WWE Backlash | |
---|---|
Promotion | WWE |
Brands | Raw (2002–2009, 2018, 2020–present) SmackDown (2002–2003, 2007–2009, 2016–2018, 2020–present) ECW (2007–2009) |
Other name(s) | WrestleMania Backlash (2021–2022) Backlash France (2024) |
First event | 1999 |
Event gimmick | Backlash of WrestleMania (1999–2009, 2021–present) |
WWE Backlash is a professional wrestling event that is produced by the American company WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. It is broadcast live and has been available through pay-per-view (PPV) since 1999 and the livestreaming services WWE Network since 2016 and Peacock since 2021. Since premiering in 1999, 18 editions have been held, with its most recent 18th edition occurring at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 6, 2023. With the exception of the events held from 2016 to 2020, the concept of the show is based around the backlash of WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania.
The inaugural Backlash in April 1999 was the company's first monthly PPV held after the discontinuation of the original In Your House shows, which were monthly PPVs held between the promotion's "Big Five" PPVs at the time: Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, King of the Ring, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. The inaugural event had originally been advertised as an In Your House show, but the branding was dropped before the event took place. From its inception until 2009, Backlash held the position as the post-WrestleMania PPV and was held annually in April, with the exception of the 2005 event, which was held in May. After the 2009 event, Backlash was discontinued and replaced by Extreme Rules in 2010, but after seven years, it was reinstated in 2016 and held in September as that year's post-SummerSlam PPV. The events in 2017 and 2018 were then held in May, but were not the post-WrestleMania PPVs. An event was originally scheduled for June 2019 but was canceled and replaced by a one-off event called Stomping Grounds. Backlash then returned in 2020 and was held that June. The 2021 event moved Backlash back to May as the post-WrestleMania 37 PPV, thus the event returned to its original concept with the 2021 and 2022 events titled as WrestleMania Backlash, but the 2023 event reverted to its original name while maintaining the post-WrestleMania theme. In addition to this theme, the 2024 event will be titled Backlash France as it will be WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event held in France, as well as the first Backlash held outside of North America.
The 2002 event was WWE's very first PPV held following the implementation of the original brand extension the month prior. With the brand split in effect, the events in 2002 and 2003 featured wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brands, but from 2004 to 2006, Backlash was held exclusively for the Raw brand. Following WrestleMania 23 in 2007, brand-exclusive PPVs were discontinued, thus the events from 2007 to 2009 featured wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW, the latter of which was established as a third brand in 2006 but was disbanded in 2010. The brand split itself ended in 2011, but was reintroduced in mid-2016. Backlash was then reinstated as a SmackDown-exclusive PPV that year and was WWE's first brand-exclusive PPV of the second brand split, and it was also SmackDown-exclusive in 2017. Following WrestleMania 34 in 2018, brand-exclusive PPVs were again discontinued, thus the events since have featured both the Raw and SmackDown brands.
History
From 1995 to 1999, the American professional wrestling company World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) ran a series of monthly pay-per-view (PPV) events titled In Your House, which were held between the promotion's five major PPVs at the time: Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, King of the Ring, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. In April 1999, the WWF phased out the In Your House events to establish permanent names for monthly pay-per-views to be held between these five major events.[1] Backlash was subsequently established to be held after WrestleMania XV, and it took place on April 25, 1999, at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.[2] Early advertising for the inaugural Backlash had featured the "In Your House" branding until it was quietly dropped in the weeks leading up to the pay-per-view. The concept of the pay-per-view was based around the backlash from WWF's flagship event, WrestleMania.[1][3][4]
A second Backlash event was held the following year after WrestleMania 2000, thus establishing Backlash as an annual PPV for the WWF.[5][4][6][7] With the exception of the 2005 event, which was held in May,[8] Backlash was held every April through the 2009 event. Throughout this time, it retained its position as the post-WrestleMania PPV.[4] Following the 2009 event, however, Backlash was discontinued and replaced by Extreme Rules in 2010.[9]
In March 2002, the WWF introduced the brand extension in which the roster was divided between the Raw and SmackDown brands, which is where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.[10] The 2002 Backlash was in turn the promotion's very first PPV held following the implementation of the original brand split and it featured wrestlers from both brands.[11][4] The month after the 2002 event, the WWF was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE, which became an orphaned initialism in 2011).[12][13] While the 2003 event also featured wrestlers from both brands,[14] the 2004 event was held exclusively for the Raw brand[15][16] and continued to be Raw-exclusive up through the 2006 event.[8][17] Following WrestleMania 23 in 2007, WWE discontinued brand-exclusive PPVs,[18] thus the events from 2007 to 2009 featured wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW,[19][20][21] which had been established as a third brand in 2006 but was disbanded in 2010,[22][23] and the brand extension itself was dissolved in 2011.[24]
