WWE Backlash 2017: 5 last-minute predictions

#2 Kevin Owens will retain his United States Championship in chapter one of the Styles-Owens saga

AJ Styles will likely pick up a loss

It was reported recently that the AJ Styles and Kevin Owens feud over the United States Championship would stretch beyond Backlash, so it makes sense for Owens to emerge victorious at the event. Betting odds also point at Owens retaining the title and effectively prolonging the feud.

The United States Championship changing hands once again will make it look like a hot potato, which would have the opposite effect of what WWE is trying to achieve in increasing the relevance of its secondary titles.

However, it isn’t likely that Styles is going to lose clean as he is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – name on the SmackDown Live roster, so expect something like an exposed turnbuckle to enable Owens to pick up the win.