411's PPV Preview: The Road to Backlash

Posted by Brad Borchardt on 04.25.2008

Three World Title Matches and an emotional match between Batista and Shawn Michaels highlight this year's Backlash!

Welcome everybody to the Backlash Report! Three World Championships highlight the even along with Batista vs. Shawn Michaels in an emotional match.

Ashley, Cherry, Kelly Kelly, Maria, Michelle McCool, and WWE Women's Champion Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Layla, Melina, Natalya Neidhart, and Victoria

By The Numbers

Ashley, Cherry, Kelly Kelly, Maria, and Michelle McCool are making their Backlash debuts.

Mickie James is 0-2 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2006, Mickie James lost to Trish Stratus via disqualification but retained her WWE Women's Championship.

At Backlash 2007, Mickie James lost to WWE Women's Champion Melina in a match for the WWE Women's Championship.

Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Layla, and Natalya Neidhart are making their Backlash debuts.

Melina is 1-0 at Backlash.

A Backlash 2007, Melina successfully retained the WWE Women's Championship against Mickie James.

Victoria is 1-0 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2004, Victoria defeated Lita to successfully retain the WWE Women's Championship.

Background: Ashley and Maria have been feuding with Beth Phoenix and Melina over Maria's Playboy spread while Mickie James and Phoenix have been off and on feuding over the WWE Women's Championship. Mickie James knocked off Phoenix for the WWE Women's Championship two weeks ago giving the Glamazon one of her only losses in WWE. On the Smackdown side, there was a diva competition with Michelle McCool winning over Victoria, Maryse, Cherry, and Eve. Victoria got jealous and brought in Natalya Neidhart and they beat down McCool and Cherry. Cherry was able to get a win over Victoria that further escalated their feud. All the divas seemed unified as they attacked Santino Marella on an episode of RAW for being sexist, but during Mickie James' Championship celebration, only Maria, Ashley, McCool, Cherry, and Kelly Kelly were happy to call her champion while Victoria, Layla, Jillian Hall, Natalya, and Melina back up Phoenix. This ended up into a big women's brawl and the creation of this tag team match at Backlash.

Match Up: Mickie's team has momentum with her title win, but the rest of her team does not have as much wrestling experience on their side. On the other hand, you have three former Women's Champions with Phoenix, Victoria, and Melina, a tough girl in Natalya, and only two that lack in the wrestling department with Jillian and Layla. So with this, Beth's team has the clear advantage.

Outcome: With Mickie getting the title recently, I expect her team to pick up the win and give something to the crowd to be happy about. I also expect some shirts to be ripped off. With the draft coming up, I think Victoria, McCool, or maybe even Cherry will be added to RAW to spice up the division.

Big Show vs. Great Khali

By The Numbers

Big Show is 2-2-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 1999, Big Show lost to Mankind in a Boiler Room Brawl.

At Backlash 2000, Big Show defeated Kurt Angle.

At Backlash 2001, Big Show lost to Shane McMahon in a Last Man Standing Match.

At Backlash 2003, Big Show defeated Rey Mysterio.

At Backlash 2006, Big Show fought Kane to a draw.

Great Khali is making his Backlash debut.

Background:After Big Show's loss against Floyd Mayweather at WrestleMania XXIV, Show came out the next night on RAW and said that for now on, he was going to do what he did best and that was destroying anyone who got in his way and that nobody can stop him. That brought out Great Khali and they had one of the biggest stare downs in WWE history. Later that week on Smackdown, Big Show returned the favor by coming out and interrupting Great Khali with a stare down. The next week on Smackdown, Great Khali tried to make a peace offering to Big Show with holy river water, scotch, and a goat, but Big Show didn't accept and punched Khali out. The next week on Smackdown, Big Show took on Mark Henry only to have Great Khali come out and destroy the Big Show. This past week on RAW, after Khali got disqualified in the King of the Ring Tournament, Big Show came out and they brawled to the back.

Match Up: The biggest match in WWE history should be a fun brawl. Big Show will have the advantage for being the veteran, more agility than Khali, and well, a move set.

