Backlash 2018 Predictions

  Yet another Pay-Per-View event for WWE is upon us.  It seems even quicker with the odd placement of the Greatest Royal Rumble just nine days before.  However, we have to remember that the Greatest Royal Rumble, although a special event for the fans in Saudi Arabia, was just a house show.  With that in mind, I can live with some of the bad match endings from that show, as Backlash is the true next PPV up.  Since Brock Lesnar retained his Universal Title against Roman Reigns at both WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble, and is not going to appear at Backlash, the event will not have a Universal Title match.  Now that the PPV's are all co-branded going forward, I'd assume the main event for Backlash will be the WWE Title match between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura.  

Kick-Off Match - Bayley vs. Ruby Riot

   With two Women's Championships around, it's hard for other women to get on the cards.  With Ronda Rousey's recent involvement in her friend Natalya's feud with Mickie James, I thought for sure that would be used here.  However, since the Shake-Up, the Riot Squad has been attacking both Bayley and Sasha Banks.  I would say they are dividing and conquering but the division between Bayley and Sasha has been happening since the Royal Rumble back in January.  It's only a matter of time before they become ex-friends.  Though either could turn heel, it makes more sense for Sasha to be the one.  With that being said, I'm choosing Ruby Riot to get the win over Bayley.  It won't be due to her Riot Squad sisters either.  It will be due to Sasha Banks.  Whether this is the heel turn or an accident, that will be Bayley's loss.

Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass

   Daniel Bryan triumphantly returned to action at WrestleMania and seceded his General Manager position to Paige to become a full time competitor once again.  He and Shane McMahon were victorious at WrestleMania.  His last act as GM was to bring long time rival The Miz back over to Smackdown.  Another superstar brought over to Smackdown was the returning Big Cass.  Cass immediately made a statement by attacking Daniel Bryan.  This is based on Cass being a much bigger man physically.  Many feel that Cass is just a means of keeping Bryan and The Miz away from each other for the time being.  Some think it may even be an alliance between Miz and Cass, much like the Dolph Ziggler/Drew McIntrye situation on Raw.  I can see Big Cass getting the win but I think Bryan will pull it out in the end.  That's what she said!

Raw Women's Title - Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss

   Nia dethroned Alexa at WrestleMania of the Raw Women's Championship and this is the obligatory rematch.  To continue the feud beyond this notion, Alexa has tried to portray herself as the victim of bullying, even though her "Mean Girls" act beforehand says otherwise.  Once again, I'm going with Nia Jax for the win.  After this, Nia will move on to other challengers.  It might be wise to keep her and Ronda Rousey separated for a while before that clash of the titans happens.  In the mean time, Sasha and Bayley are always go-to challengers.  Not only that, Money In the Bank is coming up in June and the winner of that match could very well cash in on Nia at some point.

US Title - Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton

   The US Title has changed hands quite a few times as of late.  It all started after Dolph Ziggler won the Title back in December and nonsensically gave it up and quit, only to return shortly thereafter. Bobby Roode became the new Champion in January by winning a tournament and lost it to Randy Orton in March at Fastlane.  At WrestleMania, Jinder Mahal claimed the Title, only to lose it to Jeff Hardy just over a week later.  Hardy came to Smackdown during the Shake-up to have a match with Shelton Benjamin, taking over Orton answering Shelton's challenge.  Since then, Orton returned the favor and even dropped Hardy with an RKO.  If Orton wins, then it should have stayed on Orton to begin with.  However, I think Jeff will retain here.  

Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn

   Thanks to Stephanie McMahon, the best buds made it to Raw, despite their loss at WrestleMania. These two were recently involved in a ten-man tag team match on The Miz's last day on Raw.  Two of the opposing team members were Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley.  Braun just came off a Tag Team Championship win with partner ten-year-old Nicholas, who had to relinquish the Titles due to school obligations.  However, Braun also won the Greatest Royal Rumble as well.  Bobby Lashley made his big return to Raw the night after WrestleMania.  With teased dissension between the two big men, I'm predicting Owens and Zayn pick up the victory.

Smackdown Women's Title - Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair

   At WrestleMania, Charlotte did the unthinkable when she handed Asuka her first loss in their Title match.  Just says later on Smackdown, NXT's Iconics in Peyton Royce and Billie Kay arrived and attacked Charlotte.  Moments later, Carmella took advantage of the situation and cashed in her "Money In the Bank" to win the Smackdown Women's Championship.  Though Charlotte wants to get her revenge on the Iconics, she is owed a rematch with the Champion.  With Carmella just winning, I see her retaining at this time because 'Mella is money!

Intercontinental Title - Seth Rollins vs. The Miz

   At WrestleMania, Rollins won the Title in a match against both Balor and The Miz.  The Miz, Balor, and Samoa Joe were unsuccessful in their Ladder Match for the Title at the Greatest Royal Rumble.   With The Miz drafted to Smackdown courtesy of Daniel Bryan and both the US Champion and challenger being on the Smackdown brand, I think it's safe to say that Rollins will retain.  Finn Balor is still in the mix and I think there is something brewing there.  Recent actions Balor's recent actions possibly paint him as a heel sooner or later.  This match should be fantastic and I'm looking forward to it.  As of this time, I'm choosing Seth Rollins.

Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe

   Reigns was unsuccessful in two attempts to take Brock Lesnar's Universal Title.  Since then, the recently returning Samoa Joe made Reigns his target.  However, Joe was then traded to Smackdown during the Shake-Up.  Upon arrival to Smackdown, he made a challenge to AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, depending on  the outcome of their match.  Though two big losses might mean a win for Reigns, Joe would look awfully dumb after losing and making that recent challenge.  I'm taking Samoa Joe for the win here and that might finally be enough for Reigns to snap.

WWE Title - AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

   Many were shocked when AJ retained the Title over Nakamura at WrestleMania.  What shocked us even more was Shinsuke's heel turn directly after with a low blow.  Since then, he has used that dirty tactic on AJ several times and it has become quite personal.  It angered Styles so much that it led to a double count-out between the two at the Greatest Royal Rumble.  How AJ hasn't decided to wear a cup by now is beyond me.  Now the two will face once again for the WWE Title, this time in a No Disqualification Match.  Even though my pick for their recent matches was Nakamura, he's still my pick this time and the change in attitude will lead him to the gold.  To be honest, even if there was a Universal Title match, this match would still be the main event, as frankly the Universal Title means nothing to me and I don't consider it a World Title anyway.  There are so many different ways this show can go.  These were my predictions but I've been wrong many times before.  It should be a decent show and I'm interested to see what happens tomorrow night and what the outcomes will lead to.  

  If you have any further thoughts on this topic, let me know in comments.  Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST on YouTube, brought to you by tagmeadate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans.  Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport.  For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!
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