While I am not happy with the location of these events, I am glad to see that this was, yet again, a very good card.

There was a bit of controversy with the Gunther vs Randy Orton match relating to Orton’s shoulder not being down while the referee was pinning, but according to Triple H, that the referees decision is final.

• Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill defeated Candice LeRae to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
• Liv Morgan defeated Becky Lynch to become the NEW Women’s World Championship
• Sami Zayn defeated Bronson Reed and Chad Gable to retain the Intercontinental Championship
• Nia Jax defeated Lyra Valkyria to become Queen of the Ring
• Gunther defeated Randy Orton to become King of the Ring
• Cody Rhodes defeated Logan Paul to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

And that was the show.

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Welcome to Saudi Blood Money XI from the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. It is WWE’s first of 2 trips to the kingdom in 2024 and today is the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament and Queen of the Ring Tournament.

How did we get to the finals?

It was a 16-man and 16-woman tournament that began on May 6th and May 10th’s RAW and SmackDown respectively.

On the Men’s side:

• 1st Round on RAW:
  • Gunther defeated Sheamus
  • Kofi Kingston defeated Rey Mysterio
  • Ilja Dragunov defeated Ricochet
  • Jey Uso defeated Finn Bálor
• 1st Round on SmackDown:
  • Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles
  • Carmelo Hayes defeated Baron Corbin
  • LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar
  • Tama Tonga defeated Angelo Dawkins
• Quarter-finals on RAW
  • Gunther defated Kofi Kingston
  • Jey Uso defeated Ilja Dragunov
• Quarter-finals on SmackDown
  • Randy Orton defeated Carmelo Hayes
  • Tama Tonga defeated LA Knight
• Semi-finals on RAW
  • Gunther defeated Jey Uso
• Semi-finals on SmackDown
  • Randy Orton defeated Tama Tonga

Which now means that Gunther (RAW) will take on Randy Orton (SmackDown) to become King of the Ring.

On the Women’s side:

• 1st Round on RAW
  • Shayna Baszler defeated Maxxine Dupri
  • Iyo Sky defeated Natalya
  • Lyra Valkyria defeated Dakota Kai
  • Zoey Stark defeated Ivy Nile
• 1st Round on SmackDown
  • Nia Jax defeated Naomi
  • Jade Cargill defeated Piper Niven
  • Tiffany Stratton defeated Michin
  • Bianca Belair defeated Candice LeRae
• Quarter-finals on RAW
  • Iyo Sky defeated Shayna Baszler
  • Lyra Valkyria defeated Zoey Stark
• Quarter-finals on SmackDown
  • Nia Jax defeated Jade Cargill via DQ
  • Bianca Belair defeated Tiffany Stratton.
• Semi-finals on RAW
  • Lyra Valkyria defeated Iyo Sky
• Semi-finals on SmackDown
  • Nia Jax defeated Bianca Belair

Which now means that Lyra Valkyria (RAW) will take on Nia Jax (SmackDown) to become Queen of the Ring!

Let’s have a look and predict the rest of this card:

Title Matches

• Gunther (RAW) vs Randy Orton (SmackDown) in a singles match in the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament. Winner will receive a world title match on their respecitive brand at SummerSlam.
  • PREDICTION: I can see this being a match of the night and potentially having “King Gunther” at the of the night is going to be a welcome sight to see. Gunther to win and become King of the Ring.
• Lyra Valkyria (RAW) vs Nia Jax (SmackDown) in a singles match in the finals of the Queen of the Ring Tournament. Winner will receive a women’s world title match on their respecitive brand at SummerSlam.
  • PREDICTION: Never bet against the Irish. Lyra is going to take it home to Ireland. Queen Lyra to win and become Queen of the Ring.
• Becky Lynch (C) vs Liv Morgan in a singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • PRECICTION: Becky is Irish. See my last point about Lyra. Becky to win and retain the Women’s World Championship
• Sami Zayn (C) vs Chad Gable vs Bronson Reed in a Triple Threat match for the Intercontinental Championship
  • PREDICTION: This may pip Gunther/Orton as these guys can work. Expect some hard hitting wrestling, but I don’t think Sami is going to drop the title any time soon. Sami to win and retain the Intercontinental Championship
• Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (C) vs Candice LeRae vs Indi Hartwell in a tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • PREDICTION: Nothing much to say here but Bianca and Jade will retain the WWE Women’s World Championship here.
• Cody Rhodes (C) vs Logan Paul in a singles match for the Undisputed WWE Championship
  • PREDICTION: Cody ain’t losing the title any time soon. Cody to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

And those are my predictions.

