Question:
For many fans, the annual WWE Backlash event is one of the premiere
pay-per-view events of the year, given that coming off Wrestlemania, it is
the scene of many re-matches from "The Grand-Daddy of Them All." Well, it
isn't as if Starrcade is in contention for that moniker anymore.
Answer:
Lashley began much the stronger in this handicap affair, bouncing Shane
around with a suplex that Alexander Karelin would have been proud of, as
well as a spinebuster. When Umaga was clotheslined over the top rope, Vince
wanted none of the ECW champion, and backed off until Shane pulled down the
top rope on Lashley, causing him to fly out of the ring, at which point
McMahon The Elder laid the boots in.
After being thrown into the ringsteps by the "Samoan Bulldozer," Lashley's
left arm was the focus of Shane's attention, although the form of
cross-armlock that he applied left a lot technically to be desired. Showing
incredible strength, Lashley powerbombed his way out of the predicament, and
caught Shane with a T-Bone suplex, a Torture Rack into a backbreaker, and a
Davey Boy Smith-esque running powerslam. When Vince made the save, Shane
clocked the champion with his own title belt, and thinking that it was over,
Vince climbed in to make the cover. Lashley kicked out however, and did so a
second time, from a huge splash off the top rope by Umaga. A second,
gravity-defying splash was too much, however, and Vince made the cover to
then be proclaimed the new ECW champion.
I'd have to say that Backlash, like so many other WWE PPVs as of late, was
dissapointing. Of all the title changes I thought I'd see, the one I DIDN'T
want to see took place (Vince taking the ECW title). WWE programming is
intollerable enough without Uncle Vinny with a title belt. I'd also would
have liked to see MVP win the US title. Benoit has had it for a while (I
think this is as long as Benoit has had any major title), plus, admit it, as
annoying as MVP's gimmick is and this taking on "champions from other
countries" thing is, Benoit/MVP I and II were amongst the better matches the
WWE's put on over the past month. MVP can be entertaining when he wants to.
