WWE Backlash 2017 Matches: Final Picks and Predictions for Entire Match Card
WWE Backlash 2017 is upon us, and Sunday night, the Superstars of SmackDown Live will have the unenviable task of following up an NXT TakeOver: Chicago show that captivated and wowed audiences in the very same building where Randy Orton will defend the WWE Championship against Jinder Mahal.
That is right. The Maharaja will look to cap off the most unexpected push of 2017 Sunday night by relieving Orton of the top prize in WWE in the main event. The Canadian competitor has made the most of his push to this point, defeating The Viper in a Six-Man Tag Team match and further adding to his momentum by knocking off AJ Styles.
Can he culminate his sudden rise with a championship victory that would alter the course of SmackDown Live for the foreseeable future?
Speaking of championship bouts, can Styles unseat Kevin Owens, putting an end to the United States champion's new moniker of "The New Face of America"?
What about Breezango and their quest for tag team titles? Can The Fashion Police defeat The Usos and capture their first titles under the WWE umbrella?
With eight matches featuring some of the most talented workers in the company, Backlash has the potential to exceed relatively low expectations set by lackluster pre-show hype. Who should you expect to emerge from the show victorious?
Take a look with this final preview for Sunday's WWE Network presentation.
Backlash Kickoff Show: Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English
1 of 8
Despite spending the last month or so on the sidelines, Tye Dillinger is one of the more organically over stars, a fan favorite whose journey on SmackDown Live is just beginning.
Aiden English is a Superstar in limbo.
No longer a tag team specialist after partner Simon Gotch was released, bringing an end to The Vaudevillains, he has reintroduced his Artiste character to little fanfare. He is a quality in-ring performer but continues to struggle to connect with audiences, leaving him wallowing in mediocrity in an unenviable spot.
Dillinger is more valuable at this point, a Superstar poised to jump into United States Championship contention sooner than later.
Expect The Perfect 10 to introduce English to his Tye Breaker and score an always important WWE Network victory.
Prediction
Tye Dillinger defeats Aiden English
Luke Harper vs. Erick Rowan
2 of 8
Erick Rowan scored a tainted victory over Luke Harper, using a rake of the eyes to stun the former intercontinental champion, then slamming him to the mat for the pinfall.
It was a rare win for Rowan, who has never succeeded as a singles competitor despite several attempts on the part of WWE Creative. Harper, on the other hand, has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to perform up to the level of his competition, working extraordinary matches with the likes of Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler at different points.
There is more potential on the former right-hand man of Bray Wyatt winning this than the lost, directionless "White Sheep" Rowan.
Prediction
Luke Harper defeats Erick Rowan
Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. The Welcoming Committee
3 of 8
The Welcoming Committee of Natalya, Carmella and Tamina originally set out to prove to Charlotte that she would not walk in the front door and be handed coveted SmackDown Women's Championship matches. In the process, the trio unsuccessfully attempted to recruit Becky Lynch and found itself on the receiving end of Naomi's fury.
Sunday night, in Six-Woman Tag Team action, the heel trio will attempt to get one over on the babyfaces, hoping to capitalize on dissension between them to score a high-profile victory.
The babyfaces are over. They will remain over even if they lose Sunday night.
Charlotte is the most protected female performer in WWE, Naomi is the women's champion and Lynch is an old-school bruiser whose fans are extremely loyal. The heels, on the other hand, are in need of some credibility. While booked strongly to this point, they need a few wins to convince fans to care about their faction and invest in them emotionally.
WWE Creative recognizes this and will do the right thing Sunday night, booking Carmella and Co. to secure the victory.
Prediction
The Welcoming Committee defeats Charlotte, Naomi and Becky Lynch
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
4 of 8
Despite his status as the most traditional babyface worker in the company, Sami Zayn has struggled to earn the complete and unwavering support of WWE Creative. Every once in a while he is interjected into a high-profile story, only to be beaten in its conclusion and sent back to the dark unknown of the midcard.
That was most recently seen in his program with Braun Strowman, which ultimately unraveled and left Zayn directionless.
A move to SmackDown Live should have generated Zayn the sort of push many have believed he was deserving of from the moment he made his main roster debut. Or so fans had hoped. Instead, Zayn stayed on the same path he had been on prior. He appeared in main events but was never the featured star.
