wrestling / TV Reports

411’s WWE Backlash 2017 Report

May 21, 2017 | Posted by Scott Slimmer
Jinder Mahal WWE Backlash

Welcome to 411’s WWE Backlash 2017 Report. We are LIVE in my hometown, beautiful Chicago, Illinois. Okay, yes, fine, it’s technically Rosemont, Illinois. But you know what I mean.

The Kickoff Show panel is Renee Young, Booker T, and Peter Rosenberg. We start off with a video package for Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler. James Ellsworth joins the panel to help them preview Naomi, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch vs. The Welcoming Committee. Booker T and Rosenberg both pick the Welcoming Committee while Ellsworth skillfully avoids commenting on the nature of his relationship with Carmella.

The Kickoff Show panelists move on to a discussion of Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin. Renee and Booker T pick Zayn, but Rosenberg picks Corbin. They move on to break down the Usos vs. Breezango. Erick Rowan wanders behind the panel menacingly, and they all get real quiet real quick. After Rowan leaves, Booker T and Rosenberg both pick the Usos to retain the tag titles. Next up is a video package for Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles. Booker T picks Owens, but Rosenberg picks Styles.

Sami Zayn is in the Social Media Lounge with Dasha Fuentes. Zayn says that everyone may seem him as the perpetual underdog, but he absolutely thinks he has a chance against Baron Corbin tonight. He’s absolutely excited to be on Smackdown Live and face a whole new set of competitors. He concludes by saying that he’s able to stay optimistic by always looking at the bigger picture. He knows every competitor is going to have big wins and big losses, but the key is to keep moving forward and looking forward to the next match.


Kickoff Show Match
Tye Dillinger vs. Aiden English
 photo Tye_Dillinger_vs_Aiden_English_Cropped_zps2k4dpkil.jpg

English bows to start, so Dillinger responds with an emphatic 10. English catches Dillinger in a side headlock and drags him down to the mat. Dillinger fights back to his feet and drops English with a snapmare takedown. English muscles Dillinger to the corner, but Dillinger fights out as English flees to the ring apron. English heads back into the ring and catches Dillinger with a neck breaker and a running elbow shot in the corner as we head to a commercial. We return from the break with English still firmly in control of Dillinger. English locks in a rear chin lock and leverages Dillinger down to his knees. English sings as Dillinger starts to fade, but Dillinger rallies and fights up to his feet to break the hold. Dillinger rolls up English but only gets a two count. Dillinger hits English with an atomic drop and a running forearm shot. Dillinger traps English in the corner and goes to work with ten perfect mounted punches, but English rolls out of the ring to catch a breather. Dillinger tosses English up onto the ring apron, but English drops Dillinger neck-first onto the top rope. English heads up top, but Dillinger flips him back down to the mat. Dillinger heads up top and goes for a flying splash, but English rolls out of the way. English scoop slams Dillinger and goes for a diving senton, but Dillinger rolls out of the way. Dillinger follows up with the Tye Breaker, and that’s enough for the three count.

Match Result: Tye Dillinger defeats Aiden English with the Tye Breaker.
Match Length: 8:16
Slimmer’s Rating: **

The Kickoff Show panelists start to discuss Luke Harper vs. Erick Rowan, but here comes Erick Rowan once again. Rowan sits down with the panel but doesn’t say a word. Rowan leaves as silently as he arrived, and the panelists are too shaken to even make predictions. They finish up with an analysis of Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal.


Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler
 photo Shinsuke_Nakamura_vs_Dolph_Ziggler_Cropped_zpspnbh6bwd.jpg

Ziggler gets a rear waist lock to start, but Nakamura quick reverses to a rear waist lock of his own. Nakamura goes for a quick head kick, but Ziggler ducks to avoid contact. Nakamura lands a knee to the gut and takes down Ziggler with an arm wringer. Ziggler rolls Nakamura into a pinning predicament but only gets a two count. Ziggler works over Nakamura’s arm, but Nakamura flips out and reverses into a hammer lock. Nakamura lands another knee to the gut and follows up with a knee drop to the face. Nakamura gives Ziggler good vibrations in the corner and then gives chase when Ziggler heads to the outside. Nakamura rolls Ziggler back into the ring, but Ziggler catches Nakamura with a neck breaker and Nakamura climbs between the ropes. Ziggler rakes the eyes and locks in a rear chin lock. Nakamura rolls to his knees and fights back to his feet, but Ziggler catches him with a gorgeous standing drop kick for a two count. Ziggler lands a standing elbow drop to the chest, but Nakamura fights back with a knee to the gut and a spinning kick to the side of the head. Nakamura and Ziggler slug it out in the middle of the ring, but Nakamura gets the best of it and delivers a knee shot in the corner for a two count. Ziggler rolls up Nakamura for a two count, but Nakamura goes for a triangle choke. Ziggler gets a foot on the ropes to break the hold before Nakamura can fully lock it in. Ziggler follows up with a leaping DDT for another two count. Nakamura heads to the corner and goes for the Kinshasa, but Ziggler ducks. Ziggler hits the Fameasser but again only gets a two count. Ziggler goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Nakamura slides out of the way, but Ziggler catches him with the Zig Zag for yet another two count. Nakamura connects with a kick to the back of the neck and hits the reverse exploder, but Ziggler lands on his feet. Ziggler lands a super kick to the back of Nakamura’s neck, but Nakamura kicks out at 2.98. Nakamura turtles up as Ziggler rains kicks on his head and neck. Ziggler spits in Nakamura’s face and tries for a double leg takedown, but Nakamura sprawls and lands a volley of knees to the ribs. Nakamura connects with a knee to the face and heads up top. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa from the second rope, but Ziggler ducks. Nakamura hits the reverse exploder and follows up with the Kinshasa for the three count.

