WWE returned to Puerto Rico for the first time since 2005 and put on a good show for hungry wrestling fans in San Juan at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico.
WWE said in a statement Monday that Backlash was the highest-grossing and most-watched Backlash in the company’s history. The company said viewership saw a 28% increase from the 2022 event with a total of 34,800 between «Friday Night SmackDown» and the premium live event.
Although Roman Reigns had the weekend off and was out of action a month after defeating Cody Rhodes to retain his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship, there was no shortage of action-packed moments that energized the electric crowd.
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Read below for some of the best moments from the event.
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5). Bloodline’s inner rift grows deeper
The Bloodline enters the ring during WWE Backlash at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico on May 6, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
The Bloodline, represented by The Usos and Solo Sikoa, defeated Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a six-man tag team match. While Jey Uso is still trying to prove that he is not going to turn on his family and «The Tribal Chief», he almost runs into a Sikoa Samoan Spike.
Jimmy Uso tried to play peacemaker after the match, while Sikoa scowled at Jey Uso.
The Bloodline faction has been at the top of WWE for a few years now and every week the cracks in the family seem to grow wider and wider.
4). Cody Rhodes busts Brock Lesnar
Cody Rhodes enters the ring during WWE Backlash at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico on May 6, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar’s one-on-one match continued their recent feud, as «The American Nightmare»‘s path back to Reigns appears to have taken a detour.
Rhodes ended up defeating Lesnar via pinfall, but not before opening up Lesnar. Lesnar was bleeding heavily during the match. Lesnar thought he entitled Rhodes with a Kimura Lock, but somehow Rhodes was able to reverse it and put Lesnar’s shoulders on the canvas.
Rhodes escaped San Juan with the win as he looks to «finish the story» and return to the undisputed title picture.
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3). Seth Rollins gives Omos a Super Stomp
Seth «Freakin» Rollins celebrates his victory during WWE Backlash at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico on May 6, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
It took Seth Rollins a valiant effort to take down the 7-foot-3 Omos and he broke all the stops to do it. A basic frog flick and a Curb Stomp weren’t going to be enough to do the trick.
Rollins went to the top rope and hit a Super Stomp on Omos’s head and pinned the giant for the win.
Rollins now has the momentum behind him ahead of the World Heavyweight Title Tournament. Rollins is one of 12 competitors that were put in the pool for the new championship last week.
2). The emotional moment of Zelina Vega
Zelina Vega enters the ring during WWE Backlash at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico on May 6, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
Zelina Vega told Fox News Digital before Backlash that it was a «dream come true» to perform in Puerto Rico for the first time in her career.
On Saturday, Vega stepped into the ring in a Puerto Rican-inspired outfit and received an incredible reaction from the crowd. Vega was emotional in the ring as the crowd cheered her on. Then, the bell rang and Vega needed to work really hard to defeat Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
However, Ripley was too dominant and was able to defeat Vega in her first title defense since defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39.
1). Bad Bunny energizes the crowd, Carlito returns
Bad Bunny celebrates his victory in the ring during WWE Backlash at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico on May 6, 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
Bad Bunny entered the ring against Damien Priest for their San Juan Street Fight to a huge reaction from the crowd. The Grammy Award-winning music superstar surprised audiences in Puerto Rico and at home watching from the couch her strong performance against Priest.
Bad Bunny even took a broken arrow from Priest through a table as his party entered the stands and the area around the arena. While it looked like Priest was going to pull off the win with the help of his fellow Judgment Day members, the Latino World Order (LWO) evened things out.
Puerto Rican wrestling legends Carlito and Savio Vega returned for the time being. Carlito backstabbed Finn Balor and Vega, with the help of other LWO members, made sure Balor and Dominik Mysterio left the ringside area.
Once the dust cleared, Bad Bunny set up Priest and hit the Bunny Destroyer and earned the pinfall victory.
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Complete reaction results
- Bianca Belair defeated IYO Sky via pinfall to retain the RAW Women’s Championship.
- Seth Rollins defeated Omos via pinfall in a singles match.
- Austin Theory defeated Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed by pinfall to retain the United States Championship.
- Rhea Ripley defeated Zelina Vega via pinfall to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
- Bad Bunny defeated Damien Priest by pinfall in a San Juan street fight.
- The Bloodline defeated Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn by pinfall in a six-man tag team match.
- Cody Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar via pinfall in a singles match.