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For WWE, WrestleMania is the pinnacle and the culmination of an entire year of stories and entertainment.
Following the grandest stage of them all, the company sometimes takes its foot off the gas and doesn't follow up as strong as the biggest show of the year. However, there are other times where WWE produces a show that exceeds all expectations after 'Mania.
Ever since 1995, WWE has directly followed WrestleMania with a major show the following month. Post-WrestleMania pay-per-views will have rematches from the Showcase of the Immortals that lead to direct comparisons to the offerings at the big show. Sometimes the rematches far surpass what the performers produced with all the bright lights on them the month prior.
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With over 25 major events directly following Vince McMahon's greatest creation, there are plenty of options for the best of the best, but not all have been home runs. In this article, we will take a look at the five greatest post-WWE WrestleMania pay-per-views of all time.
Honorable Mentions
- WWE Revenge Of The Taker 1997
- WWE Backlash 1999
- WWE Backlash 2005
#5 WWE Payback 2016
Following WrestleMania 32, WWE pushed the idea of a new era. With Shane and Stephanie McMahon at the helm, the company stacked the first pay-per-view following the grandest stage of them all with fresh new matchups. At the top of the card for WWE Payback 2016, WWE's newest acquisition looked to capture his first WWE Championship.
On the RAW after WrestleMania 32, AJ Styles defeated Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens and the returning Cesaro to become the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship.
The main event clash between Styles and WWE Champion Roman Reigns was a superb clash that featured The Usos, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows getting involved.
WWE Payback 2016 also featured a thrilling grudge match between long-time rivals Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Owens would gain the victory, but Zayn's exceptional performance guaranteed that this would not be their final encounter.
The Miz successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Cesaro, while Charlotte Flair retained her RAW Women's Championship over Natalya.
Outside of those title matches, Dean Ambrose regained some momentum after his loss to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 by defeating Chris Jericho.
The only blemish on the night was the tag team opener between The Vaudevillains and the team of Enzo and Big Cass. A freak accident led to Enzo being rushed to the hospital, but even with that, this was an entertaining output from WWE.
#4 WWE Backlash 2009
WWE Backlash 2009 had to follow WrestleMania 25, which left a lot to desire for most fans despite the all-time classic Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels encounter.
The Randy Orton vs. Triple H main event did not live up to the impressive buildup prior. However, WWE returned the following month with a six-man tag team match filled with star power.
The returning Batista teamed with WWE Champion Triple H and Shane McMahon to face Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase of Legacy with the title on the line.
Orton finally added The Game to the list of the McMahon family that he had punted over the first few months of 2009 and pinned him to become the new WWE Champion.
The main event of WWE Backlash 2009 was the final encounter between World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and Edge in a Last Man Standing Match.
The two superstars concluded their three-year feud in an outstanding brawl that ended with The Big Show giving Cena a chokeslam through a huge spotlight by the stage to allow Edge to win the title.
Jeff Hardy defeated Matt Hardy in an I Quit Match that outdid their output from WrestleMania 25. Christian also beat Jack Swagger to win the ECW Championship in a pretty good opener to WWE Backlash 2009.
This was followed by Chris Jericho defeating WWE Hall of Famer Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat in a fun confrontation that showed that the legend hadn't missed a step.
This was another WWE post-WrestleMania pay-per-view that had its missteps with Kane beating CM Punk in a forgettable match. Santino Marella also defeated Beth Phoenix to retain his "Miss WrestleMania" crown in a lackluster encounter.
Even with these two contests underdelivering, the final WWE Backlash before its seven-year hiatus produced one of the best in the event's history.
#3 WWE Extreme Rules 2012
WWE Extreme Rules 2012 was built around the return of Brock Lesnar. On the RAW after WrestleMania 28, Lesnar returned and attacked John Cena to set the stage for an Extreme Rules match on the post-WrestleMania pay-per-view. The two men brawled in an intense and bloody main event that became a wild spectacle.
In his first WWE match since becoming UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock used his MMA skills in a convincing matter right at the start of this confrontation.
Lesnar's vicious beatdown on Cena was savage and left the Chicago fans in Allstate Arena shocked. However in the end, Cena was able to use his Thuganomics chain and an Attitude Adjustment on steel steps to get the win.
The main event alone would be enough to place this pay-per-view on the list, but there were more memorable contests on the WWE Extreme Rules 2012 card.
CM Punk defeated Chris Jericho to retain the WWE Championship in a very good Chicago Street Fight that got a raucous reaction and outdid their WrestleMania 28 title match.
