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Backlash (2007)

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Backlash 2007
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)RAW
SmackDown!
ECW
DateApril 29 2007
CityAtlanta, Georgia
VenuePhilips Arena
Attendance14,500
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
WrestleMania 23 		Next →
Judgment Day 2007


Backlash 2007 was the ninth annual Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on April 29 2007 from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia and was the first PPV (other than the "big four" of WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and the Royal Rumble) since Judgment Day 2003 to feature more than one WWE brand.[1][2] The official theme song of the event was "There and Back Again" by Daughtry.[3]

The main event was a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship involving reigning champion John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, and Shawn Michaels, which Cena won by pinning Orton.[4] The main matches on the undercard were The Undertaker versus Batista in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship, and Bobby Lashley versus Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Umaga in a Handicap match for the ECW Championship.[5][6]

Report

Background

John Cena, in his third reign as WWE Champion

The main feud heading into Backlash on the Raw brand was between John Cena, Edge, Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. At Royal Rumble 2007, Michaels was one of the final two participants of the match before getting eliminated by The Undertaker.[7][8] Michaels claimed that he deserved a WWE Championship title shot. He defeated Edge and Orton on February 5 2007 edition of Raw in a #1 contender's Triple Threat match to earn a WWE Championship title shot against John Cena at WrestleMania 23.[9] At WrestleMania 23, he lost to John Cena in the main event for Cena's WWE title after Cena made Michaels tap out to the STFU.[10] On April 9 Raw, Michaels faced Orton in a #1 Contender's match which was fought to no contest because there were two referees and each would decide his own winner. Edge said that he was the #1 Contender until Raw one night General Manager Michael Pena announced that the main event of Backlash would be John Cena defending the WWE Championship against Edge, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels in a Fatal Four-Way match.[11]

The main feud on SmackDown! was between The Undertaker and Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship. Undertaker won the 2007 Royal Rumble match last eliminating Shawn Michaels.[7] After teasing all 3 then World Champions of their respective brand, (John Cena, Batista, and Bobby Lashley), on the February 5 edition of Raw, he chose the World Heavyweight Champion Batista as his opponent for WrestleMania 23.[9] At WrestleMania 23, Undertaker defeated Batista to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[12][13][14] However, their rivalry was far from an end and Theodore Long booked them in a rematch at Backlash with the stipulation being a Last Man Standing match.[15]

The main feud on the ECW brand was between Bobby Lashley and Team McMahon (Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and Umaga) for the ECW World Championship. The feud started on February 26 edition of Raw when he was selected by Donald Trump to compete at WrestleMania 23 as his representative against Vince's representative Umaga in a Hair vs. Hair match.[16] At WrestleMania 23, Lashley defeated Umaga and after the match, Trump and Lashley shaved Vince bald.[17] The McMahons would continue to feud with Lashley as on April 9 edition of Raw, Shane challenged Lashley to a Hair vs. Title match for Lashley's ECW World Championship. Shane got himself intentionally disqualified, but did not shave his head. After the match, Umaga and Vince McMahon would assist Shane in attacking Lashley. After the beating, Vince booked himself, his son Shane and Umaga in a 3-on-1 handicap match against Lashley for Lashley's ECW World Championship.[11]

Event

Before the event started, Carlito defeated Johnny Nitro in a dark match. Carlito won the match after a Backcracker.[18]

The first match of the event was between The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) and Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch for the World Tag Team Championship. Cade and Murdoch controlled a majority of the offense throughout the match. However, The Hardys still came out on the winning end when Matt hit Murdoch with a Twist of Fate followed by a Swanton Bomb performed by Jeff and Matt pinned Murdoch to successfully retain the titles.[19]

The second match was a divas match with Melina defending her WWE Women's Championship against Mickie James. Melina used a variety of heel tactics, but Mickie James eventually made a comeback. After an unsuccessful high-flying attack, Melina finally hit Mickie with a Reverse DDT and pinned her to retain her WWE Women's Championship.[20]

The third match was between Chris Benoit and Montel Vontavious Porter for the WWE United States Championship. This match was a WrestleMania rematch, after Benoit retained at WrestleMania 23.[21] Benoit and MVP struggled throughout the match, attempting to gain the upper hand, and in the end, Benoit was able to use an Inside Cradle to keep MVP down for a 3 count and keep the US title[22]

Bobby Lashley during his first reign as ECW World Champion

The fourth match was a 3-on-1 handicap match for the ECW World Championship between Bobby Lashley and Team McMahon. Lashley was able to hold his own against Shane and Umaga, while Vince chose to remain on the apron throughout most of the match, only coming in to go for a pin. Near the end, Shane was able to hit Lashley with the ECW title belt followed by a Tope Rope Splash from Umaga, allowing Vince another opportunity to attempt a pin. Lashley was able to successfully kick out of the first, but after taking another Top Rope Splash from Umaga, Vince was able to keep him down for a 3 count and become the new ECW World Champion, due to scoring the pinfall.[6][23]

