We kicked off Backlash with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan to thunderous receptions, they went over what matches were happening in the show and thanked the fans for making SmackDown Live a success so far.
Analysis: It's all about the talent, right? That's why we are kicking off the first SmackDown Live PPV with the authority figures. It was a basic way to fill some time and nothing more.
SmackDown Women's Championship Match: Becky Lynch - Natalya - Naomi - Alexa Bliss - Nikki Bella - Carmella
All the women began brawling earlier with everyone being thrown out of the ring bar Becky Lynch and Naomi who worked each other in the ring hitting their popular moves until Lynch sent Naomi to the outside. After Carmella took out the Irish Lass Kicker it was a face off between her and rival, Nikki Bella but they were quickly broken up as Alexa Bliss took out Nikki whilst Natalya dealt with Carmella, throwing her into the barricade.
With Naomi having cleaned out the ring, she turned to face a superkick by Carmella. The young star spent too long bragging and suffered a spear from Nikki but Carmella locked her finisher in until Nikki powered out hitting an Alabama Slam in a great show of strength but Carmella powered out just in time. Both women then went to the top rope and Natalya joined in as a superplex powerbomb combination was hit leaving all three women down and out.
Bliss attempted to pin all three women with zero results which led to her being frustrated until Lynch came back in and the pair began trading blows including a fantastic reversal pinning combination by Bliss. With everyone on the outside, Nikki looked to jump over the ropes until she was taken out by Carmella and instead Naomi leaped from the top rope to take out everyone with a springboard showing some brilliant athleticism.
A blockbuster powerbomb was hit on Bliss by Noami and Natalya and she got the pin.
Alexa Bliss is eliminated by Naomi.
Noami then tried to leap from the ropes to Nikki but she caught her with a huge forearm and Natalya picked up the pieces locking in the Sharpshooter.
Noami is eliminated by Natalya.
Natalya tricked Carmella into an alliance and then hit her with a clothesline, Nikki then hit her finisher on Nattie and eliminated her but she was quickly rolled up and eliminated by Nikki.
Natalya is eliminated by Nikki Bella.
Nikki Bella is eliminated by Carmella.
Nikki slapped Carmella on her way out but then she unleashed a fury of slaps on her remaining opponent, Becky Lynch. The Lass Kicker replied with three huge Bexplex's but her momentum was halted with a superkick. Carmella took too long and got cocky and as she went to Lynch she locked in the Disarmer and forced Carmella to tap.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Analysis: That was a very entertaining match with all six women working very hard to put on a good show opener, it helped that the crowd was into everything that was happening making it feel special and the pop for Becky Lynch's win was well deserved. The feud between Carmella and Bella can go on but the focus is on Becky Lynch who has certainly deserved that title opportunity, she was picked as the #1 female draft pick for the blue brand and now she is the champion, it makes sense.
Backstage Bray Wyatt was seen taking out Randy Orton who appeared to have an injured leg and struggled to move.
Analysis: There had been rumours in the build up to the show that Randy Orton was legitimately injured, so this angle is a way of taking him out of the match.
Tag Team Tournament Semi-Final: The Uso's - The Hype Bros
The Uso's entered with a new look and attitude, no singing or dancing and no face paint taking their new heel characters to the next stage, the Hype Bros entered in their usual overly excited fashion, there is plenty of energy if that's your thing. Mojo Rawley starts the match up full of energy, immediately sending his opponent to the outside and then tags in Zack Ryder who immediately loses the momentum his partner had started.
Ryder quickly regains control with a missile dropkick from the apron before Rawley comes charging in hitting a double shoulder tackle to both Uso's which looked fantastic. Some smart heel work by the Uso's puts them in charge of the match as Jey and Jimmy both look to take out Ryder. With the former United States Champion looking to make a tag, the Uso's attacked Mojo on the apron to stop any potential tag, smart heel work.
Mojo finally made the hot tag and began to clean house with several Stinger Splashes, using his strength to catch Jey Uso in mid-air, taking him out. They then set up for the Hype Ryder but Jimmy Uso was there to stop it from the outside. Mojo then charged at Jimmy but missed and even though Ryder hit the Broski boot he was outnumbered two to one. The Uso's then hit a chop block and began working on Ryder's leg in the exact same way they did to Chad Gable and won via submission with a Single Leg Crab.
