{"id":158347,"date":"2023-05-06T12:57:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-06T17:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=158347"},"modified":"2023-05-06T13:29:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T18:29:10","slug":"wwe-backlash-2023-dont-hold-me-to-this-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/05\/06\/wwe-backlash-2023-dont-hold-me-to-this-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"HEYDORN&#8217;S TAKE: Don\u2019t hold me to this \u2013 WWE Backlash 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-4040430201\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>If Friday\u2019s episode of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/05\/05\/wwe-smackdown-results-5-5-kellers-report-on-bad-bunny-codys-visit-to-smackdown-karrion-vs-nakamura-raiders-vs-oc\/\">Smackdown<\/a> is any indication, WWE Backlash 2023 is going to be a can\u2019t miss event.<\/p>\n<p>No, not because of the matches, top star power, or huge stakes. Because of the audience. The Puerto Rico audience was on fire during Smackdown. They were loud, invested, and fully tapped into the stories being told. This made for a special environment that will magnify an otherwise B minus level card on B level PLE.<\/p>\n<p>Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest is going to a high point of the show due to Bunny\u2019s incredible popularity and willingness to do business in WWE. Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar isn\u2019t far behind in terms of interest, but things fall off after those two matches. WWE Backlash 2023 has some predictable outcomes lined up, but if the matches are built correctly, that predictability shouldn\u2019t play a factor into whether or not the show is a hit or not.<\/p>\n<p>Call this a preview, a calm look into the distant future, or a gaze into a wondrous crystal ball; just don\u2019t hold me to anything, ok?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest \u2013 San Juan Street Fight<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve loved the build to this match. It\u2019s simple and straightforward, but it works. Good guy Bad Bunny has regularly stood up to Priest and has the audience fully on his side to take him out once and for all. Priest has played the part of heel foil well and has sold for Bunny in a way that balanced not being over the top, but being significant enough to give Bunny credibility. Bunny wins definitively.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Rhea Ripley vs. Zelina Vega \u2013 WWE Smackdown Women\u2019s Championship<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Well, look, Zelina Vega has not been treated even close to a championship level wrestler since she returned to WWE. For that reason, Ripley shouldn\u2019t have problems here. This should clock in under three minutes and feature Ripley strongly decimating Vega. That\u2019s what should happen. Will it? Probably not. I see WWE working to present Vega as the ultimate underdog in this to keep things going longer than they should. Still, though, Ripley takes it clean in the end and retains her championship.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2480330854\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong><em><u>Kevin Owens &amp; Sami Zayn &amp; Matt Riddle vs. The Usos &amp; Solo Sikoa<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It seems like WWE is trying to setup Sikoa turning on The Usos if they can\u2019t pull things together to get a win. With Reigns appearing next week on Smackdown and Zayn and Owens leaving for Raw, The Bloodline need a new story to run with throughout the summer and Sikoa\/Reigns vs. Usos works to that end. To get there, Owens, Zayn, and Riddle need to win and they will.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky \u2013 WWE Raw Women\u2019s Championship<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Iyo Sky is a fresh opponent for Bianca Belair and one that can work a very strong match with her. Sky is a lot like Vega in terms of being a viable threat to the champion, though. She\u2019s been a background player to this point and though she\u2019s front and center here, it doesn\u2019t feel like it\u2019s her time to take that next step. Belair wins and becomes the longest reigning Raw Women\u2019s Championship in modern history.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Seth Rollins vs. Omos<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This one is easy. Real easy. Rollins defeats Omos and moves on to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament on Monday night. Rollins says he can be the one to pull a great match out of Omos. We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Austin Theory vs. Bronson Reed vs. Bobby Lashley \u2013 WWE United States Championship<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I kinda would rather just see Reed vs. Lashley here. Those two have had some great chemistry together when they\u2019ve clashed and the styles of each would make for quite the spectacle. Austin Theory is involved too and his involvement all but gives away the finish. Reed hits the Tsunami on Lashley, but gets rolled out of the ring by Theory. Theory covers Lashley and retains the title. That\u2019s it. That\u2019s the only way this can go and the only way it will go.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2586885189\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong><em><u>Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cody Rhodes delivered a thorough go-home babyface promo on Smackdown, which all but guarantees a victory. He needs it. Rhodes losing at WrestleMania is still a big question mark in my eyes, but beating Lesnar on the road back to a title match helps cushion that mistake in my eyes. Lesnar is a major opponent for anyone in WWE and if Rhodes gets the nod to beat him clean, you know that he\u2019s still a key part of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wwe.com\">WWE\u2019s<\/a> top championship picture. Expect these two to beat the hell out of one another, but Cross Rhodes to end things in Cody\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CATCH-UP:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/05\/06\/wwe-announces-roman-reigns-return-to-tv\/\">WWE announces Roman Reigns return to TV<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3061094756\"><div id=\"pwtor-307465183\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>If Friday\u2019s episode of Smackdown is any indication, WWE Backlash 2023 is going to be a can\u2019t miss event. No, not because of the matches, top star power, or huge stakes. Because of the audience. <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/05\/06\/wwe-backlash-2023-dont-hold-me-to-this-preview\/\" title=\"HEYDORN&#8217;S TAKE: Don\u2019t hold me to this \u2013 WWE Backlash 2023\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":158351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,6454,53],"tags":[3523,71,3302],"class_list":["post-158347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-heydorns-take","category-opinion_stafftakes","tag-backlash","tag-wwe","tag-wwe-backlash"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2023\/05\/WWE-Backlash-2023-Bunny-v-Priest.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158347"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158358,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158347\/revisions\/158358"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}