5 Takeaways from WWE Backstage (April 7th, 2020)

WWE Backstage was returned again this week for perhaps the most important episode in the show's short history. The format was the same with Renee Young quarterbacking things from home as she was joined by Paige, Booker T and Christian.

With WrestleMania 36 in the rear view, it was widely discussed and analyzed. New WWE Champion Drew McIntyre joined the show to express his feelings surrounding the current landscape of the world as well as his win over Brock Lesnar.

San Francisco 49ers' tight end George Kittle also joined the show and answered a few questions about the Showcase of the Immortals. It was also revealed that CM Punk would be coming back to the show next week as an analyst. Here are five takeaways from WWE Backstage for April 7th, 2020.

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#5 From one tight end to another

Could Kittle make an in-ring appearance like Gronkowski?

Many professional athletes are also fans of the WWE. A well-known NFL player and WWE fan is 49ers' All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Kittle joined the show to talk about a few things including WrestleMania 36 and Rob Gronkowski joining the promotion.

When asked about the event, he claimed to "have a lot of favorite matches, but the Boneyard match because it was so unique" was one choice. Kittle thinks that due to that presentation "the Undertaker can wrestle for at least another 30 or 40 years" because it "was so creative." Part of the reason why that match and the Firefly Funhouse match worked for Kittle was because he "had no expectations (before hand) and I think that's why I enjoyed them so much."

He also praised the Monday Night Messiah saying that "Seth is definitely one of my favorite wrestlers." In the match with Owens, Kittle felt that the two opponents "covered a lot of ground" and that "both guys put their bodies on the line."

Kittle, like many, was also invested in the Otis/Dolph Ziggler/Mandy Rose storyline, claiming that "they work hard and they work for everything and there's nothing better for when that (hard work paying off) happens." Renee Young added that "it was a beautiful moment" because "he (Otis) got everything he deserved." Gronk won the 24/7 title at WM and even though they were on different NFL teams, Kittle loved it, saying that "it was awesome" because "I love all tight ends."

#4 How'd you do it, Champ?

The new WWE Champ

The WWE Championship match between Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar had one of the best builds on the Road To WrestleMania 36. With McIntyre finally winning the big one, things changed greatly for the RAW main-event scene. The Scottish Psychopath revealed that "my face conveyed it all" after winning the title because emotionally, "a bunch of people would be screaming" after the monumental win.

The win meant more than usual this year and McIntyre looked into the camera to thank fans. Of the moment he said "I know we're not supposed to look into the camera but I couldn't help myself. Thank you to everyone who chose WWE on Saturday and Sunday night to help them forget about things."

McIntyre's title win also made him the first-ever Champion to hail from the United Kingdom. He claimed "it was a goal I had when I came to the U.S." and "things started off well, but I ended up fired."

Since he was originally pegged as "The Chosen One" during his first WWE run, the new Champ thinks things would have been worse had he won the title 10 years ago. He said "if I won it back then - I'm just going to be completely honest - it would have bombed. It would have sucked. I would've sucked. If it would have worked out like a few other guys who got the opportunity - that were the same level as me - and it wasn't a great reign."

Things finally worked out because he felt that he "needed to go on this journey; I think it prepared me." The journey was important because it molded him "not only into the wrestler I am today, but the man I am today and there's nothing that you can throw my way that I'm not ready for."

McIntyre went on to say that "19 years of ups and downs have prepared me for any situation and that includes what's going on in the world right now. I'm so proud to be Champion when we're going through difficult times - not as a company, as a world - and I want to keep everybody entertained and be the flag-bearer of RAW going forward."

The Scottish Psychopath also has the distinction of being the first star to win the WWE title amid the global pandemic. He claimed that due to "very strict health guidelines, I had the locker room to myself." McIntyre kept things upbeat saying that "as long as we can keep pushing forward and bringing original content, I want to keep doing it (performing) and I want to keep leading the ship."

#3 WrestleMania thoughts

Get these hands

There were many matches that were special for different reasons. Some had title changes while others set new standards creatively. One star who finally won a major title was Braun Strowman after he replaced Roman Reigns in the Universal Championship match.

Of the win, Booker T claimed that "you have to take the opportunity when opportunity knocks." Christian added that "you never know when your opportunity comes up. When Edge retired, I stepped into his spot. Braun knows that wasn't his spot" but "the chip on his shoulder got even bigger."

