2021 WWE WRESTLEMANIA BACKLASH PARTICIPANTS’ PPV HISTORY

 

As I do every month, it’s time to look at this weekend’s Backlash Pay-Per-View and see the history of all of the participants. To see the entire 22-year history of the Backlash PPV, visit the Backlash PPV History HERE. Even though this year, WWE added WrestleMania to Backlash & are calling it WrestleMania Backlash, it is still part of the Backlash lineage, so that’s what it will count as here. Also, there was no Backlash event from 2010 to 2016, & again in 2019, but if something happened in 2009 & then again at 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2020, I will count as 5 years in a row. And for any feedback or comments about this, comment below or tweet me (@hbkid718). Thanks.

This will be the 1st PPV since the Royal Rumble on January 31 to not have a United States Championship Match & the 1st Backlash since 2016 to not have one. It will be the 1st PPV since Elimination Chamber on February 21 to not have an Intercontinental Championship Match & the 2nd Backlash in a row to not have one. It will be the 1st PPV since Fastlane on March 21 to not have a Raw Tag Team Championship Match & it has never been defended at Backlash. This will be the 1st PPV of 2021 to not have a Women’s Tag Team Championship Match & the 1st time since it was instituted in 2019 that it wasn’t defended at Backlash.

This will be the 1st time that there will be more than 1 Triple Threat Match on PPV since Survivor Series on November 24, 2019 & the 1st ever at Backlash.

Since no Kickoff has been announced, here are the facts about it. The only wrestlers on the roster to be on a Backlash Kickoff are Apollo Crews (2017 & 2020), Bayley & Ruby Riott (2018), King Corbin (2016), Kofi Kingston & Dolph Ziggler (2009), & The Miz & John Morrison (2008). The only title to be defended on the Kickoff is the United States Championship in 2020.

Since no Opener has been announced, here are the facts about it. If Damian Priest VS The Miz opens, it will be the 1st Non-Title Singles Match to open Backlash since Shinsuke Nakamura VS Dolph Ziggler in 2017 & would be The Miz’ 2nd opener & 1st since 2018. If a Women’s Championship Match opens Backlash, it will be the 3rd Women’s Match to open Backlash, & 2nd year in a row, & the 1st Women’s Championship to open since 2016. It would be Bayley’s 2nd opener in a row, making her the 1st wrestler since Matt Hardy in 2008 & 2009 to be in back-to-back openers. If the Tag Team Championship Match opens Backlash, it will be the 3rd time & the 1st time since 2007. It will be Dolph Ziggler’s 2nd opener & 1st since 2017. No WWE Championship Match has opened Backlash & everyone else will be wrestling in their 1st opener.

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: CESARO VS WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION ROMAN REIGNS

Cesaro VS Roman Reigns will be the 6th Universal Championship Match of 2021, the 1st since Smackdown on April 30, & the 5th PPV in a row in 2021. It will be the 22nd or 23rd to take place at Backlash & 15th event in a row. It will be the 2nd Universal Championship Match at Backlash & 2nd in a row. It will be the 2nd year in a row that there will be both a WWE & Universal Championship Match at Backlash. This will be Cesaro’s Backlash debut & his 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. So if he would win, he would be the 1st since Jinder Mahal in 2017 to win a WWE or Universal Championship in his debut Backlash match. If he wins, it would be his 1st Singles Title since he was United States Champion (8/19/12 – 4/15/13), making him the 4th to be both United States & Universal Champion after Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, & Kevin Owens, the 2nd to be Smackdown Tag Team & Universal after Bray Wyatt, & the 1st ever to be Raw Tag Team, Smackdown Tag Team, & Universal Champion. This would be his 1st Singles Title Match of any kind since he lost to then-United States Champion Roman Reigns on Raw on December 11, 2017, his 1st match for a WWE or World Title since the Money In The Bank Match for the Vacant World Championship at Money In The Bank on June 29, 2014, but 1st ever 1-on-1 Match for a WWE, World, or Universal Championship. This will be Roman Reigns’ 2nd Backlash & 1st since 2018, but his 1st ever Title Match at Backlash. It will be his 5th PPV in a row in 2021. Against Cesaro will be Roman Reigns’ 11th Universal Championship Defense, which is the most of All-Time. As of Backlash, Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship Reign has lasted 259 Days, which is the 2nd of All-Time after Brock Lesnar (4/2/17 – 8/19/18, 503 Days). This will be the 3rd 1-on-1 Match between Cesaro & Roman Reigns after Raw on November 16, 2015 & December 11, 2017, with Reigns winning both previous matches. This will be the 13th WWE or Universal Championship Match to main event Backlash, but 1st ever Universal Championship Match to main event Backlash, & 1st since Randy Orton VS Jinder Mahal in 2017, & will be Roman Reigns’ 2nd Backlash main event & 1st since 2018. The Universal Championship has not changed hands in 2021, or at Backlash, but WWE or World Championships have changed hands 9 times at Backlash, with the last title change taking place in 2017 when Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton. The Universal Championship has changed hands 14 times in History.

