{"id":215925,"date":"2026-05-04T15:22:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T20:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=215925"},"modified":"2026-05-04T15:22:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T20:22:48","slug":"then-now-together-a-backlash-themed-wwe-watchlist-including-a-look-back-at-2000s-triple-h-vs-rock-2007s-cena-vs-michaels-vs-orton-vs-edge-and-2023s-cody-vs-brock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/05\/04\/then-now-together-a-backlash-themed-wwe-watchlist-including-a-look-back-at-2000s-triple-h-vs-rock-2007s-cena-vs-michaels-vs-orton-vs-edge-and-2023s-cody-vs-brock\/","title":{"rendered":"THEN, NOW, TOGETHER: A Backlash-themed WWE watchlist including a look back at 2000&#8217;s Triple H vs. Rock, 2007&#8217;s Cena vs. Michaels vs. Orton vs. Edge, and 2023&#8217;s Cody vs. Brock"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-4094509913\" 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><h2>Theme: Backlash<\/h2>\n<p>This Sunday, WWE presents the 21st edition of the Backlash PLE. With one exception, Backlash has traditionally served as the follow-up to WrestleMania. Because of its placement on the calendar, the event often plays a specific role: course-correcting after a misfire at WrestleMania, delivering high-stakes rematches, or elevating talent in need of momentum.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, Backlash rarely feels like the freshest show of the year. However, it frequently stands out as a more straightforward, wrestling-focused event compared to the spectacle-heavy nature of WrestleMania.<\/p>\n<p>In this week\u2019s column, I\u2019ll highlight three Backlash matches that are well worth revisiting.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Then: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge<\/h3>\n<p><strong>(Backlash 2007 \u2013 April 29, 2007)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A recurring theme in mid-2000s Backlash main events was the multi-man match. From 2004 through 2008, WWE regularly leaned on this format at the top of the card. It\u2019s an effective creative tool\u2014allowing WrestleMania feuds to evolve, intersect, or transition into new programs.<\/p>\n<p>Each of these multi-man main events is worth watching, but the 2007 Fatal 4-Way stands out.<\/p>\n<p>Coming off their excellent WrestleMania 23 encounter, John Cena and Shawn Michaels remained central to the title picture, while Edge and Randy Orton re-entered the main event scene after their time as Rated RKO. The result is a match built on strong character dynamics and layered relationships between all four competitors.<\/p>\n<p>The action flows seamlessly, with smooth transitions and a pace that constantly moves forward without rushing the finish. The match thrives on shifting alliances\u2014moments of cooperation forming and dissolving in an instant\u2014creating a steady build of tension and unpredictability.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3601601254\" 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>The finish is one of my favorites in WWE multi-man history: a rapid sequence of counters and signature moves culminating in Michaels landing Sweet Chin Music on Cena, who collapses onto Randy Orton for the deciding pinfall. While similar sequences have been attempted since, few have matched the surprise and execution of this one.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NfAjFX-VG3c&amp;amp;list=WL&amp;amp;index=14\">WATCH HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FULL MATCH: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton | WWE Title Match: Backlash 2007\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NfAjFX-VG3c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Now: Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar<\/h3>\n<p><strong>(Backlash 2023 \u2013 May 6, 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cody Rhodes\u2019s loss to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 sparked widespread backlash from fans. After a year-long story centered on redemption and \u201cfinishing the story,\u201d many felt WWE failed to deliver at the critical moment.<\/p>\n<p>The familiar response\u2014\u201clet it play out\u201d\u2014began immediately the following night, when Brock Lesnar launched a brutal, unexplained attack on Rhodes.<\/p>\n<p>That attack set the stage for this Backlash showdown.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past decade, Brock Lesnar has largely operated within three match archetypes: the quick squash, the short \u201cclash of titans,\u201d and the extended beatdown of an underdog babyface. This match falls into the third category\u2014and succeeds because of both Lesnar\u2019s motivation and Rhodes\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n<p>The contrast between the two is established before the bell: Cody is focused and intense, while Brock is loose, confident, and almost amused. Cody jumps Lesnar early, using a suicide dive and weapons to gain an edge, but once the bell rings, Brock takes control with his trademark suplex-heavy offense.