WWE Backlash 2023 with host Unhealthy Bunny in the principle occasion.
WWE Backlash 2023 from Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan marketed worldwide celebrity and hometown hero Unhealthy Bunny towards fellow Puerto Rican native Damian Priest.
Backlash additionally marketed Cody Rhodes vs. 45-year-old Brock Lesnar in a grudge match and a random pairing of Seth Rollins vs. Omos. Regardless of this match not having a narrative, and Rollins’ character being restricted to conducting singalongs to his theme music, Seth Rollins stays the inexplicable betting favorite to win the brand new WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Final week’s broadcast of SmackDown drew 2.473 million viewers.
WWE Backlash 2023 Outcomes | Might 6, 2023
- Bianca Belair def. Iyo Sky | WWE Uncooked Ladies’s Championship
- Seth Rollins def. Omos
- Austin Idea def. Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley | US Championship
- Rhea Ripley def. Zelina Vega | WWE SmackDown Ladies’s Championship
- Unhealthy Bunny def. Damian Priest | San Juan Road Battle
- The Usos and Solo Sikoa def. Sami Zayn, Matt Riddle and Kevin Owens
- Cody Rhodes def. Brock Lesnar
- WWE SmackDown Venue: Coliseo de Puerto Rico
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 17,944 (offered out for a paid show)
- Accessible Tickets: 0
WWE Backlash 2023 Winners and Grades
Bianca Belair Def. Iyo Sky
This crowd was utterly behind Iyo Sky. Early within the match, Bianca Belair had this look on her face as if to say “okay, I assume I’m a heel tonight.
WWE wants to make use of a few of these reactions for after they should pipe them in on Uncooked and SmackDown sooner or later.
Bianca Belair had one other spectacular one-armed slam on Sky that obtained a fantastic response earlier than Belair was booed over again.
Bianca Belair gave the impression to be in legit bother, however Bayley was caught holding Bianca’s hair and it was sufficient of a delay for Belair to get well and win the match with a KOD.
Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky Grade: A
Seth Rollins Def. Omos
WWE turned the music off prematurely so Puerto Rican can sing alongside and it made for a much better ambiance than even the heated ambiance when his music began. Omos attacked Rollins in through the singalong, sparking immense warmth.
Omos was sensible antagonizing this crowd as he confirmed tons of character as a heel.
Rollins’ first stomp was unsuccessful as Omos’ neck was just too highly effective. Omos then kicked out of not one, however two, stomps. Rollins finally scaled to the highest rope and hit a top-rope stomp, which did the trick.
Omos vs. Seth Rollins Grade: B+
Austin Idea Def. Bronson Reed And Bobby Lashley
Michael Cole teased that Bobby Lashley will probably be going after Roman Reigns on SmackDown.
The group was alternating between chants of “Bobby” and one other Spanish-language chant that will have been NSFW.
Bronson Reed hits a Vader Bomb to the skin on a standing Bobby Lashley that appeared very spectacular. Virtually too spectacular, however Bobby Lashley gave the impression to be okay after.
The ending sequence noticed Bronson Reed miss a moonsault, just for Lashley to spear Reed. Idea stole the pinfall after dumping Lashley to the skin.
U.S. Title Triple Risk Grade: B-
Rhea Ripley Def. Zelina Vega
Zelina wearing all white for the special day, with a “Mami” canine collar round her neck, an enormous departure from her typical all-black gear. Much like final night time, followers showered her with “Mami” chants as she tried her finest to play the heel.
Zelina Vega walked out with full Puerto Rican regalia together with her household at ringside. Her reception was the most important of the night time up to now, which is saying rather a lot, and Zelina was very emotional.
Followers got here unglued when Vega borrowed her mom’s chancla.
After a flurry of offense stuffed with hope spots, Ripley pulled out a Riptide after one kick as Michael Cole remarked “Rhea Ripley is completed taking part in video games!”
Rhea Ripley vs. Zelina Vega Grade: B-
Unhealthy Bunny Def. Damian Priest
Damian Priest or Unhealthy Bunny was set to turn into the second Puerto Rican to lose of their residence nation in back-to-back matches. WWE is getting too snug beating folks of their residence international locations.
Probably in solidarity with Judgment Day member Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest wore all white gear.
The pop for Unhealthy Bunny was in a unique league as followers sang his new theme music, 2017’s Chambea.
Priest had Unhealthy Bunny overwhelmed with a South of Heaven, however let up after two as he appeared to actual extra harm. From there, Unhealthy Bunny hit Priest with a flurry of weapons adopted by a dive and a modified Falcon Arrow.
In an incredible spot, Priest hit a Damaged Arrow on Unhealthy Bunny off a street case and thru a desk.
After Dominik (additionally in white gear) and Finn Balor hit the ring, Corey Graves hilariously remarked “I believe Kendall Jenner is about to be again in the marketplace.”
Carlito hit the ring to a Hulk Hogan-like pop that may have even rivaled Unhealthy Bunny. Savio Vega walked out so as to add to the calvary alongside LWO. This felt just like the Puerto Rican model of DX vs. NWO at WrestleMania 31.
Unhealthy Bunny finally gained with a number of chair photographs and two Bunny Destroyers.
Unhealthy Bunny vs. Damian Priest Grade: A+
The Usos And Solo Sikoa Def. Riddle, Zayn And Owens
Following Unhealthy Bunny in Puerto Rico, this was the primary time followers confirmed any trace of fatigue, however even a barely fatigued Coliseo de Puerto Rico is best than 99% of venues.
Jimmy unintentionally tremendous kicked Jey Uso as WWE continued to tease tensions inside the Bloodline.
Solo Sikoa aggressively tagged himself in whereas Jey Uso was seeking to end Sami Zayn off. Jey instantly tagged again in to an unlimited response. Solo later teased a Samoan Spike on Jey, who yelled “I’m your brother! Not him!”
Usos vs. Riddle, Zayn and Owens Grade: B
Cody Rhodes Def. Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar launched right into a barrage of suplexes on Cody Rhodes early within the match as followers chanted “suplex metropolis.” However because the onslaught continued, followers modified their tune to “let’s go Cody!”
Rhodes didn’t appear to snug taking Lesnar’s first couple of stiff suplexes. It wasn’t fairly like Lashley, however a few the landings had been awkward.
Michael Cole was counting the variety of Lesnar suplexes, which by no means bodes properly for his opponents.
Lesnar was surprisingly busted open after his head hit an uncovered turnbuckle. A bloody Lesnar then kicked out of two Cross Rhodes’. Rhodes responded by kicking out of an F5.
Rhodes beat Lesnar with a pinning mixture whereas trapped within the Kimura.
