teases.
Seth Rollins and Omos had a fine match.
Rollins, despite the goofy gimmick that has never really fit him, is one of the best wrestlers in WWE so it makes sense that he and Omos had a better than expected match. This seemed to be a way of getting Rollins a big win ahead of the World Heavyweight Championship tournament and it seems clear that he will be in the tournament in some form or fashion, and could even be a favorite if Rhodes is not in it.
Backlash was a real fun show coming off of two strong WrestleMania events.
WWE is on a roll with their pay-per-view shows and we only have to wait a few more weeks until Night of Champions on May 28. Let’s see if Rhodes will finish the story there…or SummerSlam…or maybe they’ll hold off until WrestleMania 40.
Or, maybe he’ll form the Allied Powers with the British Bulldog and feud with Tatanka. We’ll see.
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the main event of Backlash on Wrestling Observer Radio.
Cody Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar after reversing a kimura into a pinfall at Backlash on Saturday. Both Alvarez and Meltzer praised it for being a quick, explosive match. At one point during the match, Brock Lesnar rammed his head into a turnbuckle causing him to bleed from the head. Unlike at WrestleMania, when the Hell in a Cell match had to be stopped due to blood, no such thing happened during this match.
“It wasn’t going to fly with Brock,” Meltzer said.
Overall, both Meltzer and Alvarez thought that Backlash was a good show, with a hot crowd throughout the night helping.
“The Bad Bunny match and the opener, they would have been great matches on any show. A lot of pops were Puerto Rican based…a lot of the matches would have been fine in another city, but nothing special. A lot of it was the crowd,” Meltzer said.
Cody Rhodes emerged victorious in the main event of Backlash.
Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar on Saturday in a back and forth match that became bloody towards the end after Lesnar hit his forehead on an exposed turnbuckle. The finish had Lesnar kicking out of the crossroads and applied a kimura. Rhodes shifted his weight, pinning Lesnar’s shoulders on the mat for the three count while still trapped in the kimura. The show ended with Lesnar sitting up stunned as Rhodes celebrated outside of the ring.
Lesnar turned on Rhodes the night after WrestleMania 39, originally agreeing to tag with Rhodes against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, only for Lesnar to turn on Rhodes and brutally attacked him for over ten minutes. Rhodes demanded a match for Backlash and it was soon granted.
WWE’s next pay-per-view event will be at Night of Champions on May 27. The show will crown the first-ever World Heavyweight Champion. Two triple threat matches will take place on both Raw and SmackDown, with the winners of those two matches facing later in the night. The two winners of those matches will then advance to Night of Champions to crown the first champion.
Former WWE star Savio Vega appeared at Saturday’s WWE Backlash.
During a backstage segment, Rey Mysterio talked to Bad Bunny, who was preparing for his match against Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight later in the show. That was when Savio Vega walked in to an enormous reaction. He shook hands with Bunny and handed him a kendo stick with the Puerto Rican flag on it.
Vega was a WWE star from 1993 through 1999. He is most known for being the friend of Razor Ramon, and later was the head of a stable called Los Boricuas. He has spent most of his career in Puerto Rico, first for Carlos Colon’s World Wrestling Council and later in the International Wrestling Association. He had held both of the company’s world titles on three occasions.
Vega was last seen in the WWE back at Survivor Series in 2020, appearing during The Undertaker’s retirement ceremony.
Bad Bunny will return to the ring at WWE Backlash.
As announced on Monday’s Raw episode, Bad Bunny is set to take on Damian Priest of The Judgment Day in a street fight at the Saturday, May 6 Backlash pay-per-view in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It will be the third career match for Bad Bunny.
Bunny appeared on Monday’s Raw, saving Rey Mysterio from a Priest attack. Bunny hit Priest with a kendo stick, then announced that he was no longer hosting Backlash, but instead would be facing Priest in a street fight at the event.
Bunny last wrestled in the 2022 Royal Rumble match. Prior to that, he teamed with Priest to defeat John Morrison and The Miz on night one of WrestleMania 37 in April 2021.
A Raw Women’s Championship match has also been added to the Backlash card.
Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women’s title against number one contender IYO SKY at Backlash. SKY won a number one contender’s match on the April 10 Raw, defeating Michin and Piper Niven to set up the title bout.
The updated Backlash lineup:
WWE Backlash, Saturday, May 6, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —
Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Matt Riddle vs. The Usos & Solo Sikoa
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Street fight: Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair defends against IYO SKY
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley defends against Zelina Vega
Triple threat match for the United States Championship: Austin Theory defends against Bobby Lashley & Bronson Reed
Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar will officially meet at Backlash.
Adam Pearce made the match official during a segment that took place on Monday’s Raw. Rhodes initially listened to Pearce’s pleas to leave the ring, but instead refused and demanded Lesnar come out. Pearce said he would make the match on May 6 in Puerto Rico official if Rhodes would back off.
Security arrived as Lesnar’s music hit. Lesnar taunted Rhodes on the stage as Rhodes battled security guards in an attempt to reach Lesnar. Rhodes was unable to break through the sea of security guards as Lesnar left. After Rhodes took care of security, he said that Lesnar could wear a cowboy hat but he isn’t a cowboy, he’s a coward.
The Raw after WrestleMania saw Lesnar, who originally agreed to team up with Rhodes against Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa, brutally attack Rhodes for ten minutes straight, eventually ending things after giving Rhodes an F5 on top of steel steps. The following week on Raw, Rhodes issued the challenge for Backlash.
Here is the updated card for WWE Backlash:
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
The Usos & Solo Sikoa vs. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle
A new six-man tag team match has been added to Backlash.
New Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will team with Matt Riddle to take on The Usos and Solo Sikoa.
The Usos, Owens, and Zayn have continued their feud following WrestleMania, with Paul Heyman indicating to The Usos that Roman Reigns hasn’t been happy with them following their loss. Riddle made his return to WWE on the Raw following WrestleMania, and since then has set his sights on getting revenge against Solo Sikoa, who put him out of action late last year.
On Friday’s SmackDown, Riddle had the chance to take on Solo Sikoa in a singles match. Sikoa was able to put away Riddle with the samoan spike. After the match, Sikoa continued the attack on Riddle as The Usos and Zayn & Owens brawled around ringside. Sikoa delivered a uranage to Riddle on top of the table then pushed the table on top of him before Owens & Zayn could make the save.
Here is the card so far for Backlash in Puerto Rico on May 6:
The Usos & Solo Sikoa vs. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Matt Riddle
Cody Rhodes has issued a challenge to Brock Lesnar for WWE Backlash.
In a promo on Monday’s WWE Raw, Rhodes addressed last week’s attack against him by Lesnar in the main event segment of the show, ending with a challenge for Lesnar to face him at Backlash.
Rhodes said that being as honest as he could be, that he was scared of Lesnar, but that he wanted Lesnar to look in the mirror and see a victim, Rhodes’ next victim. He demanded that Lesnar “answer the call” for his challenge at Backlash.
Backlash is set for Saturday, May 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It will air on Peacock in the United States, and on WWE Network internationally.
Rhodes also spoke directly on his WrestleMania 39 loss to Roman Reigns during his Raw promo.
“I lost and I’m sorry,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes also called attention to the viral moment of a rubber chicken being thrown into the ring as he lay defeated at WrestleMania, saying that being turned on by Lesnar last week after offering Lesnar a partnership was more embarrassing than laying next to a rubber chicken when he had expected to be holding the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Lesnar has yet to respond to the Rhodes challenge for Backlash.
