(Retro) WWE Backlash Thoughts And Predictions - April 26, 2009

WWE Backlash Thoughts And Predictions
April 26, 2009
Doug Maynard

Another PPV and still no new column yet to post my predictions in. What is a man supposed to do? Methinks that I retired the columns way too soon. Either that or we're just having way too many PPV events as of late. I guess I'll just have to make due.

By the way, as if you didn't know, I'm Doug and I'm the former "Salt-Tossing" guy who used up his "Six Minutes" of fame a while back as pro wrestling's most eclectic columnist. Now, I'm just another dude on the streets with an opinion and a love of the world's greatest sport, pro wrestling.

And one day soon, I'll have "Tiger Tales". But that's in the future. As for today, let's just do some thoughts and predictions for the WWE PPV coming live from Providence, RI on Sunday night. Yeppers, I'm talking about "WWE Backlash 2009". Let's jump right to the predictions.

Six Man Tag Match - WWE Championship On The Line (If Legacy wins match, Randy Orton becomes WWE Champion)
WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon versus Legacy (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase)

Let me start off by saying that I hate multi-man matches where the champ can lost a title without being pinned or submitting. Titles, especially world titles. should be more important than that and should only be won by beating the champion... period! So we're going into this match and it should be entertaining. But do you really think that HHH is going to walk out of this match still the WWE Champion? No chance in hell, if you will.

Considering what he's been through with Orton, I can't really see Shane intentionally costing Hunter the belt, BUT he is a 4th generation superstar. That's something to keep in mind. And Batista's character, although he just came back from injury, is really stale and needs a major change. Maybe a heel turn? Hmmmm! Something is going to happen. That's for sure.

I'll say that Shane accidentally gets DQ'ed and the belt goes to Orton. It may or may not be intentional, but regardless of why it happens, it still does. So we get tension and the big "What if Shane is really Legacy" questions, we get a title switch, we get HHH being able to say he never really lost the belt, and we get this feud dragging on for several more months.

Winners by DQ: Legacy (Randy Orton becomes the NEW WWE Champion)

World Championship Match - Last Man Standing
John Cena (c) versus Edge

One thing about Cena and Edge that is almost for sure - they will put on a great match. I can't see the WWE making Edge a what? An eight time champion this quickly, but I also can't see the WWE leaving both of the top titles on one show for an extended period of time either. And Cena is scheduled to take some time off next month for his new movie to be filmed. So what happens here?

How about this for a finish. John Cena and Edge beat the hell out of each other and at the end, collide in the ring and both men are down. Here comes Mr. Money In The Bank, CM Punk, to the ring. He helps Edge to his feet just before the referee reaches the final count. Edge wins and becomes the new World Champion. And immediately, Punk challenges Edge and cashes in the briefcase - not for a match right there, but for the next PPV, Judgment Day, which is in Punk's hometown of Chicago.

So we get a month of Edge as the World Champion on Smackdown, but Punk is there constantly to remind him that he wouldn't have won the title if Punk hadn't helped him and just generally playing the head games and getting under Edge's skin, leading to their title match in Chicago. And then we get a hometown hero taking on the big bad heel - it's a great way to build for what would be a great match and feud. And Punk wins in Chicago at Judgment Day. The more I think of it, the more I like it. So...

Winner and NEW World Champion (due to help from CM Punk): Edge

ECW Championship Match
Jack Swagger (c) versus Christian

Allegedly, neither of these guys are very popular with Vince at the moment. So I guess the question is, who is getting less of the negative vibes than the other. Swagger is a great young talent and he's got a ton of potential, but he's being pushed too fast and it's hurting him a lot. Christian just came back and after a slow start, has really started to once more connect with the "Peeps" and find his place in the WWE again. If given the time, this should be a really good match.

But will the WWE go for broke and switch all three major titles on the same night? I say... yes, they will. Look for the former NWA World Champion to once again walk that path of glory and for the Peepulation to show out and rejoice. For Sunday night is the night that the man they call Christian truly has his big homecoming, by becoming the ECW World Champion.

