A new match has been added to Saturday’s WWE Backlash event, and the Intercontinental Championship will be on the line.
IC Champion Dominik Mysterio will defend his title against Penta at Backlash on Saturday, May 10 in St. Louis. The new match for Saturday was announced during Monday’s WWE Raw.
Mysterio won the title in a four-way match at WrestleMania 41 also involving Penta. Mysterio retained the title in his first defense against Penta on the Raw after WrestleMania after interference from JD McDonagh. Penta then defeated McDonagh on this week’s Raw to set up the title bout.
Five matches are official for Backlash. The two-hour pre-show begins at 5 p.m. Eastern time, with the main card kicking off at 7 p.m. Eastern.
WWE Backlash, Saturday, May 10 —
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Randy Orton
Gunther vs. Pat McAfee
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria defends against Becky Lynch
Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio defends against Penta
United States Champion Jacob Fatu defends against Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Damian Priest in a four-way
The United States Championship will be defended in a four-way match at next Saturday’s WWE Backlash event.
SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis announced on Friday’s episode that Jacob Fatu will defend his United States title against Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, and LA Knight in a four-way at Backlash in St. Louis on Saturday, May 10.
McIntyre and Knight wrestled in a number one contender’s match on last week’s show that ended without a decisive finish after Priest interfered. Knight and Priest squared off on this week’s SmackDown, with that bout also ending without a winner after interference from Fatu’s Bloodline partner Solo Sikoa.
Four matches are now official for Backlash. The card is listed below, and our report from Friday’s SmackDown is available here.
WWE Backlash, Saturday, May 10 —
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Randy Orton
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria defends against Becky Lynch
United States Champion Jacob Fatu defends against Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Damian Priest in a four-way
We’ve been away since WrestleMania weekend, so we’re back to share some big-picture thoughts on Mania and how WWE TV has gone on the road to Backlash. We’ll also get into the happenings in AEW including two fantastic Owen Hart Cup matches set up for the finals.
WWE Backlash 2004 took place on 18 April at the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. As a Raw-exclusive pay-per-view, the event followed up on the storylines from WrestleMania XX. F4WWON’s Dave Meltzer provided his star ratings for each match in the Wrestling Observer released the week after the event, and you can see the star ratings for each contest below.
Chris Jericho def. Christian & Trish Stratus (Handicap Match)
3.25
Victoria (c) def. Lita – WWE Women’s Championship
0.75
Randy Orton (c) def. Cactus Jack – No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere
4.5
Rosey & The Hurricane def. La Résistance
1
Edge def. Kane
1
Chris Benoit (c) def. Triple H & Shawn Michaels – World Heavyweight Championship Match
4.5
What was the highest rated match at Backlash 2004?
Two matches received the highest star rating of the night: 4.5 stars. The first was the No Holds Barred classic between Randy Orton and Cactus Jack, a match that established Orton as more than just a member of Evolution. The second was the main event triple threat for the World Heavyweight Championship, where Chris Benoit submitted Shawn Michaels in front of his hometown crowd.
What was the lowest rated match at Backlash 2004?
The lowest rated contest of the event was Jonathan Coachman vs. Tajiri, which received only 0.5 stars.
WWE Backlash 2003 took place on 27 April 2003 at the Worcester Centrum in Massachusetts. As the first pay-per-view after WrestleMania XIX, this event had the spotlight on several feuds, including the WWE debut of Goldberg against The Rock. F4WWON’s Dave Meltzer provided his star ratings for each match in the Wrestling Observer released the week after the event, and you can see the star ratings for each contest below.
Triple H, Ric Flair & Chris Jericho vs. HBK, Nash & Booker T
★★½
Goldberg vs. The Rock
★¼
What was the highest rated match at WWE Backlash 2003?
The highest rated match at WWE Backlash 2003 was the WWE Tag Team Championship bout between Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin and Los Guerreros. The match received *** (three stars) from Dave Meltzer and opened the show.
