WWE Backstage (May 19th, 2020) - 5 Takeaways from this week's show

With Money in the Bank in the rear-view mirror, both the performers in WWE and the panelists on WWE Backstage turned their eyes to the near future. Bobby Lashley's new direction was briefly discussed as was the recent documentary "Undertaker: The Last Ride."

Ember Moon, Booker T, and Mark Henry joined Renee Young for this week's panel while Cesaro joined the show from his home in Switzerland. The Swiss Superman revealed that he loves both dad jokes and never having the same match. Booker T and Henry gave a little perspective on the Ruthless Aggression Era in WWE while each panelist had suggestions for a potential gender reveal for Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins' baby. One said that Asuka should mist the color of the child while Booker T suggested that Elias hit someone with a guitar and the powder from the particular gender would come out.

The panelists also discussed the potential winner and future for the title with two matches in the Intercontinental title tournament in the books. Here are five takeaways from WWE Backstage for May 19th, 2020.

#5 Is this the real Bobby Lashley?

After dispatching of Seth Rollins at MITB, it appears that Bobby Lashley is the next challenger for Drew McIntyre's WWE Championship. When asked why it's taken over a decade for Lashley to get a title shot, Booker T claimed that "time off is one's worst enemy" but "him (MVP) and Bobby together is a lethal combo."

Ember Moon said that she "totally thought that when Bobby came back that was the time for him" to get a shot. She also said that she loves "that MVP is speaking nothing but the truth" about Lashley's career. Both panelists thought he should move on from Lana as Moon claimed that "he's been with Lana in this weird situation" and "I don't think he needs Lana but Lana needs him." She finished by saying that "Bobby detaching from Lana is essential for Bobby Lashley to be the next Champion."

Mark Henry revealed that he thinks "he's (Lashley's) too nice. He's gotta say 'I'm going to come into the ring and leave everyone in it on the ground.' This is his opportunity to do it." The World's Strongest Man also added that "MVP has enough edge on him to sharpen Bobby" and that "everybody wants to see Bobby unleashed."

#4 Talking with the King of the Big Swing

The Swiss Superman, Cesaro, joined the show as the special guest from his home in Lucerne, Switzerland. Renee Young asked him about how many consider him one of the best in-ring performers. Of the accolade, he claimed that "it means a lot because it's the biggest compliment you can get. I'm just trying to consistently have good matches and to consistently be the best." He also gave some advice that John Cena once told him, saying that "Cena told me once that 'you are only as good as your last match' and I take that very seriously and that's why I treat every match like that."

Not only is Cesaro extremely technically sound but he also is one of the most consistent stars. He claimed that "every match is a blank canvas and I never want to do the same thing." In each match, he tries "to do one new thing. One thing that you don't expect. That's why I want to be the most must-see Superstar." Cesaro also claimed that he always wants to "try something new, but the spontaneous stuff that happens is magic that moments are created with. The more chances you give in matches for those to happen, the more fun they are to watch."

The Swiss Superman was also a part of the Black and Gold brand at various points. From his start there to having a series of matches in NXT, Cesaro has seen each stage. He claimed that "it's a lot of fun. It's a proving ground and the audience becomes attached to you. The fans have a sense of pride in them (NXT stars on the main roster) because they knew you first." He also went to NXT UK a few times and had a match with Ilya Dragunov. The NXT UK brand is important because "it's cool that Europe has that outlet because when I started, I didn't have it."

#3 The Last Ride and redos

We've been allowed to meet the man behind the gimmick.

The Undertaker is one of the biggest stars of all time. The Last Ride documentary currently airing on WWE Network has given fans a new look behind the man. Renee Young asked the panelists if seeing it was surprising to anyone and Mark Henry simply answered: "yes I'm surprised." His surprise was because 'Taker is "one of the most private guys I've ever met. Seeing that is like the last line of defense of ushering in the new world of wrestling."

One part of the documentary that was addressed involved the Phenom's match with Roman Reigns. As 'Taker re-watched it during the documentary, he said that it looked like Reigns would want to redo the match. Young asked the panelists about a match from their history that they would like to do over. Booker said that "we all want to work at the highest level. When you work with Kurt Angle, you have to work up to his level because he isn't going to work down to you." The match between the two Hall of Famers was cut short due to referee error.

Mark Henry chose "the first time that Big Show and I had a match. I don't know what happened. We knew what was supposed to happen but it was horrible." Perhaps the most bittersweet answer came from Ember Moon as she is in the middle of nursing a serious injury. The Shenom claimed that "I may have a career-ending injury that I look back at and I may not get a chance to try and redeem myself." She added that she wants "the opportunity to not look back and look forward and be better than before" instead.

#2 How should the IC title tournament play out?

With Sami Zayn not available for SmackDown, the IC title tournament has started to crown a new Champion. The panelists were asked about how it should play out and who should emerge victorious. Ember Moon felt like "for the past four or five months, we had a remodel and I feel like we never got to see how pretty the title was. I feel like this is an opportunity to elevate the title." She added that "it needs to be held and about time that we get back to our roots with the Intercontinental title. Make it about wrestling."

Mark Henry claimed that "Daniel Bryan deserves it. He's worked hard. But then again, you have AJ Styles that is just as seasoned and just as decorated. It would make magic to have them wrestle" for the belt. Renee was in the ring with Bryan during his impassioned speech following his win over Drew Gulak. She claimed that "we've already gotten to see what Daniel Bryan can do (in the tourney). Without anyone there, you can feel something special in the ring."

Booker picked "a lot of guys" but "personally, AJ Styles. Daniel Bryan is gonna go out there and perform at a high level." Ember claimed that storylines need to return to make the title feel more prestigious. Booker T claimed that "when I won the TV title in WCW, I said that I'd defend it every week on TV and I did it. I don't think a storyline is needed."

Henry felt that "people like Sheamus and Shinsuke, they don't get the opportunities all the time because they just go out there and fight." Ember Moon ended by saying "let me see a best of seven. Let me see someone struggle to get to Daniel Bryan (if he wins) and make me feel something. They're going so much harder but make it be for something. Give it purpose."

#1 Ruthless aggression

The era that gave us John Cena, Randy Orton, and many other top stars

In addition to the Last Ride documentary, the Ruthless Aggression series has also been airing in May. Booker T and Mark Henry were a part of the original brand split. Booker T claimed that "what I remember most is that it was real. When everybody's jockeying for position on RAW, it can get tight." He also said that "I got traded to SmackDown and got a little hot about that. I thought that this could be something for me and take it to another level. I'm just going to see how far I could go."

Booker also revealed that "we all had one common goal to beat the hell out of RAW. We pulled together. It was like being on a boat and rowing at the same time. Everybody on the roster was pushing for everybody to be better."

Mark Henry claimed that "there is a rivalry. One of the things that helped start the rivalry was I came from OVW. We came in with an attitude because you'd show up to the show and your name wouldn't be on the card." Having to show their worth was tough because most of the time on RAW was allocated for top stars. Henry added that "we felt like there was no place for us (on RAW). It (being on SmackDown) was an attitude that we wanted to get a chance. People were fighting for their jobs."

Edited by Kaushik Das