Winner: The Uso's (advance to the finals)
Analysis: A solid match that was done to continue building the Uso's as heels from now on, the new look and attitude is exactly what they needed and they wrestled slightly differently with less high flying moves which was good to see. They were an obvious pick to win but that isn't always a bad thing. Having them win via submission isolating the leg again was smart booking too.
Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) w. Maryse - Dolph Ziggler
There was a great exchange between The Miz and Daniel Bryan before his entrance, after demanding an improved contract with more money he told Bryan he was going to go do what he can't do anymore, fantastic heel line that really get's under the crowd's skin as they want to see Bryan wrestle again.
Dolph Ziggler started the match with plenty of fire, planting the champion face first into the mat before hitting him with several punches as Miz scrambled away to his wife, Maryse. Miz used the rope break to finally gain some offense as he hit a cheap shot on Ziggler as he then slowed the pace down to his level but several dropkicks quickly saw the pace change.
The A-Lister launched the Show Off to the outside where he appeared to injure his shoulder which Miz would then target and work on to try and gain a serious advantage. Miz then copied one of Daniel Bryan's surfboard submission and was in complete control throughout, Miz then decided to copy Bryan's running dropkicks in the corner before taunting him with yes chants.
Ziggler rolled up Miz with a good reversal from the Skull Crushing Finale but he couldn't get the three count and instead hit another impressive dropkick on the champion. After a hot run by Ziggler, Miz managed to pull out a Springboard Sitout Powerbomb, not a move he is known for and then began working on the left leg of Ziggler.
The challenger reversed and hit the Famouser before locking in the Sleeper Hold but Miz sent him head first into the turnbuckle to break up the submission move and locked in one of his own; the Figure Four but just as he did Ziggler found a way to escape. Miz then ate a huge Superkick and just as Ziggler thought he'd won it, The Miz put his foot on the ropes and rolled out of the ring.
Ziggler went back to get Miz into the ring but was pushed towards the ropes, Maryse appeared to spray something into Ziggler's eyes with the referee's back turned and Miz took advantage hitting the Skull Crushing Finale to defend his title.
Winner: The Miz
Analysis: That was a very good match that is exactly what the Intercontinental Championship should be about, good wrestling. The Miz was incredibly impressive pulling out moves he hasn't done before and his subtle ways of pushing the feud with Daniel Bryan within his matches is very smart, having him win via a cheap tactic continue his heel talent.
Bray Wyatt - Randy Orton
It was announced pre-match that Randy Orton was unable to compete and that Bray Wyatt had ordered an official ten count to make it official.
Winner: Bray Wyatt via forfeit
Analysis: As mentioned earlier, rumours had stated just before the PPV that Orton wasn't fit to compete, there it is.
No Holds Barred Match: Kane - Bray Wyatt
It was quickly announced Wyatt would have a new match, and the big mystery opponent was.... Kane. The Big Red Monster started the match on fire (pun intended) and sent Wyatt into the timekeeper's area but he returned the favour with a shot to Kane's head with the ring bell. The Eater of Worlds then began to wield a chair hitting Kane with several shots to take him down.
Kane mounted a comeback and teased putting Wyatt through a table but the WWE veteran was instead taken out by a big clothesline on the outside. Wyatt then set Kane up onto an announce table and hit a running senton, driving Kane through the table in a cool spot. Wyatt put him into the ring and took too long going for the Sister Abigail as Kane hit a Chokeslam but Wyatt kicked out.
After taking out Kane his original opponent, Randy Orton began to limp down towards the ring as Kane sat up at the other side with Wyatt struggling to decide what to do he was hit with an RKO and then a Chokeslam, providing Kane with the win.
Winner: Kane
Analysis: That was an average match which is to be expected really, the table spot was fun and both men tried but the fans wanted to see Orton and were never really into the match, but the booking of Bray Wyatt once again must be discussed as it is yet again appalling. If the original advertised match wasn't possible the best option would have been to give Wyatt a dominant win, at least it wasn't a clean victory for Kane with Orton costing him the match, meaning this feud is continuing but Wyatt already looks weaker.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: The Uso's - Heath Slater & Rhyno
Heath Slater started this match out to a huge ovation taking out Jimmy Uso and then Jey Uso after the tag, he quickly introduced Rhyno who brought his strength and power into the situation. With Slater back in he was taken to the outside and suplexed into the ring post as the brothers began to beat him down, continuing their heel growth.