After Backlash was discontinued following the 2009 event, it endured a seven-year hiatus. During this time in February 2014, WWE launched their online streaming service, the WWE Network, and in addition to traditional PPV, the events also became available on the Network.[25] In mid-2016, WWE reintroduced the brand split and also brought back brand-exclusive PPVs.[26] Due to the need for more PPV events, Backlash was reinstated, and the 2016 event was held exclusively for the SmackDown-brand and was WWE's first brand-exclusive PPV of the second brand split. Backlash that year was also held in September after SummerSlam, thus ending its previous tradition of being the post-WrestleMania PPV.[27][28] The 2017 event was moved up to May and was again SmackDown-exclusive.[29][30] While the event was technically SmackDown's first PPV held after WrestleMania 33, none of the matches were backlash from that WrestleMania. Furthermore, the Raw-exclusive PPV, Payback, was held between WrestleMania 33 and Backlash.[31] The 2018 event was originally scheduled to be a Raw-exclusive PPV,[32] but following WrestleMania 34 that year, WWE again discontinued brand-exclusive PPVs, thus events held since have featured wrestlers from both Raw and SmackDown.[33] Although the 2018 event was held in May, the Greatest Royal Rumble was held between WrestleMania 34 and Backlash.[34]
In 2019, Backlash was originally scheduled to be held in June, however, it was canceled and replaced by a one-off PPV called Stomping Grounds.[35][36] Backlash then returned in 2020 and was held in June that year. The event was originally scheduled to be held in Kansas City, Missouri,[37] but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began affecting the industry in mid-March that year, WWE had to relocate its programming for Raw and SmackDown to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida with no fans in attendance, although in late May, WWE began using Performance Center trainees to serve as the live audience.[38] The 2020 event was in turn held at the Performance Center and was WWE's first PPV event to be announced after the start of the pandemic.[37]
In August 2020, WWE relocated Raw and SmackDown's events to a bio-secure bubble called the WWE ThunderDome, which was first hosted at Orlando's Amway Center.[39][40] In December, the ThunderDome was relocated to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida,[41] and then in April 2021, it was relocated to the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida.[42] The 2021 Backlash was in turn WWE's first PPV held in the ThunderDome at the Yuengling Center. The event was originally scheduled to be held in June,[43] but was moved up to May.[44] This in turn positioned the 2021 event as the first PPV held after WrestleMania 37, thus the event returned to its original concept and was titled "WrestleMania Backlash".[44] The 2021 event was also the first Backlash to livestream on Peacock's WWE Network channel, following the merger of the American version of the WWE Network under Peacock in March that year.[45]
In July 2021, WWE resumed a live touring schedule.[46] On February 11, 2022, WWE announced that the 2022 event would also be held under the "WrestleMania Backlash" name.[47] On March 8, 2023, however, the 2023 event was announced and reverted the event series to its original name of Backlash, but maintaining its post-WrestleMania theme. It was also announced to take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, marking the first WWE event held in Puerto Rico since New Year's Revolution in 2005, and second event overall.[48] The 2024 event was announced to be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in the Lyon commune of Décines-Charpieu, marking WWE's first PPV and livestreaming event held in France, with the event in turn titled Backlash France, subsequently marking the first Backlash held outside of North America.[49]
Events
Raw-branded event | SmackDown-branded event |
See also
References
- 1 2 Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling. Vol. 2: WWF 1990–1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
- 1 2 Powell, John (April 26, 1999). "Backlash: Austin wins, Stephanie abducted". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (1999) information". Complete WWE. Hoff Co. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 "WWE Backlash". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
- 1 2 Powell, John (May 1, 2000). "Rock victorious at Backlash, Game Over for Triple H". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2000 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2000 Results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 12, 2006. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
- 1 2 "Backlash 2005 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ "Pay-Per-View Calendar". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- ↑ "WWE Entertainment To Make RAW and SmackDown Distinct Television Brands". World Wrestling Entertainment. May 27, 2002. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
- ↑ "Backlash 2002 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ "World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Drops The "F" To Emphasize the "E" for Entertainment". World Wrestling Entertainment. May 6, 2002. Archived from the original on January 19, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
- ↑ Sacco, Justine; Weitz, Michael (April 7, 2011). "The New WWE" (Press release). Connecticut: WWE. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ↑ "Backlash 2003 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ Mooneyham, Mike (June 15, 2003). "WWE entering risky pay-per-view realm". The Post and Courier. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2004 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2006 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "WWE Pay-Per-Views To Follow WrestleMania Formula". World Wrestling Entertainment. March 14, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
- ↑ "Backlash 2007 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2008 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- 1 2 "Backlash 2009". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
- ↑ "WWE Launches ECW as Third Brand". World Wrestling Entertainment. May 25, 2006. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (February 4, 2010). "Caldwell's WWE Superstar TV Report 2/4: Complete coverage of Team Morrison vs. Team McIntyre six-man tag, awesome Bourne vs. Carlito match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ↑ Nemer, Paul (August 30, 2011). "Raw Results – 8/29/11". WrestleView. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ↑ Flint, Joe (January 8, 2014). "WWE launching over-the-top network". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ↑ Meltzer, Dave (June 24, 2016). "Daily Update: WWE split brand PPVs, ROH PPV, Aries, Joe and Nakamura debut". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
