Mansfield’s Matchups: WWE WrestleMania Backlash PLE Predictions

Holy crap, Batman, it’s already Backlash!! While WWE has been insistent on calling it “WrestleMania Backlash”, I will henceforth be referring to it by its former and proper name. I’ll be honest, I’m still recovering from WrestleMania itself. The Hall of Fame made me cry, both nights of WrestleMania delivered, and we had so many match-of-the-year candidates. Oh, and CODY RHODES RETURNED!!!! I’ll be honest, I’m still very much in the honeymoon phase of Cody being back and it still feels huge everytime that adrenaline fills my soul.

Backlash, the first PLE after WrestleMania, is traditionally filled with many WrestleMania rematches, but sometimes with higher stakes or added competitors. While it can sometimes be a cooldown event, it has also been used in the past to fix booking mistakes made at WrestleMania (looking right at you, WrestleMania and Backlash 2000).

As of this current writing there are only SIX, yes you read that right, 6 matches scheduled. So either some of these matches are going long, another couple matches will be added on SmackDown, or WWE has something else up their sleeve (but for the love of all that is holy PLEASE add an Intercontinental Championship match to this card!!!). With that, this is Mansfield’s Matchups and this is the WWE WrestleMania Backlash Predictions, so let’s get to it.

SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns & Jimmy & Jey Uso) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle)

First off, THANK GOODNESS THIS IS NO LONGER A TITLE UNIFICATION MATCH!!! I was not happy it was originally a unification match, now I’m very glad it’s a six-man. Wasn’t a fan of “unifying” the WWE and Universal Titles and now because of it we don’t even have a world title match on this card. At least when Lesnar had the Universal Title we still had the WWE Title defended on shows. Either way, the promos leading up to this have been great. RK-Bro and the Usos are gold together in the ring. Everything on Raw this past week was beautiful. This match is going to be fun, and it’s going to be brutal. Because Roman is not defending the title, this match should open the show. Also because The Bloodline should not win. Jimmy or Jey need to take the pin here. Not only does this protect Roman, but it shows that the Bloodline can be beaten and try to build up McIntyre again to face Reigns at Clash at the Castle in Cardiff. There may not be any Championship stakes visible in this match, but it will go a long way to build up Drew again and sow dissension in the ranks of the Bloodline.

WINNERS – Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro

Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss

It’s a Corbin match. I don’t care. I’m going to the bathroom for this. Sorry Madcap Moss, you’re good in-ring, but being stuck with Corbin for so long has made me not care about you in storyline or character wise one bit. I wish I could say differently, but unfortunately, I can’t. Sorry.

WINNER – Madcap Moss

Omos w/MVP vs. Bobby Lashley

Unfortunately, I’m not as big a fan of there being a rematch for this one as I was of the original. The storyline turn of MVP on Lashley felt way too forced. Don’t get me wrong, their WrestleMania encounter was actually enjoyable, I just am not sure on whether they can do that again here with the stakes and stage of WrestleMania making it a big match no longer being a factor. I hope I’m wrong, but we’ll see. Either way, this will be a case of WWE’s traditionally hated 50/50 booking and Omos will win via MVP shenanigans.

WINNER – Omos

Edge vs. A.J. Styles (Damien Priest is banned from ringside)

Good gosh I love Edge. I was very much on the fence about this character change, but with how much creative freedom Edge has and using past storylines and history like the Brood and Ministry of Darkness to his advantage, I’ve actually really enjoyed it. Edge and A.J. had a good but slower-paced match at WrestleMania than most people wanted. With Damien Priest banned from ringside and Finn Balor now in the mix with A.J. (THANK YOU WWE!!!) I hope this match is a little more fast-paced than their WrestleMania encounter. I will say that is my only regret with Edge’s new character is it has slowed his in-ring work. Even as a heel before he was quick in-ring, and Edge works better at a faster pace, in my opinion. Either way, love these two. Now, since Damien Priest is banned from ringside, it remains to be seen if someone else will appear to join the stable during or after the match. Ciampa was rumored, but now he has a feud with Mustafa Ali, so it remains to be seen if he will join or not. As to who will win, I’m leaning towards A.J. which will lead to a tag team match as the blowoff match. Edge just winning this feud doesn’t make as much sense as his feud with Seth, but because it’s a new faction, that gives greater credence for a clean sweep.

WINNER – Edge

Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes

I held my breath and did not breathe a sigh of relief until Cody’s music finally hit at WrestleMania. Then I proceeded to cheer my ass off at that entrance and holy crap what a match. Seth makes perfect sense for Cody’s first feud back and I have been invested in it every episode of Raw. This feud I don’t think needs to continue to Hell in a Cell unless they bring in Becky and Brandi to make it a mixed tag. That said, I don’t think Rhodes loses anything if he does lose this match to Rollins as the betting odds speculate. No matter who wins, this match is going to absolutely steal the show just like their match at WrestleMania did.

WINNER – Seth Rollins

“I QUIT” MATCH FOR THE WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Charlotte Flair ( c ) vs. Ronda Rousey

Okay, get the pitchforks and torches ready: I’m actually REALLY looking forward to this match!! Say what you want, but these two are good together in the ring. Was their WrestleMania match the best? No, but the name “Flair” and “Ronda Rousey” are instant draws. Yes, both women absolutely are not favorites of the WWE Universe right now, Charlotte since forever and Rousey, also since forever. With that said, they are going to kill each other in this match. I don’t see Ronda quitting, so I see her winning here with Charlotte wanting revenge inside Hell in a Cell to end the feud. This match should also be the main event as the only title match on the card. Yes that will upset certain Roman-stans here, but this match has the higher stakes by far.

Well, this was actually a quick Mansfield’s Matchups. Hopefully the PLE is as good in-ring as it looks on paper. Either way, looking forward to it and hope it doesn’t disappoint.