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WWE Backlash 2020 took place Sunday, June 14 at the empty WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL and airs live on WWE Network. Watch/listen to our recap or scroll down to read the complete WWE Backlash report!
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WWE Backlash 2020 Results – Live on WWE Network and at WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Samoa Joe, Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton
WWE United States Championship: Apollo Crews defeated Andrade to retain the WWE U.S. Title on the PPV Kickoff Show. You can watch the full match and WWE Backlash Kickoff here. Angel Garza tried to interfere, but was thwarted by Kevin Owens. Zelina Vega was not happy.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Sasha Banks and Bayley (c) defeated Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, The IIconics (Peyton Royce and Billie Kay). Banks pinned Bliss with a pinning combo after she hit Twisted Bliss on Royce. Bayley and Banks will defend the tag titles against Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart this Wednesday night on WWE NXT.
WWE Extreme Rules 2020 PPV confirmed for Sunday, July 19.
Sheamus defeated Jeff Hardy. Solid match that did not need the tasteless drug addiction exploitation storyline. Sheamus got the pin after catching Hardy with a Brogue kick as he dove off the barricade outside, followed by another in the ring for good measure.
WWE Raw Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Nia Jax went to a double countout. I don’t believe Jax has ever beaten Asuka in NXT or the main roster. Decent match, but weak finish that sets up a rematch at Extreme Rules. Both women brawled on the outside. Asuka headkicked Jax outside, but reentered the ring too late for the draw.
2-on-1 Handicap Match for WWE Universal Championship: Braun Strowman (c) defeated The Miz and John Morrison to retain the Universal Title. This doesn’t feel like a main event feud at all. Miz and Morrison debut their new music video that is so bad, it’s good. Again, the top program on SmackDown is the giant World Champion vs. two comedy guys. This is normal handicap match rules, so Miz and Morrison have to tag in and out. The former tag team champions got some offense, but Strowman hits the running powerslam and comes out on top. This was not a world title level match.
We get highlights of AJ Styles defeating Daniel Bryan on SmackDown to win the WWE Intercontinental Champion. Kayla Braxton interviews Styles backstage who says there will be a Phenomenal IC Title celebration.
WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre defeated Bobby Lashley (with Montel Vontavious Porter aka MVP) to retain the WWE Title. This is Lashley’s first WWE Championship match since his loss to John Cena at Great American Bash on July 22, 2007.
Lashley attacks McIntyre before the bell and locks on the Full Nelson. Lashley eventually breaks the hold. McIntyre tells the ref to ring the bell as Lashley dominates early on. Three minutes in and McIntyre couldn’t even get his ring jacket off. McIntyre hits a Northern Lights suplex for the nearfall. Lashley works on the neck to setup another Full Nelson opportunity. Lashley’s “wife” Lana is watching the match backstage.
They brawl outside. McIntyre finally gains momentum. Back in the ring, Lashley slams McIntyre for a ONE COUNT. Flatliner by Lashley. Another kickout by McIntyre at ONE. MVP losing his mind at ringside. Lashley tries to lock in Full Nelson, but McIntyre breaks out. Lashley on middle rope beating down McIntyre in the corner. McIntyre hits the reverse Alabama Slam for the two count. Lashley locked in a crossface. McIntyre escapes and nearly hit a tombstone of all things. Lashley reverses into an ankle lock. McIntyre counters with a kimura. That MMA/BJJ exchange was unexpected!
McIntyre hits a superplex on Lashley and kips up. Lashley hits a spear, but gets only a two count. Lana walks out to ringside and accidentally distracts Lashley. McIntyre headbutts Lashley who bumps into Lana on the apron who falls onto MVP. McIntyre hits the Claymore Kick for the win. Great match, but I could have done without the finish. This would have been a good time to have Lashley win given all the momentum he had going in, but I guess there’s always next month.
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) (c) vs. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) never officially happened because they had a wacky brawl backstage. This is far too wacky to describe, but they brawled on top of Strowman’s car (same on fixed from Miz and Morrison vandalism), backstage, and even incorporated a bowling ball. Erik told everyone “let’s take it outside” but they were already outside. We then get Akira Tozawa leading a ninja biker gang because WWE can’t help itself with outdated racist tropes. Raiders and Profits unite to clean house as the Viking Profits.
Tozawa brings out his final boss, a giant ninja who scares off both teams. Erik’s magic chicken drumstick could not help him there. After they run to the top of the WWE production truck, a brawl breaks out again. Dawkins bulldogs Ivar off the truck into a dumpster. Erik throws Ford off. And Erik accidentally falls in. We then get a flashback of Erik getting called cute and Ivar “not so much.” This is so dumb. WWE ref Jessika Carr finds them in the dumpster says Erik is cute and Ivar “not so much.” We then hear growling and both teams narrowly escape from the dumpster. This was garbage. Literally and figuratively.
