History of WWE BackLash

[Mike]

Backlash has always had he unfortunate task of following the greatest show on the WWE calendar. Discuss your favorite moments, history will follow.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash: In Your House[/u]

Sunday, April 25, 1999
Providence Civic Center
Providence Rhode Island

Matches;[/u]

--The Ministry of Darkness (Bradshaw, Faarooqu, and Mideon) def. the Brood (Gangrel, Edge, and Christian) in a Six Man Tag Match.

--Al Snow w/ Head def. Hardcore Holly to win the WWE Hardcore Championship.

--The Godfather def. Goldust w/ the Blue Meanie to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg Jesse James and Bad Ass Billy Gunn) def. Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart w/ Debra.

--Mankind def. the Big Show in a Boiler Room Brawl.

--Triple H w/ Chyna def. X-Pac.

--The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer def. Ken Shamrock.

--Stone Cold Steve Austin def. the Rock in a No Disqualification to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Austin vs. Rock

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--Shane McMahon was the special guest referee in the main event, and if Austin touched him he'd get a DQ and lose the belt. Vince eventually came down with Earl Hebner to help Austin win and toss him the Smoking Skull Title.
--After that match, the Undertaker was shown kidnapping Stephanie McMahon.
--After Mankind beat Big Show in the Boiler Room Brawl, Show actually helped him fight off an attack from Test and the Big Bossman.
--Due to their tag match win, the New Age Outlaws earned a Tag Team Title shot on the SmackDown Special, which was such a success that it became an actual show.
--The Austin vs. Rock match was a rematch from WrestleMania XV.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2000[/u]

Sunday, April 30, 2000
MCI Center
Washington, D.C.

Matches:[/u]

--Edge and Christian def. D-Generation X (Road Dogg and X-Pac) w/ Tori to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

--Dean Malenko def. Scotty 2 Hotty to retain the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship.

--The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan def. The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradsaw).

--Crash Holly def. Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Hardcore Holly, Perry Saturn and Tazz in a six man hardcore match to retain the WWE Hardcore Championship.

--Big Show def. Kurt Angle

--T&A (Test and Albert) w/ Trish Stratus def. the Dudley Boys (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von).

--Eddie Guerrero w/ Chyna def. Essae Rios w/ Lita to retain the WWE European Championship.

--Chris Benoit def. Chris Jericho by DQ to retain his WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--The Rock def. Triple H to win the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: Rock vs. Triple H.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--During the main event, Steve Austin returned to the WWE for the first time since being sidelined at the 1999 Survivor Series. He delivered chairshots to Triple H, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, Pat Patterson, and Gerald Brisco.
--After losing to T&A, the Dudleys powerbombed Trish Stratus through a table.
--As part of his gimmick to dress up and act like other professional wrestlers, the Big Show dressed up like Hulk Hogan and came out to his music as well as performed his moves.
--During the Hardcore Title match, defending Champion Crash Holly could pin any of the five other men to retain his title, but in order for them to win the title they would have had to pin him.
--Debra was the guest ring announcer for the Tag Team Championship match.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2001[/u]

Sunday, April 29, 2001
All State Arena
Rosemont, Illonois

Matches:[/u]

--X-Factor (X-Pac, Justin Credible, and Albert) def. The Dudley Boys (Buh-Buh Ray, D-Von, and Spike) in a Six Man Tag Match.

--Rhyno def. RaVen to retain the WWE Hardcore Championship.

--William Regal def. Chris Jericho in a Duchess of Queensberry Rules Match.

--Chris Benoit def. Kurt Angle in an Ultimate Submission Match.

--Shane McMahon def. the Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match.

--Matt Hardy def. Christian and Eddie Guerrero in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE European Championship.

--The Two Man Power Trip (Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H) def. The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) to retain the WWE Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships and win the WWE Tag Team Championships.

Match of the Night: Tie between main event and Jericho/Angle.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--In the main event, Stone Cold was the WWE Champion and Triple H was the Intercontinental Champion while Taker/Kane were the Tag Team Champions. All three titles were on the line in the main event, and the winning team won all the gold.
--During the European Championship match, Jeff Hardy and Edge both interfered on their respective brothers behalf.
--Shane McMahon jumped off the TitonTron onto the Big Show on the stage to win the Last Man Standing Match, a match during which Test interfered for him.
--The Ultimate Submission Match was like an Iron Man Match, only it was 30 minutes and you can only win by making you opponent submit. It was tied 3-3 after 30 minutes and Chris Benoit then won in Overtime.
--On Sunday Night Heat, Jerry Lynn beat Crash Holly to win the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2002[/u]

Sunday, April 30, 2002
Kemper Arena
Kansas City, Missouri
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler
Attendance: 12,489
"One Man's Journey to Stand Alone"

Matches:[/u]

--Tajiri w/ Torrie Wilson def. Billy Kidman to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

--Scott Hall w/ X-Pac def. Bradshaw w/ Faarooq.

