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A big night for both the RAW and SmackDown Superstars, WWE Backlash opened with the kickoff show that saw Ruby Riott defeat Bayley with the help of the Riott Squad.
The main show kicked off with an appearance from The Miz as we headed into the first match of the night, a Title match between him and Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins.
#1 Seth Rollins (c) vs. The Miz - Intercontinental Championship match
The Miz seemed to take control early with some stiff kicks but Rollins checked him with a huge dropkick. Rollins went for a springboard move from the apron but was met with a boot to the face sending him crashing outside. The Miz failed to get the three count and went for a submission but Rollins escaped.
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Rollins caught The Miz with a couple of facebusters followed by a sling blade before sending him outside for a big suicide dive. Rollins went for another springboard kick but Miz reversed it into a Skull Crushing Finale but failed to see it through. The Miz was hit with a flying clothesline by the champion but the A-Lister caused Rollins to wipe out on the apron. Rollins hit The Miz with a huge frog splash but failed to capitalise.
Rollins went for a high knee on the apron but hit the ring post with a crash before The Miz caught his injured knee in a figure-four. Rollins persevered with an amazing display of strength and reversed the hold on The Miz. The Miz reversed the lock again but Rollins caught the ropes. The Miz hit Rollins with the Skull Crushing Finale but Rollins somehow kicked out at two.
Rollins caught The Miz on the top rope and went for the Superplex but missed the following Falcon Arrow, taking another Skull Crushing Finale. Rollins, although visibly injured, somehow managed to kick out at two and a half. Rollins managed to get The Miz down with a stomp and went for the pin, getting the three count and retaining his Intercontinental Championship belt.
Result: Seth Rollins def. The Miz to retain the Intercontinental Championship
#2 Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss - RAW Women's Championship match
Nia took control early with sheer force and Alexa looked to be in trouble. Alexa managed to take Nia down to the mat and delivered some stiff moves, winning back some momentum before being caught in a big clothesline. Bliss dodged a running senton and regained control with a flurry of attacks but was again caught by Nia. Alexa went for a headlock but was sent crashing into the turnbuckles.
Jax went to the top rope but Alexa sent her crashing down in a desperate attempt to try an stop her before hitting Nia with a DDT to onto the steel steps. Bliss was caught by Nia, who went for a Samoan Drop from the top rope but managed to reverse out of it. Nia finally hit Alexa with the Samoan Drop and managed to get the pinfall, retaining her championship belt.
Result: Nia Jax def. Alexa Bliss to retain the RAW Women's Championship
#3 Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Randy Orton - United States Championship match
Hardy started the match off with a lot of intensity, with a sliding kick to Randy, sending him crashing into the barricades followed by a huge dive from the ring to the outside. Randy reversed a Twist of Fate but took a flying kick on the outside sending him into the barricades again. Randy caught Jeff with a huge dropkick as he was entering the ring and continued to assault him outside.
Hardy caught The Viper with a Whisper in the Wind but failed to get the three count. Randy replied with a snake eyes DDT and set up for the RKO out of nowhere but Jeff reversed it and delivered a Twist of Fate. Jeff ran up to the top rope and delivered a Swanton bomb and managed to get the pinfall, retaining his title.
Result: Jeff Hardy def. Randy Orton and retained the United States championship
We returned from a short commercial to see Elias in the ring with his guitar. Elias spoke about how he's good friends with Bruce Springsteen and that he calls Elias 'The Boss'. He recalled a conversation with Bruce and dedicated the song to him but the audience kept interrupting Elias. The New Day's music hit and Elias' performance was officially over. Elias offered The New Day autographs and Kofi Kingston said they want to jam with him for a one-time performance.
Elias replied that he's a strictly a solo act but The New Day began playing without him before Elias stopped the performance. Elias was about to start playing again and this time he was interrupted by Aiden English and Rusev who called Elias a bootleg Bob Dylan.
Elias shut them up too and was about to begin yet again when he was interrupted by No Way Jose, Titus Worldwide and Breezango. A very angry Elias called for another restart as Bobby Roode appeared from behind the ring and hit Elias with a glorious DDT.
#4 Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass
Cass was sent outside the ring and Daniel Bryan delivered a flying knee from the apron before landing a dropkick from the top rope and a few 'Yes' kicks.
Cass took control and reversed a finisher from Bryan before assaulting him with a series of 'Rainmaker-esque' clotheslines sending Daniel Bryan down to the mat.
Daniel Bryan reversed Cass's move and caught him in a cross face 'Yes' lock and Cass tapped out giving Daniel Bryan the win.
