Backlash 2023 was the 18th Backlash professional wrestling live event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event aired on pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and was available to stream through Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally. It took place on May 6, 2023 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Production
Background
First held in 1999, Backlash would become an annual event for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) until 2009. The event was revived in 2016, once again becoming an annual event, held each year except for 2019. With the concept of the event focusing on the backlash from WrestleMania, the 2021 and 2022 editions of the event were named "WrestleMania Backlash". However, the 2023 event reverted back to the original name, while retaining the post-WrestleMania theme.
On March 8, 2023, it was revealed that the 2023 Backlash event would take at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 6. Additionally, it was announced that the May 5 episode of SmackDown would take place at the same venue.
Storylines
On the March 31 episode of SmackDown, Bobby Lashley last eliminated Bronson Reed to win the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Lashley and Reed would face off on the April 10 episode of Raw, however, the match would end in a double count out. The following week, Lashley would face United States Champion Austin Theory, with the match ending in a no contest after Reed interfered. On April 21, it was announced that Theory would defend his United States Championship against Lashley and Reed in a Triple Threat Match at Backlash.
At WrestleMania Night One on April 1, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn won the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships from The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso). On the April 7 episode of SmackDown, Owens was attacked by Solo Sikoa backstage. Later that night, Zayn was defeated by Jey Uso following interference from Sikoa. After, Jey and Sikoa continued their attack on Zayn before Matt Riddle, who was kayfabe injured by Sikoa in December, made the save. The following week, Riddle assisted Owens and Zayn in a brawl with The Usos and Sikoa. On April 17, it was announced that Owens, Zayn, and Riddle would take on The Usos and Sikoa in a Six Man Tag Team Match at Backlash.
At WrestleMania Night One on April 1, Dominik Mysterio of The Judgment Day faced off against his father Rey Mysterio. Fellow Judgment Day member Damian Priest would attempt to interfere in the match, however, he was thwarted by guest Spanish commentator Bad Bunny. On the April 3 episode of Raw, Bad Bunny, who was sitting in the front row, was attacked and put through the announce table by Priest. On the April 24 episode of Raw, Bad Bunny returned, attacking Priest with a kendo stick. He then announced he would face Priest in a Street Fight at Backlash.
On the April 10 episode of Raw, IYO SKY of Damage CTRL defeated Piper Niven and Mia Yim in a Triple Threat Match to become the number one contender for the Raw Women's Championship. On April 24, it was announced that SKY would challenge Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair at Backlash.
As Rey Mysterio was embroiled in a feud with The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley), Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, and Zelina Vega) began assisting Rey. As a result, Rey would reform the Latino World Order (LWO) with Legado Del Fantasma. On the April 14 episode of SmackDown, Escobar would face off against Priest. During the match, Vega would prevent Ripley from interfering. The following week, Vega approached WWE official Adam Pearce, requesting that she challenge Ripley for her SmackDown Women's Championship at Backlash due to the feud between their respective stables, along with Vega wishing to represent her Puerto Rican descent at the event. The match was later made official.
At WrestleMania Night Two on April 2, thanks to interference from Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes to retain the WWE and Universal Championships. On the April 3 episode of Raw, Rhodes would challenge Reigns to rematch, which was declined. Rhodes would then challenge Reigns to a tag team match, which was accepted on the premises that Rhodes' partner be someone who competed at WrestleMania and that his partner would be unable to challenge Reigns as long as he was champion. Brock Lesnar would answer the call, agreeing to team up with Rhodes. Later that night, the match would never begin as Lesnar brutally attacked Rhodes before the bout. Addressing the attack on the April 10 episode of Raw, Rhodes challenged Lesnar to a match at Backlash. The following week, Rhodes would look to fight Lesnar despite not being medically cleared. As a result, WWE official Adam Pearce announced that Rhodes would face Lesnar at Backlash.
Match Preview
Results
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Bianca Belair (c) defeated IYO SKY to retain the WWE Raw Women's Championship (18:01)
- Seth Rollins defeated Omos (w/MVP) (10:31)
- Austin Theory (c) defeated Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE United States Championship (6:51)
- Rhea Ripley (c) defeated Zelina Vega to retain the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship (7:11)
- Bad Bunny defeated Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight (25:03)
- The Bloodline (Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa) defeated Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Matt Riddle in a Six Man Tag Team Match (22:05)
- Cody Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar (9:43)
Other on-screen talent
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See also
DVD release
[ Backlash 2023 on DVD]
External links
Backlash 2023 Official Website
[ Backlash 2023 Kickoff Show on WWE Network]
[ Backlash 2023 on WWE Network]- Backlash 2023 at CAGEMATCH.net
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