--Jazz def. Trish Stratus to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman def. Jeff Hardy.

--Kurt Angle def. Edge.

--Eddie Guerrero def. Rob Van Dam to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--The Undertaker def. Stone Cold Steve Austin.

--Billy and Chuck w/ Rico def. Maven and Al Snow to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

--Hulk Hogan def. Triple H to win the WWE Undisputed Championship.

Match of the Night; For nostolgia's sake, Hogan vs. HHH.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was Hulk Hogan's sixth and last WWE Title reign.
--This was the first BackLash of the brand extension.
--Three out of the four titles defended changed hands.
--Ric Flair was the Special Guest referee for the Stone Cold/Undertaker match.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2003[/u]

Sunday April 23, 2003
Worcester Spectrum
Worcester, Massachussetts
Attendance: 10,000
Commentators: Jim Ross (RAW), Jerry Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), Tazz (SD)

Matches:[/u]

--Team Angle (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) def. Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

--Sean 0'Haire w/ "Rowdy" Roddy Piper def. Rikishi.

--Rob Van Dam and Kane def. The Dudley Boys (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von) to retain the World Tag Team Championships.

--Jazz w/ Theodore Long def. Trish Stratus to win the WWE Women's Championship.

--The Big Show def. Rey Mysterio

--Brock Lesnar def. John Cena to retain the WWE Championship.

--Triple H, Ric Flair, and Chris Jericho def. Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, and Booker T in a Six Man Tag Match.

--Goldberg def. The Rock.

Match of the Night: Cena vs. Lesnar

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--The Rock left WWE after this event to focus on his acting career, and didn't wrestle again until WrestleMania XX.
--John Cena last defeated Chris Benoit in a SmackDown tournament to earn his title shot.
--Triple H used a sledge hammer to win the six man tag.
--After his match with Big Show, Mysterio was put on stretcher. Big Show picked Rey up on the stretcher and swung it like a baseball bat into the ringpost.
--Trish lost her title due to Teddy Long hitting her in the head with a shoe. In storyline, doctors advised her against competing but RAW GM Eric Bischoff forced her to.
--Chief Morley was special guest referee for the World Tag Team Title match, though after interference from Lance Storm he was knoced out and a different referee counted the fall.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2004[/u]

Sunday, April 18, 2004
Rexall Place
Edmonton, Alberta
Attendance: 13,000
Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--Shelton Benjamin def. Ric Flair

--Jonathon Coachman def. Tajiri.

--Chris Jericho def. Christian and Trish Stratus in a Handicap Match.

--Victoria def. Lita to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Randy Orton def. Cactus Jack in a Hardcore Match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--The Hurricane and Rosey def. La Resistance (Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier).

--Edge def. Kane.

--Chris Benoit def. Shawn Michaels and Triple H in a Triple Threat Match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

Match of the Night: Tie between the main event and Orton/Foley

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first and only BackLash to be held outside of the United States.
--This was the first BackLash to feature only one brand, as it was a RAW brand show.
--All three titles defended were retained.
--Cactus Jack attempted to light his barbed wire baseball bat on fire, but Eric Bischoff came out and said if he did so he'd be disqualified and the show would be canceled.
--Molly Holly and Gail Kim attacked Lita and Victoria after their match.
--Garrison Cade interfered and helped Coach to the victory.
--The following night on RAW, Chris Benoit and Edge beat Evolution in an impromtu match to win the WWE Tag Team Championships. Consequently, those were the only RAW titles not defended at BackLash.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2005[/u]

Sunday, May 1, 2005
Verizon Wireless Arena
Manchester, New Hampshire
Attendance: 14,000
Announcers: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

Matches:[/u]

--Shelton Benjamin def. Chris Jericho to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

--Rosey and The Hurricane def. Tajiri and William Regal, The Heart Throbs (Antonio and Romeo), Simon Dean and Maven, and La Résistance (Robert Conway and Sylvain Grenier) in a Tag Team Turmoil Match to win the World Tag Team Championship.

--Edge def. Chris Benoit in a Last Man Standing Match.

--Kane w/ Lita def. Viscera w/ Trish Stratus.

--Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels def. Muhammad Hassan and Daivari.

--Batista def. Triple H w/ Ric Flair to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

Match of the Night: Shelton vs. Jericho and Benoit vs. Edge.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first and only BackLash held in May.
--Regal and Tajiri came in as Tag Champs, but had to start the Turmoil Match and were eliminated by La Resistance.
--Edge won the Last Man Standing Match by hitting Benoit in the head with a brick.
--Trish screamed at Viscera for losing to Kane, and in turn he bear hugged her and dropped a big splash.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2006[/u]

Sunday, April 30, 2006
Rupp Arena
Lexington, Kentucky
Attendance: 14,000
Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler
"Long Live the King"

Matches;[/u]

--Carlito def. Chris Masters.