Cesaro (0-0-0)

This will be Cesaro’s Backlash debut

Roman Reigns (1-0-0)

  1. Defeated Samoa Joe (5/6/18)

TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP: DREW MCINTYRE VS WWE CHAMPION BOBBY LASHLEY VS BRAUN STROWMAN

Drew McIntyre VS Bobby Lashley VS Braun Strowman will be the 9th WWE Championship Match of 2021, the 1st since WrestleMania 37 on April 10, & 2nd PPV in a row. It will be the 22nd or 23rd to take place at Backlash & 15th event in a row. It will be the 2nd year in a row that there will be both a WWE & Universal Championship Match at Backlash. It will be the 9th or 10th Triple Threat Match of 2021, the 1st since Raw on April 12, & 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. It will be the 5th or 6th Triple Threat Match at Backlash & 2nd year in a row. It will be the 3rd for the WWE Championship & 1st since John Cena VS Edge VS Triple H in 2007 with the other Triple Threat Match taking place being Chris Benoit VS Triple H VS Shawn Michaels in 2004, so therefore this will be the 1st ever WWE Championship Triple Threat Match at Backlash to not feature Triple H. This will be the 1st Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship since Drew McIntyre VS The Miz VS AJ Styles at TLC on December 20, 2020. This will be Drew McIntyre’s 2nd Backlash in a row & 2nd year in a row he’s in a WWE Championship Match. He is the 1st ever to defend the WWE Championship & then challenge for it at back-to-back Backlash events. It will be his 1st Triple Threat Match at Backlash & his 5th PPV in a row in 2021. This will be his 11th Triple Threat Match in his career & 1st since he defeated Randy Orton & Braun Strowman on Raw on April 12, 2021, his 1st for a WWE Championship since he defeated The Miz & AJ Styles at TLC on December 20, 2020, giving him a Triple Threat Match Record of 3-7-0, with him winning the last 3 in a row. If he wins, he would be the 17th wrestler to be a 3-time WWE Champion & the 1st since Roman Reigns in 2016. This will be Braun Strowman’s 3rd Backlash event in a row & 2nd WWE or Universal Championship Match. He will be the 1st ever to defend the Universal Championship & challenge for the WWE Championship at back-to-back Backlash events. It will be his 1st Triple Threat Match at Backlash & 3rd PPV in a row in 2021. This will be his 7th Triple Threat Match in his Career & the 1st since he lost to Drew McIntyre along with Randy Orton on Raw on April 12, 2021. It will be his 1st ever for the WWE Championship, but he has been in 2 Triple Threat Matches for the Universal Championship, as he lost to Brock Lesnar along with Kane at the Royal Rumble on January 28, 2018 & he lost to Roman Reigns along with Bray Wyatt at Payback on August 30, 2020, giving him a Triple Threat Record of 1-5-0, with his only win being over Keith Lee & Sheamus on Raw on November 2, 2020. If he wins, he will be the 4th to be both Universal & WWE Champion after Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, & Bray Wyatt & the 1st to be since Brock Lesnar in 2019, the 4th in a row to be Intercontinental & WWE Champion after Drew McIntyre, The Miz, & Bobby Lashley, & 1st since The Miz in 2021, & the 1st to be WWE & Raw Tag Team Champion since The Miz in 2021, & the 1st since Seth Rollins in 2016 to be all 4. This will be Bobby Lashley’s 4th Backlash & 3rd event in a row & his 2nd WWE Championship Match in a row. He will be the 1st wrestler since Triple H in 2008 & 2009 to challenge for & then defend the WWE Championship at back-to-back Backlash events. Against McIntyre & Strowman will be Bobby Lashley’s 3rd WWE Championship Defense, so if he would have lost, he would have been the 1st since Roman Reigns who lost to Seth Rollins at Money In The Bank on June 19, 2016 to lose in his 3rd Defense. As of Backlash, Bobby Lashley’s WWE Championship Reign has lasted 77 Days, so if he loses he would be the 1st ever to lose in 77 Days. It will be his 1st Triple Threat Match at Backlash & 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. This will be his 10th Triple Threat Match in his career, 1st since he & John Morrison lost to Riddle at Elimination Chamber on February 21, his 1st for the WWE Championship, but he had 2 as ECW Champion, when he defeated Test & Rob Van Dam on ECW on January 16, 2007 & Hardcore Holly & Mr. Kennedy on ECW on February 20, 2017, giving him a Triple Threat Record of 4-5-0, with his last win being against Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins to win the Intercontinental Championship on Raw on January 14, 2019. This will be the 2nd year in a row that McIntyre & Lashley wrestled each other, making them the 1st ever wrestlers to wrestle in a Singles Match & then a Triple Threat Match at back-to-back Backlash events. The WWE Championship has changed hands 2 times in 2021, with the last title change taking place on Raw on March 1, WWE or World Championships have changed hands 9 times at Backlash, with the last title change taking place in 2017 when Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton. The WWE Championship has changed hands 140 times in WWE History. No Titles have ever changed hands in a Triple Threat Match at Backlash, but the last time the WWE Championship changed hands in a Triple Threat Match was at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015, when Seth Rollins defeated Brock Lesnar & Roman Reigns.

