So after over a week removed from Backlash PPV, Mysterious A has finally decided to write his review of this extraordinary PPV.
It was a great choice by the WWE to have wrestlers from all three brands (SD!, RAW, ECW) compete on the PPV.
Okay, on with the review.
WWE Backlash 2007 took place in Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Attendance: 13 200
The card looked decent to me, especially because all six matches were contested for some championship belt, and in the end not one match disappointed.
Match #1: Hardy Boyz (c) vs Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch (WWE World Tag Team Championship)
This was a very good opener. Cade and Murdoch play good heels and the WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes was right when he said that they reminded him of the team of late Dick Murdoch and Dusty himself (who competed in the NWA in the late 70s/early 80s).
Cade and Murcoh took early control of the match. Basically, they did everything they could to take the titles - whether it was legal or illegal it didn't matter to them, but after all - they're playing heels. And damn good heels if you ask me.
Finally, after a lot of struggle Jeff Hardy managed to reach his corner and tag in his brother Matt, who looked great in this match. He hit a Side Effect on Murdoch, but that wasn't enough because Lance Cade came off the top rope and hit a Double Ax Handle on Matt Hardy. Trevor Murdoch then hit his move Code Red (which I mentioned before looks like Petey Williams' (TNA) Canadian Destroyer, only much worse), but Matt kicked out right before two. Murdoch then picked Matt up into the Fireman's Carry, but Matt countered with the Twist of Fate, but right before Matt could get the winning pin, Lance Cade pulled him to the outside and they engaged into a fist fight. Jeff Hardy used this to hit his Swanton Bomb on Murdoch and Matt one the fist exchange on the outside and got back into the ring to get the winning cover.
Match rating - *** - nothing fancy, maybe I should've given this match a half of star less, but I feel it was one good opener that got the crowd pumped for the remainder of the show. And what a show it was!
Then in the back, we see Umaga, Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon get prepared for their match against Bobby Lashley for the ECW Championship. The segment ends when it's decided that when they win Vince McMahon will become the new ECW World Champion.
Match #2: Melina Perez (c) vs Mickie James (WWE Women's Championship)
This match was the proof that Women's division in the WWE has the future even though many people doubted that after the departure of Amy Dumas and Trish Stratus. These girls surprised me when early in the match we got to see a great exchange of wrestling holds. Also some moves shown by Melina were incredible. At the end, I really thought that Mickie James got severely injured when Melina basically set right on her neck when she jumped from the top rope. In the end at the 8 minute mark, Mickie fell victim to a reverse DDT. Melina retained her championship.
Rating - *** - again, maybe I did over exaggerate, but these two ladies showed that there is some true talent in the Women's locker room. If Candice Michelle could improve just a little more and if WWE could sign somebody like Mercedes Martinez or Sara Del Ray, then we could have one hell of a Women's Division in WWE.
Match #3: Chris Benoit (c) vs MVP (WWE United States Championship)
Just like in their match at Wrestlemania 23, MVP managed to stay toe to toe with Chris Benoit wrestling wise. There were so many great moments in this match. Such as the move reversal sequence at the beginning of the match. Also, Benoit hit a series of rolling German Suplexes (5 if I'm not mistaken). MVP locked in a Reverse Stepover Armbar (and used ropes for leverage), but the ref caught him cheating.
After another great series of German Suplexes, Benoit went for the cover, but MVP blocked, so Benoit reversed it into the small package and got the pin.
Rating - ***1/4 - this time I didn't exaggerate one bit. This was a great WRESTLING match and the finish surprised me because I really thought that Backlash was MVP's time to shine. But the storyline will continue and that's what makes me happy. I just hope that when Benoit loses his US belt, WWE give him one more World title reign - the guy deserves it more than anyone right now.
In the back, Orton and Cena had a very funny conversation when Cena started to make fun of Orton stating that Randy was hitting on him (although he was just offering to team up with Cena and take out Edge and Shawn Michaels in their Fatal Fourway match). This was concluded with Ron Simmons' DAMN!'
Good stuff.
Match #4: Lashley (c) vs Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and Umaga (ECW World Championship)
The start of the match was all Lashley. First Shane tried to take Lashley down, but to no avail as Lashley was throwing him around like a rag doll. Then Umaga tagged in, but he was served the same menu. After the opening domination by Lashley, Shane used the chance and pulled down the ropes, sending Lashley down to the floor. Shane then took control of the match and impressed me with his mat wrestling skills. When Lashley powered out of this, Umaga was sent in to take Lashley down again and he did the job well. When Shane McMahon recovered, he got back in and continued to work on Lashley's arm and back.
However, he got too cocky and Lashley got back up and cleaned house.
Just as it seemed that Lashley was going to win, for the first time in the match Vince McMahon got in and broke the cover. Lashley then turned his attention to Vince and he tried to powerslam him, but the move was stopped by Umaga. While the ref was getting Vince out of the ring, Shane used the opportunity and whacked Lashley with the ECW championship belt. Vince then tagged in but only got the 2 count. Vince tagged Umaga in. Umaga hit the top rope splash. Vince covered - still a 2 count. Umaga hit the splash once again. Vince covered - 1...2....3!!! We have a new ECW World Champion! And the oldest ECW Champion in history.
Celebration in the end was extremely funny.
And a lot of people are saying that this was the worst choice ever. But I just don't agree. If you take a look back to 1999 all the way to his last match at Unforgiven 2006, the conclusion is that Vince McMahon entertained us in every single match. And in every match he was hardcore, he took hundreds of sick bumps, and I even stopped counting the chair shots. In every match, Vince McMahon was extreme! So there is really no reason for all this negativity.
