411's PPV Preview: The Road to Backlash 2007
Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 04.28.2007
Wrestlemania retribution comes here
MICKE JAMES VS. MELINA FOR THE WWE WOMEN'S TITLE
Background: The night after Wrestlemania Melian hit the ring to petition to be in Timbaland's video. Mickie James ran out and speared her. She wanted her title back now that the feud with Ashley was over for the Women's Champion. On April 9h Mickie teamed with Candice Michelle to defeat Melina and Victoria. On April 16th Torrie Wilson won a diva fashion show in Italy. Melina attacked her afterwards with James making the save. On April 23rd, Melina quickly defeated Mickie James.
Match Up: Melina and Mickie have matched up several times with Melina usually pulling the win out of the bag. While James might dominate Melina on paper, the current champion seems to own the woman she took the belt off of. James needs to realize this and hopefully change her luck by altering her game plan. Offensive brawling would be a good start with a follow up of power wrestling to really surprise. Also in James' favor is Melina's natural arrogance, but when you always come through it's a reason to be cocky.
Outcome: Mickie James gets the title math by default by being the best female face wrestler in WWE. James has a lot of potential, but even Trish Stratus took several years to build up. Melina will most likely retain and continue to dominate the women's division until at least SummerSlam.
MVP VS. CHRIS BENOIT FOR THE US TITLE
Background: Chris Benoit teamed with the Hardy Boys to face MVP and MNM at No Way Out. Benoit won for his team with a crossface on Joey Mercury. Chris Benoit and MVP both lost out on a Money in the Bank match slot in a triple threat with Finlay on March 2nd. MVP formerly challenged Benoit for the US Title on March 9th. MVP wanted to prove he was worthy of being US Champion by beating champions of other countries. On the March 16th Smackdown he defeated Honduras champion El Grande Latte. MVP then wanted an answer for his challenge from last week. Long gave him the match and brought out Benoit. The two brawled with Porter able to block the crossface and escape to the back. On March 23rd MVP faced the Liechtenstein champion in another quick squash. He promised Benoit that his name would go down in history as the first person to drop a title to MVP at Wrestlemania. Benoit later beat Shane Helms. MVP beat the champion of Ethiopia the following week and once again claimed he would take the title at Wrestlemania.
The Smackdown after Wrestlemania MVP pulls The Miz out of the way of a Benoit headbutt to allow him to steal the win in a non-title match. MVP proved he was worthy of another title match on the next Smackdown by beating Benoit with a handful of the ropes. On April 20th Smackdown Benoit teamed with the Hardy Boys to face MVP, Shane Helms and Chavo Guerrero. Benoit made Helms tap to the sharpshooter while giving MVP a backdrop at the same time when he ran in for the save. On the April 27th Smackdown MVP returned to his previous shtick be defeating the Scottish Heavyweight Champion. He then announced he would have a second opponent…and that slot was taken by Benoit. MVP rolled out of the ring to avoid the headbutt and took a walk.
Match Up: MVP proved he could hang with Benoit at Wrestlemania, but the Wolverine still pulled it out in the end thanks to his veteran cunning. This might push MVP to cheat to win. Look for him to have something up his sleeve, perhaps literally with a foreign object. The question is even if MVP wrestles his best match ever, will it be enough to top Benoit on a so-so day. If Porter has learned from the Wrestlemania match and can triumph due to that here, look for him to have a long title reign.
Outcome: Most had MVP pegged to win the US Title at Wrestlemania and he came up short, albeit in a good match. Porter has done little since then to make it seem like he's going to win here, which just might mean he will. Porter could win by interference from either his brother VIP (who works for Booker T's organization and WWE is said to be looking at) or someone else to lead to a feud with Benoit, perhaps his old foes Finlay or Kennedy who are not on the show.
