Ronda Rousey makes Charlotte Flair quit, Bloodline wins again

Backlash has been a highlight in WWE for a long time, but last year was the first time the company added “WrestleMania” in front of the title. Fitting this year for WrestleMania Backlash 2022, the card was filled with matches from this year’s greatest stage.

While some matches saw some repetition, Sunday’s biggest change was for Ronda Rousey to become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion by forcing Charlotte Flair to say “I quit” while locked into a monster-looking penis. In the main event, The Bloodline was on the defensive for most of the match, but a spear out of nowhere quickly changed the outcome.

Here’s how each match plays out at Backlash and what may lie ahead in the coming weeks as WWE heads to Hell on June 5.

Six-man team match: The Bloodline def. RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre

There was absolutely no legitimate explanation as to why canceling the winner’s tag team match would take everything between Usos and RK-Bro instead of the six-player card, for a match on paper that was more worthy of the main mission. SmackDown is an excellent live event.

Given this frustration’s past, the match properly progressed the story between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre. Reigns did his best to avoid any action with McIntyre, tagging him whenever he was opposite McIntyre. It made for a meaningful moment when the two were tagged at the same time, giving us a preview of what would likely be the start of a months-long property dispute.

Reigns likes to brag that he has “greatness on a different level”. Randy Orton obviously does, too. Orton’s hot tag was a highlight of the night, capped by RKO’s counter for Reigns’ spear.

The last two minutes of the match were completely free for everyone. Reigns McIntyre slammed through the announcer’s table with a huge orange. Dove the puzzle to the outside. Orton was punched by Superman. Riddle returned to the ring and RKO. Then finally, Reigns blindly put a tick in the match and fired Riddle for the win.

😳😳😳

Corpses are flying everywhere! # fork pic.twitter.com/ojsoPstFv2

– WWE (WWE) May 9, 2022

The Bloodline end WrestleMania Backlash is up front, but the match did exactly what it was meant to be, and these six are far from fighting.

What’s Next: Reigns will defend his WWE Universal title against McIntyre. This is a match that is not only likely to be a main event in Hell in a Cell, but also very likely to be a main event for Money in the Bank at Allegiant Stadium on July 2. And it may even continue at SummerSlam and beyond.

RK-Bro and Usos may still have the Winners Take All match we were supposed to see on Sunday. Fans deserve to see these two teams in a proper one-on-two match without Reigns getting overwhelmed.

Smackdown Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey wins ‘I Quit’ match against Charlotte Flair

This was one of the more physical women’s matches in a long, long time. Slashing the edge of a piercing knife, blasting kendo sword fights, shooting cameras—Charlotte and Rosie took full advantage of the ruthless condition where anything goes until someone utters the words “I quit.”

In the words of Pat McAfee, it was “an absolute battle from start to finish!” Rousey’s stripe on Charlotte from the bib was an uncomfortable sight, even for fans of mixed martial arts. It helped set up the finish when Rousey cornered Charlotte’s arm in a steel chair before pulling a modified rod.

During the final moments, when Charlotte didn’t quit, Rousey yelled into the microphone, “I was hoping you’d say that b—-!” And changed the angle on hold. Then Charlotte almost immediately quit and Rousey became the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Later in the broadcast, WWE mentioned That Flair had suffered a broken radius.

This match has descended into chaos! # fork pic.twitter.com/EEhHCEBYuz

– WWE (WWE) May 9, 2022

What’s Next: Rousey as a champ is best suited to work, as a part-time or full-time worker. Its name goes beyond WWE, or even MMA. The question is whether Rossi will be a defending champion who appears every week to cement the controversies.

Rousey could use a mouthpiece if she’s going to appear on SmackDown weekly – Paul Heyman, please. RAW boasts its most impressive roster of women (Asuka, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley), so Charlotte’s feud may have to continue through Hell in a Cell. However, it is only a matter of time until Sasha Banks returns to the title picture. Bayley may also return from injury in the near future.

Madcap Moss Def. happy corbin

This match had an unfortunate slot coming right after the Rousey-Charlotte barnburner and before the main event. The purpose of this match from start to finish was to showcase Madcap Moss as a future player on SmackDown. Moss has the looks, intensity, and physical charisma that WWE tends to favor. Moss won the short match with a bluff, stunning his former partner.

