WWE Backlash 2018 took place on May 6th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and featured both the RAW and SmackDown rosters.
WWE Backlash 2018 Kickoff Show results:
– Renee Young welcomes us to the Backlash Kickoff Show. She’s joined by Booker T, David Otunga and Peter Rosenberg. Renee introduces some video package hyping up tonight’s matches, and the panel gives their predictions.
– Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel are backstage looking over a list of people they might want to partner up with. The Miz walks in and says “daddy’s home.” The Miz applauds them on their mind games they’re playing with Seth Rollins, and the Miz talks about bonding with Dallas and Axel on the set of The Marine 5. The Miz wants Dallas and Axel to come with him to the gorilla position, but they don’t follow him. Dallas tells Miz they’re not the supporting cast in Miz’s story anymore, and they walk off.
– We go back to the Kickoff Show panel and The Iconics interrupt. They make fun of Peter Rosenberg and say that tonight’s show might become iconics.
– Sasha Banks approaches Bayley in the back to talk. Bayley says they should stop fighting, and she wants Sasha in her corner tonight. Sasha is ticked off that Bayley wants to be friends again now that she needs her. Bayley says Sasha is full of herself, and Bayley can handle Ruby Riott tonight just like she handled Sasha in the past. They argue, and Sasha tells Bayley she’s on her own tonight.
– We see some more promotional videos, and then RAW GM Kurt Angle and SmackDown GM Paige do an interview with the Kickoff Show panel via video feed from backstage. Angle and Paige give their predictions for tonight’s show, and then Paige picks Charlotte vs. Carmella for ‘match of the night,’ and Angle picks either Nia vs. Alexa or Joe vs. Reigns.
– We go to Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Jonathan Coachman at ringside for our first match of the night.
– Bayley vs. Ruby Riott: Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan are in Riott’s corner for this one. The opening bell sounds and Bayley and Ruby lock up. Bayley takes Ruby down early and they trade holds on the mat. Ruby fires up and repeatedly slams Bayley’s head in the corner, as we see Sasha Banks watching backstage on a monitor. Logan ends up getting involved and hits a cheap shot on Bayley, which leads to Ruby covering for a two count. We see Bayley watching backstage again and she appears to look concerned about the cheap shot. They fight into the corner and Ruby hits a big knee strike. Ruby takes control, but Bayley finally fires back with a springboard crossbody for a two count. Ruby gets up first, but Bayley clotheslines her back down and then slams her. Bayley hits a belly to back suplex, but then Bayley gets caught up in the ropes as Logan interferes again. Bayley dives onto Logan at ringside, and then goes back in the ring for a big flying elbow drop. Bayley pins for a two count. Liv gets on the apron now and Bayley knocks her off, which leads to Ruby coming from behind and hitting the Riott Kick on Bayley for the three count.
Winner: Ruby Riott
– After the match, Ruby regroups with Liv and Logan, and then the Kickoff Show panel introduces the Backlash pay-per-view.
WWE Backlash 2018 Results:
– The Miz vs. Seth Rollins (c): Rollins’ Intercontinental Title is on the line in this one. The Miz and Rollins go back-and-forth off the opening bell, until The Miz takes control with a suplex and a DDT. The Miz chokes Rollins on the middle rope now The Miz looks for a back body drop, but Rollins reverses it with a facebuster. Rollins takes Miz down again, and then boots him in the face. Rollins misses a shot off the top, but he does connect with a Sling Blade, and then he clotheslines The Miz outside. Rollins hits a suicide dive on the challenger at ringside. Back in the ring, Seth looks for a shot off the top rope, but The Miz blocks it. Rollins fires back with a kick to the face and the Blockbuster for a two count. The Miz fires up, but Rollins stuns him with an elbow to the face, and the Champion follows up with a springboard flying clothesline. Miz dodges a shot in the corner and slams Miz on the ringside floor. Back in the ring, The Miz goes for a cross body off the top, but Rollins catches him and slams him down. Rollins goes up top and hits the frog splash for a two count. Rollins looks for the Curb Stomp, but The Miz rolls out of the ring. Rollins goes for a suicide dive, but Miz punches him in the face through the ropes before Rollins leaves his feet. They fight on the apron now, and Rollins misses a knee shot and smashes his knee into the ring post. The Miz immediately takes Rollins on to the mat and locks him in the Figure Four. Rollins escapes, kicks Miz in the head, but The Miz comes back with a Skull Crushing Finale for a two count. They fight up the corner and Rollins hits a superplex, then he goes for the Falcon Arrow, but The Miz reverses into a Skull Crushing Finale. The Miz pins and only gets a two count, and Miz can’t believe it. Rollins is selling a knee injury from hitting his knee on the ring post earlier. The Miz wants the Skull Crushing Finale off the middle rope but Rollins knocks him down. Miz catches Rollins on the mat and they trade pin attempts, which leads to Rollins hitting the curb stomp. Rollins is still selling the knee injury and is slow to pin, but he still gets the three count.
