WWE Backlast Report – 9/11/16
– The 2016 WWE Backlash Kickoff pre-show kicks off live from Richmond, Virginia. Renee Young is joined by WWE Hall of Famers Lita, Booker T and Jerry Lawler as fans make their way into the Richmond Coliseum. We go backstage to Tom Phillips in the Social Media Lounge. He plugs tonight’s hashtags and will be joined by Rhyno and Heath Slater later tonight. Tom sends us back to Renee and she leads us to a video on tonight’s WWE Intercontinental Title match.
We come back to the panel and everyone picks The Miz to retain. SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan is backstage with Apollo Crews. Bryan wants Crews to go out and have more fun. Baron Corbin interrupts and he’s upset about being left off Backlash. He disses Crews and tries to tell Bryan how to do his job. Crews and Corbin have words. Bryan makes a match between the two for the pre-show. We go back to the panel for more discussion on tonight’s show, including Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton. They are still acting like the match will take place, despite Orton not being cleared. Booker and Lita predict Orton will win why Lawler goes with Wyatt. We see Slater and Rhyno backstage setting up in the Social Media Lounge. Renee plugs the WWE Network and sends us to a promo.
Back from the break and we see The Usos injuring Chad Gable. The panel sends us back to Tom with Heath Slater and Rhyno. They’re full of jokes and Slater is looking forward to upgrading his trailer after earning a SmackDown contract tonight. Rhyno says they should take his kids to Golden Corral to celebrate. Rhyno says their team name may be “Beauty and The ManBeast” but hopefully he’s joking. We go back to the panel before Renee sends us to another promo. We come back and get discussion for tonight’s Six-Pack Challenge to crown the first SmackDown Women’s Title. Alexa Bliss has joined the panel and has an interesting look going for tonight. Bliss says everyone else may have more experience than her but she has no competition and the new era was made for her. Bliss also gets an attitude with Lita. She says she’s not leaving the ring without the title tonight. Renee sends us to the ring after more talk from the panel.
Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews
We go to Mauro Ranallo, JBL and David Otunga at ringside. Apollo Crews makes his way out first as Greg Hamilton does the introductions. Baron Corbin is out next.
The bell rings and they lock up. Corbin pushes Crews towards the corner. They talk trash and lock up again. Corbin does the same thing. They go to lock up again and Crews goes behind. They run the ropes and Corbin drops Crews with a shoulder. More back and forth until Crews hits a dropkick. Corbin dumps Crews to the apron. Crews with a right hand. Crews tries to springboard in but Corbin knocks him out of the air. Crews hits the floor hard and we go to break.
Back from the break and Crews is fighting back but Corbin drops him with an elbow. Crews looks to make a comeback with kicks and knees. Crews with a leaping lariat as fans cheer. Crews with a splash in the corner. Corbin counters and ends up on the floor but runs right back in with a big shot to the back of the head. Corbin beats on Crews as fans boo now.
Corbin continues to beat Crews around. Crews fights back but gets leveled with a huge clothesline for a 2 count. Corbin tries to go out and back in again but Crews catches him with a knee to the jaw. The referee counts as both are down now. Crews blocks a shot and nails an enziguri. Crews with the standing moonsault for a 2 count. Corbin with a modified STO for a 2 count. Corbin charges in the corner but Crews moves. Crews slams Corbin for a close 2 count. Corbin knocks Crews off and catches him in a Deep Six for a 2 count. Crews rolls out for a breather. Corbin follows and charges but Crews moves and Corbin crashes into the steel steps shoulder first. The referee counts as Crews catches Corbin with a Samoan Drop on the floor. Crews brings it back in the ring and goes to the top. Crews comes down after Corbin rolls out of reach. Crews takes Corbin to the floor and unloads. Crews mounts him with right hands but Corbin drops him jaw first into a knee. Corbin nails End of Days for the win.
Winner: Baron Corbin
– After the match, Corbin has his hand raised as we go to replays. We come back to Corbin standing tall in the ring as Crews tries to recover on the floor. We go back to the panel for discussion on the match.
– We see video from earlier today with Renee interviewing Nickelodeon star Jagger Eaton. He talks about his TV show, which is a sponsor of tonight’s pay-per-view. This is Jagger’s first WWE show and he teases a Superstar appearance for one of his future episodes. We get more hype for Orton vs. Wyatt and go back to the panel and Renee talks about tonight’s main event. Booker goes with AJ while Lita and Lawler predict Ambrose will retain. Renee leads us to a video package to wrap the pre-show.
