On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, we arrive at May 2023 in my pro wrestling year in review series: a transformative 31 days for AEW.
Or so they thought.
ProWrestling.net’s Jason Powell returns as my co-pilot as we delve into the official launch of AEW Collision — the company’s third TV show on WBD.
Of course, there was a lot to unpack with it, especially the circumstances around CM Punk’s involvement which was surprisingly highly in doubt following the initial announcement.
They also held Double or Nothing which featured a four-way for the AEW World title, an Anarchy in the Arena bout, a surprise return & title change, a pregnancy announcement and more.
We couldn’t forget about the launch of AEW All In ticket sales which saw 60,000 out the door by the time the month ended.
On the WWE side, they held two PLEs including Backlash from Puerto Rico which featured one of the wildest crowds in recent WWE history. The undisputed king of the island — Bad Bunny — made his singles debut and the show featured the first-ever Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes clash.
Just as she was getting going, Mercedes Mone suffered a severe ankle injury during the finals of the NJPW Strong Women’s title tournament — one that has kept her out of action as of this writing.
Among the several hundred newstips, we talk Tiffany Stratton’s NXT Women’s title win, an incredibly violent Impact World title match, the passing of “Superstar” Billy Graham, and more.
I promise this is unlike any other year-end series you’ll hear or read, so catch up on the rest of the series in the archive.
Next year’s Backlash event will be the first-ever PLE to be held in the country, WWE announced on Thursday. The show will be titled WWE Backlash France and take place from the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, today announced that WWE Backlash France will be the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event to be held in France, emanating from the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Additionally, SmackDown will emanate from the LDLC Arena on Friday, May 3, 2024, marking the first time SmackDown will broadcast from France.
BREAKING: #WWEBacklash France will be the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event to be held in France, emanating from @LDLC_Arena in Lyon-Decines on Saturday, May 4, 2024! đŤđˇ
The LDLC arena holds up to 16,000 attendees for concerts and 12,000 for sporting events.
A report from Fightful last month noted Backlash would likely take place in France next year. However, at the time, it was believed Paris would likely be the city to host the show.
The news follows last month’s announcement that WWE would host its first-ever PLE from Germany, Bash in Berlin, on August 31, 2024.
Paris, France could be the next major international city to host a WWE PLE.
Fightful is reporting that “some internal schedules in the company” have WWE Backlash 2024 as taking place in the city. While a deal has yet to be finalized, running the PLE from Paris is said to have been “discussed heavily.”
The news comes on the same day WWE announced its first-ever PLE in Germany will be Bash in Berlin on August 31, 2024, from Mercedes-Benz Arena. It also comes a month after WWE announced the 2024 Elimination Chamber will be held on February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
Nick Khan has previously mentioned WWE is looking to secure more site fees from governments in order host WWE premium live events in their cities.
WWE received nearly $3 million in subsidies from the Welsh government for Clash at the Castle in September 2022. It received roughly $1.5 million from the Puerto Rican government for Backlash 2023 as well.
Additionally, an article in the Catalyst published on Tuesday revealed that the St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida tourism board paid $500,000 to bring the Royal Rumble to Tropicana Field next January.
Bad Bunny says wrestling Damian Priest at WWE Backlash was painful but also one of the best moments of his life.
Apple Music released an interview with the world-famous recording artist on Friday. During the discussion, Bad Bunny noted that his “whole body hurt” after the match.
Bad Bunny said:
I said before the WrestleMania fight that day was one of my favorite moments of my life but the Backlash fight in Puerto Rico was another level, was really one of the biggest and best moments of my life. I really enjoyed the fight.
He continued:
My back, my whole body, bro, my whole body [hurt]. I felt that I was going to die after that match. I was really scared about it. I was, ‘Oh no, I’m going to die.’ I really thought that I was going to die after that match but it’s part of it. I was prepared and now I’m going to drop a song.
The street fight in Puerto Rico involved several big spots, including Priest giving Bunny a Falcon Arrow through a set of stacked tables on the outside. Run-ins from Judgment Day, LWO, as well as Carlito Colon and Savio Vega took place as well. Ultimately, Bunny picked up the victory with a Canadian Destroyer. The match received a rating of four and a half stars from our own Dave Meltzer.
In a new interview, Brian Kendrick confirmed previous reports that WWE brought him in to help train Bad Bunny for his San Juan street fight match last Saturday at Backlash.
