Early Predictions For WWE Backlash 2023 Match Card

After a hit-or-miss, two-night WrestleMania spectacular and a follow-up episode of Raw that failed to meet expectations, the WWE Universe has shifted its attention to Backlash 2023.

Scheduled for May 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the company's first show after WrestleMania 39 is shaping up to be a highly important pay-per-view filled with marquee matches and main event Superstars.

With Bad Bunny heavily involved, a possible championship unification bout and a Brock Lesnar appearance teased, there is no doubt the Backlash card could be stacked.

Here are the early predictions for the top bouts for next month's show.

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Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair Try to Unify Titles

Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair dominated at WrestleMania, but during the follow-up episode of Raw, the stage looked to be set for a women's championship unification match.

The question is whether the bout will take place at Backlash, SummerSlam or next year's WrestleMania in Philadelphia.

Belair has held the Raw Women's Championship for over a year, dominating every opponent in front of her. Meanwhile, Ripley won the SmackDown title at 'Mania and looks poised for an extended run.

If WWE Creative was smart, it would build a unification bout, only for it to be interrupted by the two women set to challenge Belair and Ripley over the coming months. By teasing the bout and taking it away, the fans will get a taste of a true dream match and yearn for more.

Then, instead of giving away the finish, the company can build two separate feuds to cornerstone Raw and SmackDown and save the eventual unification fight for a marquee PPV later this year or early in 2024.

A battle between Ripley and Belair is the biggest possible women's title match not involving one of the original Four Horsewomen or Ronda Rousey, so teasing it now only to give it away later is smart booking for WWE moving into the new year.

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Bad Bunny Teams With Rey Mysterio

While Logan Paul gets a lot of credit for memorizing his spots—far too much credit—award-winning musician Bad Bunny has dedicated himself to the craft of wrestling and appreciates the fact that he is allowed to perform on the biggest stages with some of the most talented performers in the world.

In addition to his hosting duties at Backlash, expect the singer to team up with Rey Mysterio to take on Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio to gain redemption for their actions on Monday's Raw.

The storyline between the Mysterio family has been one of the best in WWE in recent weeks and adding Bad Bunny to the equation—as well as an elite wrestler and Damian Priest— will be hugely beneficial to the success of Backlash, especially in Puerto Rico.

Look for the crowd in San Juan to go home happy after a legend like Rey Mysterio and a bona fide superstar in Bad Bunny earn the hard-fought victory.

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Brock Lesnar Loses to Cody Rhodes

In one of the stupidest booking decisions in recent wrestling history, WWE failed to capitalize on Cody Rhodes' immense momentum by letting Roman Reigns successfully retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on Sunday night.

People can say Rhodes' redemption story and a possible rematch at SummerSlam or WrestleMania 40 would make it an even better tale, but they would be wrong. He'll never be as over as he was at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

WWE Creative didn't capitalize on Sami Zayn's momentum in Montréal because Rhodes was the man who should have been crowned at WrestleMania. Instead, the return to power of Vince McMahon has created a conundrum that Brock Lesnar will now have to fix.

After making a massive mistake with the 'Mania booking, McMahon and Co. booked The Beast Incarnate to attack The American Nightmare, setting up the failed challenger's next feud and the first stop on his road back to the world title scene.

It's hard to imagine Lesnar losing to Rhodes, but that's how this should be booked at Backlash if WWE is genuinely looking to rehabilitate his character.

The Beast has proved he would sell for almost anyone, but he needs to take the loss against The American Nightmare.

Even if Rhodes beats Lesnar, though, he will never be as over as he was at WrestleMania 39.

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