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3164899606\" 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>It\u2019s a familiar structure, but Cody\u2019s selling and resilience elevate it. The turning point comes when Cody attacks Lesnar\u2019s leg, sending him into the exposed turnbuckle and drawing blood. From there, the match builds effectively through well-placed near falls and momentum shifts.<\/p>\n<p>The finish sees Cody counter the Kimura Lock into a surprise pin, stealing the victory.<\/p>\n<p>In just over ten minutes, the match accomplishes its goals: Cody proves his toughness and resolve, Lesnar maintains his aura of dominance, and the finish leaves room for the feud to continue\u2014which it did throughout the year.<\/p>\n<p>In hindsight, the Rhodes\u2013Lesnar rivalry played a crucial role in sustaining Cody\u2019s momentum on the road to ultimately finishing his story at WrestleMania 40.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=897AWcxYmVw&amp;amp;t=2s\">WATCH HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FULL MATCH: Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar: Backlash 2023\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/897AWcxYmVw?start=2&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Forever: The Rock vs. Triple H<\/h3>\n<p>(Backlash 2000)<\/p>\n<p>In my view, the year 2000 represents the peak of WWE. Ironically, WrestleMania 2000 stands as one of its biggest disappointments.<\/p>\n<p>After a strong Royal Rumble and No Way Out, the obvious main event seemed clear: Triple H, the top heel, defending the WWE Championship against The Rock, the company\u2019s hottest babyface. Instead, WWE opted for a convoluted Fatal 4-Way with a McMahon in every corner\u2014a decision that fell flat.<\/p>\n<p>Backlash provided the opportunity to fix that mistake\u2014and WWE delivered.<\/p>\n<p>This match essentially laid the blueprint for the kind of climactic, interference-heavy main events we still see today. The structure is familiar: the babyface enters at a disadvantage, the odds continue to stack against him, and just when all hope seems lost, reinforcements arrive to even the playing field. This template was used for recent \u201cAvengers End Game\u201d finish at Wrestlemania 40.<\/p>\n<p>Here, Shane McMahon serves as special guest referee, and the interference escalates throughout. After The Rock takes out both Shane and Triple H with a double Rock Bottom through the announce table, it appears he\u2019s on the verge of victory\u2014only for Vince McMahon and the Stooges to intervene.<\/p>\n<p>The beatdown that follows feels decisive\u2026 until the glass shatters.<\/p>\n<p>Steve Austin\u2019s arrival triggers one of the loudest crowd reactions of the era. Armed with a steel chair, he clears the ring, restoring order and giving The Rock a fair shot. Moments later, The Rock delivers the People\u2019s Elbow and secures the win.<\/p>\n<p>The match combines intensity, crowd energy, and perfectly timed chaos. The run-ins are deliberate, the storytelling is tight, and the payoff is immensely satisfying.<\/p>\n<p>The result is one of the most memorable moments of the Attitude Era\u2014and arguably the defining moment in Backlash history.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H2H0RiSNqzQ\">WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Triple H vs. The Rock \u2013 WWE Title Match: Backlash 2000\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H2H0RiSNqzQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of &#8220;Worse or Better&#8221; with Stephanie Chase and Josh White, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/worse-or-better-stephanie-josh-discuss-wrestler-and-team-names-throughout-the-years-in-a-roman-by-any-other-name--71691548\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cpwtorch\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Worse or Better - Stephanie &amp; Josh discuss wrestler and team names throughout the years in &quot;A Roman by Any Other Name&quot;\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=71691548&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1655539508\"><div id=\"pwtor-2314476728\"><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>Theme: Backlash This Sunday, WWE presents the 21st edition of the Backlash PLE. With one exception, Backlash has traditionally served as the follow-up to WrestleMania. Because of its placement on the calendar, the event often <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/05\/04\/then-now-together-a-backlash-themed-wwe-watchlist-including-a-look-back-at-2000s-triple-h-vs-rock-2007s-cena-vs-michaels-vs-orton-vs-edge-and-2023s-cody-vs-brock\/\" title=\"THEN, NOW, TOGETHER: A Backlash-themed WWE watchlist including a look back at 2000&#8217;s Triple H vs. Rock, 2007&#8217;s Cena vs. Michaels vs. Orton vs. Edge, and 2023&#8217;s Cody vs. Brock\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215928,"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":[52,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-215925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-3.09.38-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215925","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=215925"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215929,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215925\/revisions\/215929"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}