Predicting every match for the 2017 WWE Backlash pay-per-view.
On Sunday night, the WWE Backlash pay-per-view will be presented from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL. It’s a SmackDown-exclusive show, their first one since WrestleMania 33 and February’s Elimination Chamber event.
Backlash will be headlined by Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal. It’s Mahal’s first singles match in the main event of a PPV, capping off his lightning-quick rise to the WWE Championship.
We’re also set to see Shinsuke Nakamura’s TV match debut for SmackDown Live. He’s wrestled a handful of dark matches and live events for the blue brand since early April, but has yet to compete in a bout on the Tuesday night show.
What will go down with these matches and others at WWE Backlash? Let’s look into the six that are scheduled for the card.
Luke Harper vs. Erick Rowan
Harper vs. Rowan is a match that should be years in the making. These two had worked together since NXT in 2012, until Rowan’s injuries sidelined him over the past few years, coming at different points. However, there was still a chance for a story to be told — even if it wasn’t going to be something incredibly noteworthy.
Well, here we are with this match set for Backlash. There’s no buildup toward this bout, other than Rowan pinning Harper clean, earlier this month. Sure, the lead-up can be all the years Bray Wyatt’s henchmen were aligned, but why not make something out of it, rather than a random in-ring showcase thrown onto Sunday’s PPV?
A positive is Harper and Rowan did work well together in their TV match. So there’s a chance they can follow up on it at Backlash, putting on something even better that fits between two of the bigger matches — if WWE gives them the necessary time.
With Rowan winning last time, maybe this is Harper’s time to shine. That will lead to a third match, deciding which former Wyatt Family walks out victoriously in this mini-feud.