Match Result: Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Dolph Ziggler with the Kinshasa.
Match Length: 15:44
Slimmer’s Rating: ***


Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match
The Usos (Champions) vs. Breezango
 photo The_Usos_vs_Breezango_Cropped_zpsepy5vaz9.jpg

Tyler Breeze is in full undercover janitor mode for this match. Fandango and Jimmy Uso start the match, but Fandango quickly makes the tag to Breeze. Breeze side steps a corner splash from Jimmy and then keeps him at a safe distance with his mop. Jey make a blind take, levels Breeze, and snaps the mop. Jey heads up top, but Breeze rolls to the other side of the ring. Jey heads up to the opposite corner, but Breeze again rolls in the opposite direction. Jey drags Breeze back to his feet, but Breeze catches him with a spinning kick for a two count. Fandango gets the tag, so Jey quickly makes the tag to Jimmy. Jimmy goes for a sunset flip, but Fandango gyrates his hips to counter. Fandango looks to the apron, but his janitor partner has been replaces by an elderly woman. “Let’s go Grandma! Let’s go Grandma!” Jey gets the tag and knocks the cane away from the poor woman, but she catches him with a standing drop kick. Holy crap, it’s Tyler Breeze! Jey connects with a running drop kick in the corner and tags Jimmy. We get simultaneous tags, and Fandango goes after Jey. Fandango hits a DDT, but Jey kicks out at two. Breeze gets the tag but doesn’t notice that Jimmy also made a blind tag. Jimmy hits a diving forearm shot from the top but only gets a two count. Jey gets the tag and eats an Unprettier from Breeze, but Jimmy pulls him out of the ring. Breeze goes for a cannonball senton from the apron, but the Usos catch him and launch him into the crowd. Fandango takes out both Usos with a suicide dive and rolls Jey back into the ring. Fandango heads up top and looks for the Last Dance, but Jey connects with a super kick to Fandango on the top rope. Fandango falls to the mat, and Jey makes the cover for the three count.

Match Result: Jey Uso defeats Fandango with a super kick.
Match Length: 9:15
Slimmer’s Rating: ***½ (It was stupid but highly entertaining.)


Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
 photo Sami_Zayn_vs_Baron_Corbin_Cropped_zpskvdefguz.jpg

Zayn and Corbin lock up to start, and Corbin easily muscles Zayn to the corner. Zayn goes after the arm, but Corbin again muscles him to the corner to force the break. Zayn catches Corbin with a hurricanrana, but Corbin rolls out of the ring. Corbin charges back into the ring and slams Zayn’s face into the top turnbuckle. Corbin tosses Zayn to the ring apron, but Zayn lands a shoulder to the gut and flips back into the ring. Zayn drop kicks Corbin out of the ring, but he looks to have tweaked his back at some point. Zayn heads to the outside and connects with a moonsault off the barricade, but he’s still heavily favoring his lower back. The action returns to the ring, and Corbin works over Zayn’s injured lower back. Corbin hits a back breaker and continues to focus on the back. Corbin and Zayn slug it out in the middle of the ring, but Corbin catches Zayn in a bear hug and applies pressure right on the lower back. Corbin releases the bear hug and charges at Zayn, but Zayn low bridges the top rope, causing Corbin to tumble to the outside. Zayn heads up top and sets his sights on Corbin on the outside, but Corbin charges back into the ring and catches Zayn with a spinebuster. Corbin hits the ropes and levels Zayn with a running punch. Corbin hits the ropes again, but this time Zayn counters with a clothesline. Zayn hits a back elbow shot and connects with a top rope crossbody for a two count. Corbin punches Zayn in the throat and damn near decapitates him with a running clothesline for a two count of his own. Corbin goes back to work with forearm shots to the lower back and follows up with a back breaker for another two count. Corbin takes Zayn up top and sets up for a superplex, but Zayn counters into a sunset flip powerbomb for a two count. Zayn is either legitimately injured or doing an Oscar-worthy job of selling the back injury. Zayn goes for an exploder in the corner, but his back is too injured lift Corbin. Zayn gets a crucifix pin, but Corbin kicks out at two. Corbin connects with the Deep Six, but Zayn kicks out at two. Zayn lands a big boot and then hits the Helluva Kick in the corner for the miraculous three count.