What was the lowest rated match at WWE Backlash 2003?
The lowest rated match of the evening was Sean O’Haire vs. Rikishi, which earned just ½* from Meltzer.
WWE Backlash 2025 is set to take place on Saturday, May 10, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. This milestone iteration of Backlash promises unforgettable moments, including John Cena’s final appearance at the event and a championship showdown with hometown hero Randy Orton. Whether you’re a die-hard WWE fan or a newcomer eager to experience the company’s shows live, grabbing your tickets is paramount.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship
Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Gunther vs. Pat McAfee
How to Get WWE Backlash 2025 Tickets
Ticketmaster (Official Source)
Ticketmaster is the primary platform for WWE Backlash 2025 tickets. Prices range from $60 for upper-level seats to $1,500 for premium ringside experiences. As of now, tickets are available for purchase.
On Location (VIP Packages)
For fans seeking an elevated experience, On Location offers official WWE Backlash ticket packages. Options include Silver, Gold, Champion, and Elite packages, each providing premium seating and exclusive perks.
Secondary Market Options
If primary tickets are sold out or you’re looking for specific seating, consider reputable secondary marketplaces:
Vivid Seats: Tickets start around $161, with a 100% Buyer Guarantee.
SeatGeek: Offers a user-friendly interface and real-time price tracking.
StubHub: Provides a wide selection and secure transactions.
The Women’s Intercontinental title will be on the line at WWE Backlash, and the World Heavyweight title appears likely to be as well.
In a match made official during Monday’s WWE Raw, Becky Lynch will challenge Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship at Backlash in St. Louis on Saturday, May 10.
Lynch made her return to WWE at WrestleMania 41 after a hiatus of nearly a year to win the Women’s Tag Team titles with Valkyria. Valkyria had been scheduled to team with Bayley at the show, but Bayley was taken out of the match with a mystery attacker angle on the SmackDown prior.
The next night on Raw, Lynch and Valkyria lost the titles back to Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in a WrestleMania rematch, then Lynch turned on Valkyria. On this week’s Raw, Lynch stated that there would be no drawn out whodunit, and that she had attacked Bayley.
Valkyria entered on Monday’s Raw and challenged Lynch to a fight, but Lynch begged off. Valkyria then challenged Lynch for Backlash with the title on the line, and Lynch accepted. As Valkyria exited, Lynch sneak attacked her.
Another title bout may take place in St. Louis as well, with Jey Uso apparently set to defend against Logan Paul.
Paul appeared for an in-ring promo on Monday’s Raw and boasted about beating AJ Styles at WrestleMania, and said that the only thing that had eluded him in WWE was a World title. Uso entered and after a back-and-forth on the mic, laid out Paul with a superkick.
Later on Raw in a backstage segment, Paul hit Uso with a knockout punch and stood tall over the World Heavyweight Champion. The title match has yet to be made official for the May 10 show.
ESPN and WWE commentator Pat McAfee will step into the ring at Backlash next week.
As revealed on Monday’s WWE Raw, McAfee will go one-on-one with Gunther at the Backlash PLE set for Saturday, May 10.
Gunther attacked McAfee and Michael Cole in storyline on last week’s Raw after expressing his displeasure with their commentary following his WrestleMania 41 World Heavyweight Championship loss to Jey Uso.
In a follow-up, a storyline suspension was issued to Gunther by Raw general manager Adam Pearce. Pearce was absent from Monday’s Raw, with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis stepping in to handle the show in his place.
McAfee cut a promo on Monday’s Raw stating that he was a hard worker, and loyal to Cole. He said that when Gunther attacked Cole last week he had crossed a line, and called out Aldis while petitioning for a match against Gunther for Backlash.
Aldis stated that he had discussed the possibility with Pearce, and was authorized to make the bout official for the Saturday, May 10 event in St. Louis.
Already signed for Backlash, John Cena will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, and Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria will defend against Becky Lynch.
A Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul World Heavyweight title match was also teased for Backlash during Monday’s Raw, but has yet to be made official.
The WWE Backlash lineup is listed below. Our full report from Monday’s WWE Raw is available here.
WWE Backlash, Saturday, May 10 —
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena defends against Randy Orton
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria defends against Becky Lynch
WWE Backlash 2002, held on April 21 at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, was a pivotal event in the post-WrestleMania X8 landscape. F4WWON’s Dave Meltzer provided his star ratings for each match in the Wrestling Observer released the week after the event, and you can see the star ratings for each contest below.
WWE Backlash 2001, held on 29 April at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, was a pivotal event in the post-WrestleMania X-Seven landscape. F4WWON’s Dave Meltzer provided his star ratings for each match in the Wrestling Observer released the week after the event, and you can see the star ratings for each contest below.
X-Factor (X-Pac, Justin Credible & Albert) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray, D-Von & Spike)
2
Rhyno vs. Raven – WWF Hardcore Championship
3.25
William Regal vs. Chris Jericho – Duchess of Queensbury Rules Match
1
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle – 30-Minute Ultimate Submission Match
3.25
Shane McMahon vs. Big Show – Last Man Standing Match
1.5
Matt Hardy vs. Christian vs. Eddie Guerrero – WWF European Championship
2.75
Stone Cold Steve Austin & Triple H vs. The Undertaker & Kane – Winner Takes All Match
3
What was the highest rated match at WWE Backlash 2001?
The highest rated matches at WWE Backlash 2001 were Rhyno vs. Raven for the WWF Hardcore Championship and Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle in the 30-Minute Ultimate Submission Match, both receiving 3.25 stars.
What was the lowest rated match at WWE Backlash 2001?
The lowest rated match of the night was William Regal vs. Chris Jericho under the bizarre “Duchess of Queensbury Rules,” earning only 1 star. The strange and unclear stipulations confused the crowd and disrupted the match flow.
WWE Backlash 2000, held on April 30, 2000, at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., is often remembered as one of the best post-WrestleMania pay-per-views in company history. F4WWON’s Dave Meltzer provided his star ratings for each match in the Wrestling Observer released the week after the event, and you can see the star ratings for each contest below.
Edge & Christian vs. D-Generation X – WWF Tag Team Championship
★★★
Dean Malenko vs. Scotty 2 Hotty – WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
★★★★
Bull Buchanan & The Big Boss Man vs. The Acolytes
★¾
Crash Holly vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Perry Saturn vs. Tazz – WWF Hardcore Championship
★¾
The Big Show vs. Kurt Angle
DUD
T&A vs. The Dudley Boyz
★★
Eddie Guerrero vs. Essa Rios – WWF European Championship
★★★
Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho – WWF Intercontinental Championship
★★★¾
The Rock vs. Triple H – WWF Championship
★★★¾
What was the highest rated match at WWE Backlash 2000?
The standout match of the evening, according to Dave, was the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Dean Malenko and Scotty 2 Hotty, which received an impressive four-star rating.
What was the lowest rated match at WWE Backlash 2000?
In contrast, the match between The Big Show and Kurt Angle was rated as a “DUD” by Dave.
WWE Backlash can be a really odd show. Considering that it has traditionally been the first PPV/PLE to take place following WrestleMania, there are sometimes a ton of rematches and re-hashed moments from the Mania that preceded it. Sometimes though, the company decides to give some talent more time in the ring and more of chance to have a genuine classic, with the pressures of not having to cater more to a ‘mainstream’ audience like they feel they need to for WrestleMania.
Here I’ll go through the top WWE Backlash matches in the history of the show, and I’ll include Dave Meltzer’s ratings and thoughts along the way.
Best Backlash Matches Ever
5. Triple H vs. The Rock – Backlash 2000
This was the match that should’ve headlined WrestleMania 2000, but at least we got it at Backlash. Although hampered by the crowd looking to the entranceway awaiting the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin, it’s still a great match that should’ve headlined a month prior.