– The 2016 WWE Backlash pay-per-view opens with a scrolling message for 9/11. We go to an opening video package for Backlash.
– We’re live from the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia as the pyro goes off. Mauro Ranallo welcomes us to Backlash. He’s joined by JBL and David Otunga.
– We go right to the ring and out comes SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon to a pop. Shane hits the ring and dances around before SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan makes his way out to a pop.
We see the Spanish and German and announce teams at ringside as Mauro introduces them. Bryan finishes his entrance and it already feels like they’re trying to fill time. Shane welcomes everyone and thanks the fans for making SmackDown a success, not just the fans in attendance but those watching worldwide. He says they are responsible for ratings soaring and social media mentions going off the chain. Shane says he loves being the underdog and because of the fans, they are giving RAW all they can handle. Bryan hypes tonight’s show and says they are going to keep the momentum going. Shane reveals we’re starting the show with the Six-Pack Challenge and that’s right now.
Six-Pack Challenge for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Title: Becky Lynch vs. Noami vs. Nikki Bella vs. Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss
Becky Lynch makes her way out first. Natalya is out next followed by Naomi with her crazy entrance. Alexa Bliss is out next as the others look on. Carmella is out next as we get a look at her recent attacks on Nikki Bella. Nikki is out next for the biggest pop. She takes off her shirt to reveal the new Wonder Woman-inspired gear.
The bell rings and everyone goes at it. Bliss with a roll up on Nikki. Natalya and Naomi go at it. Niki gets dumped to the floor and lands hard. Naomi sends Natalya out. Carmella drops Bliss. Becky dropkicks Carmella to the floor. It’s just Naomi and Becky in the ring now. They go at it. Naomi counters the Disarm Her but Becky escapes a pin. Naomi unloads with kicks but gets dumped to the floor. Becky stands tall before going to the top. Carmella cuts her off. Becky fights Carmella off but Carmella keeps coming. She brings Becky to the mat with a scissors and covers for a close 2 count.
Carmella and Nikki face off but Bliss and Natalya attack them. Bliss goes at it with Nikki in the ring while Natalya takes Carmella out. Bliss with a close 2 count on Nikki. Bliss keeps control but runs into an elbow. Nikki with a dropkick for a 2 count. Nikki works Bliss over but gets dropped on her head for another 2 count. Nikki rolls to the floor for a breather. Natalya with a basement dropkick to Bliss for 2. Becky comes in and unloads on Bliss and Natalya. She gets riled up and hits Bliss but Natalya nails her with a German. Naomi comes in and takes Natalya down with a scissors. Naomi with a Full Nelson Bomb to Natalya. Naomi with a submission until Bliss breaks it. Bliss gets dropped by Naomi and rolls to the floor. Carmella floors Naomi with a kick. Carmella stands tall and gets speared by Nikki. They go at it now. Carmella drops Nikki on her face. Carmella with the Code of Silence. Nikki powers up and hits the Alabama Slam for a close 2 count.
Nikki takes Carmella to the top and they trade shots. Nikki goes for a superplex but Natalya runs over and brings them both to the mat with a powerbomb. Bliss comes in for a 2 count on Natalya. Bliss with a 2 count on Nikki. Bliss sends Nikki to the floor and covers Carmella for 2. Bliss beats on Carmella and covers for another 2 count. Bliss yells at the referee now. Bliss tosses Carmella to the floor. Becky runs in but Bliss kicks her. Becky tries for the Disarm Her but it’s blocked. Bliss drops Becky on her head for another 2 count. Bliss shows more frustration. Carmella comes back in and hits Bliss, sending her to the floor. Nikki comes from behind and sends Carmella to the floor. Nikki stands tall as fans cheer some. Nikki goes to run the ropes and dive out onto everyone else but Carmella runs in and floors her. Carmella sends Nikki to the floor. Naomi comes in and tosses Carmella to the floor. Naomi springboards out and lands on all of her opponents for a pop and a replay. Naomi brings Natalya in but Bliss hits her from behind. Bliss sends Naomi out and goes to work on Natalya in the corner. Natalya goes for a corner powerbomb on Bliss but Naomi goes to the top and nails a super blockbuster. Naomi covers for the pin and Bliss is eliminated.
Naomi ends up sending Natalya out. Naomi gets taken out by Nikki but Natalya comes back in and steals it. Natalya applies the Sharpshooter and makes Naomi tap out. Naomi is eliminated.
Carmella sends Becky into the steps. She comes in to join with Natalya on Nikki but it backfires. Nikki with the big backbreaker on Natalya for the pin. Natalya is eliminated.
