7 Possible shocks that could happen at WWE Backlash

With the first Smackdown Live exclusive pay-per-view since the Brand Split, WWE Backlash, coming soon on September 11^th, we should be set to see a number of shocks to occur in order for WWE to keep fans interested in the post-brand split product. A number of feuds and rivalries have the potential to provide us with these shocks, and we could see some debuts, title changes, and maybe a potential decimation. Without further ado, here are seven possible shocks that could happen at WWE Backlash.

7: Kalisto Beats Baron Corbin

Kalisto being assaulted by Corbin backstage

Kalisto and Baron Corbin’s feud hasn’t been prominent at all on Smackdown Live recently. Besides a couple of short segments of Corbin assaulting Kalisto backstage last month, the rivalry hasn’t developed very much. Then, at Summerslam, their match, which was scheduled for the pre-show was cancelled due to Kalisto being injured. Whether this was a work or not is anybody’s guess, as the match may have been bumped off the card to make room for Sheamus vs Cesaro.

Over the past couple of weeks, Kalisto hasn’t been on TV at all, and the feud hasn’t been mentioned. If this bout does end up happening, hopefully, they can put on a solid match. Although the obvious choice is to have Corbin decimate Kalisto, if WWE would like to keep this rivalry alive they could always give Kalisto the lucky underdog victory. This could then lead to the actual development of a story for a second match later on. If WWE don’t have anything planned for either men later, why end the rivalry at Backlash?

6: Usos Turn Heel

Jimmy and Jey need a run as heels

Ever since the Usos returned in late 2015, the stale nature of their babyface characters has been evident. WWE did not help this cause, making the team aid Roman Reigns in his quest to be ‘the guy’. This led to the two-time tag champs receiving jeers from the crowd, and their characters haven’t recovered since. A perfect time for the Usos to turn heel would be if they made it to the finals of the tag tournament.

If they were to face the much more popular duo of Rhyno and Heath Slater, the crowd would most likely pick Slater and Rhyno to cheer for. If Slater and Rhyno were to pick up the upset win, The Usos could cement their place atop the Smackdown tag division as the top heels by beating down the new champions.

5: Carmella or Alexa Bliss become Smackdown Women’s Champion

Carmella or Bliss as Smackdown Women’s Champion?

Although I would love to see Becky Lynch or Nikki Bella win the title, I have a gut feeling that the right choice would be to cement one of the newest NXT call-ups as the top heel by winning the title. Carmella’s recent heel turn on Nikki Bella would make it easy to sympathize with Nikki if Carmella stole the pinfall to win the title, leading to a babyface chasing heel champion type storyline, which is always much better than the heel chasing the babyface.

This could also work if Alexa Bliss were to steal Becky’s pinfall, winning the title instead of the natural babyface Lynch. Either way, a title win for Carmella or Alexa Bliss would elevate them to top heel of the division, and in both scenarios there is an easy babyface chasing heel champion story to be told.

4: Bray Wyatt decimates Randy Orton

The Eater of Worlds could destroy The Viper

With Wyatt vs Orton being announced for Backlash, this could be a way of elevating Bray as the once dangerous character he was. Fresh off of being TKO’d by Brock Lesnar at Summerslam, Orton will be looking to re-establish his place as one of the bigger stars of SmackDown Live. Judging by WWE’s usual formula, Orton should be set to defeat Wyatt at Backlash.

But what if he didn’t? What if Wyatt was booked almost as dominant over Orton as Lesnar was? Sure, Orton’s momentum would be halted, but Bray has suffered enough losses at this point, and Orton is already an established legend. A dominant victory over Orton would be a shock, and would do wonders for Wyatt’s momentum and credibility. Of course, Orton would gain a win back at No Mercy, but that then leaves Wyatt to win the third blowoff match in the feud and finally become the main event heel he should have been back in 2014.

• 3: Ziggler beats The Miz

  

  Your next Intercontinental Champ?

Ever since failing to capture the WWE World Championship at Summerslam and then failing to earn another shot on the next edition of SmackDown Live against AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler has lost a lot of the momentum that he gained on the road to SummerSlam. A way of bouncing back from his lackluster bout at SummerSlam and his recent failures could be to shock the Miz at Backlash and win his 5^th Intercontinental Title.

With The Miz already having enough momentum from his Talking Smack shoot/promo on Daniel Bryan, this could be an interesting route to take this feud, and it would definitely lead to a more personal buildup for the next match.

2: Ziggler turns heel

Dolph Ziggler- main event heel?

Okay, so I know I just suggested Ziggler be a face midcard champion. But, what if he lost his match to the Miz? Clean? No shenanigans, Miz was just simply better than the Showoff. As Dolph is walking up the ramp to the back in anger, Ambrose is making his entrance for his title match against AJ Styles. Seeing the title he failed to capture at Summerslam, Ziggler lashes out, beating down the Lunatic Fringe until he is left battered.

Ambrose being the character he is, says he is fine and the match goes on as planned. Too hurt to beat a fresh AJ, Ambrose loses the belt, and after the bout, Ziggler comes out and attacks Dean even more, to the point where Daniel Bryan and Shane Mcmahon have to come out and put an end to it. Ziggler superkicks both the GM and Commissioner. This would be a brilliant way of elevating Ziggler as one of the biggest heels on the brand and would immediately kick-start a possible feud between Styles, Ziggler, and Ambrose for the WWE World Championship.

1: AJ Styles Becomes WWE World Champion

AJ Styles: WWE World Champion?

Okay, maybe this one isn’t the biggest shock scenario on this list. Actually, this one is being predicted by a substantial amount of the WWE Universe. Coming off a HUGE win at Summerslam over John Cena (in one of the best matches in WWE in the past 5 years, might I add), AJ Styles is arguably the hottest heel (or superstar in general) in the company. Instantly being placed in a world title match, Styles looks poised to win his first championship in WWE.

But, is it that plausible?

Dean Ambrose is still the babyface in this situation, and heels don’t usually walk away with the belt first attempt. Knowing WWE, they might be hesitant to put the belt on AJ, and Ambrose’s reign hasn’t been all that long (2 months). But, putting the belt on AJ is 100 percent the right choice, and something WWE usually wouldn’t do. It’s a new era, right? Let’s see if WWE crowns Styles (in a shock first try championship win for a heel) at Backlash.