Sunday night the WWE heads to the Allstate Arena (2nd time Backlash has taken place here) in Chicago for WWE Backlash, a SmackDown branded PPV.
It will be the thirteenth instalment in the Backlash PPV and this year's show will feature no less than three Championship matches.
The event is the first SmackDown only PPV post WrestleMania and will feature the in-ring debut of former NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. So for all of you itching to make some money over the weekend, sit back, relax and let our resident Wrestling expert Tony take you through what we expect to happen at WWE Backlash on Sunday night;
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Six Woman Tag Team Match
This one has been building nicely but for me the main focus is Charlotte and Naomi who coincidentally will be teaming up on Sunday night.
Charlotte has given her intentions on coming back for her Title which is currently held by Naomi after this match is over and I would not be surprised if this feud kicks off immediately.
Likewise it could potentially be the reason that, that team lose, however, my instincts are leaning me towards a Naomi, Charlotte & Becky Lynch win (4/7). With odds of 5/4, however, a Natalya, Carmella & Tamina win may not be a bad punt.
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Luke Harper Vs Erick Rowan
Not much hype to this one, however, they have been running this on the live shows. The background being that both men were part of the Wyatt Family and have since gone their separate ways, albeit the wa
y this one has been put together seems very rushed.
Luke Harper was given a push late last year/early this year but that has since fizzled out. In this match I can't see any other outcome than a win for Luke Harper and at 8/15 for him compared to the 11/8 you can get for Rowan, the bookies seem to agree.
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Baron Corbin Vs Sami Zayn
I always have envisaged the WWE seeing something big in Baron Corbin and so maybe that sometimes clouds my judgement when picking matches which he is involved in, but... I definitely cannot see Sami Zayn getting the win in this one.
I can't help but feel that they are struggling to find something worthwhile for Zayn to get involved in since coming up to the main roster.
That said the fact that he is still playing active parts on PPV's must be a good thing, right? With definite big plans for Corbin in the long run I would not be surprised to see Corbin getting the clean win on this before going on to bigger and better things.
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Odds of 2/5 for Baron Corbin support my claim, whereas the underdog Sami Zayn has limited support from the bookies at 7/4.
Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Dolph Ziggler
Nakamura is hugely popular without even working a match on the main roster yet and I can't see anything other than a Nakamura win in this one.
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For me this little feud has done wonders for Ziggler and put him in an interesting programme with the responsibility of welcoming Nakamura to the main roster, which is a big ask and shows that he is well regarded backstage. Not sure if this will be the end to the feud and I could definitely watch a bit more between these two.
I feel like the WWE see true value in Nakamura, from his dramatic entrances, to his strong style in the ring and hope that this is the start of something good.
Shinsuke Nakamura is the odds on favourite to get the win at 1/7 and Ziggler at 4/1.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match, The Usos (c) Vs Breezango
Now it seems as though the Breezango "Fashion Files" have gone down a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. For me I am in the love it camp and have found it the best stuff that Breezango have ever done during their time with the WWE.
Breezango won their shot at The Usos, winning a Beat the Clock challenge giving them their first Tag Title opportunity at Backlash. The Usos have in my opinion cut some of the best promos in the run up to this match and I am really invested now in seeing them go on as Champions.
The match should be fun and I think it has all the potential to steal the show, and I would not be shocked if the New Day make an appearance post match to set up a feud between them and The Usos.
My prediction is that The Usos (favourites at 4/7) will retain on Sunday night but this run has definitely been a good one for Breezango (6/5) and will open up some opportunities for them down the line.
WWE US Title Match, Kevin Owens (c) Vs AJ Styles
I can't wait for this one, two of the very best in the World at the moment in my eyes. The only thing which I am not too sold on has been the build-up for this match and whilst it has been ramped up in the last week or so, hasn't really been given the run which I think it deserves.
That said, it could potentially mean that this won't be the last time we see these two men in a programme and so there is some hope at least.
One thing which has made me sway towards my pick in this one has been the lack of attention that Styles has been given to the US Title which will be on the line.
He has made the feud more about Owens and I can't actually remember him mentioning wanting to win the Belt. It leads to me picking Kevin Owens in this one, who is the slight underdog to retain at evens, whereas you can get 8/11 on Styles.
With Owens only recapturing the Belt at the start of May, I would be shocked if this changes hands.
WWE Championship Match, Randy Orton (c) Vs Jinder Mahal
The main event of the show sees the Champion Randy Orton putting his Title on the line again Jinder Mahal.
Mahal has been pushed to the moon in a very short amount of time but to his credit has done the best he can in selling this feud, stealing the Belt from Orton and using The Singh Brothers to take advantage over Orton.
I do think though, given just how little time Mahal has spent in the main feud of the show it would be crazy to put the Belt on him. Orton is a much more established name and whilst he may not have the crowd behind him right now, I feel that there is much more options for him in the short term.
Knowing the WWE they could certainly spring the shock factor on us in this one and give Mahal the Belt, however, I do have to go with Randy Orton retaining the Belt at odds of 1/6 compared to Mahal to win at 7/2.
If there was an option to put some money on The Singh Brothers interfering, I would bet my house on it!
Words by: Tony Quant
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