B/R Wrestling Staff Predictions for WWE Backlash 2024 Match Card

For the first time in WWE history, the annual Backlash pay-per-view will take place in France at the LDLC Arena in Lyon Metropolis.

Here is a look at the card WWE has booked for the PPV as of Friday morning:

• Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles (WWE Universal Championship)
• Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso (World Heavyweight Championship)
• Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton (WWE Women's Championship)
• Asuka and Kairi Sane vs. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair (Women's Tag Team Championships)
• Randy Orton and Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga

As always, we have our panel of contributors here to answer questions and offer predictions.

• Chris Mueller (CM) (@BR_Doctor)
• Erik Beaston (EB) (@ErikBeaston)
• Graham Matthews (GM) (@WrestleRant)
• Donald Wood (DW) (@RingRustRadio) 
• Kevin Berge (KG) (@KevinBerge)
• Jeff J (JJ) (@JeffJSays)

Erik Beaston

Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest

How do you see this match playing out? Will anyone interfere?

Uso is fresh off of being named the No. 1 pick of the Raw brand in this year's WWE Draft and is the closest thing the brand has to a legitimate top star amid injuries and time off. He will be protected and that means lots of interference, presumably from Judgment Day. No way he loses this one clean, even if that outcome would benefit Priest and his title reign.

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The Kabuki Warriors vs. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair

Offer an argument for why Asuka and Kairi Sane should retain the women's tag titles

They are the best and most consistent team in the company. They are great workers who can mesh with any opponent, making the Cargill/Belair match that much more intriguing.

Donald Wood

Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

Who do you think will win and which opponent will they beat to do it? Why them?

Bayley's run as champion just kicked off at WrestleMania, so she will not be taking a loss at Backlash. The storyline looks to be setting up for the Stratton vs. Bayley singles match, so adding Naomi to the mix will give Bayley someone to pin so WWE Creative can build to Stratton vs. Bayley, possibly with a title change at SummerSlam.

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Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga vs. Kevin Owens and Randy Orton

Do you think Jacob Fatu debuts during this match?

Without Roman Reigns and The Rock on WWE programming, the company has done everything possible to make the Bloodline storyline feel important. Adding Tama Tonga was a smart move, but it just happened. I would let Sikoa and Tonga win clean and save Jacob Fatu's debut for a marquee singles match further down the line.

Graham Matthews

Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

Let's say Bayley was going to drop the title already. Which challenger should win it and why?

Stratton would be the better choice, largely because she can then immediately feud with both Bayley and Naomi coming out of Backlash. It might be considered too soon for her to be champion this early into her main roster run. She'd benefit from winning Queen of the Ring or Money in the Bank first, but she's found her footing rather quickly and would have no issue holding her own at the top of the division.

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Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga vs. Kevin Owens and Randy Orton

Based on the storyline, who do you think is going to get the win for their team, and who will they beat?

Sikoa is in desperate need of a victory and it would be foolish for him to lose his first time teaming with Tonga, not to mention that Owens and Orton can easily absorb the loss. A heel win extends the feud and perhaps serves as the introduction of the debuting Jacob Fatu, whose arrival is inevitable.

Kevin Berge

The Kabuki Warriors vs. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair

What kind of betting odds would you give each team?

I would heavily favor Belair and Cargill to retain, giving them at least -2000 betting edge. While it's not inconceivable that Damage CTRL could do something to escape with the gold for now, Backlash needs a big moment, and Belair and Cargill winning the tag titles would make an impression. Moreover, it keeps Cargill undefeated in tag team action, allowing her to continue to build her dominant image in WWE.

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Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest

Most people expect Priest to retain. Offer an argument for why Uso should win this match.

The Judgment Day is falling apart. Priest barely had credibility when he won the World Heavyweight Championship. Jey absolutely has credibility and momentum. Cody Rhodes basically anointed him the face of Raw on his way out to SmackDown. Why not just commit to the hot hand and let the red brand move on from The Judgment Day title drama?

Mr. Jeff J

Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles

Lay out how you would book this match from start to finish and why it would be the best way to do it.

I'd book the match as a Rhodes NWA tribute special. Styles would have Rhodes in hell for most of the match, out wrestling and out cheating him until he can rally, fend off every signature move in Styles' arsenal, and finish him off with the Cross Rhodes. I'd love to see Styles make some callbacks to his match against Dusty Rhodes in TNA too, for extra razzle-dazzle.

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Bonus

WWE hasn't booked a single European for this PPV in France. Book one match featuring some of WWE's best European talent and explain why it would be a good addition to the card.

It's a bit tough because a lot of the European men are heels, but I'd have a showcase match between Dragunov and JD Macdonaugh. You can introduce the Mad Dragon as the latest thorn in the side of Judgement Day and be the beginning of an incredible feud. Plus the match would be a banger.

Chris Mueller

Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles

Styles hasn't been acting like as much of a heel lately. Should he use this match to establish himself as a heel or return to being a babyface?

Styles is usually a good heel, but his recent run hasn't been that strong. The crowd loves him and wants to cheer for him, so WWE should allow him to transition back to a face role by working a clean match and shaking Rhodes' hand when he's done.

Bonus

WWE hasn't booked a single European for this PPV in France. Book one match featuring some of WWE's best European talent and explain why it would be a good addition to the card.

Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci in a singles match makes a lot of sense after Kaiser helped expel Vinci from Imperium. Unless the plan is for Kaiser and Gunther to be a tag team, My. A+ Everything needs to start building some singles wins on his record. Another option would be to put Pretty Deadly against Kaiser and Gunther in what would be guaranteed to be a fun tag match.

Predictions

B/R Wrestling writers' predictions are represented by their initials:

• Rhodes (CM, GM, EB, KB, DW, JJ) vs. Styles
• Priest (CM, GM, EB, KB, DW, JJ) vs. Uso
• Kabuki Warriors vs. Cargill and Belair (CM, GM, EB, KB, DW, JJ) 
• Bayley (CM, GM, EB, KB, DW, JJ) vs. Naomi vs. Stratton
• RKOwens vs. Tonga and Sikoa (CM, GM, EB, KB, DW, JJ) 

What do you think will go down at Backlash?