WWE’s Backlash returns to its original place in the company’s schedule after a one-year hiatus.

Last year, WWE replaced the event with the Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia last June 2019. On June 14th, WWE Backlash returns to the WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The event will begin at 7 pm ET and can be streamed live via the WWE Network.

Plenty of big matches are on tap for the WWE’s latest pay-per-view offering including the WWE Championship match between Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley. Universal champion Braun Strowman also defends his belt against The Miz and John Morrison in a handicap match while Raw Women’s champion Asuka takes on Nia Jax. In the biggest match of the evening, Edge and Randy Orton will run back their feud in what the WWE has dubbed as the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever“.

Let’s take a look at the big matches of Sunday’s WWE Backlash and preview each contest:

“Fighting" Asuka vs Nia Jax

After Becky Lynch revealed on Raw that she was pregnant, she gave the Raw Women’s championship to 2020 Women’s Money in the Bank winner Asuka. Given that Lynch would not be competing anytime soon, Asuka needed a challenger and it was expected that it would be Shayna Baszler, who had just beaten multi women’s champion Natalya on Raw last month. However, that matchup didn’t happen.

What are the Moneyline Odds?

Asuka

-500

Nia Jax

+300

Odds were taken from BetOnline as of 06/10/2020

Instead, Nia Jax became the #1 contender and she will get the first crack as Asuka’s title. With Jax creating a beef against the Empress in recent weeks, she became the choice to fight the champion at Backlash. Now, these two faced off at NXT Takeover: The End in 2016 and they put up a very exciting match which Asuka won to annex the NXT Women’s title. Jax will be looking for payback here.

In Becky Lynch’s absence, Asuka has become the Raw Women’s champion and the flag bearer of Monday Night Raw’s women’s division. Asuka isn’t just defending her new belt for the first time here, she is looking for revenge after Nia Jax attacked Asuka’s fellow Kabuki Warrior, Kairi Sane, in a backstage attack. Because of this factor, I expect a very physical contest between the two. However, I believe that Asuka is being groomed for a future contest with Shayna Baszler, perhaps in Summer Slam. Because of that, I think she keeps the belt here.

Prediction: Asuka


“Fighting" Braun Strowman vs The Miz & John Morrison

Braun Strowman beat Bray Wyatt at the Money in the Bank to retain the Universal Championship in an even bout where Strowman pretended to rejoin Wyatt before taking him out with his trademark running power slam. Then after Strowman defeated The Miz in a one-on-one match, Morrison challenged the new champion and surprisingly, we have a handicap title match between The Miz and Morrison versus Strowman.

What are the Moneyline Odds?

Strowman

-1000

The Miz

+550

Odds were taken from BetOnline as of 06/10/2020

The Miz and Morrison had just lost the Smackdown tag team championship just a couple of weeks back and after failing to regain the belts at the Money in the Bank PPV, they have managed to earn a handicap title match against the new champion who just won the belt at the same Money in the Bank event.

At first look, this is an easy workout for The Monster Among Men and that may be the case. Strowman has been thrown to a “filler” feud whose outcome anyone can easily predict. Perhaps they couldn’t find anyone to match up against Strowman in this PPV event. The Miz and John Morrison are entertaining but they are better off as a tag team rather than co-champions or one winning the belt here. Strowman should retain the belt because “The Fiend” is the big showdown for him and I wouldn’t be surprised if “The Fiend” shows up after the bout to set up what should’ve been the matchup here.

Prediction: Strowman


“Fighting" Drew McIntyre vs Bobby Lashley

Drew McIntyre has steamrolled past the competition and he has not lost a match in months. McIntyre said that he was willing to take on all challengers presented to him. But aside from AJ Styles who may be a better fit to fight him at Summer Slam, there are not a plethora of challengers for him right now. Then there came a resurgent Bobby Lashley.

What are the Moneyline Odds?

McIntyre

-900

Lashley

+500

Odds were taken from BetOnline as of 06/10/2020

Lashley has been dominant recently with wins over superstars like No Way Jose, Denzel Denjournette, Titus O’Neil, Akira Tozawa, Shelton Benjamin, R-Truth, and Humberto Carillo. The Dominator’s alliance with MVP has given him new-found success since his loss to Aleister Black.

I think that this will be one of the highlights of the evening. Both men are going to engage in a hard-hitting affair that will make both wrestlers look better than before the match. I believe that MVP will be at ringside to help his man at some point but McIntyre is in the middle of a title reign that’s just getting off the ground. Because of that, I don’t think he’s taking a loss here. Lashley will have his moments and he could hold gold at some point in the future. But this match belongs to Drew and he will continue with the momentum that he has built.

Prediction: Drew McIntyre


“Fighting" Edge vs Randy Orton

Edge made his ring return at the 2020 Royal Rumble and he eliminated the likes of AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Randy Orton in a twenty-minute appearance which saw him reach the final three before he was booted out by Roman Reigns. Then on the Monday Night Raw after the Royal Rumble, Orton attacked Edge viciously, leading to a rivalry.

What are the Moneyline Odds?

Edge

-160

Orton

+120

Odds were taken from BetOnline as of 06/10/2020

The two attempted to settle their beef in a Last Man Standing match at Wrestlemania 36. It was Edge’s first singles match in years but he still defeated Orton. But just when you thought the rivalry was over, Orton confronted Edge again on Monday Night Raw and challenged Edge to a single’s wrestling match. Edge obliged and that bout has been dubbed as the “greatest wrestling match ever” even before it is taking place.

There’s a lot of fuss about this match because of its label as the greatest wrestling match ever. Maybe the WWE is conditioning us for a lengthy masterclass where either wrestler will win. However, I don’t think we’ll see what the tagline says and I don’t think it will surpass the classics delivered by the likes of Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, and Shawn Michaels. My gut feels here is that Randy Orton will out grapple Edge and use his bag of dirty tricks to win at all costs. Edge beat Orton in their Last Standing Match at Wrestlemania and I think this one goes to Orton to even the score. I smell RKO here.

Prediction: Randy Orton

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