Ths Uso's slowed the pace down and made frequent tags as they took wore down Slater and denied him from making the tag to Rhyno. Slater eventually managed to make the tag and Rhyno came in and tore apart both Uso's, wiping them out and setting up the Gore, but Jimmy Uso sent him into the turnbuckle. Slater tagged himself in and appeared to have the match won until he was pulled to the outside.After the distraction, Slater is hit with a Superkick but with the referee not looking Rhyno hit a Gore and Slater covered to get the win, the titles, and the SmackDown Live contract.
Winners: Heath Slater and Rhyno
Analysis: That was a little quicker than expected but the story told was brilliant. Slater suffered a beatdown and then allowed Rhyno to come in and do the damage, hitting the Gore and winning his team the match. The way Slater has managed to get himself over during this free agent angle has been spectacular and it's good to see him with the belts.
WWE World Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) - AJ Styles
It was a 50/50 start in a cagey opening as both men traded shots with AJ Styles using his speed to run around the ring and the catch Dean Ambrose out to take advantage for the first time. However, Ambrose would begin to work his way back in with his unique offence but as he prepared to jump the ropes, Styles knew it was coming and tripped him into the ropes, neck first.
Styles continued to beat down the champion, trash talking at the same time as his cocky confidence got the best of him as Ambrose stomped him down in the corner but Styles quickly regained control, sending the Lunatic Fringe shoulder first into the post. After going up to the top turnbuckle both men went crashing as Ambrose took his challenger out with a huge maneuver.
Ambrose followed up with an elbow from the top rope to the outside on Styles as the champion laid everything on the line to retain his gold.After attempting to go high risk again it proved to be one too many times for Ambrose as Styles ended up sending him leg first into the corner and that was followed up with Styles crushing Ambrose's leg.
The moves had all been build up for the Calf Crusher which Styles finally locked in but the champion managed to make it to the ropes just in time to break the hold. Ambrose continued to battle, sending Styles into the ring post and then a running bulldog back inside the ring but the challenger refused to give in. A huge springboard 450 splash was hit by Styles who had got himself back into the back and forth match but once again Ambrose wouldn't be pinned.
Ambrose again battled hard with big shots and a running low dropkick that send Styles crashing before the champion went diving through the ropes sending Styles over the announce table to a great pop. That was quickly followed by Ambrose throwing Styles over the barricade as the champion ran across the announce tables and dove onto AJ, taking him out.
Just as Ambrose looked to hit the Dirty Deeds, Styles pushed Ambrose into the referee and hit a low blow followed by a Styles Clash to win the World title.
Winner: AJ Styles
Analysis: That was a great match between two of the companies top guys who gave everything they had to put on a brilliant battle. It was back and forth throughout with neither man dominating and with the WWE Universe fully invested it made it even more special. That was the Dean Ambrose that fans have been wanting to see for the past month and the cheap victory for AJ keeps Ambrose strong and this feud will go on.
Star of the night: The Miz continues his momentum as the company's top heel. His match was brilliant and he performed moves we've never seen which is a great sign that he is evolving as a performer in-ring as well as out, the way he continued his feud with Daniel Bryan was also very well done, mimicking him and mocking him backstage, this is The Miz we need.
Match of the night:The main event stole the show, just from the Intercontinental Championship match which was also very entertaining. It had a big fight feel and both men brought their best to the match which provided fans with one of the best Ambrose matches in a long time whilst AJ finally gained the belt his career has deserved.
Overall this was a very solid PPV, on paper it didn't appear very strong, especially once the Orton/Wyatt match was removed but everyone involved worked extremely hard to put on a thoroughly enjoyable show. SmackDown has been doing things right since the brand split and building stars and slowly developing stories and Backlash was about those feuds all taking their next steps. It was the first exclusive PPV and the WWE certainly delivered an entertaining show.
Rating: 8/10