SEScoops

WWE Backlash 2016 Reaction

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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Kickoff Show:

Apollo Crews vs Baron Corbin

Corbin and Crews put on a very solid match to kickoff the show. Apollo Crews showed off of his athleticism but once again fell short. Baron Corbin put Crews away with the End of Days for the victory.

Main Card:

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan started off the show with the promo. Shane McMahon thanked the crowd and the viewers at home for watching Smackdown each week. Shane McMahon also thanked everyone for mentioning Smackdown social media. Daniel Bryan then discussed the matches that were going to take place tonight at Backlash. Shane McMahon then announced that the Women’s Championship match would start off the show.

Six-Pack Elimination Challenge Match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch vs Natalya vs Naomi vs Alexa Bliss vs Carmella vs Nikki Bella

Nikki Bella went right after Carmella to start off the match but Carmella rolled out of the ring. As Carmella tried to get back into the ring, Becky Lynch kicked her off the apron. Lynch and Naomi then battled in the ring. Becky Lynch also sent Naomi to the outside of the ring. Carmella then hit Lynch with a Hurricanrana off the second rope. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Bella then fought in the ring. Bliss got the upper-hand and sent Nikki Bella to the outside of the ring. Carmella was showing off in the middle of the ring and Nikki Bella attacked her. Carmella went for the Code of Silence but Nikki reversed it into an Alabama Slam. Nikki Bella went for a Superplex on Carmella but Natalya hooked Nikki for a Powerbomb and they all went falling to the mat. Naomi sent herself flying onto everyone outside the ring. The crowd broke out into a “Naomi!” chant. Alexa Bliss was punching Natalya in the corner but Naomi got involved. Naomi and Natalya hit a Superplex/ Powerbomb on Alexa Bliss. Naomi then pinned Alexa Bliss and she was the first Superstar eliminated.

Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter on Naomi and she became the second Superstar to be eliminated.

Nikki Bella then eliminated Natalya. Carmella then immediately rolled up Nikki Bella to eliminate her.

Carmella and Becky Lynch were the final two Superstars in the match. Carmella started slapping Becky Lynch. Becky ducked on of the slaps and hit three Suplexes in a row. Becky Lynch then ran at Carmella but Carmella hit her with a kick to the face. Becky Lynch then grabbed Carmella and locked in the Dis-Arm-Her for the victory.

Winner and First Smackdown Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch

Reaction: There wasn’t an elimination until ten minutes into this match. The next five minutes contained all four other eliminations. I was worried that this match would be a cluster but it turned out to be very good. Becky Lynch was interviewed after the match and thanked the crowd. Out of all the Superstars in this match, Becky Lynch was the most deserving of becoming the first Women’s Champion on Smackdown.

Bray Wyatt was shown attacking Randy Orton backstage. Orton was holding his knee and I’m sure that will come into play in their match later in the night.

Smackdown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match: The Usos vs Hype Bros

The winner of this match will face Heath Slater and Rhyno later on the show to determine the Smackdown Tag Team Champions. The Usos came down to the ring wearing white hoodies and didn’t acknowledge the crowd in attendance. Mojo Rawley was rolling around the ring like a psychopath to start off the match. The Hype Bros dominated The Usos in the beginning of this match. Mojo and Ryder beat the hell out of The Usos outside the ring. Jimmy Uso sent Ryder flying outside the ring. Jey Uso then hit a big Clothesline on Ryder outside the ring. Jimmy Uso then beatdown Ryder in the ring. Jimmy and Jey had Ryder trapped in their corner and prevented him from tagging in Rawley. Ryder went to tag in Rawley but Jimmy Uso kicked him off the apron. Rawley was finally tagged in and he took out both Uso brothers. Rawley then tagged in Ryder who hit a Frankensteiner on Jey Uso. Jimmy Uso broke up the count at two. Jimmy and Jey then took out Ryder’s knee. Zack Ryder then tapped out shortly after and The Usos advanced to face Slater & Rhyno later in the show.

Winners & Advancing to the Finals of the Tag Team Tournament: The Usos

Reaction: The Usos are doing their very best at becoming hated by the WWE Universe. They were not flying around the ring during this match. Instead, they were very calculating and targeted Ryder’s knee. This match wasn’t anything special but it accomplished what it was supposed to.

Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) vs Dolph Ziggler

The Miz confronted Daniel Bryan backstage and demanded that his contract be restructured so that he could be paid like the A-list Superstar that he is. Daniel Bryan didn’t respond and looked aggravated. Zigger started off the match hot and attacked The Miz. Ziggler’s momentum didn’t last long as The Miz battled back and took control of the match. The Miz sent Ziggler outside the ring and The Miz celebrated in the ring. The match then really slowed down as The Miz dominated Ziggler. The Miz hit Ziggler with several Dropkicks in the corner and then taunted Daniel Bryan by doing the “Yes!” chant. Ziggler finally got in some offense and turned the momentum of the match. Ziggler went for a roll-up but The Miz kicked out at two. Ziggler hit a Fameasser on The Miz but The Miz kicked out at two. Ziggler then hit a Satellite DDT but The Miz once again kicked out. The Miz locked in the Figure Four on Ziggler and Dolph was screaming in pain. Ziggler was finally able to reach the bottom rope and break the hold. The Miz made sure to keep the hold on for an extra few seconds to inflict more damage onto Ziggler’s knee. Ziggler then hit a Superkick out of nowhere but The Miz got his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. The Miz then tried to crawl away outside the ring but Ziggler dragged him back. Maryse then sprayed Ziggler in the face with something and The Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the win.

