{"id":158423,"date":"2023-05-08T00:12:10","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T05:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=158423"},"modified":"2023-05-08T00:12:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T05:12:10","slug":"wwe-backlash-kickoff-show-report-5-6-2023-preview-of-cody-vs-lesnar-bad-bunny-vs-priest-wwe-draft-reaction-panel-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/05\/08\/wwe-backlash-kickoff-show-report-5-6-2023-preview-of-cody-vs-lesnar-bad-bunny-vs-priest-wwe-draft-reaction-panel-predictions\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE BACKLASH KICKOFF SHOW REPORT (5\/6\/2023): Preview of Cody vs. Lesnar, Bad Bunny vs. Priest, WWE Draft reaction, Panel predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1997452240\" 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><h3>WWE BACKLASH KICKOFF REPORT<br \/>\nMAY 6, 2022<br \/>\nYOUTUBE STREAMING SERVICE<br \/>\nREPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR<\/h3>\n<p><em>Kickoff Panel: Jackie Redmond, Matt Camp, Peter Rosenberg<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A sprawling drone shot showed the exterior of Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico. Lines of fans poured out of the building, down its steps, and to the street.<\/p>\n<p>The panel indicated a double main event: Bad Bunny vs. Damien Priest, and Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar.<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Bad Bunny vs. Damien Priest<\/p>\n<p>Matt said that Priest&#8217;s world is inside the ring, but Bad Bunny&#8217;s world is everywhere else. Peter said we can&#8217;t emphasize enough how a star the size of Bad Bunny is taking part in a street fight in WWE. Jackie asked if this match comes down to who is willing to \u201ctake it further.\u201d Matt said that Bad Bunny is essentially putting his career on the line against Priest, who would be happy to seriously injure him. Peter brought up the possibility of Bad Bunny being humiliated in this spotlight on top of potential injury.<\/p>\n<p>The panel discussed the WWE Draft and some of the personnel changes coming to Mondays and Fridays. Jackie promoted the tournament for the new World Heavyweight Championship to take place on upcoming episodes of Raw and SmackDown, and that the tournament would culminate in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions.<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Iyo Sky<\/p>\n<p>Peter said he wasn&#8217;t sure what kind of chance Sky has against Belair tonight. Matt thought that Sky doesn&#8217;t want Damage CTRL to interfere on her behalf \u2013 that she wants to get it done against Belair on her own. The panel mentioned that if Belair wins, she will become the longest-reigning women&#8217;s champion \u201cin the modern era.\u201d<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2535733427\" 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>Video package: Edge<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed<\/p>\n<p>Peter said that he was impressed with Theory, and that he could become \u201cone of the pillars\u201d of WWE. He said Theory was too smart to go toe-to-toe with either Reed or Lashley in their triple threat match tonight.<\/p>\n<p>The panel said that starting tonight, wrestlers would want to shine to earn a spot in the World Heavyweight Championship tournament. Peter said that it can&#8217;t be Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins in the final, because the final will have participants from Raw and Smackdown.<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Seth Rollins vs. Omos<\/p>\n<p>Peter said Omos needs to win, and that he \u201chas Hall of Fame potential.\u201d Matt said that an Omos victory over Rollins would give MVP all the ammunition he needs to propel Omos&#8217;s career forward.<\/p>\n<p>Wade Barrett was shown wading in the ocean earlier in the day. A woman in a bikini handed him a tropical beverage, and he said the drinks and cuisine have been great. Back at the panel, Pete complained about what position he obviously has in the company to be stuck in a studio with Matt Camp while Wade Barrett roams San Juan beaches with beautiful people.<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Rhea Ripley vs. Zelina Vega<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3393959971\" 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>Matt commented how Vega is in \u201cenemy territory\u201d in her match against Ripley tonight. Matt said that Vega has had chances over the years to wrestle in Puerto Rico, but until tonight, they have fallen through. Jackie said that Vega has been mentored by Rey Mysterio to prepare for this match. Peter said a Vega win would be a huge upset.<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Becky Lynch<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn vs. The Bloodline<\/p>\n<p>Matt called Owens, Zayn, and Riddle a \u201cpretty cohesive team.\u201d Jackie said the Bloodline is about the gold, and they don&#8217;t have any anymore. Matt said that Solo Sikoa is firmly entrenched with Roman Reigns. Peter said the Usos \u201cdon&#8217;t look right\u201d without the tag team championships.<\/p>\n<p>Video package: Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar<\/p>\n<p>The panel repeatedly referred to Lesnar as a \u201cgatekeeper\u201d for Cody Rhodes. Matt questioned whether Rhodes is 100% since WrestleMania. Peter said that back-to-back marquee losses for Rhodes would be damaging. Matt emphasized that Rhodes just has to be better than Lesnar for three seconds to secure a win. Jackie said Rhodes wears his heart on his sleeve, and wondered whether his emotions would help or hinder him against Lesnar tonight.<\/p>\n<p>Find Mike Meyers on Twitter: @themikeshow42<\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2297689546\"><div id=\"pwtor-3824842820\"><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>WWE BACKLASH KICKOFF REPORT MAY 6, 2022 YOUTUBE STREAMING SERVICE REPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR Kickoff Panel: Jackie Redmond, Matt Camp, Peter Rosenberg A sprawling drone shot showed the exterior of Jose Miguel <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/05\/08\/wwe-backlash-kickoff-show-report-5-6-2023-preview-of-cody-vs-lesnar-bad-bunny-vs-priest-wwe-draft-reaction-panel-predictions\/\" title=\"WWE BACKLASH KICKOFF SHOW REPORT (5\/6\/2023): Preview of Cody vs. Lesnar, Bad Bunny vs. Priest, WWE Draft reaction, Panel predictions\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":158424,"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":[18,4349,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-158423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tvshowsandevents","category-wwe-ppv-kickoff-show","category-tv_wwetvreports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2023\/05\/Screenshot-2023-05-08-at-12.00.37-AM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158423","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158423"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158426,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158423\/revisions\/158426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}