Kendrick discussed the situation during a podcast appearance, saying the reason was because he helped Bad Bunny train for his debut at WrestleMania 37.
“I think because of the comfort level we had built with Bunny and I, they requested me to come back for that,” he said, later adding that he did not produce the match at Backlash.
While he hasn’t worked with celebrity-turned-wrestler Logan Paul, Kendrick credited both he and Bad Bunny as being “very motivated” because they “want to be good at this.”
“I know Bunny put in a lot of training. He was training for months. I thought the match was awesome,” he said.
It’s not the first time Kendrick has returned since being released in February 2022 as he assisted in producing the Ronda Rousey vs. Shotzi match at last November’s Survivor Series at Rousey’s request.
It’s a brand new We’re Live, Pal! as Andrew Zarian and I talk about the latest topics in pro wrestling.
We discussed the fantastic ticket sales for AEW All In at Wembley Stadium and if they would move away from some of their “home” markets that are softer for live ticket sales like Las Vegas.
We also talked about what some of the roster for the AEW Collision show could look like and if AEW will get a streaming deal on the new MAX service.
We talked about WWE Backlash, Bad Bunny, and the Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar program. We also had a conversation about WWE’s new World Heavyweight title that they want to make important, but seems like the exact opposite.
You can watch the show above or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts in addition to the link below.
At Backlash in Puerto Rico, Savio Vega got to take part in a special moment as he returned to WWE.
Vega and Carlito both made cameo appearances during Bad Bunny and Damian Priest’s San Juan street fight at last Saturday’s pay-per-view. While being interviewed by Cultaholic, Vega credited Bad Bunny and Priest for wanting him involved with their match.
“[WWE] got in contact with me because this is the mastermind of Damian Priest and Bad Bunny,” Vega said. “They’re both fans of me and I discovered that when I went to the farewell of The Undertaker. I saw Damian Priest there and I went to him, ‘Hey man, how you doing? I want to take a picture with you.’ He said, ‘No, I want to take a picture with you.’ So I talked to him a little bit there. We don’t talk too much but we keep in touch by phone. This idea was them, more Damian Priest.”
The 58-year-old Vega told Cultaholic that he was “in shock” at the massive reaction he received from the audience when he appeared during a backstage segment at Backlash.
Vega, Carlito, and the LWO fended off interference by the Judgment Day in the Bad Bunny vs. Priest match. That allowed Bad Bunny to get the victory after hitting a Bunny Destroyer.
Vega wrestled for WWE from 1993-1999. He made an appearance for the company in 2020 during The Undertaker’s retirement ceremony at Survivor Series.
Wrestling in his home of Puerto Rico was a dream for Bad Bunny.
Two days removed from defeating Damian Priest at Backlash, Bad Bunny made a post on his Instagram Stories looking back at the moment. Bad Bunny wrote that he’s still processing it, but there are no words to describe what he felt. Bad Bunny wrote that it was “a dream” for him.
Bad Bunny also thanked the red-hot crowd in San Juan, calling them the best wrestling fans in the world. Bad Bunny said the Puerto Rican fans were the stars of the show at Backlash and at SmackDown last Friday.
He wrote (translated from Spanish):
I’m still processing this. There are no words to describe what I felt that day… wow! it was a dream
Thank you PUERTO RICO!!! You were the stars these two nights! There is no energy like the one you provided!! people now know who the best wrestling fans in the world are!!
P FKN R!!!
Backlash was Bad Bunny’s third time ever competing in a WWE ring. His San Juan street fight against Priest included cameos by Carlito and Savio Vega, who helped the LWO fend off interference by the Judgment Day.
Backlash was the first time a WWE pay-per-view has been held in Puerto Rico since 2005.
Bad Bunny’s match at Backlash took place less than a month after he became the first Latino artist to headline the Coachella music festival.
WWE is touting that Backlash 2023 was a record-breaking night for the company.
In a press release issued on Monday, WWE announced that this year’s Backlash was the highest-grossing and most-viewed Backlash event in history. The pay-per-view took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico this past Saturday.
“Viewership of Backlash saw a 28 percent increase versus the record set in 2022,” WWE wrote. “The event, which featured Bad Bunny, the most-streamed music artist in the world, marked the largest gate ever for any WWE event held in Puerto Rico and the largest gate in the history of Backlash.”
