WWE Backlash 2023 felt more like a filler event from the very first day. There was a never enough excitement about the event since none of the matches were enough to engage a huge number of audience. The event took place in Puerto Rico and this was the first WWE PPV event in Puerto Rico since New Year’s Revolution 2005. The crowd was really hot throughout the event. But did WWE do justice to such an amazing crowd?
We kicked things off with the WWE RAW Women’s Championship match between Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky. It was definitely one of the best matches of the night, but the ending part was weak. The match remained even and a fair contest as long as it was be being played fairly. But as soon as The Damage CTRL joined the frame, Bianca went to god mode and the unofficial three on one battle was pretty easy for her to win.
WWE Backlash 2023 Ratings & Analysis Part 1
Next up was the strange match up between Omos and Seth Rollins. This is arguably the best match Omos ever wrestled in. Rollins did an excellent job carrying the big man as well. Of course, Rollins had to win the match. Omos received a pretty poor booking since WrestleMania 38, and he lost all the big matches.
So there was a very fat chance of him winning this match here as well. Besides, WWE is trying to restore Rollins as a main eventer so that they could boost their New World Heavyweight Championship division on Monday night RAW and Rollins would definitely win the title sooner or later. So Rollins just needed to win this match.
Next up was the triple threat match between Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed. It was arguably the worst match of the night. It was booked for less than seven minutes and pretty badly produced. Of course the match was predictable, but a predictable match could be good as well, and this one was not.
Nobody in particular dominated the match whereas the fans were expecting to see is from performance from the Australian big man. This match was never needed in Backlash. Instead, they should have booked Shinsuke Nakamura vs Karrion Kross which would definitely be a better match for a pay per view event.
The fourth match of the night was the WWE SmackDown Women’s championship match between the champion Rhea Ripley and the crowd favorite Zelina Vega. This overall segment will not be remembered because it was a great match, it was not a great match to be honest. It will be remembered because of the other things that happened during this match.
The crowd was really Red Hot throughout the match just like the rest of the event and the fan support for Zelina Vega was just excellent. She got so emotional before the start of the match, that she could not help her tears. About the match, it was nothing special and it was an easy victory for the champion. This was not even a pay per view standard match.