LANCE CADE AND TREVOR MURDOCH VS.THE HARDY BOYS FOR THE WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES
Background: The RAW after Wrestlemania Coach booked tag champions John Cena and Shawn Michaels in two ten men battle royals for their titles. The won the first, but Michaels turned on Cena to lose the second. The last two teams where the Hardy Boys and Cade and Murdoch with the Hardys winning. On that Smackdown Jeff Hardy lost to Ken Kennedy. Later that night Matt defeated Booker T. On the April 14th RAW the rednecks defeated Carlito and Ric Flair to win a title shot. Later on the Hardys defeated the World's Greatest Tag Team. On April 16th Jeff Hardy lost to Garrison Cade. The next week Matt fell to Trevor Murdoch.
Match Up: This is classic contrast in styles. Cade and Murdoch are old school brawlers. Jeff and Matt are innovative high flyers. Both teams blend well with each other, however. Cade and Murdoch will most likely isolate one of the champs and work them over with power wrestling and striking. The Hardys are known to be resilient though and can most likely whether this until the hot tag. The key for the challengers is how they handle matters when the match breaks down toward the end, which is where the Hardys usually shine and capitalize.
Outcome: It seems odd to elevate Cade and Murdoch to title contenders when they've been Heat jobbers since their sudden push to win the title upon their debut. This once again states that WWE has no idea what to do with the tag division. WWE would be smart to let the veteran and over Hardys run with the titles for the foreseeable future. Losing the belts could signal a heel turn by one Hardy and a feud between them, even though that would seem too quick and too close to what is going on with London and Kendrick on Smackdown. This is just a stopgap until a superstar team can be geared up to face the Hardys at SummerSlam.
BATISTA VS. THE UNDERTAKER FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE IN A LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Background: Undertaker threw out Shawn Michaels as the last man in the Royal Rumble. On the February 2nd Smackdown Batista took the ring and demanded an answer from the Undertaker on who he would face at Wrestlemania. However, he got John Cena instead and then Michaels came out. Vince McMahon finally showed and booked the men from RAW against the guys from Smackdown in a tag match for No Way Out. On the following RAW Undertaker confronted Cena, Batista and Bobby Lashley in the ring. He chose to face Batista and then choke slammed him. On the February 9th Smackdown Undertaker made an example out of the Miz while Batista held onto his title against Ken Kennedy. On the February 12th RAW Batista, Undertaker, Cena and Michaels had to coexist and go against Orton, Edge, MVP and Kennedy. They won, but there was tension. Both teams established their dominance on the February 16th Smackdown. Cena and Michaels beat Ken Kennedy and MVP while Batista and Undertaker defeated Rated RKO.
Batista took a walk on Undertaker after hitting a spinebuster on him at No Way Out to give the RAW faces the win. Batista opened the next Smackdown by stating he was not afraid or intimated by the Undertaker and his Wrestlemania record. Batista said much the same thing again on the March 2nd show. Undertaker responded from a graveyard and promised that Batista would rest in peace. Batista made a statement by beating Kane on the March 9th Smackdown. Undertaker later took out Finlay. Batista appeared on Miz TV the next week. Miz had the lights turned out to spook Batista that Undertaker was coming out. Batista thought that was very funny, so funny that he gave Miz a Demonbomb. Batista sat in on commentary later as Undertaker fought Booker T. He won by DQ when Finlay attacked with his shillelagh. Undertaker fought both men while Batista didn't move. UT threw Finlay at Batista to wake him up and then choke slammed Booker T. Undertaker and Batista were booked to face Finlay and King Booker on March 23rd. The heels took out the champ in the back leaving UT alone. Batista finally came out, but threw Finlay at Undertaker like what happened to him the week before and the match ended in a sort of no contest. Undertaker and Batista managed to hold it together on the March 26th RAW to beat Cena and Michaels. Batista and Undertaker went nose to nose on the March 30th Smackdown. They brawled with Batista laying UT out, but he did his famous sit up to close the show.