This was the first WWE PPV to take place in Puerto Rico since New Year’s Revolution 2005.
WWE added that Saturday’s PPV also broke merchandise and sponsorship records for Backlash. With a focus on increasing sponsorship revenue, that category was up 98 percent from last year.
It also marked the most social Backlash of all-time, led by over 40 million views of the San Juan Street Fight featuring Bad Bunny vs. [Damian] Priest. The hashtag #WWEBacklash, accompanied by a custom Bad Bunny emoji, trended No. 1 across the entire evening of sports.
In addition, Backlash broke merchandise and sponsorship records. As the first-ever WWE event under the expanded partnership with Fanatics overseeing the on-site event retail experience, top-selling items included the WWE Backlash and LWO Puerto Rico t-shirts. Sponsorship revenue surpassed any Backlash event in history, breaking last yearâs record with a 98 percent year-on-year increase through partnerships with Netflixâs FUBAR, Mikeâs Harder Lemonade and Xfinity.
Saturday’s PPV was headlined by Cody Rhodes defeating Brock Lesnar.
*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
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 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)
I am back with another Sunday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, joined this week by my We’re Live Pal podcast partner Garrett Gonzales.
Saturday’s WWE Backlash was held in front of one of the rowdiest crowds in a long time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We break down the card match-by-match and discuss how much the crowd influenced the show like the performance of Bad Bunny and all the run-ins from Puerto Rican stars of old like Savio Vega and Carlito.
Backlash also saw Brock Lesnar bleed in the main event against Cody Rhodes. We discuss if it was a hardway spot or if he bladed intentionally which would be going against WWEâs policy in recent years.
AEW could be headed for a sellout for All In at London’s Wembley Stadium with over 60,000 tickets sold thus far. We talk the significance of a sellout of that size, and how one boxing writer got himself in trouble trying to guess the number of tickets sold.
Plus, we talk WWEâs World Heavyweight title tournament, AEW’s plans for CM Punk, The Firm Deletion match from AEW Rampage, and more!
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a full recap of Backlash and Smackdown, both with absolutely amazing crowds, UFC from Saturday, updates on Drew McIntyre, the death of Sara Lee, Rampage and more. A packed show, so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: WWE Backlash recap
27:49: UFC 288 notes
30:55: Drew McIntyre update, WrestleMania 2027 may be going to Nashville, Sara Lee cause of death
With the help of a pair of Puerto Rican wrestling legends, Bad Bunny was victorious at Backlash.
Carlito and Savio Vega both made appearances during Bad Bunny’s street fight against Damian Priest at Saturday night’s pay-per-view in San Juan. Carlito, Vega, and the LWO helped fend off interference by Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio.
As Balor and Dominik were beating down Bad Bunny, Rey Mysterio ran out to make the save. Balor and Dominik were able to fight off Rey, but Carlito’s music then hit. Carlito made his way out to a huge pop from the crowd and then worked with Rey to take out Balor and Dominik.
The roof just blew off for the return of CARLITO in Puerto Rico at #WWEBacklash!!!
Balor and Dominik tried to retreat but were stopped by Vega, who also appeared in a backstage segment earlier in the show. Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro joined Vega in taking Balor and Dominik out of the equation.
That allowed Bad Bunny to defeat Priest, winning the match with a Bunny Destroyer. There were spots where Bad Bunny used a Figure Four and hit a Sliced Bread #2 leading into the finish.
After his victory, Bad Bunny celebrated in the ring with Carlito, Vega, and the LWO.
What a win for Bad Bunny in the San Juan Street Fight at #WWEBacklash!
This was Bad Bunny’s third time competing for WWE. One of the hottest recording artists in the world, he made his in-ring debut by teaming with Priest against The Miz & John Morrison at WrestleMania 37 in 2021. Bad Bunny’s second match was as a surprise entrant in the 2022 men’s Royal Rumble match.
Members of the Latino World Order got matching tattoos ahead of Saturdayâs Backlash event in Puerto Rico.
WWEâs social media showed a short video of Rey Mysterio, Zelina Vega, Cruz Del Toro, Santos Escobar, and Joaquin Wilde all getting matching tattoos of the LWO logo.
Members of the LWO are in action Saturday at Backlash. Zelina Vega will challenge Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Womenâs Championship. Bad Bunny, who wore a LWO shirt on SmackDown on Friday, will face off against Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight.
