WWE Backlash – Predictions
This Saturday at 1 PM EST, WWE Kicks off the new Era of pro-wrestling with their first post-Roman Premium Live Event (PLE). WWE Backlash from beautiful Lyon, France, which a quick Google search informs me is “twinned” with 31 cities. Make up your fucking mind Lyon. What was I saying? Oh right! Backlash.
Since 2021, WWE Backlash has followed WrestleMania and been the starting point (or ending point) for many minor feuds drummed up right after WrestleMania and this year is no different with perennial top-mid card wrestlers like AJ Styles, Kevin Owens and Naomi getting shots at various titles. Combine this with the WWE Draft and we have a recipe for a lot of “hold please” matches waiting for the real feuds to kick in on the road to SummerSlam.
As this is WWEs foray into the new year of wrestling, it is also our (almost) foray into a new year of wrestling at Talent Alone where, in our Year-long Mania-Mania predictions contest, we predicted every match of AEW Dynasty late last month and Mike has eked out the first victory of the calendar with a 9-7 win (although we got every match right we agreed on). I’m sure that lead will hold all year no problem. With a whopping 5-match card, WWE Backlash (France) will make it hard for any ground to be gained or lost in the Talent Alone Pro-Wrestling Pick ’em Predictions Contest 2024 Sponsored by Ceasers, the King of Sports Books.
WWE Backlash France
Undisputed WWE Championship:
Cody Rhodes ( c ) vs AJ Styles
MIKE: Styles vs Rhodes is going to be a good match, but there’s literally mystery to the outcome. The Phenomenal One is a good heel, first challenger. He’s a former champ who has been established for a long time and can take the loss without losing much.
CODY RHODES
ADAM: I have been waiting so long for this matchup. Sure it’s Cody’s first title defense and sure these guys have somehow NEVER HAD A MATCH, but the most important part of this match is that I constantly make up lyrics for both guys’ entrance music. After they get in the ring I’ll probably just go for a walk.
CODY RHODES
World Heavyweight Championship:
Damian Priest ( c ) vs Jey Uso
ADAM: I feel like the draft loaded up the upper card on Raw with Jey, Drew, Punk and Seth all as reasonable challengers for Priest’s belt. Main Event Jey stands as a more fun opponent to any of those guys than Priest does and boy it sure would be funny for Priest to drag around a briefcase for nearly a year only to drop the belt after one month.
JEY USO
MIKE: It’s always a toss-up as to where the company will go with a champion like Priest. He’s a first-time world champ, who won it cheaply and wasn’t really viewed as a main event singles act prior to winning the belt. Will he be a quick transitional champ or will HHH decide to invest in his title run and make a new main event guy? The answer is…not quite sure yet. I expect Priest will keep the belt for at least a couple PLEs to give us a solid sample size for the “Damian Priest as World Champ” experiment.
DAMIAN PRIEST
WWE Women's Championship:
Bayley ( c ) vs Tiffany Stratton vs Naomi
MIKE: This feels like one of those triple threats born out of them not having an option they really like as a good one vs one challenger. However, it could actually be set up for Triple H to take a swing with his booking and attempt to quickly establish a new star. What if Tiffany Stratton just happened to squeak out a win against two former world champs and became the new WWE Women’s World Championship?
TIFFANY STRATTON
ADAM: How do you think Naomi feels right now? Her husband was involved in the hottest WWE storyline and just had an (underwhelming) singles match on the biggest stage in the game. Her two recent tag team partners are gearing up for a feud at the top of the Smackdown card and she’s the least likely winner in a triple threat. She’s never needed to feel the glow more. Anyways, I’m taking a retain here.
BAYLEY
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship:
The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) vs Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
ADAM: The Women’s Tag champions are the only people who can appear on all 3 brands* because they defend against everyone. I think it makes the most sense to put it on Bianca and Jade because duh. Do I really need to argue it or should we just roll the clip from that guy who we dont talk about anymore?
*until July when they get bored of the brand split
BIANCA BELAIR & JADE CARGILL
MIKE: A big part of the booking in the Women’s division this year should be getting Cargill ready for a world title match at WrestleMania. That journey begins here. Win the tag belts, have an unstoppable tag team run with Belair, break up with Belair, beat the former world champion Belair to boost credibility, and main event night one of Mania against Rhea Ripley.
BIANCA BELAIR & JADE CARGILL
Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga)
MIKE: Bloodline 2.0 AKA The Bad Bloodline AKA Bullet Club Bloodline. Have to establish them quick and strong for when Roman returns to remind people who the head of the table is. OOOOOOH AAAAAAH
THE BLOODLINE
ADAM: I feel like there is a growing discourse online that KO and RKO might win this one. Here’s the basics of the argument:
Solo is losing a lot and they need a reason to bring in more members for the New Bloodline.
I think a much more reasonable argument is, Kevin Owens loses in every main event. Google it.
THE BLOODLINE