Randy Orton defeated Edge in a straight wrestling match with no gimmicks and stipulations. WWE is hyping Edge vs. Orton of all matches as potentially the GREATEST MATCH OF ALL TIME. This could certainly be great given who is involved, but GREATEST MATCH EVER? Strange marketing, but we’re finally here. Note: This match was prerecorded. Unfortunately, Edge suffered a triceps injury in this match per Fightful.com and could be out the rest of the year. The commentators mention we will see enhanced sound and camera angles. This is Edge’s first straight up wrestling match since 2011. We even get the late Howard Finkel’s voice on introductions!
Edge gets the upper hand early on with arm drags. Orton works on Edge’s injured neck with a head scissors. Edge gets out of it. They stare each other down and exchange Irish whips and leap frogs. Orton trips up Edge to the outside. Orton chases Edge outside and inside and outside of the ring. Edge hits a big boot. Edge gets a two count inside the ring. Edge picks up the pace and slides underneath Orton twice before hitting an arm drag and applying shoulder lock. Edge working on the shoulder/wrist. Orton tries to power out, but Edge stays locked in.
Headlock by Edge. This is most certainly a straight up wrestling match so far. Orton backs Edge into the corner and stomps Edge’s foot. Edge was crotched by Orton on top rope. Orton attempted a superplex to the outside, but Edge headbutts Orton to knock him outside. Edge falls to the outside as well. Orton is smiling and busted open. Edge works on Orton’s shoulder again. Back in the ring, Edge stalks Orton and beats him down. Edge goes for the crossface with pressure applied to the shoulder. Orton escapes and tries to hit an RKO. Edge locks in the arm triangle choke but Orton escapes and hits the modified neckbreaker.
Orton slams edge into the barricade multiple times outside. Slams him on the announcers table. Kick out by Edge in the ring. Orton working on Edge’s recently repaired wrist with the Garvin Stomp. Orton with a vice-like chin lock on Edge. Edge fights out, but is sent neck-first into the top turnbuckle. Three Amigos suplexes by Orton. Shades of Eddie Guerrero. Orton can’t finish the third as Edge reverses and hits three of his own! WWE NXT wrestler crowd is hot, although the noise does sound a bit enhanced. Not a bad thing for this particular match.
Edge and Orton are slowly getting to their feet and trading chops on the way up. They trade chops in the corner. Orton ducks under and hits his trademark dropkick. Edge rolls outside. Back in the ring, Orton goes for another superplex and finally hits it. We get a shaky, up close camera angle after the impact. Kick out by Edge. Uppercut by Orton. Irish whip by Orton. Both men collapse after hitting simultaneous crossbodies.
Edge goes up top, but is stopped by Orton. Orton goes for a draping DDT, but Edge reverses into the Edgecution implant DDT. Orton kicks out. Edge goes up top and hits the crossbody for the two count. Edge runs after Orton, but Orton ducks. Orton with a schoolboy pin. Edge reverses into a crossface. Orton hits an Olympic Slam. Kick out by Edge. Powerbomb by Edge, but Orton kicks out. Orton throws Edge outside and pulls him back up for the draping DDT. Orton went for an RKO, but Edge reverses into an Unprettier attempt. Orton pushes Edge off, but Edge hits the Edge-o-matic for a nearfall.
Edge goes for a spear, but Orton leapfrogs over him. Edge hits Christian’s Unprettier, but Orton kicks out. This is one hell of a match that deserves a real crowd and not something from WWE 2K. Orton slams Edge against the ropes. Orton hits Triple H’s Pedigree. Edge kicks out! Edge hits a Rock Bottom and Orton kicks out! Edge went for a sharpshooter, but Orton escapes. Orton goes for another draping DDT, but Edge counters with a jawbreaker. Edge hits multiple pinning attempts, but Orton kicks out. Orton finally hits an RKO, but Edge kicks out at two!
Orton goes for the punt, but Edge hits the spear! And another spear! Orton kicks out of two spears! Edge hops off the middle rope and gets caught with an RKO, but Edge kicks out! Edge locks in the arm triangle choke, but Orton fights out of it and punts Edge in the head to get the pin! Not the greatest wrestling match ever, but a fantastic encounter and the best match these legends have had with each other. Orton whispers something in Edge’s ear as he celebrates his hard fought victory. This match went nearly as long as their WrestleMania 36 match and definitely delivered. EMTs come out to get Edge out of the ring. Edge refuses to be stretchered out.
Overall, the Edge vs. Orton and WWE Title matches help save Backlash 2020 from being a completely skippable show. Talk about finishing the night on a high note!
Check out our interview with WWE Hall of Famer The Godfather!