WrestleMania Backlash 2022 was the 17th 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 8, 2022 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. It was the second Backlash held under this name after the previous year's event, thus officially renaming the event series as WrestleMania Backlash. The concept of the event was based around the backlash from WrestleMania 38.
Production
Background
Backlash is a pay-per-view (PPV) and Peacock/WWE Network event that was established by WWE in 1999. It was held annually from 1999 to 2009. Backlash was discontinued after 2009 but reinstated in 2016 and has been held every year since, except in 2019. The original concept of the event was based around the backlash from WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania. The events from 2016 to 2018 and in 2020 did not carry this theme; however, the 2021 event returned to this original concept and was aptly named "WrestleMania Backlash". The 2022 event was also confirmed to be held under this name, thus renaming the event series to WrestleMania Backlash. It will be the 17th event in the Backlash chronology and will feature the backlash from WrestleMania 38. It is scheduled to take place on May 8, 2022, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island and will feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.
Storylines
The event included matches that resulted from scripted storylines where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
At WrestleMania 38, Charlotte Flair defeated Ronda Rousey to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship. On the following episode of SmackDown, Rousey wanted another opportunity at the title due to the underhanded way in which Flair won and challenged Flair to an "I Quit" match, but Flair denied and told Rousey to get back in line. Rousey countered her and told her that the match would happen. The following day, the championship rematch was scheduled for WrestleMania Backlash.
At WrestleMania 38, former All Elite Wrestling wrestler Cody Rhodes made his return to WWE after six years as Seth "Freakin" Rollins' surprise opponent where Rhodes defeated Rollins. On the April 11 episode of Raw, Rollins said he was not able to prepare for their WrestleMania match since he did not know who he was facing beforehand, but now being able to see what Rhodes was capable of, he challenged Rhodes to a rematch and Rhodes accepted. The rematch was subsequently scheduled for WrestleMania Backlash.
At WrestleMania 38, SmackDown's Universal Champion Roman Reigns defeated Raw's WWE Champion Brock Lesnar in a Winner Takes All match to claim both titles and become recognized as the "Undisputed WWE Universal Champion". On the following episode of SmackDown, Reigns stated that he had nothing left to prove; however, he wanted his cousins, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), to replicate his feat by winning the Raw Tag Team Championship to bring more gold to The Bloodline. The Usos appeared on Raw the following week to issue a challenge to the Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle), who accepted and the match was made official as a Winners Take All championship unification match at WrestleMania Backlash.
At WrestleMania 38, Edge defeated AJ Styles due to a distraction from Damian Priest. Edge and Priest then formed an alliance where Edge claimed to wipe out anyone who does not fit in their "Mountain of Omnipotence". On the April 18 episode of Raw, Edge stated that he needed to finish what he started with Styles and then challenged Styles to a rematch at WrestleMania Backlash, with Styles later accepting the match.
At WrestleMania 38, Drew McIntyre defeated Happy Corbin to end their feud. Following this, a dissension arose between Corbin and his partner, Madcap Moss, with Corbin blaming Moss for his loss at WrestleMania. Tension continued to grow between the two and a match was ultimately scheduled for WrestleMania Backlash.
After Bobby Lashley defeated Omos at WrestleMania, Lashley's partner and manager, MVP, turned on him on the April 4 edition of Raw, and aligned himself with Omos. Following some back and forth over the next few weeks, Lashley and Omos competed in an Arm wrestling match on April 25, which ended in Lashley's favour. Omos then decimated Lashley after the contest and later challenged him to a match at WrestleMania Backlash.
Match Preview
Results
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Cody Rhodes defeated Seth "Freakin" Rollins (20:46)
- Omos (w/ MVP) defeated Bobby Lashley (8:51)
- Edge defeated AJ Styles by Referee's Decision (15:21)
- Ronda Rousey defeated Charlotte Flair (c) in an "I Quit" match to win the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship (16:32)
- Madcap Moss defeated Happy Corbin (9:46)
- The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) defeated Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) in a Six Man Tag Team Match (22:11)
Other on-screen talent
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See also
DVD release
[ WrestleMania Backlash 2022 on DVD]
External links
WrestleMania Backlash 2022 Official Website
[ WrestleMania Backlash 2022 Kickoff Show on WWE Network]
[ WrestleMania Backlash 2022 on WWE Network]- WrestleMania Backlash 2022 at CAGEMATCH.net
| WrestleMania Backlash 2022 previews |
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| Charlotte Flair v Ronda Rousey • Cody Rhodes v Seth "Freakin" Rollins • RK-Bro v The Usos • AJ Styles v Edge • Happy Corbin v Madcap Moss • Bobby Lashley v Omos • |
| Backlash |
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| 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 |
| 2022 World Wrestling Entertainment Premium Live Events |
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Day 1 • Royal Rumble • Elimination Chamber • Stand & Deliver • WrestleMania 38 • WrestleMania Backlash • NXT In Your House • Hell in a Cell • Money in the Bank • SummerSlam • Clash at the Castle • Worlds Collide • Extreme Rules • NXT Halloween Havoc • Crown Jewel • Survivor Series • NXT Deadline |