Outcome: Well, this will not be pretty but I actually think this would be fun for a WrestleMania. Couldn't be much worse than Kane vs. Khali and at least with Big Show, you have the two biggest guys in wrestling going at it. I expect a short brawl, especially since Khali has some bad knees, and for Big Show to pick up the victory and will soon be back in the World title picture.

Batista vs. Shawn Michaels with Special Guest Referee: WWE Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho

By The Numbers

Batista is 1-0-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2005, Batista successfully defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Triple H.

At Backlash 2007, Batista and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker fought to a draw in a Last Man Standing Match and Undertaker retained his WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Shawn Michaels is 1-4 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2003, Shawn Michaels along with Booker T and Ric Flair lost to Chris Jericho, Ric Flair, and Triple H in a Six Man Tag Team Match.

At Backlash 2004, Shawn Michaels along with Triple H lost to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

At Backlash 2005, Shawn Michaels along with Hulk Hogan defeated Daivari and Muhammad Hassan.

At Backlash 2006, Shawn Michaels along with "God" lost to Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon.

At Backlash 2007, Shawn Michaels along with Edge and Randy Orton lost to WWE Champion John Cena in a Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship.

Background: At WrestleMania XXIV, Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair in an all time classic match and in the process, retired the Nature Boy. The next night on RAW, Michaels tried to express his feelings about retiring Flair and talked about the burden of retiring Flair that he will have to carry for the rest of his life. As Michaels was backstage after the segment, Batista stared him down in anger. Later that evening, the WWE held a farewell celebration for Ric Flair that saw several wrestlers come out to celebrate the career of Flair, including both Michaels and Batista. On the April 4th edition of Smackdown, Michaels came out to address the crowd. He said he did not do a very good job expressing himself on RAW, but during Flair's farewell celebration, Michaels found closure to the situation after both Flair and himself teared up and hugged. Batista came out and told Michaels that he made the wrong decision be beating Flair. He accused Michaels of being selfish for not doing the job to Flair. Michaels defended himself by saying he gave Flair what Flair asked for and that was his "A" game. Batista didn't by it and accused Michaels for not seeing Flair as a living legend, but as an old, sick dog that needed to be put out of his misery. On the April 7th edition of RAW, Chris Jericho hosted the Highlight Reel with special guests Batista and Michaels. Jericho brought up the fact that HBK said sorry to Flair during the end of their match at WrestleMania and Batista said the only reason HBK was sorry is that he people were calling him out on retiring Flair. HBK asks Batista where the Hell was he at the Hall of Fame or at WrestleMania. He told Batista that the reason Flair chose him over Batista was that Flair could trust Michaels to give him a performance of a lifetime and to carry the blood of retiring Flair on his hands for the rest of his life. Batista told HBK that he will never trust him again. HBK challenged Batista to do something about it and Batista simply replied that he already had. Shortly after, William Regal got off the phone with Vicky Guerrero and it was announced that Batista would take on Shawn Michaels at Backlash. On Smackdown that week, Batista and HBK got into another confrontation where Batista accused HBK of making a career of stabbing people in the back while HBK told Batista that everyone has moved on about the Flair situation except for Batista. HBK then faked a Sweet Chin Music which caused Batista to go for a Batista Bomb but HBK slipped away. The next week on RAW, Chris Jericho accused Michaels of enjoying retiring Ric Flair and even accused him of setting the retirement stipulation to Vince McMahon. Michaels simply replied with some Sweet Chin Music. After that, Jericho demanded Regal to make it a triple threat match between Batista, Jericho, and HBK at Backlash but Regal denied and made Jericho special guest referee instead. Later that week on Smackdown, Jericho hosted the Highlight Reel with Batista. Jericho accused Batista of wanting to be the man to retire Flair and that he was jealous that Flair chose HBK. Batista nails him with a Batista Bomb for those comments. The following week on RAW, Batista and Michaels had another confrontation where Batista still questioned the way HBK made it to the top and insulted his morals. Michaels talked about the blood on his hands and that at Backlash, he will have no morals when it comes to Batista. They had a handshake and HBK faked a Sweet Chin Music but Batista didn't flinch and stood his ground. Later that week, Batista battled Undertaker for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and HBK cost Batista the match and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship with Sweet Chin Music.