Winner & Still Intercontinental Champion: The Miz

Reaction: This was another good match. The Miz is a good Intercontinental Champion and there really was no reason to take the belt off of him right now. It will be interesting to see who will be chasing The Miz’s title after this. It looks like Ziggler will be heading back to the bottom of the card and will once again have to work his way up.

Bray Wyatt vs Randy Orton

Randy Orton was deemed unable to compete due to the injury he sustained during the attack by Bray Wyatt earlier in the night. Bray Wyatt celebrated his victory but another match was made.

No Holds Barred Match: Kane vs Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt beatdown Kane with a steel chair. Kane recovered and hit Wyatt with a DDT on the chair. Bray Wyatt hit a Senton on Kane through a table. Before performing the move, Bray Wyatt mocked Randy Orton by posing for the crowd. Wyatt went for the Sister Abigail in the ring but Kane countered it into a Chokeslam. Bray Wyatt kicked out at two. Randy Orton then limped down to the ring and Wyatt became distracted. Randy Orton then got in the ring and hit Wyatt with an RKO. Kane then hit a Chokeslam on Wyatt for the victory.

Winner: Kane

Reaction: Even though Orton wasn’t cleared to compete, he played a pivotal role in this match. The WWE simply cannot keep asking the WWE Universe to take performers like Wyatt and Ziggler seriously if they constantly lose matches. This was essentially a throwaway match so it most likely won’t have any negative effect on Bray Wyatt. Having said that, it would be nice if the guy actually win a match or two in the near future. Randy Orton was ruled out of this match before Backlash started so the WWE did the best they could with the situation at hand. The feud between Orton and Wyatt will most likely continue.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos vs Rhyno & Heath Slater

Heath Slater and Rhyno started off dominant in this match. Slater tagged in Rhyno and the crowd greeted him with a loud “ECW!” chant. The Usos quickly turned the momentum in the match and hit Slater with a Suplex onto the LED ring post. The Usos then spent the next several minutes beating Heath Slater up. Slater tried to tag in Rhyno but was moving slow as molasses and The Usos easily blocked it. Slater finally was able to tag Rhyno in and he took out both Uso brothers. Rhyno hit a Belly to Belly Suplex on Jimmy Uso and went for the Gore but went flying into the turnbuckle. Heath Slater then tagged himself in and hit a Neckbreaker on both of the Usos. Jimmy Uso then hit a Superkick on Slater. Rhyno then hit the Gore on Jimmy Uso while the referee wasn’t paying attention. Heath Slater then rolled onto Uso and got the pinfall victory.

Winners & New Tag Team Champions: Rhyno & Heath Slater

Reaction: I thought The Usos would win this match and American Alpha would chase them for the titles. Slater and Rhyno wound up winning and Slater finally earned his Smackdown contract. I think Slater and Rhyno are a fun team but I’m not sure how long the WWE will keep the tag titles on them. I wouldn’t mind seeing them hold the titles for a little bit because the crowd is heavily behind Heath Slater. The Usos and American Alpha can still have an excellent feud without the tag titles being involved.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/775153132883935232

WWE World Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs AJ Styles

This match started out back and forth. Ambrose went to dive on Styles in the corner but Styles got out of the way and Ambrose dove into the turnbuckle. Ambrose recovered and regained control of the match. Ambrose then hit an Avalanche Belly to Back Superplex on Styles that looked extremely dangerous. The action spilled outside the ring as Ambrose hit Styles with an elbow of the top rope. Ambrose then followed it up by hitting a Facebuster on Styles in the middle of the ring. Ambrose went for the cover but Styles kicked out at two. Styles then hit a vicious Suplex on Ambrose into the turnbuckle. Styles locked in the Calf Crusher but Dean Ambrose was able to make it to the ropes to break the hold. AJ Styles then once again locked in the Calf Crusher but Ambrose grabbed Styles’ head and bounced it off of the mat several times to break the hold. Styles went for the Styles Clash but Ambrose was able to avoid it. Ambrose then catapulted Styles into the LED post outside the ring. The action continued in the ring as Ambrose hit a Bulldog on Styles but AJ kicked out at two. Styles then regained control of the match and hit a Springboard 450 Splash but Ambrose kicked out at two. Ambrose then fought back and Styles got caught up in the second and bottom rope. Ambrose then hit an impressive running Dropkick on Styles that sent him flying to the outside of the ring. Ambrose then went flying onto Styles outside of the ring. Ambrose sent Styles over the barricade into the crowd. Dean Ambrose then ran across two announce tables and hurled himself onto Styles. The action spilled into the ring and Styles hit Ambrose with a Pele Kick but Ambrose bounced off the ropes and hit Styles with the Lunatic Lariat. The referee then got knocked down and Styles hit Ambrose with a low-blow. Styles then hit the Styles Clash and won the match.

Winner & New WWE World Champion: AJ Styles

Reaction: Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles put on a very good match for the WWE Championship. I’m glad that the WWE decided to put the belt on Styles now, rather than prolong this storyline. AJ Styles absolutely deserves to be the WWE World Champion. As for the PPV in general, it was a decent show. It was a very small card and it got even smaller with Randy Orton not being able to compete. The Kane and Bray Wyatt match was clearly the weakest part of the show but they had an okay match. The show ended at 10:40 PM and the first match started at 8:15 PM after the opening promo by Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. This was a very short show that had some entertaining moments. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be heading into the show but it certainly wasn’t a great event. The match of the night was Dean Ambrose versus AJ Styles. The low-blow finish gives Ambrose some fuel to continue with this feud and I have no problem with that.

What did you think of WWE Backlash? Let us know in the comments below.

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