WWE Backlash PPV Results: 5-6-18
Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's real-time report).
KICKOFF SHOW
(A) BAYLEY vs. RUBY RIOTT (w/Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan)
The announcers focused on Bayley’s attitude and dynamic with Sasha Banks. They showed Sasha watching on a monitor backstage. It was a good time to cut to split screen because there was a rough looking whip into the ropes where it appeared Riott expected a reversal that didn’t come so she just ran backwards after stopping her momentum on the Bayley whip. They cut to a mid-match break after Riott knocked Bayley to the floor.
Back live, Riott had Bayley in a chinlock as Cole pushed the free trial to WWE Network. In the end, Bayley speared Morgan off the ring apron, but then Riott surprised her as she turned around with a kick to the face. Then she gave Bayley her Riott Kick for the win.
WINNER: Riott.
With Nia Jax as the champion, they might be building up Ruby Riott to be a heel challenger for the title, plus playing up the storyline that Bayley’s head isn’t in the right place.
(1) SETH ROLLINS vs. THE MIZ – Intercontinental Title match
Miz, the challenger, came out first. Cole noted that during the Kickoff Show, Miz proposed that the Miztourage help him, but they didn’t accompany him to ringside. They engaged in some tests of strength in the opening minute. Miz kicked Seth during a a set up for a lock-up and stomped away at him. The crowd booed. Miz took it to Seth at ringside aggressively, then back in the ring delivered a running boot to Seth’s face for a two count. He settled into a chinlock. The announcers really talked up Seth. Graves noted that Mark Henry said Seth is on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats. Cole said it seemed like things have really picked up for Seth in the last few months after struggling to get his groove after returning from his knee injury. Coach made his obligatory mainstream sports sage-like statement (he worked at ESPN, remember!) that any great athlete will tell you a knee injury is the hardest to recover from both physically and mentally. Miz scored a near fall after blocking a kick and delivering a low DDT.
Coach talked about what a brutal schedule the wrestlers have been through in the last 18 days. Graves said it’s not getting easier as they’re headed to the UK for two weeks alter this week. Seth rallied and hit his dive through the ropes, then played to the crowd. Back in the ring Seth springboarded at Miz, but Miz countered into a Skull Crushing Finale attempt, but Seth blocked it and landed a victory roll for a two count. Then Seth hit a Blockbuster for another two count. A minute later Miz leaped off the top rope, but Seth rolled through and picked up Miz and gave him a turning slam for a two count. Seth climbed to the top rope quickly, then landed frog splash for believable near fall. They replayed it in slo-mo, and it looked great. Cole noted that Backlash is the no. 1 trend on Twitter worldwide. Seth stomped the mat three times and fans chanted “Burn it down!” Miz rolled to the floor to regroup. Seth pursued him to ringside and then right back into the ring. Seth clotheslined Miz to the floor. Seth then went for another dive through the ropes, but Miz cut him off mid-air with a forearm.
As they battled on the ring apron, Seth went for a jumping knee, but Miz side-stepped him and Seth’s knee hit the ringpost. Miz then quickly put Seth in a figure-four leglock. Miz arched his back to increase the torque. Seth looked fired up and then turned Miz over to reverse the pain. Miz reversed it back after 20 seconds. Seth grabbed the bottom rope, which was now within reach, so the ref demanded a release. Seth clutched his knee in pain. Miz went for another figure-four, but Seth kicked him off. Seth won a back and forth battle with an enzuigiri, but then Miz went for a Skull Crushing Finale. Seth blocked it at first, but his knee gave out and Miz hit it for a believable near fall. The crowd was popping big at this point fro Seth. They showed a slo-mo of Miz’s head reverberating after the enzuigiri. Graves said Seth’s knee is shot.
Seth set up a superplex. His knee gave out, but he tried again and hit it. He went for a Falcon Arrow, but his knee gave out. Miz then hit the Skull Crushing Finale for a believable and dramatic near fall. The crowd popped big for the kickout. Miz set up Seth for a SCF off the middle rope, but Seth fought out of it and knocked Miz to the mat. Seth then leaped off the second rope for a stomp, but Miz avoided it. They went into pin attempts and reversals, ending when Seth hit The Stomp on Miz to score the pin. Cole said both wrestlers deserve a standing ovation. Coach said if typically they ease into a show, this wasn’t easing into a show. He did wonder how serious Seth’s knee damage is.
WINNER: Rollins in 21:00 to retain the IC Title. (****1/4)
I don’t know right off the top of my head what Miz’s best matches ever were prior to this, but this might be the new Best Miz Match. That was really well done and, more importantly, mega-effective in engaging the crowd enthusiastically and making them believe an outcome that seemed inevitable wasn’t a given after all, despite eventually ending the way you’d have figured it would going in. Seth is on fire. That could headline a PPV and everyone would be satisfied.