--Umaga w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada def. Ric Flair

--Trish Stratus def. Mickie James by Disqualification in a match for the WWE Women's Championship. Due to the DQ, Mickie retained her belt.

--Rob Van Dam def. Shelton Benjamin to retain his Money in the Bank Briefcase and win the Intercontinental Championship in a Title vs. Briefcase match.

--The Big Show and Kane fought to a No Contest.

--Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon def. Shawn Michaels and "God" in a No Holds Barred Tag Team Match.

--John Cena def. Triple H and Edge w/ Lita in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: The Main Event and RVD/Shelton match are tied.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was a RAW brand exclusive PPV.
--After losing the triple threat match, Triple H attacked John Cena, Edge, and the referee with the sledge hammer.
--A spotlight was used for God as HBK's partner. Before the match Vince demanded that the ref check the spotlight, "God", for weapons.
--The Spirit Squad interfered in the No Holds Barred Tag Match, aiding the McMahons to victory.
--RVD lost the IC Title back to Shelton Benjamin a few weeks later on RAW, but would use his retained Money in the Bank title shot at ECW One Night Stand, a match in which he beat John Cena for the WWE Championship.
--Mickie James used her wrist tape to choke Trish Stratus, leading to the DQ.
--During the Big Show vs. Kane match, a voice came over the speakers taunting Kane and saying "May 19th" over and over again. Kane was disturbed and Big Show hit him with a chair and walked out without pinning him, leading to the no contest.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2007[/u]

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Philips Arena
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 14,500
Announcers: Jim Ross (RAW, Jerry "The King" Lawler (RAW), Michael Cole (SD), Tazz (SD), Joey Styles (ECW)

Matches:[/u]

--The Hardy Boys (Matt and Jeff) def. Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.

--Melina def. Mickie James to retain the WWE Women's Championship.

--Chris Benoit def. MVP to retain the WWE United States Championship.

--Team McMahon (Vince, Shane, and Umaga) def. Bobby Lashley in a Handicap Match for the ECW Championship.

--The Undertaker fought Batista to a no contest in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Due to the no contest, Taker retained the title.

--John Cena def. Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, and Edge in a Fatal Four Way Match to retain the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: The Main Event.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first ever tri-branded BackLash as for the first time since 2004, this wasn't a RAW-brand only event.
--Vince McMahon got the pin in the ECW title match, and therefore was awarded the ECW Championship.
--Batista/Taker ended in a no contest because Batista hit Taker with a shoulder block off of the stage and neither man could answer the 10 count.
--HBK sweet chinned Cena, and Cena landed on Orton and got the pinfall victory.

[Mike]

WWE BackLash 2008[/u]

Sunday April 27, 2008
1st Mariner Arena
Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 9,000
Commentators: Jim Ross (SD), Tazz (SD), Michael Cole (RAW), Jerry "the king" Lawler (RAW), Todd Grisham (ECW), and Matt Striker (ECW)
"Every Action Deserves a Fierce and Aggressive Reaction"

Matches:[/u]

--Matt Hardy def. MVP to win the WWE United States Championship.

--Kane def. Chavo Guerrero w/ Bam Neely to retain the ECW Championship.

--The Big Show def. the Great Khali.

--Shawn Michaels def. Batista.

--Beth Phoenix, Melina, Layla, Jillian Hall, Victoria, and Natalya def. Mickie James, Maria, Ashley, Michelle McCool, Cherry, and Kelly Kelly in a 12 Diva Tag Team Match.

--The Undertaker def. Edge to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

--Triple H def. Randy Orton, John Cena, and John Bradshaw Layfield in a Fatal Four Way Elimination match to win the WWE Championship.

Match of the Night: The Main Event.

Interesting Notes:[/u]
--This was the first time since BackLash 2002 (where Hogan beat Triple H) that either the World or WWE Title changed hands at BackLash.
--For the main event, JBL was first eliminated by Cena with an F-U. Cena was eliminated by Orton with a kick to the head right after eliminating JBL. After a few minutes of action, Triple H last eliminated WWE Champion Randy Orton to win the match and the gold.
--For the second straight PPV, the Undertaker beat Edge with his gogoplata submission hold. Edge was then taken out on a stretcher in storyline.
--In the divas match, Beth Phoenix pinned Kelly Kelly to get the win for her team.
--HBK appeared to favor his knee (in storyline) and Batista eased up on fighting him. HBK then hit the sweet chin for the victory. In the weeks following, Chris Jericho (who special guest refereed this match) claimed that Michaels was a liar and faked his leg injury, sparking a long time feud between the two.
--Batista was on SD, and Michaels on RAW making it an inter promotional match. The feud was sparked due to Batista being mad at Michaels for ending Ric Flair's career at WrestleMania XXIV.