Backlash (2007)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Backlash (2007)


theme="There and Back Again" by Daughtrycite web|first=Lennie|last=DiFino|date=2007-05-17|url=http://www.wwe.com/subscriptions/wwetunes/3242484/daughtryhot |title=Daughtry brings it to Backlash|publisher=WWE| accessdate=2007-11-19]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown!
ECW
date=April 29, 2007
city=Atlanta, Georgia
venue=Philips Arena
attendance=14,500cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2007|title=Backlash 2007 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|accessdate=2008-03-29]
lastevent=WrestleMania 23
nextevent=Judgment Day (2007)
event=Backlash
lastevent2=Backlash (2006)
nextevent2=Backlash (2008)

Backlash (2007) was the ninth annual Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on April 29, 2007 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.cite web|first=Brian|last=Elliott|date=2007-04-29|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/04/29/4140920.html|title=No filler makes for a consistent Backlash| publisher=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2007-11-19] Following WrestleMania, all WWE pay-per-views became tri-branded, featuring talent from Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW.cite web|date=2007-03-14|url= http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2007/2007_03_14.jsp |title=WWE Pay-Per-Views To Follow WrestleMania Formula|publisher=WWE Corporate|accessdate=2007-11-19]

The main match on the Raw brand was a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship involving champion John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, and Shawn Michaels, which Cena won by pinning Orton.cite web|first=Louie|last=Dee|date=2007-04-29|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2007/matches/39606521/results/|title=Survive and conquer|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] The primary match on the SmackDown! brand was a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Batista, which ended in a no-contest after both men failed get to their feet before the referee counted to ten.cite web|first=Lennie|last= DiFino|date=2007-04-29|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2007/matches/396065217/results/|title=Stand aside| publisher=WWE| accessdate=2007-11-16] The featured match on the ECW brand was Bobby Lashley versus Team McMahon (Umaga, Vince and Shane McMahon) in a Handicap match for the ECW World Championship. Vince won the title and the match for his team by pinning Lashley.cite web|first=Bryan|last=Robinson|date=2007-04-29|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2007/matches/396065214/results/|title=Hell freezes over in ECW|publisher=WWE| accessdate=2007-11-16]

Background

The main feud heading into Backlash on the Raw brand was between John Cena, Edge, Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton over the WWE Championship. At the Royal Rumble in January, Michaels was one of the final two participants in the Royal Rumble match before getting eliminated by The Undertaker.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/2007/matches/35535102/results/|title=A Phenom-enal Rumble|date=2007-01-28|first=Louie|last=Dee|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] [cite web|url =http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/matches|title=Royal Rumble 2007 results|date=2007-01-28|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] On the February 5, 2007 edition of "Raw", Michaels defeated Edge and Orton in a Triple Threat match to become the number-one contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02052007|title=Tickets punched for WrestleMania|date=2007-02-05|first=Brett|last=Hoffman|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] At WrestleMania, Cena defeated Michaels to retain the WWE Championship, forcing him to submit to the STFU. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania23/matches/39161841/results/|title=Detroit, Champ City|date=2007-04-01|first=Louie|last= Dee|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] On the April 9 edition of "Raw", a match between Michaels and Orton to determine the number-one contender ended in a no-contest after both men's shoulders were on the mat while they were pinning one another. Later that night, during Edge's talk show, "The Cutting Edge", Edge claimed that Jonathan Coachman had named him the number-one contender. Honorary General Manager Michael Pena, from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, however, announced that Michaels, Orton, and Edge would face Cena for the title at Backlash in a Fatal Four-Way match.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04092007|title=Redemption|date=2007-10-28|first=Noah|last=Starr|publisher=WWE|accessdate= 2007-11-16 ]

The predominant feud on the SmackDown! brand was between The Undertaker and Batista over the World Heavyweight Championship. At the Royal Rumble, in January, The Undertaker won the 2007 Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Shawn Michaels. As a result, he was given the right to a title match at WrestleMania for any of WWE's three major championships (ECW World, World Heavyweight, or WWE). After teasing all three World Champions (Bobby Lashley, Batista, and John Cena), on the February 5 edition of "Raw", Undertaker chose World Heavyweight Champion Batista as his opponent for WrestleMania 23. At WrestleMania, The Undertaker defeated Batista to win the World Heavyweight Championship. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania23/matches/3916184/results/|title=The Streak lives on for the Deadman|date=2007-04-01|first =Jen|last=Hunt|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/2439318111|title=Undertaker's first World Heavyweight Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/undertaker/wrestlemanialegacy|title=Undertaker's WrestleMania Legacy|publisher=WWE| accessdate=2007-11-16] Their feud, however, did not end, as Theodore Long booked them in a Last Man Standing match for the title at Backlash. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/04132007|title=Polar opposites|date=2007-04-13 |first=Lennie|last=Difino|publisher= WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16]

The main feud on the ECW brand was between Bobby Lashley and Team McMahon (Umaga, Vince and Shane McMahon), in which Lashley and Vince were feuding over the ECW World Championship. The feud started on the February 26 edition of "Raw", when Lashley was selected by Donald Trump to compete at WrestleMania 23. Lashley was selected to compete against Vince's representative, Umaga, in a Hair vs. Hair match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02262007 |title=Billionaire's brawlers|date=2007-02-26|first=Noah|last=Starr|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] At WrestleMania, Lashley defeated Umaga and after the match, Trump and Lashley shaved Vince bald. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania23/matches/39161842/results/ |title=The 'mane' event|date=2007-04-01|first=Craig|last=Tello|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] On the April 9 edition of "Raw", Shane challenged Lashley to a Hair vs. Title match for the ECW World Championship. Shane got himself intentionally disqualified, but did not shave his head. After the match, Umaga and Vince assisted Shane in attacking Lashley. After the beating, Vince booked a 3-on-1 Handicap match for the ECW World Championship between Lashley and Team McMahon.

