WWE Backlash 2018 took place on Sunday night from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. In the Kickoff Show, Bayley battled Ruby Riott. Before the match, Bayley asked Sasha Banks if she wanted to be in her corner tonight. Banks declined and was shown watching the match backstage. Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan accompanied Riott down to the ring. Ruby Riott wound up winning the match by hitting the Riott Kick after Bayley was distracted by Liv Morgan.
Invitation to be in @itsBayleyWWE's corner on #WWEBacklash Kickoff REJECTED by @SashaBanksWWE! The dysfunction continues… pic.twitter.com/qpdqT0PRKm
— WWE (@WWE) May 6, 2018
The #RiottSquad continues to build momentum as @RubyRiottWWE nails @itsBayleyWWE with the #RiottKick to pick up the victory at #WWEBacklash Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/w9x8wBuery
— WWE (@WWE) May 6, 2018
Here are 9 takeaways from WWE Backlash 2018:
9Seth Rollins Retained The Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins defended the Intercontinental Championship against The Miz in the first match of WWE Backlash. The Miz started off the match in control and stomped on Rollins as the crowd booed. Miz bounced Seth’s head off the turnbuckle a couple of times, but Rollins battled back and connected with a Dropkick.
Rollins delivered a forearm to the face and sent Miz to the corner. Miz booted Seth in the face and Rollins crashed to the floor outside the ring. The Miz followed him out there and slammed his head off the announce table. Back in the ring, Miz bounced off the ropes and booted Rollins in the face for a two count. The Miz quickly applied a Chin Lock in the middle of the ring as the crowd cheered on Rollins.
You cannot deny the ring SAVVY of the 8-TIME #ICChampion @mikethemiz…#WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/X1TarNocuY
— WWE (@WWE) May 7, 2018
Rollins broke the hold, but Miz knocked him back to the canvas with a boot to the midsection. Miz drove his knee into Seth’s back and applied the Chin Lock once again. Seth escaped and went for a kick, but Miz was ready and connected with a DDT for a two count. The Miz connected with a knee to the back of Rollins’ head while Seth’s neck was up against the second rope.
The Miz took a break to pose for the crowd, which allowed Rollins to regroup. Seth connected with a Facebuster to buy himself some more time. Rollins slowly got back to his feet and then slammed Miz’s face into the second turnbuckle. Rollins connected with a Slingblade and then Clotheslined Miz out of the ring. Seth followed it up with a Suicide Dive that sent Miz to the floor.
Think he's fired up?#WWEBacklash @WWERollins pic.twitter.com/Q8ujmbSbCu
— WWE (@WWE) May 7, 2018
The action returned to the ring and Rollins planted Miz with a Blockbuster off the second rope for a two count. Rollins followed it up with a springboard Clothesline and then geared up in the corner. The Miz escaped out of the ring and tripped up Rollins on the apron. Back in the ring, The Miz went for a Crossbody but Seth caught him and slammed him to the canvas. Rollins climbed to the top rope and hit a Frog Splash for another two count.
FEELIN' FROGGY! ???#WWEBacklash @WWERollins pic.twitter.com/hkMxunII8O
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 7, 2018
Seth stomped on the mat a couple of times as the crowd chanted “burn it down!”. The Miz once again rolled out of the ring, but Seth chased him back to the inside. Rollins hit a Clothesline that sent Miz back out of the ring. Rollins went for another Suicide Dive, but The Miz was ready for it and connected with a forearm to the face.
The Miz went for a DDT on the apron, but Rollins blocked it and punched him in the face. Rollins went for the Revolution Knee, but The Miz dodged it and Seth’s knee slammed into the ring post. The Miz quickly locked in the Figure Four int he middle of the ring as Seth screamed in pain. Seth reversed the Figure Four and now it was The Miz in agony. The Miz once again reversed the hold, but Rollins was right next to the bottom rope and he grabbed it to break the hold.
Both Superstars traded haymakers in the middle of the ring. The Miz booted Seth in the knee and went for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Seth blocked it. Rollins connected with an Enziguri, but The Miz battled back and hit the Skull Crushing Finale for a two count. Miz decked Rollins with a Clothesline in the corner and started climbing up the turnbuckle.
Seth got back up and connected with a forearm to the face. The Miz booted Rollins in his injured knee, but Seth shrugged it off and hit a Superplex. Seth went for a Falcon Arrow but his knee gave out. Miz capitalized and planted Rollins with a second Skull Crushing Finale for another two count.
When @WWERollins kicks out of a SECOND #SkullCrushingFinale…#WWEBacklash ? pic.twitter.com/VQqgwTpBU4
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 7, 2018
The Miz perched Rollins up on the top rope and punched him in the face. Miz set up for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Rollins fought out of it and Miz crashed to the canvas. Seth went for the Curb Stomp off the second rope, but Miz dodged it. Rollins then escaped a roll-up attempt from The Miz and connected with the Curb Stomp for the pinfall victory. Seth Rollins is still the Intercontinental Championship.
That was awesome. Better luck next time, Miz…
?? https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/GHXXHR81oI
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) May 7, 2018
Opinion: Seth Rollins and The Miz put on an excellent match to start off WWE Backlash 2018. I honestly didn’t expect much from this match, but it completely delivered and it will be difficult for any other match to top this one tonight.
