WWE is taking Backlash to Lyon, France this Saturday. The cardboard presently options solely 5 matches, however 4 of these matches are championship bouts, with the opposite that includes a number of the largest stars in WWE.
In the principle occasion, Cody Rhodes will make the primary televised protection of the undisputed WWE championship he received from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Standing throughout from Rhodes will probably be multi-time former champion AJ Kinds. Rhodes and Kinds have traveled most of the similar roads all through their careers however have by no means confronted one another in singles or tag competitors.
Two different world titles are on the road at Backlash, with Damian Priest defending the world heavyweight championship in opposition to Jey Uso, who continues to be on the hunt for his first singles championship, and Bayley placing the WWE ladies’s championship on the road in a triple menace match with Naomi and Tiffany Stratton.
It ought to be an thrilling evening of motion. Let’s check out who the CBS Sports activities specialists really feel will emerge victorious. The occasion streams dwell on Peacock at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday with a kickoff present starting one hour earlier than.
2024 WWE Backlash predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Kinds
There are occasions the place you simply have to simply accept that you simply’re getting a essential occasion with a completely predictable final result. That is a kind of circumstances. Rhodes simply ended Reigns’ near-historic title run to “end the story” of successful the championship Dusty Rhodes by no means did. He isn’t dropping the title a month later within the first televised protection of that title. Fortunately, Rhodes and Kinds are nice wrestlers who ought to have the ability to produce a implausible match. And it’s uncommon to have two stars of this degree who’ve by no means confronted one another, in order that provides an additional little bit of enjoyable to the entire thing. Cody Rhodes retains the title — Brent Brookhouse (additionally Shakiel Mahjouri)
Rhodes simply received one of many largest WrestleMania matches of all time within the end result of a two-year journey to turn out to be world champion. Having him flip round and drop the title in his first protection could be lunacy. Cody Rhodes retains the title — Connor Casey
World Heavyweight Championship — Damian Priest (c) vs. Jey Uso
Priest is in a lot of the identical spot as Rhodes, having simply received the title at WrestleMania 40 and with much more must construct his legitimacy as a top-tier participant. Uso merely is not a plausible world champion however he is a advantageous opponent to assist Priest enhance his resume. Whereas I do not anticipate Priest to have a prolonged run with the title, when he loses it, there will probably be a narrative to the match that goes past an opponent successful a four-way for a title shot. Damian Priest retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Casey)
I might see a brief reign for Preist if Uso nonetheless had his momentum from September. Do not get me incorrect, Uso is standard with the followers and will reignite at any second; nevertheless, he isn’t an plain world champ proper now. Priest, 41, will not get many runs on the prime. Priest ought to sit up for a stable few months as champion working underneath a extra affected person inventive crew and with Uncooked’s hottest essential eventers sidelined. Damian Priest retains the title — Mahjouri
WWE Ladies’s Championship — Bayley (c) vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton
This match feels tailored to present Stratton her first probability to shine on pay-per-view with out having her take the pin or dethrone Bayley simply as her new championship reign begins. I anticipate Bayley retains however her program with Stratton will keep it up. Bayley retains the title — Casey (additionally Brookhouse)
The recurring theme is that newly topped champions will retain their belts. Nothing incorrect with that. It is merely the price of producing so many “WrestleMania moments.” The triple menace itself ought to produce good motion and the match is logically booked. Naomi by no means noticed a transparent conclusion to her title match in opposition to Bayley. Stratton is a rising thorn in her opponents’ facet and a reputable contender having beforehand crushed Naomi. Bayley seemingly retains her title with the match being a transition level from Naomi to Stratton as the highest contender. The newly drafted presence of Nia Jax additionally looms giant. Bayley retains the title — Mahjouri
WWE Ladies’s Tag Crew Championship — The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
WWE has big expectations for Cargill. The AEW rookie amassed a 61-match undefeated streak within the younger promotion but is introduced as a good larger star within the WWE. Cargill’s presence is second to none within the ladies’s division however her union with Belair advantages each events. Cargill is understandably tough across the edges. The partnership protects Cargill and validates her whereas giving Belair compelling work. The 2024 WWE Draft additional solidified the result. Belair was drafted No. 1 general to remind everybody the place she sits within the pecking order. Harm CTRL was drafted to Uncooked to distance them from Bayley. That’s solely potential if The Kabuki Warriors lose their cross-brand titles. A dominant reign ought to comply with for Belair and Cargill resulting in a cut up and high-profile showdown. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill win the titles — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse and Casey)
Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga)
The Bloodline is off in a brand new course. However for Sikoa to be taken significantly because the group’s new chief throughout Roman Reigns’ hiatus, he’ll want to start out racking up some wins. In the meantime, poor Orton has been jogging in place since his return from damage and will simply be slotted right into a world championship program with Rhodes that carries SmackDown for months. Count on a Bloodline victory that results in a cut up between the Owens & Orton makeshift tag crew. The Bloodline wins — Casey (additionally Mahjouri)
The Bloodline story feels as if it is going to by no means finish and meaning the group must construct some momentum after issues didn’t go their method at WrestleMania. Sikoa is positioning himself because the shot caller of the group whereas Reigns is away and Tonga is a brand new participant within the group. These two males want this win to additional set up these roles. Orton and Owens are bulletproof at this level. No loss goes to hurt their standing, but it surely might arrange their momentary alliance breaking apart and shifting them in additional fascinating instructions. The Bloodline wins — Brookhouse