The LWO, which originally was a stable in WCW between 1998 and 1999, was resurrected just prior to WrestleMania, when Rey Mysterio gave Legado Del Fantasma LWO t-shirts. Since then, the stable has feuded with The Judgment Day, with Mysterio and Vega teaming up to defeat Dominik Mysterio and Ripley on SmackDown Friday.
Date: May 6, 2023 Location: Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, PR
**********
Show Recap —
KICKOFF SHOW —
The pre-show hosts Jackie Redmond, Peter Rosenberg and Matt Camp arenât hosting live in Puerto Rico but rather in-studio.
They aired various video packages and called the Bad Bunny/Damian Priest match the co-main event.
I admittedly watched most of this on mute but I turned the sound on in time to hear Rosenberg gleefully celebrate the internet being wrong about the World Title tournament inevitably coming down to Seth Rollins against Cody Rhodes which canât happen now that itâs been announced that the finals will come down to Raw vs. Smackdown.
Wade Barrett was shown drinking at the beach.
This was quite literally the most pointless preshow ever. Even the usual pointless preshow has a few new interviews and appearances. This had none of that.
**********
BACKLASH 2023 —
Michael Cole announced a sold-out crowd of 17,944. Cole and Corey Graves are on English commentary, while Marcelo Rodriguez and Jerry Soto handle Spanish commentary.
Bianca Belair defeated IYO SKY to retain the Raw Womenâs Championship (18:00)
SKY was the crowd favourite. Belair got a big reaction on the way out but the crowd booed her offense like she was John Cena and wildly cheered SKYâs offence.
SKY was in control until Belair came back with a backbreaker, dropkicks, and delayed vertical suplex. Belair held SKY up with a one-arm press slam and dropped her but they mistimed it and SKY landed on her face. Belair followed with a moonsault for two. SKY missed a charge and Belair went into the buckle with her previously hurt arm. SKY followed with a springboard dropkick.
Belair shoved SKY off the top but SKY got her knees up on Belairâs 450 splash attempt. SKY applied a crossface but Belair countered out of it. Belair tried a powerbomb but SKY countered into a facebuster for two. SKY followed with double knees in the corner and they traded counters until SKY blocked a second KOD attempt and chucked Belair out of the ring.
SKY hit Belair with a moonsault off the top to the outside which drew a two count in the ring. SKY tried a hurricanrana off the top but Belair held on and hit an avalanche powerbomb for a nearfall.
Bayley and Dakota Kai marched out to distract Belair and SKY grabbed her by the braid. Belair used SKYâs body to knock Kai off the apron and SKY rolled her up for a very close nearfall. (The way the ref countered made it look like it was three but it wasnât. The crowd was going nuts.)
Bayley got in the way so Belair tossed her aside. As the ref checked on Bayley, Kai kicked Belair in the head. SKY went to the top for the moonsault as Bayley held Belair down by the braid. The ref caught Bayley and a slight hesitation from SKY allowed Belair to avoid the moonsault.
Belair followed with KOD for the pinfall win.
This was great and the crowd made it even better. They should turn SKY babyface as soon as possible.
********
Rey Mysterio approached Bad Bunny as he got ready in the back. Savio Vega popped in and the crowd went nuts. He presented Bad Bunny with a Puerto Rico flag kendo stick.
Seth Rollins defeated Omos (w/MVP) (10:31)
Before the match started, Omos dropped Rollins with a boot as Rollins basked in the crowd singing his song. The ref checked on Rollins before starting the match and Omos immediately dropped him with a shoulder tackle when it began.
Rollins posted Omos and hit a suicide dive but Omos barely budged. Rollins tried another but Omos caught him and slammed him on the apron.
Rollins came back with a flying knee, kicks to the leg, and a dropkick to the leg, bringing Omos to one knee. Rollins hit a thrust kick but Omos countered a Pedigree with a back body drop. Rollins managed to hit Omos with a tornado DDT and he followed with a frog splash but only got a one count.
Rollins followed with strikes but he couldnât hit a curb stomp because Omos no-sold it by not budging (like Bobby Lashley has done previously). Omos followed with a chokeslam for two.
Rollins hit a stomp as MVP distracted the ref so Rollins superkicked MVP off the apron. Rollins stomped Omos again for a nearfall. Rollins acted shocked as the crowd sang his song.
