Wwe Backlash Preview And General Thoughts

Backlash 2008 is an interesting Pay Per View. It feels more hollow, more empty, than most pay per views. Perhaps it's the fact that the WWE didn't shove it down our throats, but it's just an odd feel.

First you have the MVP vs Matt Hardy match. MVP vs Matt Hardy was the longest running feud in 2007, and pretty easily to say, the best. There were fresh ways for them to feud every week, from basketball games to arm wrestling to beer drinking, their feud had it all. You couldn't hate the feud, Stone Cold was brought in, and anytime that happens, you know fans will go home happy. The feud looked even better when they won the US belts together. The chemistry was great, and MVP got considerable heel heat when he turned on Matt and beat him. The feud was even good when MVP was injured, because that was where the things such as basketball games and such came in. However, then Matt Hardy went down. His injury was used to help the Jeff Hardy/Orton feud, but it almost totally killed Matt's feud with MVP. At first Rey Mysterio and Batista were brought in to challenge for the US Title, and Matt was expected to come back in time to have a Wrestlemania match against MVP. However, he ended up being out longer, and while he did come back at Wrestlemania, it was a little lackluster. The feud since has been a bit boring, and with Smackdown's head writer out for awhile, the feud just doesn't have any heat. The match itself at Backlash could go both ways. They could just give the belt to Matt and get them both moving to new stuff, or perhaps they'll try to rekindle the feud a bit, and have it be resolved in another month or two. Should be interesting.

Prediction: Im gonna pick Matt Hardy, I think they'll just get this feud over with and move forward, but I won't be too surprised if MVP wins.

The next match is Chavo Guerrero vs Kane. After a ridiculous match at Wrestlemania that lasted about 3 seconds, Kane has been doing well enough on ECW. It'd be nice if they would have a hardcore match at some point, but that seems too much to ask. This feud is fairly boring, as the ECW belt means nothing, it's about time to just get rid of the brand, and that is what will probably happen later this year. This match is another one which is a bit unpredictable, but I think it's likely Kane will win. Even though Chavo got a new bodyguard, the guy hasn't been utilized that much. Considering how easily Kane won at Wrestlemania, people are likely to expect him to dominate again, and I would think he would.

Prediction: Kane takes this one.

Next is the diva match. I forget who all is in it, but it's something like Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian, and another person or two vs. Mickie James, Ashley, and some other people. This match could swing both ways, yes like a bisexual, like the MVP/Hardy match, because they could use it for a few things. First, Beth said she was going to win the Women's title back, so they might have her win, but they could also have Mickie or a new diva(such as Natalya) win and get a little boost. It's hard to tell what will happen with the Women's division. They've had the belt lingering on Beth for awhile, waiting for Candice Michelle to come back, but since she got injured again, they decided to please the fans and give the belt to Mickie. I would hope that Natayla Neidhart would get a feud with Mickie at some point, that could help her out, but there aren't really any other heels to face Mickie. There are a number of face divas that could challenge for it, so it helps to have the belt on a heel, but we'll see.

Prediction: I'm gonna say either Beth Phoenix or Natalya Neidhart gets the pin. Heels win.

Another match, and probably the dumbest, lamest, and most predictable one, is Great Khali vs Big Show. They've been going back and forth each week, and props for the nice segment on SmackDown! where Khali offered peace, but the feud is pretty weak overall. Unless they extend the feud, which is unlikely, Great Khali is bound to lose this one. Big Show lost at Wrestlemania, and since he's supposed to be strong and everything, it'd be lame to have him lose this feud.

Prediction: Big Show wins. Why have him lose? I'm curious to see who he'll feud with next.

Next up is Edge vs Undertaker. This feud has kind've died off, and there's not really any storyline here other than it's Edge rematching Undertaker. Edge and Punk fought last Friday, and Edge and Taker haven't really confronted in awhile, at least not alone. This past Monday on RAW, there was a great match where everyone started brawling and the last man standing was The Undertaker, but with the Political fight and the big 3 politicians appearing on the show, everything else was a bit buried. While Edge could win this, I don't think he will. I think he might move into a feud with CM Punk, though he could feud with some others as well. The Undertaker has been told he will get a long title reign before he retires, and with all the rumors that he'll retire at Wrestlemania 25, this could be that long reign. He's been built up to be very powerful as of late, and I expect him to keep the belt into his next feud. However, there aren't really any other people on SmackDown! right now that Undertaker can feud with. Umaga is supposedly going to move to SmackDown! via the draft at some point and feud with Taker, but until then, who can The Phenom feud with? If Edge were to get the belt, there are a few faces who could challenge, but the main event scene on SmackDown! is getting fairly thin and stale.