Undertaker held onto his undefeated streak at Wrestlemania and took the title from Batista. On the April 6th Smackdown Undertaker closed the show to celebrate his title win. Batista came out and demanded his title rematch. Undertaker was then jumped by Booker T, who took a Tombstone piledriver through the announce table. Kennedy talked his way out of a match with Finlay on the next Smackdown, but that talked them both into a tag match with Batista and Undertaker. The faces barely kept it together to beat the heels in the main event. On April 21st Batista vs. Finlay kicked off the show. Kennedy ran in for the DQ and the two men beat Batista down. Finlay then interrupted Kennedy's match with the Undertaker in a similar fashion. On the April 27th Smackdown Batista started the show by brawling with Kennedy and Finlay in the back. They made it out the ring, where Undertaker showed up. A tag match between the men was made for the main event. Undertaker pinned Finlay in that. Batista then promised to take the title back at Backlash. Undertaker promised to take Batista's soul.
Match Up: Batista is mad and wants his title back. The Undertaker could care less. A last man standing plays right into the champion, because ‘Taker is always the last man standing. His stamina and resilience is legendary. Batista needs to use the rules to his advantage and cut loose with weapon shots. He needs to beat the Undertaker within an inch of his life and it still might not be enough. This will not be a mat classic. This will be ugly.
Outcome: Undertaker kept his win streak at Wrestlemania going and that's all that really matters. They seem hesitant to pull the trigger on Batista's heel turn, which is hurting him. Turning him heel would seem best as his potential as a face has pretty much been exhausted with match ups. Kennedy waits in the wings and has history with both. UT's title reigns are usually short and this might be a last run, but it feels like he'll hold on here.
VINCE MCMAHON, SHANE MCMAHON AND UMAGA VS. BOBBY LASHLEY FOR THE ECW WORLD TITLE IN A HANICAP MATCH
Background: To cash in on the public feud of Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump, Vince McMahon booked a match between the two on the January 8th RAW. The two were played by imposters with the faux Trump winning. The following week McMahon attempted to call the real Trump, but could not get through. Vince was doing so because of a letter he received from the billionaire not just trashing the sketch from the previous week, but claiming that McMahon did not have the best interest of the fans at heart. McMahon further tried to humiliate Trump by making Torrie Wilson pose as Miss USA, who Trump left off the hook for alleged drinking and carousing. Carlito made the save and told McMahon that the fans paid to see people fight, so Vince sacrificed him to the Great Khali. On January 22nd, McMahon made a formal rebuttal to Trump's letter, which was just more grandstanding by him. John Cena interrupted and tricked Jonathan Coachman into badmouthing Vince. McMahon booked Coach to face Cena later that night. January 30th was fan appreciation night on RAW. McMahon showed one fan appreciation by giving her a blown up picture of his Muscle and Fitness Magazine cover. Donald Trump appeared on the Titantron and showed the fans some real appreciation by dropping money from the ceiling. Trump sent a second letter to McMahon on the February 5th RAW stating he had a business proposition, while McMahon had one of his own for Trump to join his Kiss My Ass Club.
Trump and McMahon went nose to nose on the February 15th RAW. Trump challenged McMahon to a match at Wrestlemania, but he refused. It was then suggested that the two pick representatives to fight for them. Trump accepted that, but wanted it to be a hair vs. hair match between the two billionaires. McMahon thought Trump had something up his sleeve, but agreed. On the February 19th RAW McMahon announced Umaga as his representative. He immediately won the IC title from Jeff Hardy. On the February 23rd Smackdown Rey Mysterio returned to his hometown of San Diego. He got interrupted by Vince McMahon. Mysterio backed Trump in the hair vs. hair match. McMahon had Umaga thrash the still injured Mysterio. McMahon used photo wizardy to make fun of Trump on the next RAW by showing what he would look like with various haircuts. However, Vince wasn't laughing when the Donald pulled a trump card of Bobby Lashley as his Wrestlemania man. Umaga and Lashley brawled. On RAW of February 26th McMahon was informed that the WWE board of directors wanted a special guest referee for the match. The next night on ECW McMahon made the title cage match between Lashley and Hardcore Holly a beat the clock match. Yet, a five minute time limit was nothing Lashley was unable to conquer. Umaga ran out and Lashley headed him off by jumping into the cage wall and knocking it down onto Umaga.
