WWE Backlash highlights, results, and scores: ‘The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever’ has it all.
WWE Backlash 2020 was the third major event WWE has held without fans. WWE had to deliver a match worthy of global viewing due to covid 19 lockdown. And they did.
Randy Orton defeated Edge in what WWE can probably be deemed as ‘The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever’ at Backlash on Monday. The match was brought to the audience with enhanced camera angles and amplified audio. Interestingly, it had recorded introductions from the late Howard Finkel as referee Charles Robinson wore an old school gear.
Both WWE athletes gave it their all and were engaged in a titanic battle. With the intensity building, Edge and Orton went to the next level bringing out some great moves inside the ring. From the Olympic Slam to the Pedigree and even the Rock Bottom, the wrestlers made the storyline even more compelling.
2020 WWE Backlash results, grades
United States Championship — Apollo Crews (c) vs. Andrade (Kickoff Show). Kevin Owens made his way to ringside to work commentary. Angel Garza and Zelina Vega were out with Andrade. Crews and Andrade have built some solid chemistry in recent months.
They both played off their history with some interesting counters. Both hit some big moves for near falls, but Crews eventually got the win.Crews hit Andrade with the sit-down spinning powerbomb to successfully retain the title in a solid match. Apollo Crews def. Andrade via pinfall to retain the title — Grade: B-
Women’s Tag Team Championship — Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) vs. The IIconics vs. Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss. Before the match, Kayla Braxton asked Banks and Bayley if their friendship would end if they lose the tag titles. Both women brushed off as a stupid question. In the end, they won. Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) def. Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss [via pinfall]– Grade: B
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus.
Sheamus came out fast, throwing Hardy to the mat. He immediately grinded his forearm into Hardy’s face, rubbing off Hardy’s face paint. Hardy made his comeback, jumping off the stairs with a body block. He then stopped himself from using the stairs as a weapon and risking a disqualification.
The hesitation allowed Sheamus to take back over. He Dumped Hardy over the turnbuckle and onto the ring post. In the end, Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on the outside of the ring as Hardy took a risk. He then added another finisher in the ring to score the pin. Sheamus def. Jeff Hardy via pinfall — Grade: B+
Raw Women’s Championship — Asuka (c) vs. Nia Jax. The Jax power game dominated the early portion of the match as she tossed Asuka around with ease. There were a lot of sloppy moments throughout the match before an awkward ending. Both women were eventually counted out while brawling outside the ring. Asuka vs. Nia Jax ended in a double countout — Grade: C-
Universal Championship — Braun Strowman (c) vs. The Miz & John Morrison. Earlier in the show, Miz and Morrison were caught off-guard by the news that if one of them pinned Strowman, only that man would be universal champion. Braun Strowman (c) def. Miz & John Morrison via pinfall to retain the title — Grade: C
WWE Championship — Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Bobby Lashley. Before the match started, McIntyre walked toward MVP, and Lashley locked the champion in a full nelson. Lashley fell backward,with his legs locked around McIntyre’s waist, torquing on the hold before finally letting go. McIntyre took a moment to recover before the match officially started with Lashley tossing him around and going for quick pins. McIntyre tried to fire back but continually had his offense cut off as he was still trying to recover.
Lashley continued his attack outside the ring, but when he tried to run in for a splash against the barricade, McIntyre countered and started to pick up some momentum. Lashley cut off the champion with some more big power moves and a Flatliner but only drew a one count. Lashley set up for another full nelson but McIntyre was able to keep him from locking his fingers.
McIntyre countered a crossface into an attempt at a tombstone piledriver, but that was countered into an ankle lock. Similarly, McIntyre countered a spear into a rolling attempt at a kimura as the big men continued to go hold-for-hold down the stretch.
Lashley countered a Claymore by hitting a spear for a near fall, at which point Lana made her way to ringside. Lashley accused the ref of cheating, distracting Lashley before a Glasgow Kiss knocked Lashley into Lana, who fell on MVP.
McIntyre then hit Claymore to score the pin and end what had been a very good match between powerhouses. After the match, MVP and Lashley looked at Lana with disgust and left her on the floor at ringside. Drew McIntyre (c) def. Bobby Lashley via pinfall to retain the title — Grade: B+
The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders brawl across the Performance Center. Some of the action was interesting enough. However the fight doesnt have any focus. But this is the “cinematic era” at its most unnecessarily indulgent. Grade: C-
The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever — Edge vs. Randy Orton. The match was presented with “enhanced camera angles” and “amplified audio.” That meant some unique camera shots and attempts to replicate stadium crowd noise. This was slightly distracting when you see the actual crowd in the WWE Performance Center. There were other small touches, though. It had recorded introductions from the late Howard Finkel and referee Charles Robinson in old school referee gear. The match itself was fantastic with an old school, patient build. That perfectly straddled a slow build with nasty offensive work from both men.
Orton was busted open early in the contest, bleeding near his right eye. As the intensity built, there was a very solid mix of high impact moves and rest holds at exactly the right moments. Unprettiers, Angle Slams, Edge-O-Matics, Pedigrees, Rock Bottom were broken out over the match. They really helped build the story of the lengths both men were willing to go. The moves also showed the places they’d been through their careers that led to this point.
In the end, Orton went to the well with a low blow and drilled Edge to the head with a punt to score the win. Randy Orton def. Edge via pinfall — Grade: A+