The weekend is here and with it comes the latest joint-brand pay-per-view offering from WWE, as the company presents their WWE Backlash 2018 show from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey this Sunday, May 6th.
WWE Backlash 2018 will be the 14th event in the Backlash chronology, and the first Backlash since 2009 to feature both brands. The show will be headlined by a WWE Championship bout, with A.J. Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura squaring off for the third straight pay-per-view.
Also featured on Sunday’s card is a WWE Intercontinental Championship bout, with Seth Rollins defending against The Miz. The WWE United States Championship will be up for grabs in a singles match between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton, and both the RAW and SmackDown Live Women’s Championships will be on-the-line, as Nia Jax defends against Alexa Bliss and Carmella defends against Charlotte Flair in one-on-one showdowns.
Ahead of Sunday’s PPV, a few of our top staff members have come together for a new ’roundtable predictions’ feature we’ll be doing for big shows moving forward. For this installment, Brad Davis, Ian Carey and Andy Ravens give their expert analysis and predictions for WWE Backlash 2018.
As always, hit up the Comments section of this article and share your own predictions.
WWE Backlash 2018 Card
- Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
- Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass
- Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe
- Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair (SD! Live Women’s Title)
- Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (RAW Women’s Title)
- Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Randy Orton (WWE U.S. Title)
- Seth Rollins (c) vs. The Miz (WWE I-C Title)
- A.J. Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Title)
WWE BACKLASH 2018 STAFF PREDICTIONS
Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Brad Davis: Lashley and Strowman are two men you probably would never want to be standing across the ring from. Zayn and Owens are great wrestlers and all, but it’s hard to see how they can topple these two giants. Strowman has been on a rampage and that’s not ending any time soon. Lashley has been back only a matter of weeks. I pick Lashley and Strowman here. (Prediction: Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman)
Ian Carey: It’s too soon after his return to pin Lashley and it’s too soon after his GRR win to pin Strowman. With that being said, there might be an outside chance of Lashley turning heel here and leading into a feud with Strowman. All the same though, it’s more likely Lashley and Strowman squash the Amazing French Canadians here. (Prediction: Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman)
Andy Ravens: In my opinion, this one is an easy pick, which is Lashley and Strowman going over. Although Owens and Zayn need a win, I can’t see Vince McMahon wanting to have Strowman suffer a loss at this stage of his career due to the way that the WWE has been pushing him on TV. Plus, you have Lashley, who hasn’t lost since coming back to the company. (Prediction: Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman)
CONSENSUS: Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman (3-0)
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass
Brad: Big Cass has been attacking Daniel Bryan and eliminated him from the Greatest Royal Rumble. Will Daniel Brynan get his revenge? Not a chance. If WWE’s previous booking of Daniel Bryan is any indication, he’ll get dragged through the mud and beat down a lot more before he gets his shine. Big Cass gets the win. (Prediction: Big Cass)
Ian: Now that Bryan has been medically cleared, fans will finally get to see the Daniel Bryan vs Big Cass dream match they’ve always wanted…wait, what? Not sure why Big Cass was put up against Bryan here. Both are returning from long sabbaticals (Bryan’s longer than Cass’) and could use a win. I’m going to pick the underdog to score a huge upset win here. I think Big Cass defeats Bryan after a run-in by the Miz. This might make some fans say, “you think they are going to beat Bryan in his first big single’s match back?”. Well, yes, yes I do. (Prediction: Big Cass)
Andy: WWE fans need to understand that this idea of Bryan being pushed as a top guy right out of the gate since being medically cleared is not realistic. Vince sees Cass as a big star and most likely thinks that having Cass get a big win over Bryan in their first match would get him even more heat as a heel with the hardcore fans by beating their favorite star. Cass wins the match. (Prediction: Big Cass)
CONSENSUS: Big Cass (3-0)
Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe
Brad: Poor Roman. After having the rug swiped out from under him at WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble, it’s pretty clear WWE has soured on Roman as “the guy.” To continue pushing him as a top babyface – at the expense of Samoa Joe, would be a big mistake. Joe gets the win. (Prediction: Samoa Joe)
Ian: It seems unlikely WWE would have Roman lose again here. On the other hand, it seemed unlikely Roman would lose at WM and GRR but that’s what happened. Still, safe money says Roman wins here. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
Andy: Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind about the winner of this match? Reigns has been on a losing streak in big matches as of late (obviously both to Brock Lesnar). Joe is on SmackDown Live now and with this being a one-off match and the plans looking like Vince is still going to push Reigns as the top guy going forward despite backlash from fans, Reigns goes over. (Prediction: Roman Reigns)
CONSENSUS: Roman Reigns (2-1)
WWE SmackDown Live Women’s Championship
Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