Winner & still Intercontinental Champion: Seth Rollins
– We see replays as Rollins gets up and raises his IC Title in the air.
– We see a video package looking at the Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss feud. We see some reactions on Twitter to Nia’s win, and Alexa’s promo about Nia Jax at Disney World. Their match is up next.
– Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss: Nia’s Women’s Title is on the line in this one. The opening bell sounds and Bliss immediately starts throwing kicks to Nia’s knee. Alexa hops on Nia’s back for a sleeper, and it looks like she might have went for Nia’s eyes. Nia takes Bliss down and hits a big splash in the corner. Nia hits another running splash in the opposite corner, and then throws Alexa outside. Back in the ring, Alexa starts firing up and chokes Nia on the middle rope. Alexa stomps on Nia’s head and tries to keep the champion grounded. Nia fights back and tosses Bliss off the top rope across the ring. Nia clotheslines Alexa down again, and then throws her back and forth across the ring. Nia hits a splash in the corner, then tosses Bliss across the ring again. Nia goes up top, but Bliss pushes her off down to the ringside floor. Alexa slams Nia’s head into the ring steps, and then slowly drags her back in the ring. Alexa throws some right hands and then runs the ropes, but Nia catches her over her shoulders. Nia carries Alexa up to the second rope, but Alexa escapes. Alexa knocks Nia down and pins for a two count. Bliss goes up top and comes flying off, but Nia catches her and hits a Samoan Drop. Nia pins for the three count.
Winner & still RAW Women’s Champion: Nia Jax
– The ref hands Nia her Women’s title belt as she recovers, and we go to replays. Nia does an interview with Renee Young in the ring after the match. Nia says this win means everything to her, and Alexa’s moment of bliss is over. Nia cuts an anti-bullying promo, and tells people to be themselves, and that bullies always get their asses kicked. Alexa Bliss is selling her beating and gets helped to the back by a ref.
– Samoa Joe does an interview in the back where Joe says Reigns has lost his determination, power, and speed, and tonight he will lose to Joe and will feel pain.
– Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy (c): Jeff’s U.S. Championship is on the line in this one. Orton starts off strong in the opening moments, as the crowd chants “Brother Nero” for Jeff. Jeff fires up with a jawbreaker and a dropkick. Orton rolls outside and Hardy kicks him through the ropes. Hardy follows up with a suicide dive on Orton on the floor. Back in the ring, Jeff goes up top but Orton shoves him off onto the ring post. Orton now beats on Jeff all over the ring until the fight spills outside. Orton dropkicks Jeff off the apron, and then back suplexes him onto the fan barricade. Back in the ring, Orton controls the pace until Jeff fires up with a dropkick and an inverted atomic drop. Jeff hits a leg drop and a kick for a two count. Jeff misses a splash in the corner, but he fires back with the Whisper In the Wind on Orton for another two count. Jeff evades an RKO attempt, but Orton follows right up with a spinning powerslam for a two count. Orton looks for a DDT, but Jeff gets out and kicks him away. Jeff looks for a dropkick in the corner, but Orton escapes. They go back and forth on the mat until Hardy stuns the challenger with a Twist of Fate. Hardy goes up top and hits the Swanton Bomb for the the three count.
Winner & still U.S. Champion: Jeff Hardy
– Hardy celebrates with his U.S. Title in the ring as we go to replays.