On the March 2nd Smackdown McMahon gave Lashley a chance to get out of the Wrestlemania match, but he refused and got physical with McMahon. Ken Kennedy then asked McMahon for an ECW title shot that night. McMahon granted it by allowing Kennedy to participate under extreme rules, but Lashley had to toe the line. It didn't matter as Lashley won. On the March 5th RAW McMahon announced that he had sent his son Shane McMahon to the board of directors to be named the special guest referee. McMahon took the ring to announce his son, but got Eric Bischoff instead. Bischoff just wanted to say that he hoped McMahon would get shaved bald. He gave way to Mick Foley who plugged his new book and teased being the referee. Shane then appeared, but he didn't look happy. Finally the guest referee came out in the persona of Steve Austin. Austin promised to call the match down the middle and he wouldn't take any guff. He also promised that someone was walking out of Wrestlemania with their head shaved. Elsewhere, Umaga retained the IC Title over Jeff Hardy. On ECW for March 6th McMahon put over that he liked Austin as the referee. He also said that Lashley apologized for roughing him up on the last Smackdown. Lashley came out and did apologize to Vince…for not kicking his ass more. Later on Austin came out to talk more about the match and poll the crowd on what they thought would happen in the hair vs. hair match. On the March 12th RAW the Rock appeared via a pre-tape to put down McMahon and reveal that Umaga in Samoan meant "shriveled up monkey penis." A contract signing between the billionaires was held with Austin maintaining order. Trump finally got revenge for weeks of bald pictures of him with a bald picture of McMahon. Trump then challenged McMahon to bring it. Vince obliged and got shoved over the contract-signing table by Trump to a huge pop from the fans.
Edge didn't like that Randy Orton got into the Money in the Bank ladder match and convinced McMahon to book Orton vs. Lashley for ECW. If Orton didn't take the match he would lose his slot. Orton showed up, but then Edge got himself tossed from ringside allowing Lashley to score the win. Lashley showed up on RAW on March 19th to take the Masterlock Challenge. He became the first man to break it. McMahon congratulated him by kicking Lashley out of the building. Eugene happened by and spilled a drink on McMahon. He booked him against Umaga for it. After getting crushed, McMahon shaved Dinsmore's head. Masters went to ECW the next night seeking revenge on Lashley, but was defeated in a real match. McMahon opened the March 23rd Smackdown to book Lashley in a handicap tables match with Randy Orton and Ken Kennedy. Lashley put both men through tables to win. McMahon fed up with Lashley finally booked himself against the man for RAW. McMahon used Cade and Murdoch, Masters and Umaga to soften up Lashley before he pinned him twice. McMahon then asked Donald Trump what he thought about that, which was Eugene in a Trump wig. On ECW the next night McMahon and Lashley had a war of words via satellite with Vince at WWE headquarters.
Lashley won at Wrestlemania through mass interference and with a little help from referee Stone Cold. McMahon tried to sneak away, but Lashley dragged him back to the ring and shaved his head with Trump's help. McMahon appeared the next night on RAW sporting a sweet fedora. He downplayed what happened the night before and then booked Umaga against Lashley. Lashley appeared and stole Vince's hat. He tried to cover his baldhead with JR's hat, Lawler's crown and Lillian Garcia's dress. Lashley ripped off her skirt to reveal a frightened McMahon peeking out from between her legs. McMahon fumed about what happened in the back while Estrada tried to calm him down. This just riled Vince up more and he put the manager in the match with Umaga. That proved a poor move as Lashley knocked Umaga to the floor and pinned Estrada to retain his title. Lashley celebrated the next night on ECW and stated he was not afraid of McMahon coming for him. On the April 14th RAW it was Shane McMahon that came for him. He booked himself in an ECW title match with Lashley. Lahley accepted only if Shane put his hair on the line. Shane accepted. Umaga came out to rough Lashley up, but Shane said he didn't need the Samoan's help. Shane got himself disqualified, but didn't get his head shaved. A three on one beat down on Lashley then ensued with Umaga and Vince. Vince hovered over a bloody Lashley and booked a three on one handicap match for Backlash. Vince recapped the beating the next night on ECW with Lashley off nursing his wounds. RAW on 4/16 came from Italy. Vince McMahon recapped the events from last week and then challenged anyone in the back to face Umaga. No one showed. He made it an Intercontinental title match. Still no one showed. McMahon then decided to open the challenge up to the crowd and he chose a man in the front row named Santino Marella. Marella started off well, so Vince made the bout a handicap match. This backfired and Lashley ran out to turn the tide and help Marella win the championship in a major upset. Lashley introduced Marella the next night on ECW and celebrated in the ring with him. On April 23rd Shane McMahon challenged local English wrestler Robbie Brookside. Shane worked him over for a few minutes and then made the bout a handicap match with Umaga as his partner. Umaga laid in a beating. Shane then made it a three on one handicap match with Vince strolling out for the easy pin. The next night on ECW Lashley and Umaga squared off in a singles match. Estrada interfered for the disqualification. Lashley got revenge on Estrada while Vince held Umaga back.