Match Result: Sami Zayn defeats Baron Corbin with the Helluva Kick.
Match Length: 14:51
Slimmer’s Rating: ***¼

Jinder Mahal arrives at the arena and says that he will turn the hateful fans in Chicago into believers. He will teach them that he truly is the modern day maharaja.


6-Woman Tag Team Match
Naomi, Charlotte Flair, & Becky Lynch vs. The Welcoming Committee w/ James Ellsworth
 photo Naomi_Charlotte_and_Becky_vs_Welcoming_Committee_Cropped_zpscypsyj5k.jpg

Becky and Tamina start the match, and Tamina immediately shoves Becky to the corner. Becky locks in a sleeper hold and tries to transition into a sunset flip, but Tamina blocks and makes the tag to Natalya. Becky tags Charlotte, but Natalya locks in an arm wringer. Charlotte breaks free and goes to work with chops to the chest. Natalya whips Charlotte to the corner, but Charlotte flips onto the ring apron. Natalya clotheslines Charlotte on the apron and makes the tag to Tamina. Tamina works over Charlotte in the corner and makes the quick tag to Carmella. Carmella continues the assault and makes the quick tag to Natalya. Quick tag to Tamina followed by another quick tag to Carmella. Carmella slams Charlotte’s face into the top turnbuckle, but Charlotte levels her with a forearm shot. Charlotte makes the tag to Naomi, and Naomi connects with a diving crossbody from the top. Tamina heads for Naomi on the apron, but Naomi lands a kick over the top rope that knocks Tamina to the floor. Carmella hits a bronco buster in the corner and makes the tag to Tamina. Naomi hits the ropes, but Tamina levels her with a clothesline. Carmella gets the tag, continues the assault, and makes the quick tag to Natalya. Natalya knocks Charlotte off the apron, and Tamina gets the tag. Naomi tries to tag Becky, but Carmella pulls Becky off the apron. Tamina hits a Samoan Drop and covers Naomi, but Charlotte makes the save. Natalya gets the tag but eats a head scissors takedown. Becky FINALLY gets the hot tag and hits the Bex-ploder. Becky kicks Naomi off the apron, but the distraction allows Natalya to go for the Sharpshooter. Becky reverses into the Dis-arm-her, but Carmella makes the save. Becky gets an O’Connor roll, but Natalya kicks out at two. Natalya locks in the Sharpshooter, and Becky has no choice but to tap.

Match Result: Natalya defeats Becky Lynch with the Sharpshooter.
Match Length: 10:02
Slimmer’s Rating: **½


United States Championship Match
Kevin Owens (Champion) vs. AJ Styles
 photo Kevin_Owens_vs_AJ_Styles_Cropped_zpsdgyjxckr.jpg

Owens and Styles lock up to start, and Owens muscles Styles to the corner. Styles gets the switch and traps Owens in the corner, but Owens goes for a single leg takedown. Styles avoids the takedown and rolls up Owens for a quick two count. Owens gets the single leg takedown on his second attempt, but Styles kicks him away and locks in a standing side head lock. Owens reverses and locks in a standing side head lock of his own. Styles breaks the hold and goes for a standing drop kick, but Owens rolls out of the ring to avoid contact. Styles chases Owens to the outside, but Owens flees back into the ring. Styles returns to the ring but misses a drop kick. Owens hits the ropes, but this time Styles finally hits the drop kick. Styles gets a head scissors takedown, but Owens answers with a clothesline for a two count. Owens goes to work with the ground and pound and follows up with a rear chin lock on the mat. Owens hits a DDT and three standing sentons for a long two count. Owens goes back to the rear chin lock, but Styles fights out and lands a kick to the side of the head. Styles lands a volley of kicks and elbow shots to drop Owens. Styles hits a basement elbow shot and gets a two count. Styles whips Owens to the corner and hits a running elbow shot. Styles hits a swinging facebuster and follows up with the Ushigoroshi. Owens answers with a super kick and the Steen Breaker. Styles rolls to the outside as Owens heads up top. Styles heads up onto the ring apron and pulls Owens off the top. Styles sets up for the Styles Clash on the apron, but Owens flips to the floor and slams Styles’ leg into the ring post. Owens and Styles head back into the ring, and Owens hits the cannonball. Owens wraps Styles’ leg around the bottom rope and hits a second cannonball directly to the leg. Owens locks in the single leg crab and then transitions into the ankle lock. Owens takes Styles up top and sets up for a super Go Home Driver, but Styles counters into a sunset flip powerbomb. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but his leg gives out, and he tumbles awkwardly to the mat. Owens defiantly slaps Styles but eats a Pelé kick. Owens and Styles head back up top, and Owens hits the avalanche fisherman buster. Styles rolls to the apron and Owens follows him. Styles suplexes Owens on the ring apron, and both men fall to the floor. Owens tosses Styles into the timekeeper’s area, but comes back with a Phenomenal Forearm off the barricade. Styles sets up Owens for the Styles Clash on the announce table, but Owens pulls Styles’ injured leg through one of the monitor ports in the table. Styles become trapped in the table and can’t beat the referee’s count back into the ring.

