Stars and Thoughts: WWE Backlash 2023

Stars and thoughts are my Dave Meltzer style star ratings and some random thoughts I had about the event!

 Raw Women's Championship -- Bianca Belair (c) vs. IYO SKY: ****1/4

(crowd is heavy into the heel, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a anti Bianca crowd? Sky looks great. This is the best that I’ve ever seen her. She’s moving methodically but crisply. Belleair just landed a one armed press slam that Hass to be seen to be believed.. it was as beautiful as the ending was ugly! I have no clue is IYO mania is something exclusive to this country or something that’s been going through the Fed (I know there’s been great face.  That said, I hate it to see  damage control break  up. And now we have some Monday night raw style shenanigans to make this whole thing seem dumband sloppy.this was a really good match thatdidn’t need to have such a Overbooked fotage. This feud has been going on for so long with that. Just a good match would be.Something that stood out.)

Seth Rollins vs. Omos **1/2 

(I’m actually intrigued by this. I feel like I’ve only seen the big guy fight other big guys.The flipside Rollins is such a big personality. It’ll be interesting to see him be Goliath. That said Rollins should be that said omos should be.Retired been beaten, so many times is just another guy….Less than another guy is the underdog in most big matches he’s in. I know they think that a loss to Rollins will hurt him leading into a potentialFeud with Roman (as if coming out on the bottom iid every other feud they had didn’t already accomplished that. Maybe I’m old-school but omos losing.Hertson, Seth losing isn’t even a bllip. Omos stoped the stomp!!!! That was cool!! it’s a strange state of affairs when I’m actually rooting for almost, but I’m very happy kicked out of consecutiveCurb stomps. Seth Rollins is really growing on me, but that could be his proximity to Becky Lynch. When are the people that book this going to realize that you’re not putting over a monster by having to take in the same movesmultiple times in 2023. A loss is a loss is a loss.

United States Championship -- Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed **

Bronson Reed is someone who is suffering from the overcrowding of AEW. New Japan, can’t/won’t pay him what he deserves an impact can’t pay him it. AEW is soooo crowded. That he would just be another guy. That said he would much better match options almost any place else in the wrestling landscape. Here he’s just a tool to show how strong Bobby Lashley is. I’m pretty over Austin theory to be honest. I’ve been over him from jump Street all the way back to evolve. Gorevy lil near for a little sequence. Garbage ending.

SmackDown Women's Championship -- Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zelina Vega **1/2

This show is buzzing right along. This show is buzzing right along. Zelina doesn’t seem to be getting much better. She moves pretty well in the rain but her bumping… the flipside Ripley is selling great well that was a decisive victory. 

 

Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest (San Juan Street Fight)

This is every bit as overbooked as you thought it was going to be! 

“I think that chair just went platinum”

Well done, Mr. Graves well done..

Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The Usos & Solo Sikoa ***3/4

Now this, I’m excited for. The bloodline versus a early 2000s in the dream team!! Signed my punk ass up!! Call me a rigid, purest hipster, but I don’t like the idea of the champions been introduced on either side of a third person. Say what you Will against the misfit Canadiens versus the Usos.Feud no one will ever be able to say it wasn’t full of a lot of menacing glances! Lots and lots of staring at each other! I don’t think the bloodline should include. I think it should change up. The original horseman had two great changes in the late 80s by adding Lex Luthor, and then cementing the best line up with Barry Windam. But they’ll blow it they always blow it. Look at Matt Riddle. For instance an athletic charismatic guy with a legitFighting background.. easy right? It’s taking them like four years to do anything at all with him and that was sticking with Randy Orton in a tag team…. And I don’t know if you should push him but considering who runs this place any indiscretions delayed can’t be the reason they’re not pushing him to the moon. For whatever reason these matches are just not connecting with me. They don’t ever said to hit that fourth gear. Sammy’s new cruising speed is selling like he got hit with a dart. There’s a bit of very well done old school he’ll dissension.Stuff as an argument is ended with a big foot to the face. I’ll admit there is some really great drama some of the best in this feud, and they keep finding ways to keep it going, and make it interesting. Solo Sicola is the new undisputed king of the underwhelming match ending. 

Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar ****

Real good hot open. Cody looks great. The beast is really bringing it. Cody could be a ginormous star, the Hogan of this eara. He’s just the right amount of over the top just the right amount of real life person unlike Hogan for the stars of the attitude era he’s not infallible, but you believe him.. Brock is giving so much. I’m still not 100% behind Cody selling he should look like he’s dying but he just looks like he’s staying still. That may be the only thing stopping him from getting to where he always needs to be. I think Brock has been busted open hardware. That was a nice reversal dropkick to the knee, sending them face first into the exposed turnbuckle.

Love it! You can add Lesnar’s blood to the sacred blood and guts of performers, like Carlos cologne and bruiser Brody. Kimora reversal into a flash pin?!? Dope!!