Steven Conway will update this guide with the latest information all the way up until the start of WrestleMania Backlash.
When and where
Date: Sunday, May 8, 2022
Place: Providence, RI
Venue: Dunkin’ Donuts Center
Main card start time: 8 p.m. Eastern
Card
I Quit Match for the SmackDown Women’s Title: Charlotte Flair (c) Vs. Ronda Rousey
Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro Vs. Roman Reigns and the Usos
Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth Rollins
AJ Styles Vs. Edge (Damian Priest barred from ringside)
Happy Corbin Vs. Madcap Moss
Bobby Lashley Vs. Omos
Supplemental content
WWE Post WrestleMania: What’s Next for Roman, Bianca and Charlotte? Read more.
How we got here
Charlotte Flair Vs. Ronda Rousey
The entire story between Rousey and Flair has been about submission holds. At first, Flair accused Rousey of being a one-trick pony with her armbar, which Rousey refuted by using an ankle lock in confrontations leading up to WrestleMania. Of course, Flair’s finisher is the Figure Eight. Both worked toward submissions in their WrestleMania match. Rousey had Flair tapping out at WrestleMania, but the referee didn’t see it. After Flair picked up a victory, Rousey wanted a rematch.
With the trash talk regarding submission holds building with each promo, an “I Quit” match was the natural stipulation for the rematch.
Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro Vs. Roman Reigns and The Usos
The barrier between the RAW and SmackDown rosters was tenuous to begin with. Now it seems completely obliterated. It’s common for stars to be on both shows now, and with Roman Reigns holding both the Universal and WWE titles, the company teased the idea of combining the two sets of tag team championships.
RK-Bro and the Usos tangled a few times leading up to WrestleMania. After both came out of the big show with tag team gold, Reigns told the Usos their new mission was to bring back the RAW Tag Team Championship to go with their SmackDown titles. This was put on the shelf, however. Instead of doing a title versus title match, this is now a six-man with McIntyre on the babyface side and Reigns in the heel corner.
WWE weakened the card with this decision. It’s possible they want to hold the unification match off for another show and steer clear of anything that could distract from the Rousey-Flair main event. It’s also possible it’s the WWE and they just changed their minds about having one tag team champion.
Which team will win it all at #WMBacklash when #WWERaw Tag Team Champions @RandyOrton & @SuperKingofBros take on #SmackDown Tag Team Champions @WWEUsos? pic.twitter.com/7Y66P2xgEA
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2022
Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth Rollins
Rhodes had one of the biggest moments of WrestleMania as he returned to WWE and defeated Rollins. A much bigger star than when he left initially, Rhodes gets another featured match at WrestleMania Backlash. The story is simple but makes perfect sense. Rollins feels Rhodes had the advantage since he was a mystery opponent. Rollins insists with time to prepare, he can beat Rhodes and we wants a chance to prove it. Rhodes, as a babyface, did not back down from the challenge and the rematch is on.
The real needle movers.
65719>65653@BeckyLynchWWE @steveaustinBSR @wwe pic.twitter.com/2VkMgD1JVG
— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) April 11, 2022
AJ Styles Vs. Edge
This is another basic rematch story. After Damian Priest distracted Styles at WrestleMania, leading to his loss to Edge, Styles went looking for a rematch. Edge accepted as he and Priest formed a new version of the Brood faction. Styles defeated Priest to earn a stipulation barring Priest from ringside.
This points toward Priest doing something particularly elaborate in order to interfere anyway (because WWE doesn’t bother to hold to stipulations much), or a third person joining Edge’s new faction and that person interfering. It seems early in the story for Styles to get a clean victory.
Happy Corbin Vs. Madcap Moss
Every alliance ends badly, or it wouldn’t end. Madcap Moss won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal during WrestleMania week, while Happy Corbin lost to Drew McIntyre on the big show. Jealousy took hold and Corbin turned on Moss during an episode of Happy Talk. This feud could be the beginning of a push for Moss, who has shown some potential in matches with McIntyre recently.
Bobby Lashley Vs. Omos
This is another revenge match, with a small twist. It’s not a babyface looking for revenge over a heel that cheated him. Lashley won the first match with Omos at WrestleMania. Instead, Lashley’s manager MVP turned on him and went with Omos, jealous Lashley went to WrestleMania without him. Now Lashley wants to take down Omos again as a way to get to MVP.
Podcasts
The WRAP: The Mis-Education of Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes’ Pyro, Cora Jade and Natalya
The WRAP: The State of WWE, NXT Releases, Asuka returns