Match Up: I fully expect Shawn Michaels to have the advantage in this match up. True, Batista will have the power and size on his side, but Batista been in some serious battles with Undertaker while HBK has been quiet from the ring since WrestleMania so he should be well rested. This should be a great David vs. Goliath matches and HBK is going to make sure this is a good match. Chris Jericho will be the wild card here. Will he call it down the middle or will he play favorite to somebody?

Outcome: HBK is one of the best to ever and I expect him to make this a must see match. Batista has improved a lot since their last big pay per view match back in 2003. It has potential to be match of the night with the talent involved and the story behind it, but I feel with adding Jericho as referee, it will drag down the quality of the match and I am praying we don't get a bullshit finish. HBK does the job for a lot of people and Batista needs some rebuilding, so I feel Jericho will get pissed at HBK and cost him the match.

Matt Hardy vs. WWE United States Champion MVP for the WWE United States Championship

By the Numbers

Matt Hardy is 2-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2000, Matt Hardy, along with Hardcore Holly, Jeff Hardy, Perry Saturn, and Tazz lost to WWF Hardcore Champion Crash Holly in a Six Man Hardcore Match for the WWF Hardcore Championship.

At Backlash 2001, Matt Hardy successfully defended the WWF European Championship against Christian and Eddie Guerrero in a Triple Threat Match.

At Backlash 2007, Matt Hardy along with Jeff Hardy as the Hardy Boyz successfully retained the WWE World Tag Team Championship against Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.

MVP is 0-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2007, MVP lost to WWE United States Champion Chris Benoit in a match for the WWE United States Championship.

Background: During the Summer of 2007, Matt Hardy aimed for singles competition after losing the WWE World Tag Team Championship. He was able to get in contention for the WWE United States Championship and earned a shot at the US Champion MVP at the Great American Bash. MVP was able to pull out the victory during the match, but the feud was far from over. Over the Summer, Hardy was able to get a few non-title victories over MVP and they also competed in various competitions like football tosses and pizza eating contests. One of the highlighted contests was a boxing match between Matt Hardy and MVP's replacement Evander Holyfield which saw Holyfield knock out MVP after MVP pushed him around. The Smackdown after SummerSlam saw Matt Hardy and MVP put away their differences against the WWE Tag Team Champions Deuce & Domino who attacked Hardy and MVP the previous week. MVP and Hardy had some tension during the match but were still able to defeat Deuce & Domino and win the WWE Tag Team Championship. MVP would constantly use the WWE Tag Team Championship as a distraction towards Hardy's US Championship goal and would usually get them in some sort of tag title defense every time Hardy asked for a US Championship Match. At Survivor Series in 2007, Matt Hardy and MVP were scheduled to face each other on opposite teams in a Survivor Series Elimination Match but on the November 16th edition of Smackdown, MVP made it so they lost the WWE Tag Team Championship to John Morrison and Miz and then had a rematch for the titles right after the first match. Hardy had an injured leg during the match which Miz and Morrison took advantage of during both matches. After they lost the rematch, MVP beat down Hardy and destroyed the knee of Hardy. Hardy would not be able to be at Survivor Series and aside from a beat down by Randy Orton, did not make it back to the WWE for several months. Flash forward to WrestleMania XXIV where MVP was competing in the Money in the Bank Match. MVP was the last man standing and was climbing the ladder to victory until Hardy made his return by jumping the crowd barrier and hitting MVP with a Twist of Fate off the Ladder costing MVP the match. Several days later, MVP and Matt Hardy fought in a non-title match with Hardy picking up the win. It was then later announced that Hardy would finally get another chance at the WWE United States Championship at Backlash.

Match Up: Matt Hardy has been on a roll since returning picking up wins over MVP and Chuck Palumbo while hanging with WWE Champion Randy Orton. MVP however has been in the ring with the likes of Triple H, Undertaker, Batista, Chris Jericho, and Rey Mysterio since Hardy was injured and has been in some high profile matches. This should be a great match up and Hardy may have a slight advantage with confidence as he has defeated MVP in the last month. These two men are gold together and I don't expect anything less on this outing.

Outcome: Lots of people I talk to have Hardy winning this match. I'm on the fence. Yeah, it is time to elevate MVP but at the same time, I think this feud can still be dragged out and I really want them to finish it off with a Ladder Match. I expect Hardy picking up the victory here but only with a count out or a disqualification. Then Hardy will win it at Judgment Day and we could see the Ladder Match at One Night Stand.