The fifth match was a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Batista. The match went back and forth, with both men hitting their signature maneuvers only to have their opponent rise to his feet before the 10 count was completed. At one point, Undertaker performed a leg drop onto Batista who was lying on the announcers' table, with both men still being able to rise to their feet. Near the end, the fight went up to the top of the entrance ramp. Undertaker was going to deliver a Tombstone Piledriver , until Batista fought his way out of it, and delivered a Spear off the entrance stage, causing part of the stage set up to collapse on top of the men. Neither man was able to rise before the 10 count, and the match was declared a draw, therefore Undertaker retained his championship.[5]

The sixth and the final match of the event was a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship between John Cena, Edge, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels. The match went back and forth between all 4 men, as whenever one man was able to gain an advantage, another would attack him from behind. At one point, Michaels performed a moonsault onto Cena, Edge and Orton who were standing outside the ring. In the end, Cena had Orton set up for an FU, but Orton was able to fight his way out of it, and attempt an RKO on Cena, but Cena was able to block it, and push Orton into an oncoming Spear from Edge. Cena then grabbed Edge and hit him with the FU, when Michaels - who was recovering from an RKO - was able to catch Cena off-guard with a Sweet Chin Music. However, when Cena fell, his head landed on Orton and the referee counted the "pinfall" before the fatigued Michaels was able to break it, thus allowing John Cena to successfully retain the WWE Championship.[4]

Aftermath

Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch continued their rivalry with The Hardys until the two teams had a rematch at Judgment Day 2007 for the World Tag Team Championship which Hardys won.[24] Chris Benoit and Montel Vontavious Porter also continued their rivalry for the WWE United States Championship which lead to a Two out of three falls match at Judgment Day which Porter won.[25][26]

Undertaker and Batista would also continue their rivalry which culminated in a Steel cage match that occurred on May 11 edition of SmackDown!. Both men escaped the steel cage at the same time therefore Undertaker was determined the champion. After the match, Mark Henry returned and attacked Undertaker brutally. Edge, who had defeated Mr. Kennedy on May 7 edition of Raw to win the Money in the Bank contract;[27] cashed in his opportunity speared The Undertaker to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[28][29] Team McMahon went on to feud with Bobby Lashley as Mr. McMahon gave Lashley a rematch at Judgment Day which was a 3-on-1 handicap match for the ECW World Championship.[27] At Judgment Day, Lashley had originally won the match but Vince said that Lashley hadn't beaten him, so he was not the champion.[30]

Results

References

  1. ^ Elliott, Brian (2007-04-29). "No filler makes for a consistent Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2007-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "WWE Pay-Per-Views To Follow WrestleMania Formula". WWE Corporate. 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ DiFino, Lennie (2007-05-17). "Daughtry brings it to Backlash". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Dee, Louie (2007-04-29). "Survive and conquer". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b c DiFino, Lennie (2007-04-29). "Stand aside". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Robinson, Bryan (2007-04-29). "Hell freezes over in ECW". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Dee, Louie (2007-01-28). "A Phenom-enal Rumble". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  8. ^ "Royal Rumble 2007 results". WWE. 2007-01-28. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  9. ^ a b Hoffman, Brett (2007-02-05). "Tickets punched for WrestleMania". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  10. ^ Dee, Louie (2007-04-01). "Detroit, Champ City". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  11. ^ a b Starr, Noah (2007-10-28). "Redemption". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  12. ^ Hunt, Jen (2007-04-01). "The Streak lives on for the Deadman". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  13. ^ "Undertaker's first World Heavyweight Championship reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  14. ^ "Undertaker's WrestleMania Legacy". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  15. ^ Difino, Lennie (2007-04-13). "Polar opposites". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  16. ^ Starr, Noah (2007-02-26). "Billionaire's brawlers". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  17. ^ Tello, Craig (2007-04-01). "The 'mane' event". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "Backlash 2007 results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  19. ^ a b Rote, Andrew (2007-04-29). "The Hardys survive". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  20. ^ a b Starr, Noah (2007-04-29). "Melina on top". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  21. ^ Starr, Noah (2007-04-01). "Benoit silences the cocky MVP". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  22. ^ a b Difino, Lennie (2007-04-29). "Rabid resiliency". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  23. ^ "Mr. McMahon's first ECW Championship reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  24. ^ Clayton, Corey (2007-05-20). "'By the book' couldn't beat the Hardys". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  25. ^ McAvennie, Mike (2007-05-20). "Third time's the golden charm for MVP". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  26. ^ "Montel Vontavious Porter's first United States Championship reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  27. ^ a b Difino, Lennie (2007-05-07). "Gold digging". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  28. ^ Starr, Noah (2007-05-11). "In with the new". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  29. ^ "Edge's first World Heavyweight Championship reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  30. ^ Robinson, Bryan (2007-05-20). "The ecstasy... and then the agony". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
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