BACKLASH: The Night the World Title must not change hands!

At last a PPV that I can actually see and thank heavens it’s a Raw PPV. But this could be one of those nights when my landlord wonders just what the noise is downstairs at 4am. Will I be as angry as hell after Triple H regains the World Heavyweight Title or will the match even take place after Hulk Hogan does his traditionally seemingly endless period of posing to the crowd! Time to preview Backlash beginning of course with the main event.

World Heavyweight Title: Batista v Triple H

Fact! (sorry for the Joe Legend moment there) that Batista meets Triple H in June at the Vengeance PPV and that it will be a Hell in a Cell match. So, here’s the interesting proposition. Does anyone out there believe that Batista will beat Triple H three times in a row and still be World Champ after Vengeance? Not many hands I imagine, probably less viewers than Celebrity Wrestling gets up against Doctor Who and the Dalek.

So what’s going to happen at Backlash and Vengeance? I wouldn’t be surprised if somehow Triple H screwed Batista out of the title setting up that Hell in a Cell match at Vengeance where Batista gets the belt back. Then again, Batista could keep the belt at Backlash then lose it at Vengeance or just keep winning with the Backlash match ending in a DQ victory after outside interference which sets up the Hell in a Cell stipulation.

I’m not sure what’s going to happen to be honest, but I’m begging Vince not to let Triple H get the belt back at Backlash. I can’t bear the thought of another Triple H celebration on Raw on Monday night, you know that show that has wrestling inbetween the adverts. What would it say about Batista if he was to lose the belt so quickly? The title needs stability, it needs a new man at the top setting up some new feuds over the belt (ie Batista v Edge) and doesn’t need the same old guy at the top again (and again and again).

What may be most important at this PPV is the buy-rate. If it doesn’t do well, even with Hogan back, Batista’s fate could be sealed and by the end of Vengeance, Stephanie McMahon will be polishing her husband’s belt (if you see what I mean).
I feel that Batista will keep the belt at Backlash though it might be by DQ after interference by Flair, or perhaps it’s time for a new member of Evolution, which I thought had died until I saw its name on the dressing room door at Raw this week. Then again Triple H could get the title again and I get a right going over from my landlord!!

Intercontinental Title: Shelton Benjamin v Chris Jericho

Well, at least the title gets defended on this PPV and it should be a pretty decent match. It probably says a lot about the lack of decent heels on Raw that it’s between two faces. I really want Jericho to turn heel at this PPV and continue a feud with Benjamin. The Champ needs a good match to get himself back on track and I have a feeling that he’ll keep the belt here before Jericho turns on him.

World Tag Team Titles: Tag Team Turmoil:

Tajiri/Regal v The Heart Throbs v La Resistance v Hurricane/Rosey v Simon Dean/Maven

So this is the tag division on Raw eh? I thought La Resistance weren’t going to get any more title shots! Wrestling stipulations, don’t you just love them. The interesting team here is The Heart Throbs who made a decent debut on Raw against the tag champs and I believe they could well get the belts here to set up a feud with Tajiri and Regal. I just hope that when it comes to the draft lottery that The Dudleys end up on Raw to make things more interesting.

Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan v Muhammad Hassan and Daivari

So it’s time for the Hogan revival again. What’s the odds he spends more time posing after the inevitable face victory, than actually wrestling in the ring? It makes sense I suppose to have this match. Hogan is of course the All-American so time for more xenophobia from WWE. His body looks in good shape but that’s probably all with hip problems and other minor ailments meaning a long term comeback is probably out of the question (thank God) The Hassan storyline isn’t one of my favourites as you’ll have read previously. Hopefully once this is over the pair can resume battle over the tag titles with Regal and Tajiri. Will this be Hogan’s last match? Possibly, but then again this is wrestling.

You know what I’d really like to see? Shawn Michaels turn on Hulk Hogan after the match. That would create massive heat on the guy who I feel has either got to turn heel or move to Smackdown.

Last Man Standing Match: Chris Benoit v Edge

Now if this had Lita in the room there probably wouldn’t be any men standing, they’d all be on.... Back to the wrestling and this could well be the match of the night but a rather puzzling one.

Edge already has his world title shot so if he was to lose this match, wouldn’t that affect his standing as a world title contender? What are the odds that sooner or later these two will have a match where that title contract is up for grabs?

I see Edge winning this to keep his momentum going and it could well be a classic. Where that leaves Benoit I’m not sure, perhaps it’s time for him to either turn heel or go back to Smackdown, or both. Cena v Benoit perhaps?

Kane v Viscera

Ok so you get rid of Matt Hardy and Rhyno and give Viscera a push (a push that doesn’t include a nearby cliff!). In terms of in-ring action it’s a total nightmare. Explain to me why Trish would hire someone who’s been jobbing ever since he re-joined WWE? Out of the ring though, this has been fun with Trish fighting off the amorous desires of the big guy. Here’s a tip for Trish (and also gives you the chance to fantasise about her in bed), if the dirty deed does take place, go on top love or it could really be a squash!

Lita has been really lucky lately. The adulteress (a title she could have in Celebrity Wrestling) has somehow kept her job despite being the most hated face not fit to wrestle in the history of the game. There’s bound to be some action between Lita and Trish outside the ring, setting up their inevitable rematch once both are fit. I see Kane winning this unless Vince really wants to keep the fun going by having Viscera fluke a victory, that has to be considered a possibility.

Stephen Ashfield