Match Up: The McMahons will let Umaga do the heavy lifting against Lashley. Look for Shane to be the cheap shot artist and help turn the tide if Lashley gets on a roll. This will be like a baseball game where Umaga will be the starter, Shane will pitch middle relief and Vince will close. Lashley has proved tough to handle and he's overcome some crazy odds to hold onto the ECW Title and prove himself. Lashley's legend will be written here or he'll be knocked down to a mortal level. Lashley needs to stay focused and not let the numbers get to him. He needs to take out two of the three hard and fast and then take the win on who is left. Lashley will need to work hard and fast.
Outcome: You really can't picture any of those guys as ECW champion, though it would seem to fit Vince's modus operandi to screw the original ECW fans and take the belt himself. Lashley has been built as the biggest monster face since the heyday of Hogan. Him winning a three on one handicap match wouldn't really be that surprising. Umaga has lost his invincibility thanks to Wrestlemania and the title win of Santino Marella. You can talk junk on the McMahons, but they usually lose the big match for the good of storytelling and the real wrestlers.
RANDY ORTON VS. EDGE VS. SHAWN MICHAELS VS. JOHN CENA FOR THE WWE TITLE IN A FATAL FOUR WAY MATCH
Background: Undertaker threw out Shawn Michaels as the last man in the Royal Rumble. Michaels then started RAW the next night stating that he wanted the title shot at Wrestlemania against John Cena if Undertaker didn't take it. Michaels was interrupted by Randy Orton and Edge who both thought they should have the shot. Vince McMahon then appeared and booked Rated RKO to put their tag titles on the line against Michaels and Cena in the main event. Michaels was later asked about teaming with Cena and all he could say was that he was no Triple H. Ric Flair then went to Cena and warned him to keep an eye on Michaels. The pair won the tag titles. Michaels seemed poised to hit Cena with a super kick, but Cena caught him. They were then interrupted by an appearance by the Undertaker. On the February 2nd Smackdown Batista took the ring and demanded an answer from the Undertaker. However, he got John Cena instead and then Michaels came out. Vince McMahon finally showed and booked the men from RAW against the guys from Smackdown in a tag match for No Way Out. On the following RAW Undertaker confronted Cena, Batista and Bobby Lashley in the ring. He chose to face Batista and then choke slammed him. Michaels felt that gave him the title match against Cena at Wrestlemania. However, McMahon booked him to face Orton and Edge in a triple threat match that night for the spot. Michaels won. On the February 12th RAW Batista, Undertaker, Cena and Michaels had to coexist and go against Orton, Edge, MVP and Kennedy. They won, but there was tension. Both teams established their dominance on the February 16th Smackdown. Cena and Michaels beat Ken Kennedy and MVP while Batista and Undertaker defeated Rated RKO.
