WWE Backlash: AJ Styles, Becky Lynch and Heath Slater triumph
Frustrating nights for Usos, Wyatt and Ziggler
Tuesday 13 September 2016 12:32, UK
Three new champions were crowned at WWE Backlash, while The Eater of Worlds was downed by a combination of a Viper and a Demon.
But who left the Richmond Coliseum in good shape and who endured a night of struggle? Read on as we look at the Smackdown pay-per-view's winners and losers…
WINNERS
AJ Styles
Styles was the biggest winner. Although his WWE World Championship victory over Dean Ambrose was achieved in dirty style - The Phenomenal One booting Ambrose in the gentleman area while the referee was knocked down - it made him the first man on the planet to win the WWE World Championship, TNA World Championship and IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Styles' rise up the WWE ranks has been rapid, even for a grappler as experienced as him. There were doubts the 39-year-old would ever sign for WWE but since his debut appearance at the Royal Rumble in January he has frequently been around the championship picture and picked up a win over John Cena at SummerSlam in a real Match of the Year contender. Now he is the kingpin of Smackdown Live.
Becky Lynch
One of the most relatable and talented females in WWE is now holding gold after overcoming Nikki Bella, Naomi, Nataya, Carmella and Alexa Bliss in a Six-Pack Challenge to become Smackdown's inaugural Women's Champion. The Irish star initially took a back seat to Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Paige during the Divas Revolution of summer 2015 but went on to star in a stellar Triple Threat against Charlotte and Banks at WrestleMania. Unable to claim the Women's Title that night, she more than made up for it at Backlash, cracking Carmella with three Beck-plexes before locking in the Dis-arm-her to earn a submission triumph. A more popular champion will be hard to find. As Triple H tweeted: "A long road traveled to the well-deserved destination. Congrats @BeckyLynchWWE...you were #StraightFire tonight."
Heath Slater
Lynch wasn't the only flame-haired wrestler to shine at Backlash... The Red Dragon, Slater, picked up possibly the biggest victory of his life - not only did he become Smackdown's maiden Tag Team Champion, alongside Rhyno, but also secured his long-term future on the blue brand. In a way, it's a shame that the West Virginian won't be hotfooting it between Raw and Smackdown angling for a contract, as that has been one of the most entertaining parts of recent WWE TV, but his union with Rhyno should help him establish a prominent spot on the roster. Slater's periods in The Nexus, The Corre, 3MB, Slater Gator and the Social Outcasts have been fun but holding Smackdown's twin straps could take him to the next level. Plus, his family is getting a new trailer, so everybody's happy!
LOSERS
Bray Wyatt
Wyatt was inches away from being a winner in Richmond - he had just slammed Kane into a steel chair and looked poised to defeat The Demon, possibly with a Sister Abigail. That was when Randy Orton turned up. The Eater of Worlds was punished for attacking the Viper backstage earlier in the night by being struck with an RKO, allowing Kane to then pounce with a chokeslam. Injury may have prevented Orton from competing in his sanctioned match with Wyatt but it was the latter who suffered most. Wyatt remains an intriguing man to watch, with his easy-to-hum entrance music and cryptic promos, but he has not yet got a long list of major singles wins under his belt, with his defeat of Daniel Bryan at Royal Runble 2014 perhaps remaining the highlight. Beating Orton would have been another.
Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler's summer started with a lot of promise, after he overcame the likes of Cena and Styles to earn a SummerSlam showdown with then WWE World Champion Ambrose. However, he came up short in that match, failed to beat Styles to get another shot at Smackdown's premier prize and, on Sunday night, was beaten in his Intercontinental Title dustup with The Miz, albeit that he was sprayed in the face with an aerosol by Maryse. Ziggler has now not held a WWE championship of any description since January 2015, when he shipped the Intercontinental Title to Bad News Barrett in a two-out-of-three falls encounter, though he will claim, perhaps rightly, that he deserves another go at The Miz, who has now been Intercontinental Champion since April 4, the night after WrestleMania 32.
The Usos
A change of attitude has worked wonders for Styles, the in-ring veteran picking up some notable wins since Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows helped him shift a little to the dark side. Yet, Jimmy and Jey Uso's switch from fun-loving, face-painted fan favourites to downbeat, moody performers has not yet reaped dividends. Sure, their heinous attack on Chad Gable on Smackdown Live gave them another chance to win the brand's Tag Team Titles and they did reach the final at Backlash after isolating Zack Ryder en route to downing The Hype Bros. But they were undone by the unlikely tandem of Slater and Rhyno in the showpiece match, so now have no more titles than they did before and fewer friends. And you can be sure that American Alpha will be plotting revenge while Gable regains fitness…
Live WWE: Late Night - Smackdown
Missed WWE Backlash? You can relive it with our live blog, or watch a repeat on Sky Sports Box Office between now and 10pm on Thursday - the show costs £14.95 for UK customers and €21.95 for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.
WWE Backlash booking details
Repeat showings of Backlash will air between 10am on Monday, September 12 and 10pm on Thursday, September 15 on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492).
PHONE: UK viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE Backlash, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
ONLINE: Visit this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
REMOTE
Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Backlash.
Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and the WWE Backlash. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
