5 Ways WWE Can Make Fans Forget Backlash 

WWE Backlash was almost a complete debacle. Outside of one bright spot, the show was marred by bad booking and bad wrestling. WWE’s booking decisions had fans puzzled, frustrated, and running for the exits. What went wrong and what can WWE do to fix it?

They were puzzled by Carmella defeating Charlotte. Charlotte just ended Asuka’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania 34. WWE’s post-WrestleMania booking of Charlotte has hurt the significance of breaking the streak. Fans knew it and they didn’t like it.

They were frustrated by the bizarre finish of AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura. Two of the greatest wrestlers in the world were given an embarrassing finish not fitting of a WWE Championship match.

They were running for the exits during the Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe main event. Fans were also chanting “Beat the traffic” during the match. Reigns has continued to be force fed to fans as the next “guy”. Fans especially haven’t liked that for a very long time.

Most fans agree that the only ray of sunshine was Seth Rollins vs The Miz. But, their great match couldn’t save Backlash from a storm of fan backlash. There is plenty to read about what went wrong at WWE Backlash.

However, the important question is how can WWE fix it. Here are 5 ways WWE can make fans forget the Backlash.

---

#5 John Cena heel turn

John Cena turning heel would help fans forget Backlash.

If there was ever a right time to turn John Cena heel then it would be now. Cena’s babyface character has become extremely stale. He’s still wildly popular but fans want to see him do something different.

There are many similarities between Cena’s career and Hulk Hogan’s; Cena’s career is looking a lot like Hogan’s did in 1996. WCW fans had grown tired of the old red and yellow Hulkamania Hulk Hogan, and in response, WCW gave fans Hollywood Hogan and the nWo. It was a gamble to turn Hogan heel after all those years as a babyface, but it was a gamble that paid off.

WWE needs to give the fans what they want and turn Cena heel. Turning Cena heel would go a long way in helping fans forget the Backlash debacle.

#4 Roman Reigns heel turn

Fans strongly rejected the Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe match at Backlash.

Just like Cena, if there was ever a right time to turn Roman Reigns heel then it would be now. Fans are tired of being force fed Reigns as the next “guy”. Some of the worst received WWE pay-per-view main events in history involved Reigns.

Fans passionately disapproved of two WrestleMania main events involving Reigns. Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34 and Roman Reigns vs Triple H at WrestleMania 32 were epic failures in the eyes of fans.

However, this latest show of fan disapproval at Backlash might be the most embarrassing.

Reigns is a great talent with great potential. However, he may need a heel run before he can be the next great baby face. A Reigns heel turn would help fans forget Backlash.

#3 New Universal Champion

As great as Brock Lesnar is, fans are growing tired of him as Universal Champion.

There is no question of Brock Lesnar’s greatness. What Lesnar has accomplished in both WWE and UFC will probably never be duplicated. Lesnar is a beast. However, fans have started to grow tired of a part-time WWE Universal Champion.

Lesnar doesn’t need the belt to be over with fans. His previous accomplishments and reputation as a legitimate fighter make him one of WWE’s greatest attractions. He may not need the belt to be over, but he may need to give it up to stay over.

Fans want full-time champions. This was the number one reason Andre the Giant was never world champion while he was globetrotting in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Lesnar would be better utilized as a part-time special attraction rather than a part-time champion. WWE needs to give fans what they want and crown a new WWE Universal Champion. An angle taking the title off Lesnar would have fans turning their focus away from the events of Backlash.

#2 Unification Match

John Cena met Randy Orton in a unification match at TLC 2013

Once again the brand split has been exposed as an experiment gone wrong. Nothing exposed this more than WWE Backlash. The Universal title, Cruiserweight title, and both tag team titles were not defended.

The Styles vs Nakamura WWE Championship match went on before the Reigns vs Joe match, more evidence that SmackDown Live is the B show behind Raw. WWE’s decision to co-brand all pay-per-views was a disaster proven by Backlash’s failure; a failure confirming that the brand split must come to an end.

However, WWE can turn a negative into a positive by capitalizing on the popularity of unification matches. It has been about five years since WWE's last world title unification match so fan interest would probably be high.

The last one saw Randy Orton defeat John Cena at TLC 2013 to unify the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship. A compelling unification match angle would be a great way for WWE to erase Backlash from the minds of fans.

#1 Super heel faction

The nWo turned around the fortunes of Hulk Hogan and WCW

Wrestling fans love their factions. The Bullet Club has gained international notoriety and they are not even in WWE. The Nexus briefly captured the imaginations of WWE fans in 2010. And, the nWo single-handedly turned around the fortunes of WCW in the late 1990s.

It has been a while since WWE fans were treated to a great faction. The Shield briefly reunited before Dean Ambrose’s injury while The Wyatt Family is no more. Titus Worldwide is comic relief. WWE fans want a great faction. A super heel faction consisting of John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Randy Orton would make fans quickly forget Backlash.

It would also make sense for everyone involved. Orton, much like Cena, is stale and the fans hate Reigns. But, this heel faction could do for all three what the nWo did for Hulk Hogan in 1996; make them cool again.

WWE might have to think outside the box if they want fans to forget Backlash.