Rollins climbed the ropes and hit a stomp off the top for the pinfall win. The crowd was very happy.
(This match was fine and Rollins did well but they could have cut a few minutes out of it.)
********
Triple Threat Match: Austin Theory defeated Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley to retain the United States Championship (6:51)
An AI studied every heel win in a WWE triple threat and generated this match.
Lashley was working over Theory until Theory and Reed worked together to take down Lashley. That unit didnât last long because Reed dropped Theory with a body block. Lashley held Theory in the Hurt Lock until Theory was able to use the ropes to escape. With Lashley down, Reed hit Tsunami but Theory broke up the cover.
Theory gave Reed a rolling blockbuster and got the big man on his shoulders but Reed slipped out before he could hit A-Town down. Reed hit a powerslam and tried a moonsault but Theory moved and Lashley speared Reed. Theory chucked Lashley from the ring and rolled up Reed for the pinfall win.
********
Rhea Ripley defeated Zelina Vega to retain the SmackDown Womenâs Championship (7:10)
Vega received a huge ovation during her in-ring introduction and she was practically in tears. Vega wore Puerto Rican flag-themed gear with a huge flag cape. Ripley wore white with purple lining.
Vegaâs mother Monique gave her a chancla and she chucked it at Ripley. It didnât matter because Ripley took control anyway. Vega fought back with forearms as the crowd cheered her on but Ripley cut her off with a headbutt. Ripley tried Rip-tide but Vega spiked her with a DDT.
Vega followed with a 619 and Meteora for two. Ripley kicked Vega in the head and hit a Rip-tide for the decisive pinfall win.
â The crowd gave Vega a big ovation post-match.
********
Damian Priest wore the same vest he wore when he teamed with Bad Bunny two years ago at WrestleMania. Like Ripley earlier tonight, Priest also wore white. Corey Graves said it was because Priest considers himself the good guy in this story.
Bad Bunny received a massive reaction.
San Juan Street Fight: Bad Bunny defeated Damian Priest (25:04)
This was a genuinely great WWE street fight.
Priest tried toying with him early but Bad Bunny responded with a damn Michinoku Driver a minute into the match for a two count. Bad Bunny grabbed a kendo stick but Priest cut him off, ripped the stick in half and slammed him.
Bad Bunny tried fighting back a few times but Priest worked him over easily and hit his South of Heaven finisher. Priest pinned him had it won less than five minutes in but he pulled Bad Bunny up at two.
Priest wasted too much time before trying a dive and Bad Bunny chucked a chair at his face. Bad Bunny followed with kendo stick shots and a tornado DDT. Bad Bunny went to the top and hit a flying crossbody to the outside. Bad Bunny smacked Priest with trash can lids and hit a falcon arrow for two.
Priest realized he was bleeding as Bad Bunny invited him back into the ring. Priest acted like he would leave but as Bad Bunny came after him with a trash can, Priest turned around and booted it into his face. Priest hit Bad Bunny with the kendo stick that Savio Vega gave him as the crowd chanted âBenitoâ (his name).
They fought into the crowd which led to Priest giving Bad Bunny a falcon arrow off some high equipment boxes through tables. Adam Pearce and other officials ran out to check on Bad Bunny but Priest brushed them off and carried him back to ringside.
Priest tried a roundhouse kick but Bad Bunny ducked and Priest kicked the ring post. Bad Bunny attacked Priestâs injured leg with the kendo stick and drove it into the post. Priest pleaded with the ref as Bad Bunny smacked his knee against the post with a steel chair.
Bad Bunny was about to finish the job with one final chair shot but Priest begged him off. Bad Bunny hesitated so Priest kicked him in the face. Priest grabbed the chair so Bad Bunny gave him a low blow.
Dominik Mysterio and Finn BĂĄlor ran out to ambush Bad Bunny. (Dom wore white, BĂĄlor was still in black. BĂĄlor did have on a white bandana.) Rey Mysterio ran out to make the save but they knocked him down.
Carlito ran out to his music and the place went absolutely nuts. He assisted Rey and gave BĂĄlor a backstabber. Carlito took a bite out of an apple but Dom tried attacking from behind. Rey gave Dom a 619 and Carlito spat the apple in Domâs face.