Drew McIntyre (1-0-0)

  1. Defeated Bobby Lashley to retain the WWE Championship (6/14/20)

Braun Strowman (2-0-0)

  1. With Bobby Lashley defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (5/6/18)
  2. Defeated The Miz & John Morrison in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match to retain the WWE Universal Championship (6/14/20)

Bobby Lashley (1-2-0)

  1. Lost the ECW Championship to Team McMahon (Shane & Vince McMahon & Umaga) in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match to win the title (4/29/07)
  2. With Braun Strowman defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (5/6/18)
  3. Lost to WWE Champion Drew McIntyre (6/14/20)

TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE WWE RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: ASUKA VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR VS WWE RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPION RHEA RIPLEY

Asuka VS Charlotte Flair VS Rhea Ripley will be the 4th Raw Women’s Championship Match of 2021, the 1st since Raw on April 12, & 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. This will be the 10th or 11th Women’s Championship Match at Backlash & 3rd event in a row. It will be the 3rd Raw Women’s Championship Match at Backlash in a row. This will be the 1st time since 2018 that there will be 2 Women’s Championship Matches at Backlash. It will be the 9th or 10th Triple Threat Match of 2021, the 1st since Raw on April 12, & 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. It will be the 5th or 6th Triple Threat Match at Backlash & 2nd year in a row. This will be the 1st Singles Women’s Triple Threat Match of 2021 & the 1st ever at Backlash. It will be the 1st Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match since Becky Lynch defeated Ronda Rousey & Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 35 on April 7, 2019. This will be Asuka’s 2nd Backlash in a row & 2nd Raw Women’s Championship Match in a row at Backlash. She will be the 1st since Mickie James in 2006 & 2007 to be defending Women’s Champion & then challenge for the Women’s Championship at back-to-back Backlash events. It will be her 2nd PPV in a row. It will be her 3rd Triple Threat Match at Backlash & 1st since she defeated Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair at TLC on December 16, 2018 to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship, with the other Triple Threat Match being a win over Nikki Cross & Ruby Riott to retain the NXT Championship at Takeover: Chicago on May 20, 2017, giving her a Triple Threat Record of 2-0-0. If she wins, she will be the 4th 3-time Raw Women’s Champion after Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, & Charlotte Flair, & 1st since Bliss in 2018. This will be Charlotte Flair’s 3rd Backlash & 1st since 2018, & her 2nd Women’s Championship Match at Backlash & 1st since a Smackdown Women’s Championship Match in 2018. This will be her 1st PPV since Elimination Chamber on February 21. It will be her 14th Triple Threat Match in her Career & 1st since she lost the NXT Championship to Io Shirai along with Rhea Ripley at Takeover: In Your House on June 7, 2020, giving her a Triple Threat Match Record of 5-8-0, with her last win being over Carmella & Becky Lynch to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam on August 19, 2018. If she wins, she will be the 2nd 5-time Raw Women’s Champion after Sasha Banks in 2020. This will be Rhea Ripley’s Backlash debut, making it the 2nd year in a row that a defending Raw Women’s Champion will be making their Backlash debut. This will be her 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. It will be her 3rd Triple Threat Match in her Career, after she lost to Io Shirai along with Charlotte Flair at Takeover: In Your House on June 7, 2020 & she defeated Sasha Banks & Charlotte Flair on Smackdown on November 22, 2019, giving her a Triple Threat Match Record of 1-1-0. Against Asuka & Flair will be her 2nd Raw Women’s Championship Defense, so if she would lose, she will be the 1st since Alexa Bliss who lost to Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam on August 19, 2018 to lose in her 2nd Defense. As of Backlash, Ripley’s Raw Women’s Championship Reign has lasted 35 Days, making her the 1st to lose in 35 Days, & is the 3rd Shortest Raw Women’s Championship Reign after Sasha Banks’ 3rd Reign (11/28/16 – 12/18/16, 19 Days) & Banks’ 4th Reign (8/20/17 – 8/28/17, 8 Days). The Raw Women’s Championship has changed hands once in 2021 with the last title change taking place at WrestleMania 37 on April 11. Women’s Championships have changed hands twice at Backlash, with the last title change taking place in 2018 when Becky Lynch won the vacant Smackdown Women’s Title in a 6-Way Match, but the Raw Women’s Championship has never changed hands at Backlash. The Raw Women’s Championship has changed hands 19 times in History. The last time a Women’s Championship changed hands in a Triple Threat Match was at WrestleMania 35 when Becky Lynch defeated Ronda Rousey & Charlotte Flair on April 7, 2019.