Chavo Guerrero vs. ECW Champion Kane for the ECW Championship

By The Numbers

Chavo Guerrero is 0-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2003, Chavo Guerrero and Eddie Guerrero known as Los Guerreros, lost to the WWE Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin in a match for the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Kane is 2-2-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2001, Undertaker and Kane lost their WWF World Tag Team Championships to WWF Champion Steve Austin and WWF Intercontinental Champion Triple H. Both the WWF Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship were on the line.

At Backlash 2003, Kane and Rob Van Dam successfully defended the WWE World Tag Team Championship against the Dudley Boyz. Sean Morley was the Special Guest Referee.

At Backlash 2004, Kane lost to Edge.

At Backlash 2005, Kane defeated Viscera.

At Backlash 2006, Kane and Big Show fought to a draw.

Background: At WrestleMania XXIV, Kane won a Battle Royal to become #1 contender for the ECW Championship and later that night, defeated Chavo Guerrero in ten seconds after sneaking up from behind him and captured the ECW Championship. On the April 1st edition of ECW on Sci Fi, Kane made it two wins in a row against Chavo Guerrero and Kane and CM Punk defeated Chavo Guerrero and Shelton Benjamin. On the April 4th edition of Smackdown, Vicky Guerrero announced that Chavo Guerrero would get a rematch for the ECW Championship at Backlash. That night, Kane and Undertaker were forced to wrestle each other. During the end of the match, Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Zack Ryder, and Curt Hawkins jumped both men but Kane and Undertaker sent them packing with Chokeslams and Tombstone Piledrivers. On the April 8th edition of ECW on Sci Fi, Guerrero and Kane had a contract signing for their ECW Championship at Backlash. During the signing, Kane was ambushed by Guerrero, Hawkins, Ryder, and a mysterious man that made his debut who turned out to be Bam Neely. The next week on RAW, Kane would get a piece of Chavo during an Eight Man Tag Team Match but his team loss as he got pinned by Edge. The next night on ECW on Sci Fi, Edge hosted the Cutting Edge with Kane and Kane was ambushed by Edge, Chavo, Neely, Hawkins, and Ryder. They beat Kane down including several shots to the leg of Kane with a steel chair.

Match Up: Chavo Guerrero obviously lacks in the size and power department but makes up for it in speed, agility, intelligence, and the numbers game as he should have Bam Neely and perhaps Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder by his side. Kane was also beat down pretty bad by Chavo and the family this past week on ECW on Sci Fi and only time will tell if Kane is able to heal in time.

Outcome: I highly doubt we got a ten second squash at WrestleMania just so Kane can drop the ECW Championship right back to Chavo. Just like Taker, I think this is Kane last long run with a World Championship and I don't see him losing it until ECW gets some better talent from the draft of if Morrison and Miz break up and Morrison goes back for the gold.

Edge vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

By The Numbers

Edge is 3-4 at Backlash.

At Backlash 1999, along with Christian and Gangrel as the Brood lost to the Acolytes and Mideon in a Six Man Tag Team Match.

At Backlash 2000, along with Christian, successfully defended the WWF World Tag Team Championship against Road Dogg and X-Pac.

At Backlash 2002, Edge lost to Kurt Angle.

At Backlash 2004, Edge defeated Kane.

At Backlash 2005, Edge defeated Chris Benoit in a Last Man Standing Match.

At Backlash 2006, Edge along with Triple H lost to WWE Champion John Cena in a Triple Threat Match for
the WWE Championship.

At Backlash 2007, Edge along with Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels lost to WWE Champion John Cena in a Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship.

Undertaker is 2-1-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 1999, Undertaker defeated Ken Shamrock.

At Backlash 2001, Undertaker and Kane lost their WWF World Tag Team Championships to WWF Champion Steve Austin and WWF Intercontinental Champion Triple H. Both the WWF Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship were on the line.

At Backlash 2002, Undertaker defeated Steve Austin. Ric Flair was the Special Guest Referee.

