WWE is taking Backlash overseas in 2024. The card takes place May 4 from LDLC Arena in Lyon, France and is the first major event to follow this year’s massive WrestleMania 40 event.
The card is still very much in flux, but we do know that both the world heavyweight championship and undisputed WWE universal championship will be on the line on the card. Undisputed WWE universal champion Cody Rhodes will defend the title against AJ Styles in a long-awaited first-time encounter. World heavyweight champion Damian Priest already has a challenger lined up for the event after Jey Uso won a No. 1 contender match.
There are still many more bouts to be announced, but let’s get to it and look at what we know — and what we think — will happen at Backlash, which streams live on Peacock on May 4 beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.
2024 WWE Backlash matches
World Heavyweight Championship — Damian Priest (c) vs. Jey Uso: Priest became champion at WrestleMania 40, finally cashing in his Money in the Bank contract seconds after Drew McIntyre defeated Seth Rollins to claim the title. A little assist from CM Punk led to Priest’s first run as world champion on that night. There’s no doubt McIntyre has any intention of letting this slide, but for now, Priest’s primary responsibility is his first test as champion. Uso earned the title shot by winning a fatal four-way match on Raw, a match that ended when Punk again interfered to screw over McIntyre.
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles: Rhodes also had his crowning moment at WrestleMania 40, facing Roman Reigns for the second consecutive year and finally “finishing the story” by becoming champion. He found his first challenger in Styles, who beat LA Knight in the finals of a mini-tournament to crown a top contender. Rhodes and Styles are Internet darlings who defined themselves outside of WWE before becoming promotional champions. They’re two of the top in-ring workers around and should produce fireworks at Backlash.
2024 WWE Backlash predictions
Dominik Mysterio & Finn Balor vs. Andrade & Ricochet: Despite Priest holding the world heavyweight championship, Judgment Day is in turmoil. Rhea Ripley has been sidelined by injury and Mysterio, Balor and JD McDonagh have not been finding success in the ring of late. Recently, Mysterio lost a match with Andrade, meant to show what happens when you reject Judgment Day. After the match, the group attacked Andrade but were ran off by Ricochet. It seems as though this is an easy match to make for Backlash to give some talented wrestlers a showcase.
Intercontinental Championship — Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable: Gable trained Zayn ahead of Zayn’s match with Gunther at WrestleMania 40. Zayn pulled off the win, ending Gunther’s 666-day reign as champion. Gable asked Zayn for a shot at the belt out of respect and lost the hard-fought battle on Raw. After the match, Gable turned on Zayn, executing the attack in front of the champion’s family. Things are clearly not over between these two and a pay-per-view match would only serve to move the story forward.
Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa or Tama Tonga: Sikoa’s hostile takeover of The Bloodline is probably WWE’s most compelling story right now. Tonga has presented like a killer in his brief SmackDown appearances but it may be soon to give him a clean win over Owens. If Sikoa wants to be taken seriously as The Bloodline’s usurper, a strong showing at a PPV is paramount. Tonga allegedly T-boned Owens’ rental car before dragging a bloody Owens to the ring. That sets the stage for a high intensity bout between Owens and his newest rivals.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships — Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill: Belair and Cargill had a verbal altercation with Damage CTRL on the April 19 episode of SmackDown. The fan-favorite duo hold a win over Damage CTRL, one they shared with Naomi at WrestleMania 40. It gives Belair and Cargill a fair claim to a future title match with Asuka and Sane.
WWE Tag Team Championships — A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford): Street Profits defeated Authors of Pain, Legado del Fantasma and New Catch Republic in a fatal four-way tag team match to become No. 1 contenders for the shiny new WWE tag team titles. It’s unclear if the match will take place at Backlash or a future episode of SmackDown.
World Tag Team Championships — Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa): Gargno and Ciampa won a triple threat tag team match to earn a shot at The Miz and Truth. It’s possible the match will take place on an upcoming episode of Raw but Backlash is another possibility.
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