- ↑ Caldwell, James (July 26, 2016). "WWE Backlash returning as Smackdown brand PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on July 28, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
- 1 2 Caldwell, James (September 11, 2016). "9/11 WWE Backlash Results – Caldwell's Complete PPV Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ↑ WWE.com Staff (March 13, 2017). "Get WWE Backlash 2017 tickets now". WWE. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- 1 2 Johnson, Mike (March 6, 2017). "Backlash in Chicago, concussion lawsuit update, Shane McMahon promotes MSG return and more WWE news". PWInsider. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ↑ WWE.com Staff (February 20, 2017). "WWE Payback 2017 tickets available now". WWE. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
- 1 2 Scherer, Dave (November 22, 2017). "WWE Adds a Fifth Co-Branded PPV, Full 2018 WWE PPV Schedule with Dates and Cites for the Events". PWInsider. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- ↑ Sapp, Sean Ross (February 17, 2018). "WWE Eliminates Single-Branded PPV Shows, Shuffles PPV Schedule". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ↑ WWE.com Staff (March 5, 2018). "Saudi Arabia to host the Greatest Royal Rumble". WWE. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ↑ Currier, Joseph (April 29, 2019). "WWE Stomping Grounds PPV set for Tacoma, Washington". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ↑ Sapp, Sean Ross (April 29, 2019). "WWE Announces "Stomping Grounds" Pay-Per-View For June, Possibly Replacing Backlash". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- 1 2 3 Toro, Carlos (May 10, 2020). "WWE Announces Return Of Backlash Pay-Per-View For June 14". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ↑ Casey, Connor (May 25, 2020). "WWE Fans Are Thrilled to See Crowds Back on WWE Raw". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ↑ WWE.com Staff (August 17, 2020). "WWE introducing new state-of-the-art viewing experience with WWE ThunderDome". WWE. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (August 17, 2020). "WWE Announces ThunderDome Arena; Enhanced Fan Experience, Residency At Amway Center; First Look Video Shown". Fightful. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (November 19, 2020). "WWE ThunderDome Moving To Tropicana Field On December 11". Fightful. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ↑ Williams, Randall (March 24, 2021). "WWE Moves ThunderDome to USF's Yuengling Center". Sportico.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ↑ Johnson, Mike (April 6, 2021). "WWE Money in the Bank, Backlash 2021 PPVs will be..." PWInsider. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- 1 2 3 Lambert, Jeremy (April 11, 2021). "WWE Announces WrestleMania Backlash For May". Fightful. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ↑ Defelice, Robert (March 8, 2021). "Standalone WWE Network App Shutting Down In The US On 4/4, New Details On The Transition To Peacock". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ↑ Currier, Joseph (May 21, 2021). "WWE returning to live touring this July, first three events announced". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- 1 2 Lambert, Jeremy (February 11, 2022). "WWE WrestleMania Backlash Details Announced". Fightful. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- 1 2 Russell, Skylar (March 8, 2023). "WWE Bringing Backlash Premium Live Event To Puerto Rico In May; Bad Bunny To Host". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- 1 2 Keller, Wade (November 16, 2023). "WWE adds France to list of international locations hosting PLEs, which also includes Germany and Australia next year". PWTorch. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Backlash (1999) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 1999 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 1999 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2000 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2000) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2001) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ Powell, John (April 30, 2001). "McMahonMania at Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2001 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2001 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2002) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ Powell, John (April 22, 2002). "Hogan champ again at Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2002 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ Powell, John (April 28, 2003). "Goldberg suffers Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2003) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2003 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ Powell, John (April 19, 2004). "Feature bouts save Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2004) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2004 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Sokol, Chris (May 2, 2005). "Hulkamania rules Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2005) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash 2005 Main Event Synopsis". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ Elliott, Brian (May 1, 2006). "Heaven can't help Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
- ↑ "Backlash (2006) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "WWE Champion John Cena def. Triple H and Edge (Triple Threat Match)". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ↑ Elliott, Brian (April 29, 2007). "No filler makes for a consistent Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2007) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "WWE Champion John Cena def. Edge, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels (Fatal Four Way Match)". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ↑ Hillhouse, Dave (April 28, 2008). "HHH reigns again after Backlash". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
- ↑ "Backlash (2008) Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ "World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker def. Edge". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved May 16, 2012.