John Cena has a well-known foe for his first undisputed WWE championship protection. Randy Orton returns dwelling to St. Louis so as to add one other chapter to the long-running rivalry between him and Cena. 25 years after their first assembly in individual, Cena and Orton headline WWE Backlash on Might 10.
Cena and Orton have wrestled one another 21 occasions, with Cena main the rivalry 13-7-1. Their Backlash conflict is perhaps the final time they meet earlier than Cena’s promised retirement on the 12 months’s finish. Backlash marks Cena’s first title protection since defeating Cody Rhodes for the undisputed WWE title at WrestleMania 41.
The cardboard will even function three extra title matches. Most notably, a deadly four-way for america championship is ready when Jacob Fatu, who earned the title at WrestleMania 41, faces off in opposition to Drew McIntyre, L.A. Knight and Damian Priest. Fatu beat Knight for the title and McIntyre and Priest have continued their blood feud past WrestleMania as nicely.
Plus, ladies’s intercontinental champion Lyra Valkyria places her title on the road in opposition to former good friend turned rival Becky Lynch. “The Man” returned at WrestleMania to group with Valkyria to win the uncooked ladies’s tag group titles in opposition to Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. However on the next episode of Uncooked, Morgan and Rodriguez received again their belts and Lynch turned on Valkyria, sparking an prompt rivalry.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton: Wanting again on the 5 greatest matches of their storied rivalry earlier than WWE Backlash
Brent Brookhouse
Look under on the confirmed matches for Backlash and look on the crystal ball to see what might come. The occasion streams stay on Peacock on Saturday with the primary card beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
2025 WWE Backlash matches
Undisputed WWE Championship — John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton: These legendary rivals go at it for seemingly the final time. Orton struck Cena with an RKO on the Uncooked after WrestleMania, getting the ball rolling on this showdown. Cena and Orton final went one-on-one eight years in the past on SmackDown. Orton is decided to present Cena’s new angle an adjustment; in the meantime, Cena is dedicated to bringing the Orton household legacy to a detailed.
Girls’s Intercontinental Championship — Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Becky Lynch: A really feel good story went south the evening after WrestleMania. Valkyria pulled Lynch off the bench after 11 months, bringing “The Man” again from hiatus as her thriller tag group companion. The Irish superstars received the WWE ladies’s tag group championships however misplaced them again to Judgment Day the following evening. Lynch attacked Valkyria in a rage, ending their short-lived group and starting a feud that escalates at Backlash.
Gunther vs. Pat McAfee: Former world heavyweight champion Gunther has a stunning new course. After dropping to Jey Uso at WrestleMania, Gunther attacked WWE commentator Michael Cole. Gunther slapped a chokehold on Cole as punishment for Cole’s alleged bias in opposition to him. McAfee cracked Gunther with a forearm to avoid wasting Cole, main Gunther to choke out McAfee. The following week, McAfee accepted a possibility to wrestle Gunther at Backlash.
United States Championship — Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Drew McIntyre vs. LA Knight vs. Damian Priest: McIntyre defeated LA Knight in No. 1 contender’s match on SmackDown, albeit by disqualification. Damian Priest then attacked McIntyre, extending their WrestleMania rivalry. It is unclear what WWE plans for McIntyre and Fatu’s speedy future, however a U.S. title match is on the desk. The next week, The Bloodline ruined a match between Knight and Priest. SmackDown common supervisor Nick Aldis’ resolution was to e book a deadly 4 means.
Intercontinental Championship — Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta: Penta has had loads of points with Judgment Day already. He has additionally added in issues with Chad Gable, who was unable to efficiently intrude and cease Penta from defeating JD McDonagh on Uncooked. Mysterio is navigating difficult points inside Judgment Day, particularly his relationship with Finn Balor, however nonetheless may need sufficient folks in his nook to retain the title he received at WrestleMania.
2025 WWE Backlash predictions
WWE Girls’s Championship — Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Nia Jax: Stratton received the WWE ladies’s title by cashing in her Cash within the Financial institution briefcase on former ally Jax. Their story by no means reached a pure conclusion, nevertheless it appears WWE is able to revisit it. Jax attacked Stratton on the April 25 episode of SmackDown, planting the seeds for a title match between the chums turned foes.