Dom and BĂĄlor backed away up the ramp when they were cut off by Savio Vega who also got an insane reaction. Vega brought out LWO who went to town on BĂĄlor and Dom. Actually, they put the boots to Dom as BĂĄlor left but Vega beat up BĂĄlor and dropped him with a roundhouse kick. Vega also decked Dom. Dom and BĂĄlor ran for their lives and were chased to the back.
Back in the ring, Bad Bunny put Priest in a figure four. Priest grabbed him by the throat and tried a chokeslam but Bad Bunny countered into a cradle for two. Priest tried a charge but crashed into a steel chair and Bad Bunny followed with a sliced bread #2 for two.
Bad Bunny beat the crap out of Priest with a steel chair and hit a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. Crowd exploded.
Rey, LWO, Vega and Carlito came out to celebrate with Bad Bunny.
********
Six-man tag team match: Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso defeated Matt Riddle & Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (22:05)
(This was a good match but the main thing coming out of this was Sikoa almost going for the Samoan Spike on Jey Uso.)
The babyfaces worked over the Usos until Sikoa tagged himself in to get the better of Zayn and the Bloodline took over from there. There was a brief âwe want Romanâ chant and Jimmy Uso told them, âheâs not here.â Zayn fought back but his partners were taken out.
Zayn dropped Sikoa with a tornado DDT and made the tag to Riddle who went to town on the Usos before wiping out the Bloodline with a dive. Jimmy nailed him with a superkick back in the ring for two. Riddle suplexed Jimmy off the top and Owens followed with a senton bomb for two.
Owens avoided a superkick which resulted in Jimmy superkicking Jey by accident. Owens took out Sikoa and hit Jey with a pop-up powerbomb for two. (Graves noted that we almost never see miscommunication like that from the Usos.) Owens tried a senton but Jey got his knees up. Owens and Jey traded superkicks until Owens dropped him with a clothesline.
They tagged out and Zayn gave Jimmy a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Zayn fought off both Usos but they caught him mid-air with superkicks for two.
Jey yelled at Zayn for trying to destroy their family. Jey set up for a running hip attack but Sikoa tagged himself in. Before Sikoa could do the move, Jey tagged himself in by smacking Sikoa in the chest (which got a reaction from the crowd).
Zayn gave Sikoa a Helluva Kick after Jey ducked. Zayn caught Jey with a Helluva Kick anyway but Sikoa broke up the cover.
The crowd buzzed as Sikoa seemed to turn his attention to Jey but Riddle cut him off with a knee strike. Jimmy chucked Riddle from the ring, Owens superkicked Jimmy, and Sikoa turned Owens inside out with a Samoan spike.
Sikoa felt someone touch him and he grabbed them to set up for the Samoan Spike. It was Jey Uso. Jey didnât fight out but instead asked Sikoa if he would hit him. This was broken up by Zayn.
Riddle tagged in and gave Jey the Bro Derek. Sikoa had tagged himself in and he gave Riddle a Samoan Spike for the pinfall win.
â Jimmy was all smiles after the match because of the win, perhaps not realizing what happened with his brothers. Jey and Sikoa gave each other looks as they individually celebrated the win.
********
Cody Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar (9:41)
Rhodes attacked Lesnar during his entrance and hit him with the steel steps and a steel chair.
The ref started the match and Rhodes hit a Disaster Kick but Lesnar caught a Cody Cutter and hit a big German suplex. Rhodes tried fighting back but Lesnar hit a fallaway slam. Lesnar easily hit Rhodes with suplex after suplex after suplex.
As Lesnar hit another German suplex, Rhodes accidentally ripped off a turnbuckle cover. There were chants of âSuplex cityâ and âletâs go Cody.â
Rhodes dodged a charged and Lesnar went face-first into the exposed buckle. Lesnar immediately came up bleeding and his entire face was quickly covered in blood. Rhodes hit a cutter and Disaster Kick.
Rhodes hammered away at Lesnar, whose blood was all over Rhodesâ midsection. Rhodes followed with a Cody Cutter and consecutive Cross Rhodes for a nearfall.
Lesnar blocked another Cross Rhodes and hit an F5 for a nearfall. The ref had a handful of towels but perhaps someone in his ear told him to put them away because he kicked them aside before using them.
A bloody Lesnar put Rhodes in a Kimura Lock but Rhodes countered into a cradle for the pinfall win.
(They went off the air pretty quickly after this ended at about 11:05 pm ET.)