At Backlash 2007, Undertaker and Batista fought to a draw in a Last Man Standing Match and Undertaker retained his WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Background: At WrestleMania XXIV, Undertaker extended his WrestleMania streak at WrestleMania to 16-0 while defeating Edge and winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the process. Later that week on Smackdown, Vicky Guerrero announced that Edge would receive a rematch with Undertaker at Backlash for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Since then, Vicky, Edge, and their "family" have tried to make the lives of Kane and Undertaker a living Hell. That night, Kane and Undertaker were forced to wrestle each other. During the end of the match, Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Zack Ryder, and Curt Hawkins jumped both men but Kane and Undertaker sent them packing with Chokeslams and Tombstone Piledrivers. The next week on Smackdown, Undertaker was put into a match with the undefeated Festus while Edge got the night off. Undertaker was able to beat Festus after a grueling battle. The next week on Smackdown, in another attempt to weaken Undertaker, Vicky Guerrero booked him in a match with Batista. After a brutal match, both men were counted out and then attacked Edge, Ryder, and Hawkins who were at ringside as fans. Bam Neely and Chavo Guerrero tried to help but got beat down for their troubles. Vicky Guerrero then announced as punishment, Batista and Undertaker would have a rematch on the next Smackdown, this time with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line. The next week on RAW, Undertaker would get a little taste of Edge in a big Eight Man Tag Team Match but his team lost as Edge picked up the win over Kane. Undertaker was able to defeat Batista a couple days later on Smackdown in a match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but not before a long battle.

Match Up: Despite Undertaker winning at WrestleMania XXIV against Edge, Edge should have the advantage in this match. Since then, Undertaker has been put to the test from the likes of Festus, John Morrison, Miz, Batista, and others while Edge has taken a lot of time off with the exception of this week's big eight man tag on RAW and his match against CM Punk on Smackdown. Edge will also have the numbers game on his side with Chavo Guerrero, Bam Neely, Curt Hawkins, Zach Ryder, and Vicky Guerrero although Taker beat the numbers game at WrestleMania and should have Kane watching his back.

Outcome: I don't expect the Undertaker losing the title anytime soon as this will probably be his last long run with the title. We will probably get Edge vs. Taker up until One Night Stand where they will have either a Hell In A Cell Match, TLC Match, or Buried Alive Match.

John Bradshaw Layfield vs. John Cena vs. WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match for the WWE Championship

By The Numbers

John Bradshaw Layfield is 1-2 at Backlash.

At Backlash 1999, as Bradshaw and along with Faarooq as the Acolytes and Mideon defeated the Brood in a Six Man Tag Team Match.

At Backlash 2000, the Acolytes lost to Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan.

At Backlash 2002, Bradshaw lost to Scott Hall.

John Cena is 2-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2003, John Cena lost to WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in a match for the WWE Championship.

At Backlash 2006, John Cena successfully defended the WWE Championship against Edge and Triple H in a Triple Threat Match.

At Backlash 2007, John Cena successfully retained the WWE Championship against Edge, Shawn Michaels, and Randy Orton in a Fatal Four Way Match.

Randy Orton is 1-1 at Backlash.

At Backlash 2004, Randy Orton defeated Cactus Jack in a Hardcore Match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

At Backlash 2007, Randy Orton along with Edge and Shawn Michaels lost to WWE Champion John Cena in a Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship.

Triple H is 3-5 at Backlash.

At Backlash 1999, Triple H defeated X-Pac.

At Backlash 2000, Triple H lost the WWF Championship to the Rock. Shane McMahon was the Special Guest Referee.

At Backlash 2001, Triple H successfully retained the WWF Intercontinental Championship and won the WWF World Tag Team Championship with WWF Champion Steve Austin against Kane and Undertaker. Steve Austin's WWF Championship was also on the line.

At Backlash 2002, Triple H lost the Undisputed WWF Championship to Hulk Hogan.

At Backlash 2003, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H along with Chris Jericho and Ric Flair defeated Booker T, Kevin Nash, and Shawn Michaels in a Six Man Tag Team Match.

At Backlash 2004, Triple H along with Shawn Michaels lost to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

At Backlash 2005, Triple H lost to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Batista in a match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

At Backlash 2006, Triple H and Edge lost to WWE Champion John Cena in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship.