And he'll probably provide us with more entertaining matches than current Tommy Dreamer and Sandman could.
Match rating: **3/4 - good action, Shane McMahon was the most impressive in this match. And Lashley played the numbers game very well , as he tried to mount a comeback on numerous times, but never managed beat the odds.
Match #5: The Undertaker (c) vs Batista (Last Man Standing) (World Heavyweight Championship)
If there was a decisive winner in this match, it would definitely be a Match of The Year Candidate, this way, it might be overlooked. Words aren't good enough to describe this match. So many great spots. Leg drop through the announce table, a series of spinebusters by Batista. Tombstones, Batista Bombs, Chokeslams etc. It was all great, but the finish was incredible.
This match itself is the only reason to get this PPV or buy a DVD when it comes out. Also, Batista played a great 'silent' heel role in this match. (Kind of like John Cena in his match with Rob Van Dam at ECW One Night Stand 2006)
Match rating - **** - outstanding, these two guys work great together. After Wrestlemania they delivered once again, and this match will be talked about for a long time.
Match #6: John Cena (c) vs Shawn Michaels vs Edge vs Randy Orton (WWE Championship)
After the previous match, the crowd was a bit too quiet for this match, but nevertheless it was a very entertaining match. Shawn Michaels and John Cena were the biggest favorites for this match and it certainly looked that way because Edge and Orton just played side roles in this match.
It was very exciting when John Cena was locking the STFU on every wrestler who stepped into the ring, but one by one, Edge, Orton and Shawn Michaels managed to get to the ropes. The finish saw the exchange of finishing moves. First Edge hit a Spear on Orton, then Cena hit an F-U on Edge, and when he turned around, Cena was greeted with a Sweet Chin Music from Shawn Michaels. However, while Shawn thought that him winning the match was just a formality, referee saw that Cena fell on top of Orton and he counted the winning pinfall. John Cena retained the WWE Championship.
Match rating - ***3/4 - Just a bit less entertaining then the previous match, but still very good. Also, Shawn looked really upset at the end of the match, so I presume that their feud will continue. My prediction is that in the end Shawn will win the title and Cena will turn heel.
But my predictions suck, so don't count on it.
And now I will look back at the TNA Impact results from April 19, 2007 and April 26, 2007, and I will have the results of May 3, 2007 tomorrow night.
On April 19, 2007 TNA iMPACT! broadcast, Mike Tenay interviewed Jeff Jarrett regarding his return to TNA Wrestling. The former World Champion spoke out about his time away from the spotlight, including coming to realization that it was time for him to give back to the sport. Jarrett talked about three steps to accomplish that – the first was last Thursday when he returned to join Team Angle. The second step was at Lockdown when he helped Sting. According to Jarrett, Step 3 will surprise a lot of people and will be something he needs to “make right”.
During Jarrett’s interview, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle hit the ring and certainly wasn’t pleased with what he heard. (I guess that makes him a heel - yes, finally I got some right). According to Angle, he was the one who brought Jarrett back to TNA and he felt he was the one who deserved the shot at the gold, not Sting. In turn, Sting came out and got in Angle’s face regarding the comments, claiming if it wasn’t for men like he and Jarrett paving the way in the sport, Angle would be a “Gold Medal Gym Teacher”. Sting said there was only one way to settle this – and that was to battle for the first time ever next Thursday night on April 26, 2007 to determine who gets the World Title shot at May’s TNA PPV Sacrifice!
Also on that same Thursday night, Christian Cage and Abyss challenged Team 3D for the World Tag Team Title, which Brother Ray and Devon won on Sunday night at Lockdown against The LAX. It was ultimately Team 3D earning the win and retaining their gold when they beat Abyss, causing Christian Cage to get in the monster’s face. However, Abyss fired back by assaulting Cage and even his manager James Mitchell! During the melee, the rest of Christian Cage’s army hit the ring and took turns bloodying and brutalizing Abyss with steel chairs and a barbed-wire baseball bat! Abyss was left a bloody mess in the middle of the ring as “iMPACT!” went off the air!
(I hope that Abyss will return as a huge destructive monster - like Kane was when he debuted in the WWE in 1997).
On April 26, 2007 TNA iMPACT! broadcast it was Sting vs. Kurt Angle for the World Title shot against Christian Cage at “Sacrifice”, but the bout ended without a clear-cut winner as Cage and his army hit the ring and assaulted both Sting and Angle! Later in the broadcast, Don West (via TNA management director Jim Cornette) informed Cage he would have to defend the gold that night against Sting in the main event! During the bout, Sting was close to claiming the gold, but Kurt Angle came out – still hurt and in a neck brace – to seek revenge on Cage. Angle cost Sting the bout by DQ and his shot at the World Title, which enraged the wrestling icon. As “iMPACT!” went off the air, Sting hit Angle with his bat out of anger! Also, after weeks of guessing who Eric Young's friend is, it turned out to be non other then Jeff Jarrett who keeps on shocking the world week after week. Jarrett helped Eric by chasing off Robert Roode and hitting Ms. Brooks with his patented Guitar Shot. (I really didn't expect the friend to be Jarrett - my pick was Ron Killings, but this is still very good. And Eric Young could be the guy that gets the biggest pop of all the other midcarders) Bad news for this show are that there was no Rhino nor Samoa Joe on this show, but they are announced to compete at next weeks iMPACT! for the tag team gold against Team 3D.
Okay, this is it for now. I will be back soon with more results from RAW, Smackdown!, ECW and iMPACT!
Thank you and see you.
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