Carmella comes in and immediately pins Nikki out of nowhere. Nikki is eliminated. It comes down to Carmella and Becky now. Carmella drops her and is furious.
Becky comes back with three big suplexes. Becky gets fired up but runs into a big kick. Becky ends up getting the win and the title with the Disarm Her.
Winner and First-Ever WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch
– After the match, Becky celebrates and raises the title. We go to replays. Charly Caruso interviews Becky in the ring after the match as fans chant for her. Becky thanks fans and says it’s been years, it’s been miles. She says fans have believed in her every step of the way. She continues to thank the fans. She puts the title on her shoulder as Becky Balboa would and says we did it. Her music hits and she raises the title to continue the celebration as fans cheer her on.
– Backstage segment with The Miz and Jagger Eaton from Nickelodeon. After Miz knocks the kid, Jagger invites him on his show, unless they can get John Cena.
– We cut to Bray Wyatt attacking Randy Orton backstage. An official orders Wyatt to leave and checks on Orton as he clutches his leg.
Second Chance Tag Team Tournament Match: The Hype Bros. vs. The Usos
We go to the ring and out first come The Usos. Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley are out next. The winners will advance to the tournament finals later tonight.
Mojo starts off with Jey Uso and gets the upperhand. Ryder and Jimmy Uso are in now. Ryder nails a facebuster and unloads in the corner to turn it around. Uso rolls to the floor with the help of his brother but Ryder nails them both. Ryder goes on and hits a missile dropkick from the apron. Mojo runs around and sends both Usos into the barrier. The Hype Bros. get hype as we get a replay. Ryder brings Jimmy in the ring but ends up sent out on his face. Jey with a big clothesline on the floor to Ryder.
Uso brings it back in for a 2 count as they keep Ryder down. The Usos keep control with tags and by isolating Ryder. Mojo gets knocked off the apron again as they drag Ryder back to their corner. The end comes when they take out Ryder’s knee like they did with Chad Gable. Ryder taps out and The Usos advance to the title match.
Winners: The Usos
– We get a backstage comedy segment with Renee, Heath Slater and Rhyno before going to a Connor’s Cure promo for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
– Mauro leads us to a video for tonight’s WWE Intercontinental Title match.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz
We go to the ring and out first comes Dolph Ziggler. We see WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz backstage yelling at Daniel Bryan about being underappreciated. Miz says Bryan needs to bring something to the table. He says SmackDown needs the title, which means Shane and Bryan need him. Miz wants to renegotiate his contract and wants more pay. Bryan just stares at him. Miz refers to Bryan as a coward and says when he retains, the negotiations will be tougher. Miz tells Bryan to go watch what he can’t do anymore. Miz walks off with Maryse and Bryan looks to be getting emotional. Miz makes his way to the ring now.
Mauro shows us the Russian, Portuguese and Japanese announcers elsewhere int he arena, including Sho Funaki. The referee raises the title as we get the bell. The bell rings and they size each other up. Miz charges and gets taken down. Miz scrambles to the ropes to break it and retreats to the floor as fans boo. Miz comes back in and they tangle. Ziggler with a takedown into a 2 count. Ziggler with another 2 count and another. Miz comes right back and slams Ziggler as Maryse cheers him on. More back and forth with Ziggler getting some offense in. Miz cuts him off and catapults him to the floor as the referee counts.
Ziggler sells a shoulder injury on the floor and Miz dropkicks him through the ropes. Miz goes to work on the shoulder and brings it back in for a 2 count. Miz with more offense and another pin attempt. Miz goes on and hits a few corner dropkicks. Miz mocks the “yes!” chant and nails his corner clothesline. Ziggler blocks a Skull Crushing Finale and nails a dropkick. Ziggler makes a comeback with clotheslines now. Ziggler with a swinging neckbreaker. Ziggler with more offense and a 2 count. Miz ends up running into the ring post and hitting hard. He counters and hits a sitdown powerbomb for a 2 count. More back and forth. Ziggler with a Fame-asser and a close 2 count as he sells the knee injury.