Match Result: Kevin Owens defeats AJ Styles by count-out.
Match Length: 21:09
Slimmer’s Rating: ****¼ (would have been even higher with a real finish)


Luke Harper vs. Erick Rowan
 photo Luke_Harper_vs_Erick_Rowan_Cropped_zpssbrynbcs.jpg

Rowan goes right after Harper to start and works him over in the corner. Harper fights back with chops to the chest and heads up top, but Rowan knocks him down to the floor, and Harper slams into the ring steps on the way down. Rowan heads to the outside and beats Harper against the barricade. Rowan rolls Harper back into the ring and hits a running splash. Rowan puts Harper’s head in a vice grip before splashing him in the corner. Rowan connects with a drop kick and gets a two count. Rowan locks in a rear chin lock, but Harper fights back to his feet. Rowan hits two scoop slams and a pumphandle back breaker before leveling Harper with a clothesline for another two count. Rowan heads up top but misses the diving splash. Rowan rolls out of the ring, but Harper follows him and slams him into the barricade. Harper slams Rowan’s face into the announce table and then hits a suicide dive that sends Harper tumbling between the announce tables. Harper rolls Rowan back into the ring and connects with a slingshot senton. Harper hits a tilt-a-whirl side slam, but Rowan gets back to his feet and hits a spinning kick to the face. Rowan powerbombs Harper but only gets a two count. Harper catches Rowan with a jackknife pin and gets a two count of his own. Harper and Rowan slug it out in the middle of the ring. Rowan reaches out to his mask for motivation, but Harper drops him with a discus clothesline for the three count.

Match Result: Luke Harper defeats Erick Rowan with a discus clothesline.
Match Length: 8:53
Slimmer’s Rating: **¾


WWE Championship Match
Randy Orton (Champion) vs. Jinder Mahal w/ Sunil Singh and Samir Singh
 photo Randy_Orton_vs_Jinder_Mahal_Cropped_zpsv7p1tnqb.jpg

Orton attacks Mahal before the bell rings and tosses Mahal to the outside. Orton launches Mahal over the announce table, pounds on him on the announce table, and finally rolls him back into the ring. The referee checks on Mahal, but Mahal says he’s ready to go, so the referee officially starts the match. Orton goes for a quick RKO, but Mahal shoves him away and rolls out of the ring. Orton levels Mahal on the outside and rolls him back into the ring. Mahal regains control with a knee drop, but Orton rolls to the outside. Mahal meets Orton on the outside, but Orton drops Mahal back-first onto the announce table. The action returns to the ring, and Mahal catches Orton with a rapid-fire volley of knee drops. Mahal whips Orton to the corner and charges after him, but Orton side-steps Mahal, and Mahal posts himself in the corner. Orton heads up top and drags Mahal up there with him. Mahal punches Orton back down to the mat, but Orton knocks the ropes to crotch Mahal on the top turnbuckle. Orton heads back up top and hits a gorgeous superplex from the top. Orton hits a power slam and a delayed fall-away slam. Mahal fights back with a shot to the throat and a neckbreaker for a two count. Mahal drags Orton back to his feet, but Orton hits a back breaker and his patented rope-assisted DDT. Orton sets up for the RKO, but Mahal rolls out of the ring. Orton goes after Mahal, but the Singh brothers get in his face. Orton tosses the Singh brothers out of the way, but Mahal whips Orton into the ring post. Mahal rolls Orton back into the ring, but Orton his the RKO out of now where. Orton tries to crawl into the cover, but the Singh brothers pull Mahal back out of the ring. Orton goes after the Singh brothers and tosses one of them over the announce table. He tries to dump the other back-first onto the announce table, but Singh over rotates and damn near lands right on his head on the announce table. The look on Orton’s face when he saw how Singh landed on the table was priceless. Orton drags both Singh brothers onto the apron and hits a double rope-assisted DDT, but that gives Mahal the chance to catch Orton with the Khallas for the three count.

Match Result: Jinder Mahal defeats Randy Orton with the Khallas.
Match Length: 15:53
Slimmer’s Rating: ***½

article topics :

WWE Backlash, Scott Slimmer