WWE Saturday Night Main Event Card Looking Strong, Remembering Sabu, More

During such a busy stretch of shows this spring and summer, it's imperative for WWE to deliver must-see matches that give the audience an incentive to stay invested.

The teased top bouts for the upcoming installment of Saturday Night's Main Event followed by Money in the Bank soon after ensure that the company has plenty for fans to look forward to in the weeks ahead.

Despite not being overly eventful, Backlash this past weekend was a prime example of how above-average action can make a sub-three-hour event worthwhile. That was especially true for the night's Women's Intercontinental Championship clash between Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria.

Similar to the last time they went one-on-one in NXT two years ago, the two Ireland natives brought the best out of each other and arguably stole the show. Valkyria's victory was crucial in establishing her as being on Lynch's level, and their storyline is only just getting started.

This installment of Quick Takes will discuss how The Man is already legitimizing Valkyria and her title, a better fit for The Hurt Syndicate than MJF, Sabu's indelible influence on the wrestling world, and more.

Jey Uso vs. Logan Paul, John Cena vs. R-Truth Work as TV World Title Main Events

Although Jey Uso was conspicuous by his absence at Backlash coming off his hot World Heavyweight Championship win at WrestleMania 41, WWE made the right call leaving him off the card.

Uso recently kicked off a new feud with Logan Paul over Raw's top title and it was far too soon for them to have their match at Backlash. Holding off until Saturday Night's Main Event on May 24 gives them more time to build up their bout without having to save it for Money in the Bank two weeks later.

That's the exact reason why John Cena vs. R-Truth for the Undisputed WWE Championship works as a co-main-event for that same show.

Truth played a pivotal role in Cena successfully retaining his title against Randy Orton at Backlash. Cena putting Truth through a table during the post-show press conference served as the setup for a match between them, and the predictable outcome wouldn't make it all that appealing for a typical premium live event.

WWE has played it safe with the last two installments of Saturday Night's Main Event and thus there should be something more significant in store at this next one, but both matches work well for what they're supposed to be and may very well exceed expectations.

Becky Lynch Feud Is Legitimatizing Lyra Valkyria at Perfect Time

Raw and SmackDown's women's divisions were desperately ready for a reset post-WrestleMania 41, primarily from a storyline standpoint.

Becky Lynch's WrestleMania return followed by her heel turn were exactly what Raw's women's midcard needed. Already, she has legitimatized Lyra Valkyria by allowing her to shine in their talking segments and losing to her in clean fashion at Backlash.

The Women's Intercontinental Championship has also been elevated by default, and it's bound to be elevated even more when Lynch wins it from Valkyria in their inevitable rematch.

The renewed focus on the women's divisions was long overdue and makes for many exciting possibilities in the coming months, specifically with the recent influx of fresh faces on both brands.

Roxanne Perez and Giulia are firmly in the mix for the WWE Women's Championship by feuding with Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley, while Alexa Bliss' latest comeback will be a big boost to the midcard scene on SmackDown.

The immense amount of talent makes for a deep division, but how they're utilized is what matters most. The Lynch vs. Valkyria rivalry is heating up at the perfect time and should be the blueprint for how WWE goes about booking and spotlighting other stories with the women.

Cedric Alexander Will Be Better Fit Than MJF for The Hurt Syndicate

MJF's ongoing obsession with wanting to join The Hurt Syndicate and attempting to bribe each of its members has been a recurring highlight on AEW TV since shortly after Revolution.

Bobby Lashley promised MJF on the latest edition of Dynamite that he'd have an answer for him on the Beach Break show this Wednesday, and although MJF being a full-fledged member of the group would make for more entertaining television, Cedric Alexander would be the better fit and a more satisfying swerve.

The former Hurt Business standout was released by WWE in early February and saw his 90-day non-compete clause expire within the last week, making him contractually free to sign with AEW and debut on Dynamite.

There's a better story to tell with Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin reuniting with Alexander and continuing to feud with MJF heading into Double or Nothing, likely leading to Lashley and MJF going one-on-one at the event.

If Hurt Syndicate was going to add a new name to their ranks, it surely would have happened by now. Alexander has proven chemistry with everyone in the faction and can be Benjamin's new tag partner to free up Lashley for more singles opportunities.

Becoming More Relatable Is Charlotte Flair's Last Resort

Being sidelined for over a year with a litany of injuries evidently wasn't enough to prevent Charlotte Flair from getting booed upon returning at the Royal Rumble and winning the women's match.

Any plans to position Flair as the lead babyface in SmackDown's women's division were presumably abandoned from that moment forward and she instead embraced the backlash from fans. The issue was that her on-screen persona barely evolved and her feud with Tiffany Stratton struggled as a result.

In Flair's first appearance back on the blue brand this past Friday night, she made it clear her sights are still set on the WWE Women's Championship before walking away in dismay because of the negative reaction she was receiving.

Making her more relatable is her last resort at remaining a fixture toward the top of the card. Otherwise, the audience will continue to reject her and won't stand for her sticking with the same shtick she's been doing for a decade.

She wouldn't necessarily need to turn face—especially since that has rarely worked out for her in the past—but showing another side of her character and coming across as more authentic would do wonders.

Taking a step back from the title picture would be a solid start along with possible programs with Alexa Bliss and Jade Cargill that were teased on SmackDown.

Remembering Sabu

Terry Brunk, best known to wrestling fans as Sabu, died this past weekend.

Sabu revolutionized hardcore wrestling in ECW throughout the 1990s and was involved in a number of classic matches with the likes of Taz, Mick Foley and Rob Van Dam. A former ECW tag team champion, ECW World Television champion and ECW World Heavyweight champion, he is widely regarded as one of the most decorated competitors in company history.

His explosive and innovative offense helped put the promotion on the map and lay the groundwork for a style of wrestling that remains prevalent to this day. By bringing barbed wire and flaming tables into the mainstream, he inspired many of today's death-defying daredevils.

Although his WWE stint was short-lived, he was a consistent contender for championship gold while on the ECW brand, battled John Cena, Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio, and won his first and only WrestleMania match in 2007.

The 60-year-old wrestled his final match against Joey Janela over WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas mere weeks ago, but even prior to that point, he was still making waves around the world.

Sabu's countless contributions and overall influence on the business will never be forgotten.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.