https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1xr7lK9Qkk
WWE Backlash is tomorrow and it is Smackdown’s first exclusive PPV. The build has been pretty uneventful leading up to this show. I’m hoping it is not just a throwaway PPV and that something memorable actually takes place on Sunday. As of now, there are only 6 matches on the card. That can be either good or bad. It could indicate that that every match will be given some time on Sunday night. If you take a cynical approach, it could mean that Sunday’s PPV will clock in at 2.5 hours and will stink. Another possibility is that there will be a random match thrown in there or a pointless promo to fill time. For example, Kane gives a Chokeslam to some someone you’ve never heard of.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match: The Usos vs The Hype Bros
The Usos turned heel on Smackdown last Tuesday when they brutally attacked American Alpha after they lost in embarrassing fashion. It would make zero sense for the Hype Bros to win this match. The Usos need to win and advance to face Rhyno & Heath Slater in the finals of the tournament.
Predicted Winner: The Usos
Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) vs Dolph Ziggler
This is a tough one. Personally, I don’t really see the point of giving Dolph Ziggler the IC title right now. The WWE spent the last month building Ziggler up and he lost every big match. It doesn’t make sense to me to just give him the Intercontinental Championship. Ziggler should hold the IC title again in the future. However, now is not the time. I think that the title should stay on The Miz until the WWE elevates someone fresh to take it from him. The Miz will win this match in cowardly fashion and retain his title.
Predicted Winner & Still Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Smackdown Women’s Championship Six Pack Challenge: Becky Lynch vs Naomi vs Alexa Bliss vs Nikki Bella vs Natalya vs Carmella
The most likely performers to win this match are either Becky Lynch or Nikki Bella. Total Bellas is premiering next month and Nikki Bella is returning from injury. It would make sense to have Nikki Bella be the first Women’s Champion on Smackdown. I’m hoping that is not the case and Becky Lynch wins this match and becomes the first Women’s Champion for the Smackdown brand.
Predicted Winner & Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos vs Rhyno & Heath Slater
I believe that The Usos will have won their qualifying match earlier in the show and that they will win this match as well. Slater and Rhyno would make entertaining champs but I think it makes more sense for The Usos to become Tag Team Champions. This would then allow American Alpha to chase the belts and eventually defeat The Usos for the titles down the road. Heath Slater will have to get his contract some other way.
Predicted Winners & Smackdown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Bray Wyatt vs Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt simply has to win this match. If Wyatt loses yet another match, how can anyone take him seriously? It just becomes silly if Wyatt loses. Bray Wyatt cuts a promo every week on Smackdown and has seemingly never backed it up. I hope that he gets the victory on Sunday and defeats Orton clean. It is more likely that Wyatt will get the victory with the help of outside interference. Luke Harper may make his return or Erick Rowan may get involved. I’d much rather see Wyatt simply defeat Orton on his own but odds are that will not happen. Randy Orton does not need to win this match and it would accomplish nothing if he did.
Predicted Winner: Bray Wyatt
WWE Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs AJ Styles
I have a bad feeling about this match and I hope I’m wrong. It just feels like the WWE is going to try and prolong this feud. I haven’t been that entertained by Ambrose’s title reign so far. I’m not completely against Ambrose retaining. However, if this match ends in a DQ or something along those lines it will be pretty disappointing. Unfortunately, I think that is exactly what is going to happen on Sunday. I think Styles deserves to be WWE Champion. He has made an incredible impact in the short amount of time he has been in the WWE. I just have a hunch that Ambrose will somehow retain his title on Sunday.
Predicted Winner & Still WWE Champion: Dean Ambrose
What do you think will happen tomorrow night at WWE Backlash? Share your predictions in the comment section below.
