Backlash (2023) | Results & Grades

The following are the RESULTS and my GRADES for WWE Backlash 2023.

RAW Women's Championship

(Singles Match)

Bianca Belair (c) def. Iyo Sky

COMMENTS

The crowd was really into Iyo Sky and was booing the hell out of Bianca, so that was very interesting to see and hear. I'm pretty sure this means we're gonna be getting a Bianca heel turn soon. This match was a very good opening match to kick off the night! The crowd was HOT for the entire bout, in the end Bianca hit the KOD onto Iyo for the win and retains her title. Bayley and Dakota Kai came out to assist Iyo for the win but failed. Seems like we might be getting an Iyo Sky babyface turn here soon and breakaway from Damage CTRL.

This was a great match and a great opening match, mostly thanks to the crowd in Puerto Rico. Both women worked their asses off and put on a banger. Really well done.

GRADE: A-

Singles Match

Seth "Freakin" Rollins def. Omos

(w/ MVP)

COMMENTS

Rollins really did make Omos look real good here the whole match. It was a pretty average match overall, but definitely Omos' best match since appearing on WWE television. The crowd was hot for Rollins and his theme song, of course. Rollins hit a SUPER STOMP onto Omos for the pin.

Decent enough match.

GRADE: C+

United States Championship

(Triple Threat Match)

Austin Theory (c) def. Bronson Reed

& Bobby Lashley

COMMENTS

One of the more lesser matches on the card. Other than Bronson Reed working his ass off for the most of it, it was a pretty basic triple threat match. Lashley got a few licks in. Reed tried to hit Theory with a moonsault (which was impressive), but only to miss it entirely when Theory rolled out of the way. Lashley then hit a spear on Reed, with Theory tossing Lashley out to pin Reed. Theory retains.

It was literally the most basic of matches and the finish was highly anticipated by pretty much any person with an active brain. Meh.

GRADE: D

SmackDown Women's Championship

(Singles Match)

Rhea Ripley (c) def. Zelina Vega

COMMENTS

Another real basic match, with the crowd being really hot for Zelina the entire time. Zelina even received a STANDING OVATION before the match even started, Vega got teary-eyed and it was a really cool moment for her. Loved it. The match itself was real basic. Zelina got some offense here and there, but we all knew where this was heading. Rhea hit Zelina with a Riptide to pick up the rather easy W.

After the match, Zelina got another strong ovation from the crowd to end the segment.

GRADE: D+

San Juan Street Fight

Bad Bunny def. Damian Priest

COMMENTS

Easily the Match of the Night by a looooong stretch. These two put on an absolute show for the Puerto Rico audience. Bad Bunny killed it, Priest played an amazing villain throughout. Really really good stuff here. Towards the end of the match, you had Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio come out to try and aid Priest, which they did for a second. Afterwards, you had Rey Mysterio come down and give some help to Bunny, Dom and Balor started beating him down as well. Carlito made his return to the company by aiding Rey against the Judgment Day. Carlito and Rey managed to run off Dom and Balor, only for Savio Vega to come out with LWO members and they all brawled up the ramp. Vega hit some chops and a wheelhouse kick to Balor. They walked off. Bunny then hit Priest with a BUNNY DESTROYER to pick up the win.

I really figured Priest would pick up the win here with Bunny more than likely leaving after this for a bit. But, I definitely ain't mad with the result. This match was absolutely awesome and the crowd was just losing their f*cking shit the whole time, especially with the appearance of Carlito and Savio Vega. Really great stuff here. Match of the Night.

GRADE: A+

Six-Man Tag Team Match

Solo Sikoa

Jimmy Uso

Jey Uso

(The Bloodline)

def.

Matt Riddle

Kevin Owens

Sami Zayn

COMMENTS

Another longer match between these six men. It told a great story and furthered some much anticipated tension between The Bloodline. Solo was not having it with Jey for the latter part of the match, with Jey constantly getting in the face of Sami Zayn. At one point, it was looking like Solo was going to attack Jey, but it didn't happen. In the end, Solo hit a SAMOAN SPIKE onto Matt Riddle to pick up the win for the Bloodline.

A good match, but it was definitely difficult to follow such an incredible Street Fight. Further tension is definitely felt between Bloodline members, especially Jey and Solo. The story continues.

GRADE: B+

Singles Match

Cody Rhodes def. Brock Lesnar

COMMENTS

Brock and Cody definitely both came to throw down with one another. The match almost went 10 minutes, so that's a plus for Lesnar fans. Cody worked his ass off for most of the offense, with Brock selling as good as he always does for most of it. Brock got busted open pretty good towards the latter part of the match, like he was pouring out blood from his head. It was quite something (and a bit interesting). In the end, Brock locked in a Kimura lock onto Cody, but Cody used Brocks own momentum against himself by rolling him up and pinning his shoulders down for the W.

I figured Cody would win here, but I didn't quite know what the finish would be. After seeing the finish, I'm definitely not shocked with how they did it. There's definitely going to be another match at least between Lesnar and Rhodes. My guess is Saudi.

Overall, decent enough match, probably not the right match to end the night when you look back, but it is what it is.

GRADE: C+

SHOW GRADE: B+