Event

Preliminary matches

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Carlito defeated Johnny Nitro in a dark match.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/backlash07.html|title=Backlash 2007 results| publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-11-16] The first match of the event was The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) versus Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch for the World Tag Team Championship. Cade and Murdoch controlled a majority of the match; however, The Hardys won the bout after Matt pinned Murdoch following a Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb from Jeff.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2007/matches/3960652/results/|title=The Hardys survive| date=2007-04-29|first=Andrew|last=Rote| publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16]

The match that followed was Melina versus Mickie James for the WWE Women's Championship. After an unsuccessful aerial maneuver, Melina executed a Reverse DDT on James and pinned her to retain the WWE Women's Championship.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2007/matches/396065212/results/|title=Melina on top|date=2007-04-29|first=Noah|last=Starr| publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-16] The third match was between Chris Benoit and Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) for the WWE United States Championship. Benoit and MVP struggled throughout the match, attempting to gain the upper hand. In the end, Benoit pinned MVP with an Inside cradle to win the match and retain the WWE United States Championship.cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2007/matches/396065211/results/|title=Rabid resiliency|date=2007-04-29|first=Lennie|last=Difino| publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17]

Main event matches

A 3-on-1 Handicap match for the ECW World Championship between champion Bobby Lashley and Team McMahon (Umaga, Vince and Shane McMahon) was next. Near the end of the match, Shane hit Lashley with the title belt, which was followed by a diving splash from Umaga. Umaga then tagged in Vince, who attempted to pin Lashley. Lashley, however, kicked out. Vince then tagged in Umaga, who once again executed a diving splash from Umaga. After being tagged in, Vince pinned Lashley to win the ECW World Championship and the match for his team. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwchampionship/042907mcmahon|title= Mr. McMahon's first ECW Championship reign|publisher =WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17]

The following match was a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Batista. One spot in the match saw Undertaker perform a leg drop on Batista and through an announce table. Towards the end of the match, the two fought up the entrance ramp, where Batista delivered a spear to The Undertaker off the stage. Neither man was able to get to their feet before the referee counted to ten; as a result, the match was declared a no-contest and The Undertaker retained the title.

The main event was a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship between champion John Cena, Edge, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels. During the opening minutes of the match, Michaels performed a moonsault onto Cena, Edge, and Orton outside the ring. Near the end of the match, Edge speared Orton after Cena reversed an RKO attempt by Orton. Cena then performed an FU on Edge, which was followed by Michaels executing Sweet Chin Music on Cena. When Cena fell, he landed on Orton and the referee counted the pinfall. Cena won the match and retained the WWE Championship.

Aftermath

Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch continued their rivalry with The Hardys until the two teams had a rematch at Judgment Day for the World Tag Team Championship, which Hardys won. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2007/matches/41244022111/hardysvscademurdoch05202007/|title='By the book' couldn't beat the Hardys|date=2007-05-20|first=Corey|last=Clayton|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17] Chris Benoit and Montel Vontavious Porter also continued their rivalry for the WWE United States Championship, which led to a Two out of three falls match at Judgment Day, which Porter won. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2007/matches/41244023/results/|title=Third time's the golden charm for MVP|date=2007-05-20|first=Mike|last=McAvennie|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/4729814|title=Montel Vontavious Porter's first United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17] The Undertaker and Batista also continued their rivalry, which culminated in a Steel cage match that occurred on the May 11 edition of "SmackDown!". Both men escaped the steel cage at the same time, and The Undertaker was therefore declared the champion. After the match, Mark Henry returned and attacked The Undertaker. Edge, who had defeated Mr. Kennedy on the May 7 edition of "Raw" to win the Money in the Bank contract,cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05072007|title=Gold digging|date=2007-05-07|first=Lennie|last=Difino|publisher=WWE| accessdate=2007-11-17] cashed in his opportunity and speared The Undertaker to win the World Heavyweight Championship. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05112007|title=In with the new|date=2007-05-11| first=Noah|last=Starr|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17] [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/24393181111|title=Edge's first World Heavyweight Championship reign| publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17]

Team McMahon's feud with Bobby Lashley continued as Mr. McMahon gave Lashley a rematch at Judgment Day, which was another 3-on-1 Handicap match for the ECW World Championship. At Judgment Day, Lashley won the match, but Vince said that Lashley had not beaten him, as Lashley had pinned Shane instead, so Lashley was not awarded the belt. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2007/matches/41244021/results/|title=The ecstasy... and then the agony|date= 2007-05-20|first=Bryan|last=Robinson|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-11-17]

Results

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash Backlash 2007 official website]