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WWE Backlash from Lyon, France was a great show and the crowd were really behind everyone. I would not be surprised if they run future shows in France.

Results

• The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) w/ Tanga Loa defeated Randy Orton & Kevin Owens in a Street Fight.
• Bayley defeated Naomi & Tiffany Stratton in a triple threat to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
• Damian Priest (C) defeated Jey Uso in a singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
• Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill defeated The Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane & Asuka) in a tag team match to become the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions
• Cody Rhodes (C) defeated AJ Styles in a singles match to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship

With Bianca’s victory, she becomes the 9th woman since 2019 to win WWE Women’s Triple Crown, winning the RAW Women’s Championship, SmackDown Women’s Championship and now the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Jade Cargill.

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WWE heads to Lyon, France for WWE Backlash. Last year, the show was held in Puerto Rico and if it was anything like what it was last year, we’re in for a treat!

Last Years Predictions: WWE Backlash 2023 Predictions

There are 5 matches on this card (unless more gets added between when this is published and the event itself) with only 1 match not involving a title.

Non-Title Match

• Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) in a tag team match.
  • PREDICTION: Tama Tonga appearing within WWE has already made this difficult to call. 2 evenly matched teams make it difficult to pick. Knowing how things have gone in the past, I wouldn’t be surprised if The Bloodline cheats their way to a victory. Bloodline to win!

Title Matches

• The Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane & Asuka) vs Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill in a tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
  • PREDICTIONS: With Jade Cargill on the team, you know that she ain’t losing this match. Easy prediction. Bianca & Jade to win and become new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
• Bayley (C) vs Naomi vs Tiffany Stratton in a Triple Threat for the WWE Women’s Championship.
  • PREDICTION: While Bayley got her WrestleMania victory defeating Iyo Sky, I don’t see her holding that title for much longer, unless they start putting her in a meaningful storyline. Given that you are going to have Bianca & Jade winning the Women’s Tag Team Championships, I would predict that their partner, Naomi, is to win and become champion. Rocket strap the three girls. Keep Bayley strong though by pinning Tiffany. It’s just not Tiffy Time yet.
• Damian Priest (C) vs Jey Uso in a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
  • PREDICTION: Jey Uso won a tournament to determine who would be next in line for the title. I don’t think Jey is going to win it, but is going to put on a classic match with Damian. Expect Judgement Day shenanigans. Damian Priest to win and retain!
• Cody Rhodes (C) vs AJ Styles in a singles match for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
  • PREDICTION: Are you seriously going to bet against Cody? Cody is going to be holding this title until Roman is back, so unfortunately, AJ Styles is going to be the fall guy. (But given how juiced AJ is these days, it is quite unpredictable) Cody to win and retain.

And those are my predictions.

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It has been touted as the ‘Biggest Stand & Deliver’ event yet, it is the 4th NXT Stand & Deliver event, hailing from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during WrestleMania 40 Saturday!

Last Years Prediction: WrestleMania 39 and NXT Stand & Deliver PPV Predictions

Non-Title Matches

• Shawn Spears vs Joe Gacy in a singles match
  • PREDICTION: Shawn Spears to win.
• Thea Hail, Fallon Henley & Kelani Jordan vs Jacy Jayne, Kiana James & Izzi Dame (w/ Jazmyn Nyx) in a 6-woman tag team match
  • PREDICTION: Jacy, Kiana & Izzi to win.
• Carmelo Hayes vs Trick Williams in a singles match.
  • PREDICTION: Trick Williams to win.

Title Matches

• Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker (C) vs Axiom & Nathan Frazer in a tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • PREDICTION: Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker to win and retain the NXT Tag Team Championship
• Lyra Valkyria (C) vs Roxanne Perez in a singles match for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • PREDICTION: Lyra Valkyria to win and retain the NXT Women’s Championship
• Oba Femi (C) vs Dijak vs Josh Briggs in a triple threat match for the NXT North American Championship
  • PREDICTION: Dijak to win and become the NEW NXT North American Championship
• Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Tony D’Angelo in a singles match for the NXT Championship
  • PREDICTION: Ilya Dragunov to win and retain the NXT Championship

Stay tuned for the WrestleMania 40 Prediction

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