Besides those two brawls, Sheamus and Daniel Bryan battled in a two out of three falls match that evolved into a wrestling clinic.
The two superstars were only given 18 seconds at 'Mania, but quickly made everyone forget that with this masterpiece. Sheamus retained the World Heavyweight Championship two falls to one over Bryan.
Randy Orton defeated Kane in a fun Falls Count Anywhere opener to kick things off right. The rest of the card was just there for the most part.
Cody Rhodes regained the Intercontinental Championship over Big Show in a tables match after the giant stepped through a table in a very anticlimatic ending. Brodus Clay also beat Dolph Ziggler.
Ryback continued his undefeated streak in another handicap match, while Layla defeated Nikki Bella to win the WWE Divas Championship. With the top of the card featuring three fantastic yet different clashes, WWE Extreme Rules 2012 is by far the best iteration of this pay-per-view in the company's history.
#2 WWE Backlash 2004
WWE WrestleMania XX was a memorable event featuring a spectacular main event and epic ending with Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero celebrating with the two top titles.
The following month at WWE Backlash 2004, the company produced another highly entertaining pay-per-view event headlined by a WrestleMania rematch.
In Edmonton, Alberta, the home-country hero and World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit once again met Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match.
The three men went at it in a phenomenal main event that ended in dramatic fashion, with Benoit making HBK tap out to the sharpshooter.
The stellar clash was not the only classic at WWE Backlash 2004. Randy Orton defended the Intercontinental Championship against hardcore legend Mick Foley under his Cactus Jack persona in a hardcore match.
The level of physicality here intensified over a thrilling 23-minute battle. Orton's body was brutalized as his back was slammed into a pile of thumbtacks. He picked up a career defining victory when he gave Foley the RKO on a barbwired bat to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
The rest of the card was littered with solid affairs throughout the night. Edge defeated Kane, Shelton Benjamin picked up the biggest win of his young career over Ric Flair, while Victoria retained the WWE Women's Championship over Lita.
Chris Jericho also gained revenge from WrestleMania XX with a victory in a handicap match over Christian and Trish Stratus.
Below-average contests like Jonathan Coachman vs. Tajiri and Hurricane and Rosey against La Resistance were quickly forgotten by the end of the night.
On the back of those top two matches, WWE Backlash 2004 is fondly remembered as a benchmark major show that lived up to lofty expectations set by the Showcase of the Immortals the month prior.
#1 WWE Backlash 2000
For many long-time fans, 2000 is viewed as the greatest year in WWE history. Although those 12 months featured many awesome major events, WrestleMania 2000 was not one of them.
Often viewed as a disappointment, the fatal four-way main event with a McMahon in each corner ended the show on a huge letdown. However, that was then used to deliver an even bigger main event the next month.
WWE Backlash 2000 is viewed as one of the all-time great pay-per-views, with many crediting the era-defining main event.
Triple H defended the WWE Championship against The Rock with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee. Following Vince McMahon turning on Rock at WrestleMania 2000, the chairman was in HHH's corner and looked to screw the People's Champion.
The Rock had an ace in the hole at WWE Backlash 2000 though. To counter the McMahon-Helmsley regime's plot, The Great One enlisted the help of the returning Stone Cold Steve Austin.
This sensational main event received one of the biggest reactions throughout its over 19 minute duration with the amazing pop for Austin making the save being the highlight.
After Stone Cold took out the entire McMahon-Helmsley regime, The Rock hit the People's Elbow on Triple H with Linda McMahon bringing back Earl Hebner to count the three count. The Rock finally won the WWE Championship in an encounter many have called the apex of the Attitude Era.
WWE Backlash 2000 also featured an underrated gem of Dean Malenko vs. Scotty 2 Hotty for the Light Heavyweight Championship. Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho put on a technical wrestling masterclass in the semi-main event spot.
There were also two solid tag team matches with Edge and Christian defeating D-Generation X in a fun opener and T&A beating The Dudley Boys.
The card also had vintage Hardcore Championship action with Crash Holly's fondly remembered reign continuing with a win in a six pack challenge against Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Hardcore Holly, Perry Saturn and Tazz.
The remaining matches did not stand out, but the quality of everything else makes this the peak of post-WrestleMania pay-per-views.
WWE Backlash 2000 showcased the best elements of the Attitude Era in every way.
From the fun shenanigans of the Hardcore division to the multi-talented tag teams of the era to a fantastic main event that has been talked about years after, this major event delivered in every way possible. This is why WWE Backlash 2000 is the greatest post-WrestleMania pay-per-view of all time.