Winner and NEW ECW Champion: Christian

I Quit Match
Jeff Hardy versus Matt Hardy

This is another match that could easily go either way. If the rumors about Jeff's allegedly holding out on signing a new contract are true, I'd expect to see Matt win in a rather strong fashion. But what if those rumors are just a ruse? Matt won at Wrestlemania, so logic says that Jeff should win here. And to be honest, I can't recall ever seeing a baby-face lose an "I Quit" match. It just doesn't happen. Jeff is a good and noble type - he's supposed to overcome the adversity at all costs and be the knight in rainbow colored armor.

I don't really think this is the end of the feud. I think it will be toned down and put on the back burner until Jeff gets his contractual situation straightened out. So how's this for an ending. Jeff and Matt are battling in the ring. Jeff gains control and Matt is all but beaten. Then, suddenly on the Titantron, we see Shelton Benjamin backstage and he has in his arms Jeff's girlfriend. He has her cornered and threatens to do her harm unless Jeff quits and gives the match to Matt.

Jeff is confused and doesn't know what to do. Matt smirks. Jeff starts to go after Matt some more and Shelton jerks his girlfriend a bit and she screams. Jeff wants to fight Matt, but he has to rescue his girlfriend. So Jeff quits, giving Matt the win, and Jeff flees to the back to go save his girlfriend from Shelton.

Thus Matt wins, but comes across as a lowlife scum-bucket for the way he wins. Jeff loses the match, but still looks strong, and Jeff moves on to a feud with Shelton over on Smackdown while they sort his contract problems out. And Matt moves over to RAW and on to other matches as well. And when all the paperwork is settled, they can re-start the feud at any time. How's that for a scenario? Works for me.

Winner: Matt Hardy

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat versus Chris Jericho

This will be the match of the night. If Steamboat is even half as ready as he was at Wrestlemania and at RAW the next night, he and Jericho should have one helluva match. I expect that we'll see Jericho dominate for a while and then Steamer can do what he was always so good at - the best baby-face comeback of the past 40 years. And then Jericho can use some trickery to steal an illegal pin and get the win. Which is how it should be.

Winner (after taking a fantastic beating): Chris Jericho

CM Punk versus Kane

Why is this match even here? I believe it's just here to give Punk a reason to be at the PPV and on the show. Kane is over with the fans and Punk is over as well, but having these two men wrestle does not spell "big time match" in my eyes. It's just filler. But as I said, it gives Punk a reason to be on the card and to make an appearance later in the Edge - Cena match, so I guess it's OK.

Winner: CM Punk

Great Khali's Kiss Cam - Special Guest is Santina Marella

Speaking of filler, you have The Great Khali and Santino. What about maybe having Melina defend the Women's title or maybe The Colon's defend the tag titles? Nope, we get Khali and Santino in drag.

This will be funny for the first two minutes and then get painfully sad afterward. Will Santina take a kiss? Will his ruse be revealed? Will Khali even care? Does anyone even care? I sure as heck don't and I consider myself a Santino fan. But this whole storyline gives a whole new meaning to the word "sucks!".

I think Khali will try for his kiss - the wig will come off and Santino will look like a fool. Khali gets mad and it's choppy-choppy time. And a million toilets around the world flush at the same time as everyone comes back from their bathroom break, praying that this segment is over. It hasn't even started yet and I'm ready for it to end.

Results: Khali kills Santino

So that's Backlash. You have what should be four potentially really good matches (Edge versus Cena, Steamboat versus Jericho, Christian versus Swagger and Matt versus Jeff), a so-so match (the McTista-Helmsley faction versus Legacy) and two big chunks of filler. I don't think the WWE is going to set any records with this event, but it should be a solid show with a lot of action and good wrestling.

And at least we don't have to worry about Mick Foley becoming a World Champion at this show.

And those are my predictions for the show. What do you think? I totally bombed with my TNA Lockdown predictions and only got two matches right. Will my track record improve with the WWE show? I hope so.

So who do you think will win these matches? Do you think WWE will switch all the titles in one night? And will this be the night that CM Punk cashes in the Money In The Bank contract?

What matches are you looking most forward to? What matches are you dreading the most? All of these questions. I'd love to hear your thoughts an predictions for the Backlash PPV.

Comments and thoughts can be sent to Doug28352@yahoo.com. Come visit me at MySpace at www.myspace.com/salt_palace. Look for the spinning disco balls. That's me.

And I'm out of here. I don't know when I'll be back, but rest assured, I will. I'm Doug and for now, dat' is all de' people need to know.

Until the next time, Ubuntu!