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Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live coverage of WWE’s Backlash pay per view from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
Your hosts are Scott Stanford and Peter Rosenberg.
Peter says he is most excited for Edge and Randy Orton. They have set the bar and have promised the Greatest Wrestling Match Ever, but will it live up to the hype.
We are told that the person who gets the pin in the handicap match will be the Universal Champion if Miz and Morrison win tonight.
Peter and Scott run through the card.
We have a video package for the Raw Women's Title Match.
Renee Young is with JBL and Booker T and they are going to talk about Asuka versus Nia Jax. Renee asks what to expect from Asuka's first title match. JBL says Asuka will have a lot of momentum for her to prove that she deserves the title and not be handed it to her. Renee brings up how Nia earned this title match and whether she has momentum. Booker says Nia has been waiting to get into this position to have a one on one match for the title. The time is right for Nia Jax to take the title and dominate.
Renee asks if Booker is expecting a title change. Booker says Nia has been waiting for this moment. Booker mentions Nia's reputation and he says Vader and Sid Vicious hurt people too. They were world champions. JBL says if you are crying about getting hurt, get out of the business. If Nia is going to win, she has to hurt Asuka. JBL agrees with Booker that Asuka was robbed of the chance to cash in.
Charly Caruso is in the interview area with Christian and Ric Flair.
Charly asks Ric why does he think Randy has the upper hand despite losing at Wrestlemania. Ric says that was a Last Man Standing Match. Ric says that was a phenomenal match but tonight it is a standard wrestling match. One is at the peak of his career, Randy Orton. The other took nine years off. Randy walks out of the ring and stays the greatest in ring performer in the history of WWE.
Christian says Ric might believe what he is saying if he keeps repeating himself. Edge has been working his ass off to get back into the ring. When Randy couldn't get there, he cozied up to people like Triple H and Ric Flair. Orton might be one of the best, but he tries for the path of least resistance. The man who never had to work for a thing in his life against the man who had to fight for everything. Christian says he will take the grit and passion that Edge shows.
We return to Scott and Peter. Scott asks who he is going with in the Edge and Orton match.
Peter says natural ability, Randy Orton is the better wrestler. Edge's entire career has been about grit and determination. Edge had enough to win at Wrestlemania. Is the pressure on Randy Orton tonight?
Scott brings up the Universal Title Match and wonders if there needs to be two men to beat Braun.
Peter says this might be the best chance for Braun to lose the title.
We have a video package for the Universal Championship Match.
Scott asks Peter if he would have advised Miz and Morrison to do that.
We see the video from Miz and John Morrison that was supposed to air on Smackdown.
We turn to the Raw Tag Title Situation with their friendly competition in many different venues, other than a wrestling ring.
Renee is back with Booker and JBL to talk about the match.
Booker says he does not like the Street Profits being lured into these games. The Viking Raiders have the Street Profits in the right position for a title change. JBL says you have to fight for the championship. He is going with the Street Profits because of Montez Ford's athleticism.
Renee brings up Edge and Randy Orton and will it be the Greatest Match Ever?
We have a video package.
Renee asks if either man can crack under the pressure for the match. JBL says there are 24 World Titles between them and then you add the other titles and accolades, they have risen to the occasion. He thinks they can do it. Renee asks if Randy has to win, and if not, what can he do. Booker says Randy has had a lot of pressure on him but he has the pedigree. Randy has been in the company for a long time and a light switch turns on when you get to this point in his career. Edge has been around a long time as well, but he has been injured. The advantage goes to Orton. Renee asks JBL what is the level of concern for Edge. JBL says Edge will probably come back fine. JBL mentions tagging with Bob Orton and he talked about how good Randy could be. JBL is going with the battle hardened guy. He gives Orton a slight edge tonight.
We go to the Performance Center with Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe, and Byron Saxton for our Kickoff Show Match.
Match Number One: United States Championship Match: Apollo Crews versus Andrade (with Zelina Vega and Angel Garza)
Before the match starts, Kevin Owens comes out to even the odds for Crews and do some commentary.
Andrade iwth a kick and side head lock. Andrade tries for a shoulder tackle but Crews does not go down. Andrade avoids a drop kick and applies a side head lock. Crews with an Irish whip but Andrade floats over and applies a side head lock. Crews gets Andrade on his shoulders but Andrade with elbows and he applies a Dragon Sleeper in the ropes. They go to the floor and Andrade with forearms and a knee. Crews with a back body drop onto the ramp. Andrade tries to pull Crews off the apron but Crews with a back heel kick and moonsault off the apron.
They return to the ring and Apollo with a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall. Andrade with an elbow to avoid a belly-to-back suplex. Andrade lands on his feet and then he hits a drop toe hold that sends Crews into the turnbuckles. Andrade with a running double knee strike for a near fall. Andrade goes up top and Crews chops Andrade. Crews with more chops and Crews climbs the turnbuckles for a superplex but Andrade stops Crews and crotches Crews. Andrade goes for the double stomp but Crews moves. Crews with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex into the turnbuckles. Crews with punches and a clothesline.
Crews runs Andrade into the corner and connects with shoulders. Crews with an Irsih whip and splash into the corner. Crews with a spinebuster for a near fall. Andrade avoids an Olympic Slam and gives Crews and arm drag. Crews with a drop kick and Apollo goes to the apron. Andrade with forearms and he tries to suplex Crews back into the ring but Crews blocks it. Crews gets Andrade up but Andrande lands on the apron. They exchange chops and then Andrade with a kick and slingshot hanging DDT for a near fall. Andrade goes for a suplex but Crews lands on his feet. Andrade goes to the turnbuckles and Crews with a kick and then he presses Andrade over his head and drops him to the mat and hits a moonsault and shooting star press.
Garza gets on the apron to distract the referee and Owens pulls Garza off the apron and hits a stunner. Crews turns to Andrade but Crews hits the toss power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Apollo Crews (retains Championship)
We return to Scott and Peter to talk about Sheamus and Jeff Hardy.
Sheamus says not to let what happened on Friday affect things tonight. He wants to let bygones be bygones. He knows how much pain Jeff is in. It must hurt to hold yourself as a vindicated beacon of hope when that isn't you. This is a flicker of false hope until you return to the depraved human being you were meant to be. You can be positive on the outside, but you can't deny the demons lurking below the surface. You are an embarrassment to your friends, your family, and yourself. Tonight, I will remind the WWE Universe of this when I Brogue Kick you off the wagon into obscurity.
Scott asks if Hardy and Sheamus could be too blinded by rage to want a victory. Peter says Jeff has a lot of people supporting him. What Sheamus has said is an affront to all of those people. Jeff knows what his problems are and he deals with it every day. Tonight is one of the most important nights of Jeff's career.
We move on to the Women's Tag Title Match. We see tweets from the participants in the match.
Peter says Bayley and Sasha are unbearable. Peter mentions Bayley's attitude. He is looking forward to what Alexa and Nikki can do tonight. Peter also mentions the Iiconics.
Peter says he is going with the Iiconics. He says they have been friends forever and he believes in them.
We take a look at the WWE Championship Match with a video package.
Peter says when MVP starting working with Bobby Lashley, Bobby instantly became a different man. He is using the Full Nelson. He is a different person with MVP in his corner. Scott mentions MVP's comments about how Lana is holding Bobby back. Peter says his career was going one way when Lana was there but it has gone a different direction.
Peter picks Bobby Lashley to win the match.
Peter picks Randy Orton in his match against Edge.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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