Backlash 2020 Preview and Predictions

Women’s Tag Titles on the Line

Sasha Banks and the Smackdown Women’s Champion, Bayley beat Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross for the tag-team gold on the June 5th edition of Smackdown. It is now their second reign as tag champions. This makes Bayley a double champ, but also could add a storyline for the future.

At Backlash, Banks and Bayley will defend their titles in a triple threat match against the Iconics and Bliss/Cross.

The Iconics returned to action last month and immediately entered the title picture. They beat the then champs, Bliss and Cross in a non-title match. Remember, they also defeated Bayley & Banks for the women’s tag team titles at WrestleMania 35 at MetLife Stadium.

Some see them walking out of Backlash the new champions. However, I believe Bayley and Banks will retain the titles, pinning Nikki Cross. This gives an extra month of Bayley and Banks as champions before the Extreme Rules PPV where I think they will lose.

This will then set up a feud between Banks and Bayley for the Smackdown Women’s Title at Summerslam.

Street Profits vs. Viking Raiders

The “Anything you can do, we can do better” challenge culminates tonight when the Street Profits defend their RAW Tag Team Championships against the Viking Raiders.

From Basketball to ax throwing to golf, bowling and a decathlon; both teams have had fun with this challenge.

Now, the real test is here. The Street Profits have never beaten the Viking Raiders in a tag-team match.

Last month, the Viking Raiders pinned the Street Profits in a non-title match. After a month of competition, we finally get to see these two teams battle it out for the gold.

I will take the Street Profits to finally beat the Viking Raiders. The fans love this team, but if any team were to take the titles off the Street Profits hands, it would be Erik and Ivar.

Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus

This feud started with Sheamus being upset that Jeff Hardy was being talked about more than him. Sheamus says that the fans are tired of Hardy blowing all his chances with the suspensions and the arrests.

Two weeks ago on Smackdown, Hardy was set up in a hit and run, leaving Elias on a stretcher and injured. It was made to look like Hardy had been drinking and driving.

Hardy accused Sheamus of being the culprit after cops said the suspect had red hair and a red beard.

The charismatic enigma looks to seek revenge on the Celtic Warrior. I have Hardy beating Sheamus and ending this feud.

US Title Up for Grabs

United States Champion Apollo Crews will defend his title against the former champion, Andrade.

Andrade took Crews out of the Money in the Bank Ladder Match after injuring his knee on RAW. Crews would come back and win his first title in WWE.

Andrade beat Kevin Owens and Angel Garza in a triple-threat match on RAW to earn the opportunity to face Crews at Backlash.

I think Apollo Crews will retain the championship, pinning Andrade for the third time since winning the title.

Universal Championship Match

Braun Strowman will defend his Universal Championship in a 2-on-1 handicap match against The Miz & John Morrison.

Miz and Morrison have been trying to get in the head of the Monster Among Men and successfully did so last week on Smackdown.

An angry Strowman would then flip the van that Miz & Morrison were hiding in at the end of the show.

Braun Strowman will easily retain his title and could possibly be attacked by the Fiend. Another possibility could be to hold off on Strowman vs. The Fiend until Summerslam if Roman Reigns is still not ready to compete.

Asuka Begins her Reign as Champion

RAW Women’s Champion, Asuka will defend her title for the first time against Nia Jax.

Jax defeated Charlotte Flair and Natalya in a triple-threat match to earn this opportunity. Before this match, Jax injured Asuka’s tag partner, Kairi Sane in a match on RAW.

After Flair defeated Asuka in a non-title match this past Monday on RAW, Jax delivered a Samoan Drop to the Champion, leaving her helpless in the middle of the ring.

I think Asuka will successfully defend her championship. She will get revenge for what Jax did to Sane and herself. However, the feud with Jax may not be over. They could have another match at Extreme Rules.

This is all leading up to a Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka match at Summerslam in my opinion.

WWE Championship Match

Drew McIntyre puts his WWE title on the line against the almighty Bobby Lashley.

Lashley ditched Lana for MVP in an effort to appear in more high profile matches. MVP and Lashley made it clear last month that they were eyeing the WWE Championship.

This will be the first time Lashley is competing for the WWE Title in 13 years.

The new move in Lashley’s arsenal is the full nelson, which he has locked in on several superstars including McIntyre. The WWE Champion was in the clutches of Lashley to end an episode of RAW two weeks ago.

This past week, McIntyre responded with a Claymore as the Street Profits tried to rip Lashley’s full nelson off Ivar of the Viking Raiders.

I think this match is going to be a classic and in the end, Drew McIntyre will beat Lashley and continue his reign.

Edge vs. Orton

In what could be the Greatest Wrestling Match Ever, Edge will square off against Randy Orton.

The two are coming off a grueling Last Man Standing Match at WrestleMania that saw Edge come out victorious. The Viper says that Edge was not the better wrestler that night.

This past Monday on RAW, Edge was Christian’s guest on the Peep Show. Christian had doubts that Edge could pull this off and Edge himself has doubts as well.

Christian was fired up, telling the Rated-R Superstar, “If Edge isn’t going to show up at Backlash, then step through these ropes and go home right now.”

The Viper responded, saying, “The redemption of Edge is over”. Edge promptly responded, “No it’s not.”

Both of these performers have told an unbelievable story. They are truly two of the best to ever hold a microphone.

This is Edge’s first real wrestling match in nine years. He’ll try and beat a legend in Randy Orton, which will be difficult.

In what will most likely be the main event, I think Edge comes out of this match the winner and ends the feud with Orton once and for all. The comeback/redemption story of Edge will live on.

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