After the match was over, a very angry Big Cass attacked Daniel Bryan and tossed him around outside before hitting him with a big boot to the face.
Result: Daniel Bryan def. Big Cass
#5 Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte - SmackDown Women's Championship match
Charlotte went for a big dive to the outside but missed. Carmella caught Charlotte in a submission move but The Queen shook it off. Carmella went back to the submission but Charlotte escaped again. Carmella then resorted to a very painful hold to wear down Charlotte but was met with a reverse drop kick.
Charlotte followed up with a few chops and a big suplex. Carmella was on the apron and Charlotte caught her with a knee to the back of the neck.
Carmella used the ring posts to attack Charlotte's back and then reversed a figure four into a code of silence. Charlotte went for a moonsault and missed, injuring her knee while Carmella capitalised on the slip up with a roll up and got the pinfall.
Result: Carmella def. Charlotte to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship
#6 AJ Styles (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura - No DQ Match for the WWE World Championship
Nakamura instigated Styles early as Styles picked off from where he left off in Jeddah. He sent Nakamura into the barricade and then around to the German announce table. Styles rolled AJ back into the ring and hit a snap suplex. He went for the cover but only got a 1-count. Styles followed up an elbow from Nakamura with a backbreaker. Nakamura poked him in the eye before raking his face.
The match went outside again as Styles sent Nakamura into the barricades before crashing into them himself with a missed opportunity. Nakamura sent Styles crashing into the steel steps before setting him up on the apron for two big knees to the head. Nakamura failed to get the pinfall but sent AJ into the corner with some big kicks followed by a knee to the back of the neck.
Nakamura continued with his knee strikes and then resorted to a guillotine hold. AJ tried to escape but was kicked straight out of the ring. Styles was setting up for a big move from the barricades but Nakamura took his legs out from under him with a big kick. AJ reversed the inverse exploder but too a flying knee to the head.
Nakamura brought a steel chair in the ring and delivered a big move on it. Shinsuke set up for the Nakamura but thanks to AJ Styles, Nakamura's knee landed on the steel chair with a loud crash. Styles was visibly bleeding as he held Nakamura in a calf crusher which was reversed into a triangle lock which AJ turned into the Styles clash but failed to deliver.
Nakamura hit Styles with a low blow and AJ replied with one of his own. Both men were down and failed to get up while the referee counted to ten, ending the match in a double count out.
Result: AJ Styles retained the WWE World Championship after the match ended in a double count out.
#7 Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
Lashley took Zayn down with a shoulder and Zayn rolled to his corner and tagged in Owens. Lashley ran into a boot from KO but hit back with a swinging neck breaker. Zayn tagged himself in but Lashley was all over him. Zayn rolled out of the ring to take a breather and Lashley followed him out and sent Zayn crashing into the barricades.
Zayn used a distraction by KO to hit Lashley with a stun gun against the top rope. Zayn tagged in KO who hit a senton and rolled Lashley back into the ring. Zayn tagged himself in and had Lashley in a headlock. Lashley hits Zayn with an STO and both men were down.
Sami Zayn looked to run away and Owens stopped him. Owens wanted to stay and fight. Zayn rolled Owens in and Owens and Zayn start fighting. Zayn slapped Owens across the face making him very angry at his best friend.
Owens was at the mercy of Lashley and Strowman. Lashley hit the delayed vertical suplex a got the three count. After the match, Braun and Bobby brought KO and Sami back to the ring and delivered their finishing moves.
Result: Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley def. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
#8 Samoa Joe vs Roman Reigns
Joe attacked Roman before the match was even started and sent Reigns through an announce table. Joe then threw Reigns onto two of the other announce tables before sending him into the ring as the officials checked on Roman before officially starting the match. Samoa Joe had Reigns in a submission move before catching Roman with a big kick to the side of the face.
Samoa Joe sent Reigns outside the ring before diving through the middle rope and taking him out. Roman kicked out at two and Joe went back to a submission move. The two traded punches before Joe caught Roman with a big boot. Samoa Joe reversed a Superman punch and took down Roman with a big boot. reversed another Superman punch into a coquina clutch but Roman got out.
Roman finally managed to land a Superman punch on Joe but fail to get the three count. Roman caught Joe with a spear but Joe managed to get his foot on the rope to break the pin. Joe went for the coquina clutch but Roman reached for the ropes in time. Roman managed to get a second spear in to get the three count and win the match.
Result: Roman Reigns def. Samoa Joe