Miz blocks a Zig Zag but Ziggler applies the sleeper hold. Miz eventually breaks it and sends Ziggler head-first into the corner. Miz talks things over with Maryse now. Ziggler catches Miz with a big DDT for a close 2 count. Ziggler readies for a superkick but it’s blocked. Miz applies the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. Ziggler manages to get the bottom rope and break the hold but Miz keeps it locked as long as he can. Ziggler blocks another Figure Four attempt. The Network goes out but comes back to Miz dropping Ziggler. Miz crawls out to the floor and looks to be crawling away but here comes Ziggler as Maryse looks on. The referee counts. Ziggler brings it back in and they trade pin attempts. Miz distracts the referee, allowing Maryse to spray something into Ziggler’s face. Miz takes advantage and catches Ziggler in the Skull Crushing Finale for the win.
Winner: The Miz
– After the match, Maryse enters the ring as Miz is handed the title. We get replays and come back to Maryse and Miz on the entrance as Ziggler recovers in the ring.
– We go back to the panel to discuss tonight’s show.
Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton
We go to the ring as Bray Wyatt makes his way out. Referee Charles Robinson talks with Wyatt as fans chant for Randy Orton. Greg Hamilton announces that due to injury, Orton cannot compete tonight. Hamilton says Wyatt insists on the official ten-count for his win by forfeit. Robinson counts to ten and Wyatt is announced the winner.
Winner by Forfeit: Bray Wyatt
– After the announcement, Wyatt’s music hits as his arm is raised. Wyatt goes to leave the ring but Hamilton announces a No Holds Barred match against… the pyro hits and out comes Kane.
No Holds Barred Match: Kane vs. Bray Wyatt
Wyatt looks on as Demon Kane makes his way to the ring.
The bell rings and they go at it. Wyatt unloads but Kane turns it right around in the corner. Kane with a clothesline. Wyatt goes outside for a breather. Kane follows with a big clothesline on the floor. Kane with a big uppercut. Kane tosses Wyatt over one of the announce tables and takes it apart. Wyatt decks him and has the ring bell now. Wyatt with a big right hand. Wyatt slams Kane’s head into the apron. Wyatt grabs a steel chair but Kane decks him with a right hand. Kane headbutts Wyatt and rolls him back in. Wyatt launches himself at Kane and he goes down. Wyatt with a boot and more right hands. Wyatt ends up hitting Kane in the knee with a chair. Wyatt brings the chair in the ring. Wyatt with a running knee to the gut. Wyatt with a chair shot to the gut and over the back. Wyatt yells about being a God. Wyatt with a big chair shot over the back.
Kane gets up but Wyatt drops him with another chair shot over the back. Wyatt with a 2 count. Wyatt stomps away now. Wyatt goes to drop Kane on the chair but Kane fights him off. Kane drops Wyatt on the chair with a DDT. Kane with splashes in the corners. Kane hits the sidewalk slam. Kane goes for the chokeslam but Wyatt fights him off. Kane charges but Wyatt dumps him to the floor. Kane grabs Wyatt for a chokeslam through the announce table but it’s blocked. Wyatt drops Kane with a hard clothesline on the floor.
Wyatt takes apart the main announce table now. Wyatt hammer fists Kane’s head and wastes some time. Wyatt runs from one announce table to the other, putting Kane through the table with a big senton. Fans chant “holy shit” now. Fans chant for “one more time” but Wyatt brings Kane back into the ring. Wyatt turns upside down in the corner. Kane blocks Sister Abigail and nails a chokeslam for a 2 count. Kane positions a chair and goes to slam Wyatt on it but Wyatt counters and drops Kane onto the chair. Wyatt with a 2 count. Fans cheer as Orton comes limping out. Orton slides in and drops Wyatt with a RKO. Orton quickly leaves as Kane waits on Wyatt. Kane nails a chokeslam in the middle of the ring for the win.
Winner: Kane
– After the match, we get replays and Kane makes his exit as Wyatt looks on from the mat.
– Backstage segment with AJ Styles insulting two enhancement talents backstage, telling them they’re destined for failure.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament Finals: The Usos vs. Rhyno and Heath Slater
We go to the ring and out come The Usos. We see the SmackDown Tag Team Titles on display at ringside. Heath Slater and Rhyno are out next.
Slater starts off with Jimmy and they go at it. Slater gets the upperhand and is hyped up. Jey comes in and Slater drops him. Rhyno comes in and they double team Uso. Fans chant ECW as Rhyno and Uso go at it now. More back and forth as The Usos take control after some double teaming. Uso works over Slater now. Jey gets in a cheap shot from the floor. Jey tags in for more double teaming. Slater finally gets an opening for a tag as Rhyno rallies. Jimmy tags in and cuts Slater off once again.