Michaels and Cena won at No Way Out. The next night on RAW Cena faced Randy Orton. He won by DQ when Edge got involved. Shawn Michaels made the save, but then teased turning on Cena. Cena and Michaels were ready to kick off the February 26th RAW against Rated RKO, but they said they weren't ready for the bout yet. Instead they showed footage of Michaels turning on all his former partners to scare Cena. It didn't work as the faces retained their titles with Edge thinking that Orton turned on him after Michaesl hit him with a tag belt. The champs glowered at each other before playing to the crowd. On the March 5th RAW Michaels told Cena that he didn't need his help. However, Cena ran in for the save when Rated RKO attacked Michaels after Michaels beat Orton in a match. Later that night Edge backed out of a match with Cena. He was replaced with Johnny Nitro. Joe Mercury attacked Cena to draw the disqualification. Shawn Michaels ran out for the save, but then turned around. He gave it another thought and finally saved Cena. Cena called Michaels out on March 12th and wanted to know what was going on with them. Coach complicated matters by booking the tag champs in a gauntlet match. They beat the World's Greatest Tag Team in the first match, Cade and Murdoch in the second and MNM in the third inside a steel cage. The two men conflicted through the gauntlet and Cena almost hit Michaels with a chair, but wound up leveling Charlie Haas with it.
The March 19th RAW was Wrestlemania reversal night as Cena and Michaels would go against opponents from the others Wrestlemania past. Michaels drew JBL, but he refused to come out of retirement for the bout. Layfield laid into Michaels for being an egotistical has been. The response by Michaels was a super kick. Michaels sat in on commentary as Cena beat Chris Benoit cleanly. Shawn teased a super kick on Cena afterwards. Then Cena teased an FU. JBL broke up the action by announcing a No Way Out rematch for the next week. Michaels finally turned on Cena with a super kick to give Batista and UT the win in that bout.
At Wrestlemania, Cena retained his title in a long, hard fought bout. The next night on RAW Michaels told Cena that last night wasn't about handshakes and who was better. It was about winning a title and Michaels was tired of pretending that the other guy was the better man. Coach interrupted them and booked the tag champs in a ten man battle royal for their belts. They won that only to face another battle royal. Michaels finally superkicked Cena to the floor to eliminate them. In the back Shawn said he did it because the tag titles were clouding the issues between them. Randy Orton then popped up and asked why Michaels should get another title shot when he failed at Wrestlemania. Edge later stated the title shot should be his. Michaels and Orton squared off on April 14th for the number one contendership to the WWE title. Michaels hit a desperation super kick on Orton and fell across him for what amounted to a double pin counted by two separate referees. On the Cutting Edge later, Edge stated he should have the title match now since both men lost. Cena and Edge go nose to nose until Coach comes out and booked Cena in a two on one handicap match for the WWE title. This booking was trumped by Make a Wish child Michael Pena as the guest general manager for the night. He booked for Backlash a fatal fourway between Orton, Edge, Cena and Michaels. Coach did get his way on April 16th with the handicap match. Michaels got involved and missed a super kick on Cena to take out Edge. Cena hit the FU on Michaels, then pinned Edge for the win. On the April 23rd RAW Cena and Michaels went nearly one hour in a classic TV bout that saw Michaels getting the win.
Match Up: All four men know each other well and have been at odds. Cena is the champion and the other three men would best be served to team up and take him out first. Edge and Orton might cancel each other out. Michaels and Cena have real heat and will go after each other. It would be smart to lay back and let the other men go at each other. Michaels and Edge are the most crafty and will most likely let Orton tackle Cena, then take him out from behind. Cean will charge full speed ahead like he always does and that could be fatal in this fatal fourway.
Outcome: As of this writing it is unsure what the status of Randy Orton is in the match. Most likely will be turfed from proceedings very early. Edge can make some noise and poise himself as the next contender. The feud is still Cena vs. Michaels and this match will most likely boil down to another one of their recent classics. A little more drama would be evident if Michaels hadn't won on RAW. With this being the rubber match, Cena will most likely go over. It's iffy what will happen next. Don't be too surprised if Kennedy shows up to stake his claim on a title match with the Money in the Bank contract.
