From The Webmaster: WWE Backlash Matches And Predictions, Live Coverage This Sunday
This Sunday's Backlash is the first PPV which was a singular brand PPV to become a tri-branded one, and is a major test for WWE. If Backlash performs better than previous years, than an argument can be made that having all three brands on every PPV is the right way to go (although it would still be too early to say). If it's at the same levels as prior years, or even lower, it shows that the problem is something else, like the fact that there are just too many PPV's from WWE nowadays and customers are programmed to only purchase the major four shows (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and the Survivor Series).
For the first time, we will have live coverage and match by match results of WWE Backlash on WrestlingInc.com. Make sure to be here Sunday evening at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST, when coverage begins.
As I mentioned last month, the WWE has had a bad habit of giving away the finishes to their main event matches via their booking the week of their PPV's. Again, I would say 70-80% of the time the person who is left laying or jobbing on the Raw, ECW or Smackdown before a PPV ends up winning at the PPV. That rang true last month as I predicted all the major matches for WrestleMania, with the only two matches I was wrong about being Chris Benoit/MVP and the ECW Originals/New Breed match. That being said, let's look at the matches (please beware that these contain spoilers for Friday Night Smackdown):
United States Champion Chris Benoit vs. MVP: This was one of the two matches I was wrong about for WrestleMania. At the time it was likely that Benoit was headed to Raw, however plans changed. Benoit got the better of MVP on this week's Smackdown, defeating him by countout, so I'll have to go with MVP, who has shown tremendous improvement in this program with Benoit. Prediction: MVP
Women's Champion Melina vs. Mickie James: The only reason Melina was really made women's champion in the first place was to have a heel for Ashley to work with at WrestleMania since she was coming off the Playboy cover. Melina has shown that in the ring, she is one of the best divas as far as work rate is concerned. However, WWE has clearly been behind Mickie James since the she arrived, and with Melina's backstage heat, I'm predicting a title change. Prediction: Mickie James
World Tag Team Champions The Hardys vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch: Cade and Murdoch have gotten the better of the Hardys in singles matches the last couple of weeks, defeating both Hardys clean by pinfall. The tag titles seemed like the are getting a mild push since the Hardy's won them a few weeks ago and them losing the titles would be a step down for the titles. Prediction: The Hardys
World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Match): Batista really rose to the occasion at WrestleMania, having one of his best matches (if not the best match) of his career. However, the Undertaker was told that he was going to have an extended reign as champion, plus Batista got the win for them in the tag match of this week's Smackdown, leading me to go with 'Taker. Prediction: Undertaker
ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon & Umaga (3-on-1 Handicap Match): If it weren't for this past week's ECW, I'd be predicting Lashley to retain. But he came off the strongest this past week, which leads me to believe that he's dropping the strap. Don't look for this feud to be ending, however. Prediction: Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon & Umaga
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels (Fatal Four Way Match): I personally feel that Edge winning would be the best thing right now, as it would shake things up, as well as have a fresh opponent for Michaels until Triple H returns this summer. Not to mention, Cena chasing may get rid of the fan backlash that has returned towards him. However, Cena is WWE's golden boy and he did a clean job for Michaels this past week, so I'm going with Cena retaining, most likely pinning Orton or Michaels to win the match. Prediction: John Cena.