Uso taunts Slater and keeps control as fans boo now. They continue working on Slater’s back and whip him hard into the corner again. Jey drops Slater on his back with another suplex for another 2 count. Uso keeps Slater grounded while talking trash now. Slater reaches for a tag but Uso slams him again as fans boo. The Usos with another double team on Slater, and another as they continue to destroy him. Slater ducks two clotheslines and collides in mid-air with Uso on a crossbody. Rhyno and Jey tag in and go at it. Rhyno knocks Jimmy off the apron as well. Rhyno keeps control and hits a big belly-to-belly suplex. Rhyno readies for a Gore but gets sent into the turnbuckle instead. Slater tags himself in and nails the neckbreaker on Jimmy. Another neckbreaker for Jey. Slater drops Uso with a leaping DDT for a close 2 count as Uso pulls him to the floor. Slater sends Uso into the announce table and then knocks him off the apron. Jimmy nails a superkick but gets hit with a Gore as the referee wasn’t looking. Slater covers for the pin and the win.
Winners and the First-Ever WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions: Heath Slater and Rhyno
– After the match, Slater is shocked as he and Rhyno are handed the SmackDown Tag Team Titles. The celebration begins as we go to replays. We come back to Charly interviewing the champs in the middle of the ring. Slater says this is the biggest moment of his life, except for a few of his kids being born. Slater yells to his wife that they’re getting a doublewide trailer now. Slater’s music hits as he celebrates with Rhyno and the fans.
– We get a promo for tonight’s main event.
WWE Title Match: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose
We go to the ring and out first comes AJ Styles. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose is out next. We get formal ring introductions from Hamilton.
The Network goes out as they lock up and comes back to Styles hitting a neckbreaker. Styles keeps Ambrose down for a few minutes. Ambrose fights up and out but Styles nails a dropkick. AJ keeps control and drops a big right hand for another 2 count. Ambrose looks to make a comeback but runs into the ring post. AJ with more offense on Ambrose. Ambrose gets back to his feet and fights back but Styles fights him back into the corner again. Styles leaps with a forearm but Ambrose moves and he hits the turnbuckle. Ambrose takes Styles to the top but Styles fights him. Ambrose with the super back suplex from the top as they both land hard. The referee counts while they’re both down.
More back and forth now. Ambrose catches Styles in a backbreaker for a 2 count. Ambrose goes to the top but Styles rolls to the floor. Ambrose leaps out anyway and nails the big elbow drop on the floor. More back and forth. Ambrose slams AJ with a sitout facebuster but Styles kicks out at 2. Styles misses the Calf Crusher but suplexes Ambrose into the turnbuckle. AJ blocks Dirty Deeds. AJ ends up dropping a knee into the back of Ambrose’s knee. Ambrose sells the knee injury as the referee asks if he can continue. AJ focuses on the knee now.
Ambrose fights free with shots to the face now. Fans chant for both men. AJ gets the Calf Crusher applied. Dean fights through and makes it to the bottom rope. AJ applies another Calf Crusher but Ambrose breaks it by slamming him repeatedly into the mat. Styles kicks the leg and goes for a Styles Clash but Ambrose grabs the ropes and gets to the apron. Styles with a big kick to the head while Ambrose is on the apron. AJ goes for a move on the apron but Ambrose trips him and catapults him into the ring post. AJ lands on the floor. Ambrose runs from behind and clotheslines AJ face first into the barrier. They come back in and Ambrose manages to hit the bulldog. Ambrose with a roll up for 2.
AJ with more offense and a fireman’s carry into a neckbreaker for a 2 count. AJ keeps control and lands another close pin attempt. AJ slams Ambrose and goes to the apron, sounding frustrated. AJ nails the springboard 450 but Ambrose kicks out once again. Ambrose hits a bunch of knees and nails a hard dropkick, sending AJ to the floor. Ambrose runs the ropes and nails a dive, sending AJ over the announce table. Ambrose stands on top of the table for a pop. He goes after AJ and brings him back over the table. Ambrose tosses AJ over the barrier into the crowd. He breaks the crowd and comes back out. Ambrose runs from the announce table over the barrier, taking AJ out again. Ambrose brings it back in the ring as fans chant “this is awesome” now. AJ nails a pele kick but Ambrose hits the rebound clothesline for a mixed reactions it seems. AJ assists in Ambrose backing into the referee, knocking him down. AJ takes advantage and kicks Ambrose with a low blow. AJ nails the Styles Clash for the win and the title.
Winner and New WWE Champion: AJ Styles
– After the match, AJ takes the title and celebrates as we get replays. We come back to AJ raising the title at the ramp as Backlash goes off the air.