Prediction: The Phenom wins this one.

Second to last, we have Batista vs Shawn Michaels. This is a pretty cool feud. It has potential to be a feud of the year, if they would drag it out and give it time. One big mistake I think they made was putting Chris Jericho into this feud, at least this early. I think they should have had Batista and Shawn Michaels feud alone for a few months, then have Chris Jericho come in to give it a new push. While Jericho waited to get into the feud, a big thing they could have done is have him feud with CM Punk. They've been pushing Punk, and he is the Money In The Bank winner, and a feud with Jericho could help him greatly, after a great KOTR match last Monday. They could have had Jericho and Punk feud and have a match at Backlash, but instead Punk is left out, and Jericho is the ref in a match between Batista and Michaels. It's very hard to predict how this match will turn out. With Chris Jericho as the referee, and both guys coming off as potential winners, it's very hard to predict how this match will turn out.

Prediction: I really have no idea on this one. I'm gonna pick Batista, but I have no idea. Anything could happen here.

Finally, we have the Fatal Four Way Elimination Match. And let me say, I'm SO glad they made it an Elimination Match. When they first announced it as a Fatal Four Way, I kept saying to myself, "This has to be elimination". And they made it so. It's a good move, because whoever becomes champ, or retains the championship, gets a boost. The match itself could go any way. JBL is the least likely to hold the belt, in my opinion, but he is still a potential candidate. We've seen a lot of the other 3 in the title seen in the last 6 months or so, and perhaps it's JBL's turn now. He's gotten some heat up with the audience, but I don't think he's going to win. Next up is John Cena. I don't think he'll win it, because he's still filming his movie. However, when he gets done with his movie, he'll probably be the top man to win the belt. It'll be interesting to see what happens with him after this PPV, it's possible that either he or HHH could feud with JBL next. HHH hasn't had the belt in a long time, and lots of people are talking about him to win since it's been awhile since he's won. Other than his hour reign last year at No Mercy(I think it was), he hasn't had the belt in a good year or so, and it's possible he'll get it back for awhile. I hope if he does, he changes it, that dumb spinner crap is just lame. Randy Orton is the most likely to win, I think. He's just declared the Age of Orton not long ago, and why would they have him say that only to lose the belt at the next PPV? That'd be a dumb move. Plus if he stays in line, and doesn't screw up outside the ring(IRL), he is a great performer and gets good enough heat with the fans and gets reaction enough to stay the champ awhile longer. I'd like to see him keep it for a bit. What they really ought to do is have him make a stable. It'd be interesting if there were an Orton and an Edge stable. If the two feuded, it would be Epic. Team RKO vs Team Rated R(or Team Edge). Love it.

Prediction: I think Orton retains here.

Finally, I'll mention a couple people missing from Backlash. First, there's Finlay. He goes from a feud at Wrestlemania, subpar(IMO) as it was, to not being on this PPV. He isn't in a match, and he's not feuding with anyone right now. The next people are all the tag teams. Another PPV, another lack of tag team title matches. It'd be nice to see Carlito/Santino face off with Cody/Holly soon, but we'll have to wait another PPV to see it. The tag team division is getting more attention, and it's a good thing, but they need to keep it up.

The last person, and most noticeable to mention here, is CM Punk. He won Money In The Bank, has gotten air time, and it's very noticeable to see that the WWE is pushing him. He just faced off with Edge and looked good, he got to the finals of the KOTR tournament, though could have used a win there, and is getting more mic time. However, he's strangely absent from the card. I can't imagine he'd miss next PPV after missing this one, since he is getting pushed big and all, it'd be a waste for him to start missing PPVs. I think they should have had him feud with Chris Jericho for awhile. Jericho is in that zone where it's hard to tell if he's a heel/face, and is leaning heel, so they could set up a feud between the two. It could be a feud of the year candidate, just throw in some good gimmick matches, and it could be great. I can't imagine Punk would totally miss this Pay Per View though, I think he will show up at some point, maybe to stir up a feud, possibly with Edge. It'd be dumb if they used his MITB here, and I don't think they will, it would be a waste, so I think he'll interfere with someone's match.