What’s Next: Happy Corbin will continue to feel pain on one’s side, whether it’s in a main event or an opening match. This next month for Moss could say a lot about how high WWE he thinks his ceiling can be.

edge def. AJ . Styles

AJ Styles continues to be a perennial wonder, with Asai Moonsault pulled out a rarely seen 44-year-old these days. Edge is still a good athlete too at the age of 48. But this bout was all about the psychology of a veteran.

Edge tore up the turnbuckle as Styles went to the German Suplex, with Styles then firing the Edge box first in exposed metal. Styles impressively landed Styles Clash on the much longer edge, but he was fired just as he did in their first encounter.

The climax of the match saw a banned Damien Priest exit the ring to save Edge. Finn Balor attacked and attacked the priest, distracting the reference. While Styles was standing on the top rope, someone in a black jacket shoved him and allowed Edge to close his cross-submission for the win.

It was revealed that the person in the mask is none other than Rhea Ripley, with a freshly dyed black hairstyle.

that it Tweet embed!!! # fork pic.twitter.com/lvT4JtSVt8

– WWE (WWE) May 9, 2022

What’s Next: Ripley’s addition to Judgment Day provides a much-needed boost to the newly formed faction. Ripley and Priest will benefit from Edge’s leadership and experience, both on and off screen. Styles is a far cry from working with Edge and his crew. That number will be settled in Hell in Cell, but the bigger question may be whether Balor continues in the Styles Corner or will he be the next member at Judgment Day?

Cody Rhodes Def. Seth Rollins

This was well worth tuning in right away at the beginning of the card to see. Rollins used the element of surprise in their first game as an excuse to default at WrestleMania, and he seemed to be better prepared this time around, having a counter for all of Rhodes’ signature moves in the first half of the match.

“The Architect” has stayed one step ahead, offering a level of storytelling that’s refreshing to watch in replays. The game was full of fall close after its near-fall with Providence, Rhode Island, with the crowd eating all 2,999,999 counts — Rhodes’ missed goal that led to Rollins’ pedigree was the highlight.

.Tweet embed Began to take over! # fork pic.twitter.com/nIEMVjmLan

– WWE (WWE) May 9, 2022

Rollins and Rhodes showed a chemistry that far exceeds the two singles matches. There were multiple signature moves along the way, but the ending didn’t have any of them. In the end, Rollins twisted Rhodes, holding his shirt, only for Rhodes to bounce back while grabbing a handful of Rollins’ apparel for the pin.

What’s Next: Would anyone complain about seeing these two go together again? Cody won cleanly at WrestleMania, but needed to cheat at WrestleMania Backlash for victory. The cheap victory more than likely means that Rhodes Rollins’ feud is far from over. Hell in a Cell is WWE’s next premium event on June 5, and the event’s namesake could be a fitting ending to seasons one and two.

Omos def. Bobby Lashley

Omos got another shot at Bobby Lashley, but this time with MVP in his corner. The first half of the match was somewhat of a replay of their first encounter, with Omos using his size advantage to physically control Lashley.

Lashley was able to mount some insults and even lock in Hurt Lock, something he wasn’t able to do at WrestleMania. Omos was breaking control by forcing Lashley into the corner ropes, and from that moment on, it seemed like the match could only have ended in one direction. Omos’ 7-foot-3 Lashley’s Spinebuster lift was a sight to behold, but the MVP’s participation made the difference on Sunday. To no one’s surprise, the MVP hit his former client with his crutch as the official was distracted and used Omos to finish the match.

.Tweet embed He does everything in his power to stop Tweet embed! # fork pic.twitter.com/TtpkVJiEeZ

– WWE (WWE) May 9, 2022

What’s Next: Lashley and Omos both have a win, so there’s a rubber match in the RAW tags for the next two weeks. One would think that this feud wouldn’t have enough power to get to Hell in a Cell, but the MVP’s involvement adds storytelling to a fruitless rivalry. Lashley will need to figure out how to win with MVP continuing to be a thorn in his side. A cage match on RAW can do just that.