Cody Rhodes’ win and 5 smart booking decisions

WWE is going international once again with Backlash France, its pay-per-view following WrestleMania featuring Cody Rhodes’ first title defense as WWE Universal Champion.

The latest overseas live event is part of WWE’s new strategy of hosting its non-“Big Five” PPVs outside the United States, which has worked well for the company so far. Backlash follows in the footsteps of February’s Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, which, according to WWE, was “WWE’s highest-grossing and most-watched Elimination Chamber in company history.”

With a strong match card headlined by Rhodes vs. AJ Styles and a blockbuster tag team match pitting the Kabuki Warriors against Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair, WWE Backlash should continue WWE’s hot streak of recent PPV performances. As WWE officially moves on from the PG era, Backlash France represents a turning point for WWE’s overall product.

Here are five smart booking decisions WWE should make for a successful Backlash 2024.

forbesWWE WrestleMania 40 results: Cody Rhodes ends his story by defeating Roman ReignsBy blake ostreicher

Bayley defeated Naomi in the WWE Women’s Championship match

Considering that Bayley recently won the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40, it is unlikely that she would relinquish the title so soon after such a big win.

This triple threat match against Bayley and Tiffany Stratton has been built up quite well in recent weeks, but of course, France would have to lose. Stratton is a rising big star whose undeniable popularity – despite being an obvious heel – has surprised even WWE executives.

Stratton is a surefire future world champion, and although world title reigns may not be on the cards right now, she is a strong candidate to win the Money in the Bank briefcase later this year. Thus, Stratton needs to be protected by booking moving forward, which requires Naomi to get the pin at Backlash.

Damian Priest retains the WWE World Heavyweight Title

Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso feels more like a midcard title match than a World Heavyweight Championship bout, but the post-WrestleMania season is typically when WWE pushes stars who aren’t featured as much at other times of the year. can be done.

Still, Priest is the definition of a transitional champion, and with Drew McIntyre re-signing with WWE, he’s the best bet to become the next World Heavyweight Champion. The most logical booking for Raw’s world title picture is for Priest – who won the title by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on McIntyre at WrestleMania 40 – to lose it back to McIntyre.

The obvious long-term direction is Punk vs. McIntyre, and this should be a hot return rivalry whenever Punk is able to wrestle again. That means Priest needs to maintain control over Uso at Backlash, if only to hand it over to McIntyre – ideally in a June clash in Castle, Scotland, in McIntyre’s home country.

Tama Tonga got a pin in his first WWE match

If WWE fans thought The Bloodline saga was coming to an end after Roman Reigns lost at WrestleMania 40, well, they were wrong.

Instead, WWE has essentially formed a “New Bloodline” with Solo Sequoia and newcomer Tama Tonga reportedly taking over the reigns while Reigns is sidelined indefinitely. This led to a star-studded clash between Sequoia and Tonga versus Randy Orton and Kevin Owens at Backlash, which turned Orton and Owens into unlikely allies.

As WWE continues to move in this new direction with The Bloodline, it is important that the new-look group continues the momentum Reigns has carried over the past four years. WWE has built Tonga up as a vicious and important star in just a few weeks, but it’s all for naught if he doesn’t win matches.

Remember, it was Sequoia who said after Reigns’ loss that “losing has consequences”, so The Bloodline shouldn’t suffer any more major losses for at least a few months.

Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair won gold medals

Jade Cargill vs. Bianca Belair is a true dream match that both stars have spoken openly about. This should also be the ultimate goal of their emerging story.

But what better way to finally shake up the division than by Cargill and Belair reviving the first women’s tag team division? It’s no secret that WWE’s women’s tag team division has struggled to find its footing over the past few years, but two of its biggest stars’ title reigns could go a long way in changing that.

An overall feeling is that women’s tag titles don’t mean much right now, and that’s understandable. This is nothing against the Kabuki Warriors duo of Asuka and Kairi Sane, but it is time for a change.

Cargill and Belair should win the belts and elevate the tag division over the next half year, if not more.

Cody Rhodes successfully defends against AJ Styles

Now that Rhodes has “finished his story,” a new chapter has begun. Formerly the hunter, Rhodes has now become the hunted.

It seems that WWE is building Rhodes up as a fighting champion who takes on everyone and AJ Styles will be the first person who gets the chance to dethrone him. Too bad for Styles that’s not happening. Especially with Rhodes vs. The Rock potentially at WrestleMania 41, Rhodes – much like Reigns – is the man to hold the title for a long time.

Will it last three years or more like Reigns’ title run? Probably not. But there’s no way WWE could have spent the last two years cementing Rhodes as the face of WWE, only to have him lose the Universal Title to the low-pressure Styles just weeks later.

Rhodes should win in spectacular fashion and move on to bigger and better feuds on the way to SummerSlam.