He had no discernible direction and now arrives at Backlash ready to wage war with Baron Corbin in a match less about a rivalry and more about giving the NXT exports something to do.
Corbin is clearly the object of SmackDown Creative's affection, routinely competing against Randy Orton and AJ Styles in what feels like a test run for an eventual main event spot.
He will win Sunday night, leaving Zayn's fans to wonder what is next for The Underdog from the Underground.
Prediction
Baron Corbin defeats Sami Zayn
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: Breezango vs. The Usos
5 of 8
Breezango has taken the SmackDown Live tag team division by storm, courtesy of a series of pretaped vignettes known as The Fashion Files. The segments have allowed Tyler Breeze and Fandango to connect with audiences, thanks to their kooky senses of humor, not unlike Booker T and Goldust did way back in 2002.
It has given the talented tag team a new lease on their wrestling lives. Long enhancement talent for the likes of American Alpha, Heath Slater and Rhyno and even The Hype Bros, they now have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of a sustained push against the most established team on the roster, The Usos.
For all that has been made of Breezango ahead of Backlash, Jimmy and Jey Uso have also reinvented themselves, employing a new swag and edgy, fast-talking promo style that helps them leap off the screen. Gone are the days of the generic good guys, and in their place are the rabid, nasty twin brothers determined to unleash hell on any tandem that dares confront them.
That will begin Sunday as The Usos pick up a win despite the best performance from Breezango to date.
Prediction
The Usos retain by defeating Breezango
United States Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens
6 of 8
Kevin Owens has proudly referred to himself as The New Face of America since dethroning Chris Jericho for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 33. Though he lost the title at Payback, he regained it two days later and now enters Backlash prepared to defend against the best wrestler in the world, AJ Styles.
The Phenomenal One is a threat to any champion he challenges, and Owens knows it, hence the sneak attacks that have resulted in Popup Powerbombs and title shots to the knee that have threatened Styles' health ahead of his latest title opportunity.
Owens is still early in his title reign and has seen his new moniker rendered meaningless once, even if it was for only 48 hours. Beating him again not only hurts his credibility, it effectively ruins any chance he has of getting that New Face of America nickname to stick.
At the same time, Styles probably should not be losing, either.
He is the face of SmackDown Live, no matter who Vince McMahon wants to book as champion. He carried the brand through the first year of the brand extension and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Protecting him would be a wise decision Sunday night.
Prediction
AJ Styles defeats Kevin Owens by disqualification
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler
7 of 8
The promotion for Backlash has been built around Shinsuke Nakamura. His image is on the posters, in the commercials and across the web in social media banners and tiles. He is, quite literally, the face of the SmackDown Live-exclusive pay-per-view.
There is not a chance in hell he is losing to Dolph Ziggler, no matter how compelling The Showoff's story may be heading into Sunday's show.
This is the easiest match to predict, but it should be one of the best on the card, thanks to the quality of performers within.
Prediction
Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Dolph Ziggler
WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal
8 of 8
The story of the WWE Championship match Sunday at Backlash has very little to do with titleholder Randy Orton. In fact, The Viper is almost secondary to his No. 1 contender.
Jinder Mahal exploded onto the championship scene, coming from the bottom of the card to win a Six-Pack Challenge match and earn a shot at wrestling's top prize at Backlash. His sudden ascension to the top of the card has become the most buzzed-about topic ahead of the show, mostly due to fans trying to come to grips with the longtime jobber's entry into the title scene.
There are so many signs pointing to Mahal being a placeholder.
WWE Creative does not trust him to get over on his own, giving him The Singh Brothers to help get him heat. He has had to cheat to beat every babyface he has faced, essentially protecting those good guys in the process. That there has been no major commitment on the part of management suggests he will eat an RKO Sunday night and wave goodbye to the biggest push of his career.
But there is a nagging feeling as the show approaches that suggests Mahal will actually win the title. Maybe it is the constant memories of John Bradshaw Layfield jumping from the bottom of the SmackDown card as part of APA all the way to the WWE title as a singles competitor in the summer of 2004. Perhaps it is the fact that he has gone over both Styles and Orton in recent weeks.
Whatever the case, Mahal will capture his first WWE title Sunday night and embark on the most unexpected run of the last 15 years.
Prediction
Jinder Mahal defeats Randy Orton to win the WWE Championship
.jpg?w=600 "WWE Raw Results & Grades 🔠")