Background: At WrestleMania XXIV, Randy Orton pulled off one of the biggest upsets in WrestleMania history as he retained the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match against John Cena and Triple H. The next night on RAW, Orton proclaimed that we were all now living in the Age of Orton as he has defeated everyone who has stepped in his way. That brought out John Bradshaw Layfield hot off a win over Finlay in a Belfast Brawl at WrestleMania. JBL declared himself #1 contender for the WWE Championship and informed Orton that he wanted his torch back. The next week on RAW, William Regal officially announced that it would be JBL vs. Orton at Backlash for the WWE Championship. That did not sit well with Triple H. He said that Orton won at WrestleMania, but he did not lose at it was John Cena who took the pin. He said Orton got lucky at WrestleMania after a kick in the head and all JBL has done was beat up a midget. Regal then announced that later in the night, Triple H would take on JBL and Orton in a Handicap Match and if Triple H won, he would be added to the WWE Championship Match at Backlash making it a Triple Threat Match. Due to some miscommunication between Orton and JBL, Triple H was able to pull out the victory and advance to Backlash. The Backlash WWE Championship Match was still not set however, as John Cena came out and made a point that he made JBL quit the last time they faced off for the WWE Championship, defeated Triple H at WrestleMania 22 to retain the WWE Championship, and beat Randy Orton last year at Backlash in a match for the WWE Championship. Regal agrees to make it a Fatal Four Way Match at Backlash for the WWE Championship as long as Cena could defeat JBL and Triple H in a Handicap Match later in the night. During the handicap match, JBL and Triple H couldn't get along and they began to brawl. JBL accidently struck Orton during the brawl and Orton laid him out with an RKO giving Cena the opportunity to pick up the win and making it a Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship at Backlash. The next week on RAW, JBL and Triple H faced off one on one. Orton interfered causing a draw and JBL and Orton beat down Triple H. JBL then turned on Orton and hit him with a Clothesline from Hell and help up the WWE Championship. The next week on RAW, Triple H and John Cena teamed up with Kane and Undertaker to take on JBL and Randy Orton with Chavo Guerrero and Edge. After the match, Cena and Triple H brawled until Orton and JBL laid them out. Taker would take them out at the end of the show.

Match Up: All four of these men have won multiple man matches when a World Championship is on the line. Triple H has won multiple Elimination Chamber Matches and a Fatal Four Way Elimination for the WWF Championship back at WrestleMania 2000 against Big Show, Mick Foley, and Rock. JBL was able to knock off Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, and Undertaker in a Fatal Four Way Match at Armageddon 2004 for the WWE Championship and defeated Big Show and Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match at Royal Rumble 2005 for the WWE Championship. The last two years at Backlash, John Cena successfully defended the WWE Championship in multiple man matches listed above in the article. Most recently, Randy Orton defeated John Cena and Triple H in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania XXIV for the WWE Championship. So who has the upper hand in this match? Well, not Orton. Chances are, JBL, Cena, and Triple H are going to want to end the Age of Orton so they could triple team Orton and eliminate him early. With Cena not getting too many big wins since the Royal Rumble and JBL's only big win since his return was against Finlay, I think this match favors Triple H with the momentum he has been on as he won the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out and was one kick away from winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXIV.

Outcome: A part of me thinks that the Age of Orton falls here as there isn't too many opponents left for him, but I just don't see it happening in a multiple man match, especially with elimination rules. I think Triple H will play the "Super Man" role here by eliminating JBL and Cena with Orton saving himself during the match and getting the win setting up Orton vs. HHH at Judgment Day. I think the big wild cards here are Jeff Hardy and CM Punk. With Hardy returning, will they push him back into title contention as they have done with the likes of Edge or Chavo? When will Punk cash in and will it be for the WWE Championship? Hell, could it be at Backlash since he has no match? The title scene should be pretty interesting this summer.

Quick Hits: Team Mickie, Big Show, Batista, Matt Hardy by DQ or Count Out, Kane, Taker, and Orton

Match of the Night: Fatal Four Way Elimination Match for the WWE Championship followed by Hardy vs. MVP (if given enough time and no shitty ending)

Trash of the Night: Big Show vs. Great Khali and Women's Cluster Fuck

I hope you all enjoy Backlash this weekend!