Meltzer Rating:3.75 stars
4. Scotty 2 Hotty vs Dean Malenko – Backlash 2000
A genuine hidden gem and a match that you might not expect to see here considering who was in it. That’s no dig on Scotty 2 Hotty, but he was known at the time as being a tag team guy. This Light Heavyweight title match is one of the best of the era and well worth going back to check out.
Meltzer Rating: 4 stars
3. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz – Backlash 2018
Backlash 2018 was not a good show by any stretch of the imagination. However, Rollins and Miz had a great IC title that helped to elevate the title further during a time that the company desperately needed to rehab the midcard title.
Meltzer Rating: 4.25 stars
2. Randy Orton vs. Cactus Jack – Backlash 2004
In the same way that Cactus Jack made Triple H as a top-tier main eventer at Royal Rumble 2000, he did the same here for Randy Orton. The two stars went back and forth in a brutal Hardcore match that showed Randy could keep up with the best of them, and even three years after Foley ‘retired’ he proved that he could turn it on when it counted.
Meltzer Rating: 4.5 stars
1. Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles – Backlash 2024
Everything about this match fell just right. The performers, the crowd, the pacing of the match were spot on and these two men produced arguably one of the greatest WWE Championship matches in history, let alone in Backlash history.
Randy Orton is front and center on WWE’s promotional material for Backlash 2025.
Backlash will take place at the Enterprise Center in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis on Saturday, May 10. Paul “Triple H” Levesque revealed the official poster for the PLE on social media today, with Orton in the featured spot.
It remains to be seen who Orton will be facing at Backlash — and his plans for WrestleMania 41 this weekend are still unannounced after his scheduled opponent, Kevin Owens, had to be pulled from the card due to a neck injury. Orton is still expected to have a match at night two of WrestleMania.
Orton and John Cena are the first two wrestlers advertised for Backlash. With Cena set to retire from in-ring competition in December, this will be his last Backlash. He could be defending the Undisputed WWE Championship at the show if he wins the title from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania.
Retirement isn’t something that’s on Orton’s mind at the moment. The 45 year old signed a new five-year WWE contract in 2024 and recently told Complex that he would love to sign another five-year deal after that.
The start time for Backlash is listed as 7 p.m. Eastern. It will stream live on Peacock in the United States and Netflix globally.
For the first time ever, WWE Backlash will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, with one of WWE’s biggest stars already confirmed.
Via social media Friday, St. Louis native Randy Orton delivered the news that the annual premium live event will take place at the Enterprise Center on Saturday, May 10th, and that he will be in attendance. The presale for the show will start next Wednesday.
What Orton didn’t say was that John Cena will also be in attendance as part of his retirement tour, confirmed in the WWE release about the show. Cena will challenge undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes at April’s WrestleMania 41 and whether he rolls into St. Louis with the title remains to be seen.
While Backlash has never been in St. Louis, it will be its second time in Missouri with the 2022 edition emanating from Kansas City.
Last year’s Backlash took place in Lyon, France, setting the then-record for the biggest arena gate in WWE history which has since been broken several times.
Hey St. Louis, @RandyOrton has a message for you… 👀
Josh Nason’s Punch-Out nears the halfway mark in my annual 12-part pro wrestling year in review series with a stop in May featuring returning guest Andrew Thompson of Post Wrestling.
Andrew & I go deep (two hours and 30 minutes~!) into happenings like:
AEW Double or Nothing which saw the use of flamethrowers, an unfortunate landing off a barbed wire cage jump by Adam Copeland, the return of MJF and the in-ring debut of Mercedes Mone
Two international WWE PLEs
Some moving and shaking with big WWE contracts
Lots of early AEW TV rights headlines and rumors, and WWE TV developments
Marigold’s debut show
The surprise NXT debut of Ethan Page…and lots more in WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and the wrestling world.
