WWE Backlash 2023 took place at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Due to WWE returning to the Puerto Rico region after almost 18 years, the craze among the fans regarding the show was huge and several native members from this region also got their chances to show up on the card of the premium live event.
Zelina Vega was one of them who got her maiden opportunity to challenge for the Smackdown Women’s Title held by Rhea Ripley at WWE Backlash 2023. As reported earlier, she was showered with immense love from the Puerto Rico crowd during her entrance and then in the introduction of the match. However, those inspirations weren’t enough to make her walk out of the event as the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
WWE Backlash 2023 Returnee Not Done Making Appearances After PLE?
In the fourth match of WWE Backlash 2023, Rhea Ripley defeated Zelina Vega to retain her Smackdown Women’s Title. It was her first title defense since winning the belt at Wrestlemania 39. Following the match, Ripley addressed her title win, as well as how much hostile the crowd was in Puerto Rico while supporting their favorite Zelina Vega.
WWE Backlash 2023: Brock Lesnar Receives Standing Ovation After Main Event
WWE Backlash 2023: Rhea Ripley had some bold words regarding her win
“I don’t really care if the crowd was strongly behind Zelina. I don’t care about these people. They don’t mean anything to me, just like Zelina doesn’t,” Ripley said while taking a dig at Vega’s loss at WWE Backlash 2023.
“It felt amazing because they were behind Zelina Vega so much, and I shut them all up for good when Mami walked out the ‘SmackDown’ Women’s Champion still, and Zelina Vega was left in the ring like a little pretzel.”
As noted above, Ripley captured her first SmackDown Women’s title at WrestleMania 39, last month by defeating Charlotte Flair in a solid match to become a true Grand Slam Champion in the WWE Women’s Division. She then proceeded to start a rivalry with Vega and the LWO members alongside The Judgment Day to set up this title matchup at WWE Backlash 2023.
Heading into the PLE, Ripley was also sent to the Raw brand during the Draft despite being the reigning blue brand women’s champion. Since the Raw Women’s Champion was also sent to the Smackdown brand, we believe a title swap between these two is evident after WWE Backlash 2023.