Tonight, SmackDown Live hosts Backlash, the blue brand’s first Pay-Per-View since WrestleMania 33. The card is full of big matches, from the main roster debut of Shinsuke Nakamura to Jinder Mahal competing for the WWE Championship.
Aiden English vs. Tye Dillinger
Both of these men have been slowly rejuvenating their main roster singles careers. Tye Dillinger joined SmackDown Live about a month ago, and he has been featured in relatively quick matches, defeating Aiden English twice. Dillinger had a breakdown after his second loss to Dillinger, but he gets a chance at redemption tonight.
English is in control, but he fails to pin Dillinger. This leads to English almost breaking down in tears, but he is able to regain his composure. Dillinger takes advantage of this extra time to get the edge and finish English of with the new Tye Breaker. Winner: Tye Dillinger
Predicted Winner: Tye Dillinger (1/1)
Dolph Ziggler vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Here it is, the main roster debut of Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style was brought to SmackDown Live in the Superstar Shake-up along with Tye Dillinger, but Dolph Ziggler was having none of it. Ziggler believes that Nakamura is overrated and overhyped, but now the talking is over.
After a failed attempt earlier on in the match, Nakamura is able to hit Ziggler with the reverse Exploder Suplex. This is exactly what he needed to set up Ziggler for the Kinshasa knee, picking up the win in his debut match. Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Predicted Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (2/2)
The Usos (c) vs. Breezango – SmackDown Tag Team Championships
After winning a Beat the Clock challenge, Tyler Breeze and Fandango became the #1 Contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Over the following weeks, Breezango made fun of The Usos through the Fashion Files, a Law & Order parody show. Of course, they won a couple matches along the way.
Breezango managed to put on one of the funniest matches of all time, but they couldn’t get the victory. The Usos double team Fandango to “steal” (according to Tom Phillips) the victory. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Predicted Winners: The Usos (3/3)
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
A couple weeks after WrestleMania, Sami Zayn and Baron Corbin both lost to AJ Styles in a #! Contender’s Match for the United States Championship. Corbin blamed Zayn for the loss and has gone out of his way to attack the Underdog from the Underground every week thereafter. One week, Corbin attacked Zayn during Talking Smack and pushed a referee, causing Corbin to be suspended for over a week.
Zayn manages to kick out of the Deep Six, leading to him overcome the size and strength disadvantage to hit the Lone Wolf with a Helluva Kick. Winner: Sami Zayn
Predicted Winner: Baron Corbin (3/4)
The Welcoming Committee (w/James Ellsworth) vs. Becky Lynch, Charlotte, & Naomi
Charlotte switched brands a few weeks ago, and she almost immediately got a SmackDown Women’s Championship opportunity against Naomi. The Welcoming Committee (Carmella, Tamina, & Natalya) didn’t like this and attacked Charlotte and Naomi to ruin the match. Over the subsequent weeks, the Committee would win every match combination over their opponents tonight.
After Tamina knocks Charlotte and Naomi out of the ring, Becky Lynch turns her attention away from Natalya to get Tamina out of the way. Natalya takes advantage of the distraction to lock in her family’s signature Sharpshooter for the win. Winners (via submission): The Welcoming Committee
Predicted Winners: Becky Lynch, Charlotte, & Naomi (3/5)
Kevin Owens (c) vs. AJ Styles – United States Championship
Before Kevin Owens recaptured the United States Championship from Chris Jericho at Payback, AJ Styles defeated Sami Zayn and Baron Corbin to become the new #1 Contender. With Chris Jericho out due to “injury” (or really a Fozzy tour), Styles gets the next shot to become the Face of America.
Owens and Styles brawl to the outside, and Styles attempts to put Owens through an announce table. Owens sideswipes Styles, and Styles’ right leg falls in the hole where the monitor goes. While Styles is stuck in the table, Owens rolls back into the ring and the referee counts to 10. Winner, and STILL United States Champion (via count-out): Kevin Owens
Predicted Winner: Kevin Owens (4/6)
Erick Rowan vs. Luke Harper
During Bray Wyatt’s feud with Randy Orton, Luke Harper left the Wyatt Family after realizing that he was brainwashed. Erick Rowan appeared on Talking Smack last week and showed his disdain for his former brother. Rowan demanded this match because according to him, Harper deserves punishment.
Rowan failed to bounce back from two superkicks, and Harper finished him off with a discus clothesline. Winner: Luke Harper
Predicted Winner: Erick Rowan (4/7)
Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (w/The Singh Brothers) – WWE Championship
Several weeks ago, Jinder Mahal shocked the world when he became the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship. Since then, the Maharaja has pinned Sami Zayn, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton himself. With his tremendous success, he only won because of outside help, whether it was the Singh Brothers or Kevin Owens.
Randy Orton spends too much time attacking the Singh Brothers, and Jinder Mahal sneaks up on the Viper and hits the Cobra Clutch Slam. The referee counts to three, and Mahal does the unthinkable by becoming the WWE Champion. Winner: Jinder Mahal
Predicted Winner: Randy Orton (4/8)