Brad: Charlotte is the far superior wrestler, which is why a win by Carmella will go a long way in establishing the SmackDown Women’s champion as a legitimate threat. For that reason alone, I have Carmella getting the victory in controversial fashion. (Prediction: Carmella)
Ian: Unfortunately for Carmella, I think Flair ends her reign with the title on Sunday. I just can’t see them giving Carmella the win over Flair without a great deal of interference. It’s possible the Iiconics get involved and cost Flair the match but I think its more likely Flair wins back the title. (Prediction: Charlotte Flair)
Andy: Although I could see either star win the match, you could make the argument that it’s way too soon to take the title off of Carmella considering that she recently won it and I would agree. Flair can be champion any time that the company believes she needs to be, but Carmella at least has one more month with the strap. Carmella retains. (Prediction: Carmella)
CONSENSUS: Carmella (2-1)
WWE RAW Women’s Championship
Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
Brad: I’m enjoying this feud, which says a lot, since I’m really not a big fan of women’s wrestling. Nia Jax has come a long way and Alexa Bliss is one of the best characters in WWE. Like Carmella, Nia just got the belt and is she’s still being established as a credible champion. For that reason, Nia keeps the gold. (Prediction: Nia Jax)
Ian: I suspect Jax is going to hold the title along time, possibly until she turns heel and Ronda takes it off her. It’s possible she squashes Bliss here. (Prediction: Nia Jax)
Andy: Bliss had a good run with the title, but WWE is behind Jax right now, especially since she just won the title at WrestleMania. I see this match being very similar to their contest at WrestleMania 34 with the same outcome. Jax retains. (Prediction: Nia Jax)
CONSENSUS: Nia Jax (3-0)
WWE United States Championship
Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Randy Orton
Brad: Two WWE veterans. Former world champions, both over with the crowd. And I really couldn’t care less about either of them at this point. Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton are Hall of Fame bound workers, but without much of a program to speak of, this one is as “filler” as it gets. Hardy retains. (Prediction: Jeff Hardy)
Ian: This is a tough one. Beating Jeff Hardy so soon after his return seems like a poor idea but Randy Orton is not a guy the company has lose too often. The wildcard factor here is Shelton Benjamin, who has been involved in this angle on Smackdown. I’m betting Benjamin gets involved, somehow costs Orton the match and allows Hardy to retain. (Prediction: Jeff Hardy)
Andy: Hardy being pushed as a singles star has been refreshing but what excites me, even more, is the potential heel turn from Orton, which was teased this past week on SmackDown Live. I see Hardy retaining the title in this match but with Orton turning heel either right after the match or the next episode of SmackDown to continue this feud. (Prediction: Jeff Hardy)
CONSENSUS: Jeff Hardy (3-0)
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (c) vs. The Miz
Brad: Seth Rollins has been killing it as Intercontinental Champion. The Miz has also been doing some of the best work of his career, but I just don’t see him getting the IC title back any time soon. Rollin burns it down and continues his hot streak. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
Ian: One thought is that the Miz will win the title so he can break Pedro Morales’ record in a few weeks. For that to happen, however, Miz would have to bring the IC title to Smackdown. The United States title is already on Smackdown and only Smackdown wrestlers will be competing for it at Backlash, however. If you go by the reasoning that the two mid-card titles have to be on sepearate brands, then Rollins should win this match. That might be want WWE wants us to think, however. This match all comes down to whether or not the Miz vs Daniel Bryan feud will involve the IC title. I’m voting that it will not and Seth Rollins retains the title here. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
Andy: Both superstars are on separate brands, and with the chances of the United States Title not going to Raw, it makes no sense for The Miz to win the title and have two mid-card titles on the blue brand. Rollins goes over and retains in an entertaining match. (Prediction: Seth Rollins)
CONSENSUS: Seth Rollins (3-0)
WWE Championship
A.J. Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Brad: After coming up short at WrestleMania and Greatest Royal Rumble, I think this is where Nakamura captures the gold. Styles has been a strong champion and I have no doubt that he’ll be in the main event picture for years to come. Nakamura finally has some direction as a nut-cracking heel and I’m curious to see what he can do as WWE Champion. Nakamura makes history and wins the WWE Championship. (Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura)
Ian: I think Nakamura finally takes the title here. If not, it will be his 3rd unsuccessful title shot in a row against AJ and 5th total. Let us not forget he also dropped WWE Championship matches to Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam 2017 and then again at Hell in a Cell 2017. He’s 0-4 in WWE Championship matches but something tells me he’ll end the skid on Sunday. (Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura)
Andy: Styles and Nakamura have wrestled each other twice within the last month, and if WWE plans to keep this feud going for at least another month, they need to have a title change. I see Nakamura winning his first WWE Title as a result of this thinking, and we will get a fourth Styles vs. Nakamura match come June. (Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura)
CONSENSUS: Shinsuke Nakamura (3-0)
What do you think of our WWE Backlash 2018 predictions? Let us know by sounding off in the Comments section.
