WWE Backlash 2009 Review
Three New Champions Crowned
Every year, Backlash is the WWE's first stop after WrestleMania. WrestleMania rematches are often served up, usually with a twist; the occasional new rivalry also develops, as the WWE looks to build for the coming year. Last night's event was a strong Pay-Per-View all round, barring the antics of 'Santina' Marella - here, we take a look at what, who, how, and why.
Christian Becomes The New ECW Champion
Christian and Jack Swagger faced off for the ECW Championship to open the show, in a fantastic match full of counters, near-falls and innovative spots. While not quite as good as their TV match for the title back in March, the match was a thoroughly solid encounter.
Christian's return to WWE is vindicated by his success in winning a championship so quickly, while Swagger was put over by the match despite losing, and it remains clear that he has a huge future in WWE. The match was also followed by the first on-screen meeting between Christian and his 'brother' Edge since his return, something that will surely have whet the appetite of fans.
Match Rating: 8/10
Steamboat Turns Back The Clock But Jericho Triumphs
Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat wrestled his first singles match in over 15 years against the man who he and his fellow Legends stood up to at WrestleMania, and he once again looked like he had never been away.
Despite embarrassingly having dyed his hair a darker shade for the occasion, Steamboat delivered another fantastic performance against an equally in-form Jericho. Their match was highly entertaining, while also putting Jericho over strongly following his impending move to SmackDown.
Match Rating: 7/10
Kane Gets His Revenge On CM Punk
Kane's victory over 'Mr. Money In The Bank' CM Punk was somewhat surprising - mostly by virtue of the fact that Kane doesn't tend to win too often these days - but welcomed in some quarters.
Many had assumed that Kane's impending move to SmackDown would ensure nothing more than another spell of losing to lesser lights; however, it appears following his win here that WWE have plans to at least make him a big name on SmackDown for the time being. Could one final feud with his 'brother', The Undertaker, be in the making?
Match Rating: 6/10
Matt Hardy Finally Quits
This 'I Quit' Match, the third of three 'brother vs brother' matches between the Hardys recently, was arguably the best in terms of psychology. The feud between the two has been deeply emotional in nature, and thus a match full of highspots and 'OMG Moments' like their WrestleMania XXV encounter would not have served well as a blow-off.
Instead, we got an intense match full of submission holds, great heel work from Matt, and a superbly-crafted finish. Jeff's win sets him up nicely for another main event run on SmackDown, following the denouncement of various rumours about his future in WWE.
Match Rating: 7/10
'Santina' Is Humiliated By The Great Khali
This segment did technically feature a match, between 'Santina' Marella and Beth Phoenix, but it was only four seconds long, and as such, hardly warrants a rating.
Phoenix was needlessly buried, but the segment between Marella and Khali must surely have provided some amusement for some, somewhere. It is difficult to think of any other reason why WWE Creative saw fit to include it on the show, unless they were deliberately trying to ruin the show's focus on solid wrestling matches.
Match Rating: N/A
Randy Orton Takes Out Triple H
Randy Orton's ascension to the throne of WWE continued with The Legacy's triumph over the McMahon family team and their hired gun, Dave Batista. In a slight suprise, Orton did pin Triple H fairly cleanly for the WWE title win - Triple H was stretchered out of the arena following a vicious punt to the head, much like team-mate Batista had been four months earlier.
The match itself was surprisingly good for a six-man tag team match that had the WWE Championship on the line - an odd stipulation produced some intriguing situations, such as Triple H's need to prevent Batista from using a steel chair on Cody Rhodes, which ultimately led to his losing the match and the title.
Match Rating: 8/10
Edge Becomes A Nine-Time World Champion
The level of tension between John Cena and Edge is almost unparalleled in recent WWE history. The two have had almost undoubtedly the greatest rivalry of the latter part of the 2000s, one that has lasted more than three years and counting. This match was a fitting end to the feud, whilst also leaving the door open for one more match, if the Powers That Be so choose.
Some fantastic and innovative spots marked the bout, with Cena's Attitude Adjustment into the crowd being one of them; the finish, which saw Cena chokeslammed into a spotlight by The Big Show, was also unique. This was a match that followed the high standard achieved by the other multitude of Cena-Edge matches we've seen on Pay-Per-View in recent years - a fine compliment indeed.
Match Rating: 9/10
Overall Pay-Per-View Rating: 8/10
For a preview of WWE's next Pay-Per-View, Judgment Day, click here.
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