– Elias is in the ring with the spot light on him, and he starts trashing New Jersey. He asks the fans to hold their applause and prepare to listen to him sing, but the crowd keeps making noise. Elias threatens to leave a few times, but then sits down, and The New Day’s entrance interrupts. The New Day comes out and Xavier starts by giving Elias some props for his songs. Elias says he wants to get through his song, and offers them some autographs. Kofi declines the autographs, and asks Elias if he wants to jam with The New Day. The New Day starts playing their marching band instruments until Elias yells at them to stop. Elias tells them to take their toys and go play somewhere else. Elias says he wants the lights out again for his song, but then Aiden English interrupts. Aiden English comes out to the stage and sings a song trashing the New Day and Elias, and then Rusev comes out to join him. Elias asks what the hell they’re doing here, and Rusev says they’re doing whatever they want. Elias tries to start his song again, but this time No Way Jose and his conga line come out dancing. Titus Worldwide and the Fashion Police are dancing with them. Elias repeatedly yells to stop, and they finally turn off the music. Elias says this is his night, and nobody better interrupt him again. Elias tries to start his song again, but this time Bobby Roode’s music hits. Roode sneaks in the ring behind Elias, and hits the Glorious DDT on Elias. Roode leads the crowd in a “glorious” chant, and then he points at No Way Jose. Jose’s music hits and the dancing continues back up the ramp.
– We see a video package looking at the history between Daniel Bryan and Big Cass.
– Big Cass vs. Daniel Bryan: The opening bell sounds and they circle each other in the ring. Daniel starts throwing kicks to Cass’ knee, then tries taking him down. Cass blocks the takedown and hammers Bryan down with strikes. Bryan starts firing up with kicks, but Cass overpowers him again and shuts him down. Cass takes Bryan into the corner and chops him across the chest, then beats him down to the mat again. Bryan fires up again and repeatedly kicks Cass in the corner and he hits some flying knee strikes. Cass blocks one of them and slams Bryan down, then clotheslines him inside out. Cass misses a kick, and Bryan answers with a kick of his own. Bryan goes for the Yes Lock and Cass puts up a fight. Bryan repeatedly hits Cass in the head and then successfully locks on the Yes Lock. Cass taps out, and Bryan wins via submission.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
– Cass attacks Daniel Bryan after the match, and beats him down around ringside. The crowd chants “you tapped out” at Cass. Cass throws Bryan back in the ring then hits a running big boot.
– The broadcast team announces that The Miz and Daniel Bryan will be guests on the Backlash post-show on the WWE Network.
– Charlotte vs. Carmella (c): Carmella’s Women’s Title is on the line in this one. The opening bell sounds and Carmella retreats to ringside arly on. Caremlla grabs her Women’s title from the timekeeper’s area and looks like she wants to leave. Charlotte cuts her off and drops her, then throws her in the ring and tries to keep her grounded. Carmella escapes outside again, and Charlotte misses a suicide dive. Carmella hits a superkick on Charlotte at ringside, then rolls her back in the ring for a two count. The Champion tries to keep Charlotte grounded with a headlock now. Charlotte fights back with a mule kick, then slams Carmella down. Charlotte continues the offense on Carmella and hits a knee drop to the back of the head. They fight on the apron and Charlotte misses a shot and Carmella drops her. Charlotte comes back with a spear, and then they fight on the mat. Carmella locks Charlotte in a choke, but Charlotte fights out. Charlotte hits a big boot for a two count. Charlotte misses a moonsault and is selling an knee injury. Carmella kicks out Charlotte’s bad knee and rolls her up for the three count.
Winner & still SmackDown Women’s Champion: Carmella
– Carmella immediately retreats out of the ring and grabs her Women’s Championship and heads up the ramp as we see replays.
– We see a video looking at the history between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, leading up to their match tonight.
– AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: This one is a No DQ match with AJ’s World Title is on the line in this one. Nakamura gets in AJ’s face before the match, and the ref pulls them apart for the official ring introductions. The opening bell sounds and AJ immediately pulls Nakamura outside and repeatedly slams him into the fan barricade. Back in the ring, AJ continues the beat down and hits a backbreaker on Nakamura. Nakamura starts firing back with strikes. Nakamura dodges one dropkick from AJ, but AJ connects with the second dropkick. The fight spills outside again and they brawl on the entrance ramp. Nakamura whips AJ into the ring steps, then takes him back in the ring. Nakamura hits several knees to the head and AJ falls down to the floor. Back in the ring, Nakamura stomps on AJ and hits the vibrations in the corner. Nakamura follows up with a knee drop for a two count. Styles gets back up to his face, but Nakamura drops him again with a flying kick to the face. Nakamura beats down AJ around the ringside area now and whips him into the fan barricade. Back in the ring, AJ looks to springboard off the top, but Nakamura stops him and hits a running knee. Nakamura comes off the middle rope with a knee to the face, then he hits a powerbomb for a two count. Nakamura stomps on AJ’s head in the corner, then taunts him. Nakamura walks outside and grabs a steel chair. He brings the chair in the ring and swings, but AJ ducks. AJ blocks several strikes from Nakamura, but Nakamura finally connects with a boot to the face. Nakamura back suplexes AJ on the steel chair laying on the mat. Nakamura sets up in the corner and he charges forward for a Kinshasa, but AJ throws the steel chair at Nakamura to stop him. The chair hits Nakamura’s knee, but bounces off and the chair nails AJ right in the face. AJ is now bleeding from the face. Nakamura hits a kick and both men are down. AJ comes back with the Calf Crusher, but Nakamura escapes. AJ looks for a Styles Clash, but Nakamura escapes and rolls outside. AJ looks for a suicide dive, but Nakamura rolls in the ring to avoid it. AJ grabs Nakamura and hits a suplex into a neckbreaker. Nakamura misses a punch and AJ answers with a Pele kick. Nakamura comes back with a low blow, and AJ answers with a low blow of his own. AJ and Nakamura get to their feet and start trading punches now. Nakamura throws a headbutt, and then they both kick each other in the groin at the exact same, and both men are down. The referee counts, and both men are down for the ten count. The referee counts them both out, so AJ retains the World Title.
Winner: n/a
– AJ Styles recovers at ringside with his WWE Title and gets assisted walking to the back.
– Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn: Bobby and Sami start this one off and Lashley backs him up into the corner. Owens tags in now and Lashley suplexes him down. Owens and Sami are able to double team Lashley and take control of the pace now. Lashley finally drops Sami with a facebuster, and both men are down. Strowman finally gets the hot tag and cleans house. Strowman looks for the running powerslam, but Sami escapes and rolls outside to regroup with Owens. Sami appears to turn on Kevin and throws him in the ring. Sami and Owens start arguing, and now Lashley and Strowman clean house. Lashley picks up Owens for the stalling vertical suplex, and he slams him down.
Winners: Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman
– After the match, Owens gets slammed down, and then they take Sami back in the ring and Strowman gives him a running powerslam too.
– We see a promo video for this year’s WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view.
– We see a video package looking at the history between Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns.
– Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns: Joe hits a sheap shot on Reigns before the opening bell and throws him to the outside. Joe follows him outside and they brawl around the ringside floor. Joe hits a side suplex on Reigns that puts him right through the announce table at ringside. Joe continues to beat Reigns down all over the announce table area. Joe takes Reigns back in the ring, and the ref allows Reigns a moment to recover before calling for the opening bell. Joe pummels on Reigns in the corner, then slams him down and hits a kick, then a knee drop. Joe keeps Reigns grounded and then dumps him outside. Joe follows up with a suicide dive on Reigns on the floor. Back in the ring, Reigns finally starts fighting back with strikes, then he drops Joe with a big boot. Joe rolls outside, and Reigns hits the Drive By kick. Back in the ring, Reigns looks for a Superman punch, but Joe stops it and slams Reigns down. Joe follows up with a big boot and a senton drop for a two count. Joe and Reigns trade strikes again until Reigns hits a spinebuster for a two count. Reigns looks for another Superman punch, but Joe side-steps it. Reigns drops Joe across the middle rope, then The Big Dog rolls outside. Reigns looks for the Drive By kick, but Joe catches him and drags Reigns in the ring. Reigns breaks free and hits the Superman punch on Joe for a two count. Reigns charges at Joe, and Joe stuns him with a kick to the head. Reigns comes right back with a spear, but Joe gets his leg on the rope to break the pin. Joe catches Reigns with a knee to the face, then he locks in the Coquina Clutch. Reigns fights out and rolls up Joe for a two count. Joe reverses the pin into a Coquina Clutch, and he’s got it locked in on Reigns. It looks like Reigns is fading, but then he starts hulking up and grabs the ropes to break the hold. Joe looks for the Muscle Buster, but Reigns fights him off. Joe misses a shot in the corner, and Reigns answers with a spear. Reigns covers for the three count.
Winner: Roman Reigns
– After the match, Joe rolls outside to recover and he doesn’t look happy. Reigns’ hand is raised in the ring as Backlash goes off the air.