Many people inside and outside of the WWE felt that the feud between Randy Orton and Edge was among the best ever. Christian felt that "the build up for this match was a master class in emotion" because "promos with no crowd had the audience at home hanging on every word they said." Of that physical part, Captain Charisma added that "it was a kick-**s, hard-hitting, Last Man Standing match." Christian added "Edge's music hitting and walking down that ramp was one of the biggest moments in history."

Paige felt that "this was my main event" because they are the "best storytellers in the business" at this time. Booker T chimed in, saying that "Edge is back and he went through hell to get himself in the best possible shape for this moment." He finished by saying that "I think they (audience and performers) got a taste for the main course that's going to come a little bit later down the line."

Another highlight of the weekend was the ever-changing ladder match for the SmackDown Tag Team belts. Christian praised the efforts of the participants, saying "kudos to them for getting lost in the moment and creating something special." Booker T mentioned that he "turned the sound down and just watched the action" during the match and that "they put everything on the line for the sake of the show and for the fans to have that ultimate feeling."

Young added that the match was "just a reminder of how good John Morrison is and how lucky we are to have him back." Paige added that "walking out we usually feed off the energy of the crowd" and that she "can't imagine being atop that ladder and knowing you're about to fall. They went out there and they wrestled like they were in an arena full of 100,000 people."

#2 The future of the women's division

Is Jax going to look for the Man now that she's back?

In addition to WrestleMania, the ensuing RAW is always highly anticipated due to returns and debuts. This year saw the return of Nia Jax from double knee surgery on the RAW after 'Mania. Paige said that Jax "was at the WWE Performance Center and she texted me and asked me 'if it was okay if i use your finisher?' It was bittersweet because I wouldn't be using it any more but still cool to see it used."

Booker T added that when injured, stars need the mindset to "put yourself through the rehab and have the mindset I'm going to be able to do it like I did it before." Since Bayley's win was barely addressed, Young asked Booker T about it. He answered "ask me what I think about Bayley? Sasha Banks is a hell of a worker" alluding to how the Boss helped the Champ retain her title.

Charlotte Flair won another title in WWE at WrestleMania 36. Paige praised the former Champ saying that "I feel like Rhea Ripley really stepped up to the plate. It was a big opportunity for her and she killed it." She also lauded the new title holder, claiming that "every match she (Flair) goes in I feel like it's a five-star match" and that "I'm happy she is (Champion again) because it may annoy a lot of people, but then she's doing her job."

Captain Charisma also enjoyed the match saying that he thought "it was the best wrestled match of both nights." He also offered a similar opinion to Paige saying that "some people were worried about Rhea Ripley and her momentum being stalled, but she's an NXT talent that stepped out on to the 'Mania stage and she lost to the Queen." He finished by saying that "she (Ripley) can trade matches with Flair in the future."

Of the Women's singles titles, only the NXT title changed hands. With both Bayley and Becky Lynch having long reigns, it was thought instead that one or both of them would lose their belts. Booker T said "I was on the fence as far as Baszler but she stepped up and performed at the next level. She's going to do something really big in this industry." Christian added that he was "of the opinion that maybe nobody's ready until you are in that spot" and that "she's (Shayna) going to come back dirtier, grittier, meaner than ever before."

#1 The most creative in history

This was a truly unique moment in wrestling history.

Two huge highlights of WrestleMania 36 were the Boneyard match and the Firefly Funhouse match. Paige said that "it (Boneyard match) was interesting. I loved the theatrics of it." Christian added that "to me, The Undertaker and AJ Styles had a blank canvas here to work with and it was a cinematic take. It (the match's success) just adds to the allure of The Undertaker for when the time and opponent is right."

Of the Funhouse match, Paige felt that "you were on this massive acid trip this whole time. The whole thing was creatively beautiful and he (Wyatt) was one of the masterminds behind it." Booker felt that "coming off the Boneyard match, I wondered when it was going to start" due to the trip down memory lane that the match took. Like many have said and done, Booker felt that he needed "to go back and watch a few more times to figure out what I really saw."

Captain Charisma liked the "taped from a different location" approach saying that "this is the perfect platform for both of these matches." He liked how Wyatt approached things with "Wyatt taking Cena through these stages of his career and that because of how you look, you are going to get your chance until you finally made it. Wyatt probably only would have got one chance" because of how he looks.

Even thought the clashes were successful, Christian had an appropriate reaction to doing more in the future, claiming that "they lose their specialty if you throw them out there too much."