 

Asuka (0-0-1)

  1. Wrestled Nia Jax to a Double Count Out (6/13/20)

Charlotte Flair (0-2-0)

  1. With Becky Lynch & WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi lost to Carmella, Natalya, & Tamina in a 6-Women’s Tag Team Match (5/21/17)
  2. Lost to WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Carmella (5/6/18)

Rhea Ripley (0-0-0)

This will be Rhea Ripley’s Backlash debut

WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPION BIANCA BELAIR VS BAYLEY

Bianca Belair VS Bayley will be the 3rd Smackdown Women’s Championship Match of 2021, the 1st since WrestleMania on April 10, & 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. This will be the 10th or 11th Women’s Championship Match at Backlash & 3rd event in a row. It will be the 3rd Smackdown Women’s Championship Match at Backlash in a row. This will be the 1st time since 2018 that there will be 2 Women’s Championship Matches at Backlash. This will be Bianca Belair’s Backlash debut, making her the 1st ever Smackdown Women’s Champion to make their Backlash debut, defending the Championship. This will be her 5th PPV in a row in 2021. Against Bayley will be Bianca Belair’s 1st Smackdown Women’s Championship Defense, so if she would have lost, she would have been the 1st since Charlotte Flair who lost to Bayley on Smackdown on October 11, 2019 to lose in her 1st Defense. As of Backlash, Belair’s Smackdown Women’s Championship Reign has lasted 36 Days, so she would be the 1st to lose in 36 Days, & is the 6th Shortest of All-Time, as she beat 4 of Charlotte Flair’s Reigns (2nd Reign (8/19/18 -9/16/18, 27 Days, 3rd Reign (3/26/19 – 4/8/19, 12 Days, 5th Reign (10/6/19 – 10/11/19, 4 Days), & 4th Reign (5/19/19, less than a day), & Naomi’s 1st Reign (2/12/17 – 2/21/17, 8 Days). This will be Bayley’s 3rd Backlash event in a row & 1st Women’s Championship Match. She will be the 1st ever to be Women’s Tag Team Champion & then challenge for the Women’s Championship at back-to-back Backlash events. It will be her 1st PPV since the Royal Rumble on January 31. If she wins, she would be the 3rd 3-time Smackdown Women’s Champion after Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair, & 1st since Lynch in 2019. This will be the 3rd 1-on-1 Match between them after Smackdown on December 18, 2020 (won by Bayley) & Smackdown on January 29, 2021 (won by Belair), so they each have won 1 match. The Smackdown Women’s Championship has changed hands once in 2021 with the last title change taking place at WrestleMania 37 on April 10. Women’s Championships have changed hands twice at Backlash, with the last title change taking place in 2018 when Becky Lynch won the vacant Smackdown Women’s Title in a 6-Way Match, which was the only Smackdown Women’s Title Change at Backlash. The Smackdown Women’s Title has changed 19 times in WWE History.

Bianca Belair (0-0-0)

This will be Bianca Belair’s Backlash debut

Bayley (1-1-0)

  1. Lost to Ruby Riott in the Kickoff Match prior to the PPV (5/6/18)
  2. With Sasha Banks as the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions defeated Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross & The Iiconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce) in a Triple Threat Match to retain the titles (6/14/20)

WWE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: DOMINIK & REY MYSTERIO VS WWE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ROBERT ROODE & DOLPH ZIGGLER

Dominik & Rey Mysterio VS Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler will be the 4th Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match in 2021, the 1st since Smackdown on April 16, & the 1st on PPV since Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura defeated The Lucha House Party at Clash of Champions on September 27, 2020. It will be the 10th Tag Team Championship Match at Backlash & 1st since 2017. This will be Dominik Mysterio’s Backlash debut, making The Mysterios the 4th Father & Child to both wrestle at Backlash after The McMahons, The Flairs, & Rikishi & The Usos. He will be the 1st since Breezango in 2017 to make their Backlash debut challenging for the Tag Team Championship. It will be his 1st PPV since the Royal Rumble on January 31. This will be Rey Mysterio’s 2nd Backlash & 1st since 2003, making his 18-year gap the longest gap between Backlash events after Rhyno (15 years, 2001 – 2006), John Morrison (12 years, 2008 – 2020), & Edge (11 years, 2009 – 2020). It will be his 1st PPV since the Royal Rumble on January 31. It will be their 1st Tag Match on PPV since they defeated Murphy & Seth Rollins at Payback on August 30, 2020. They will be the 1st ever Father & Son to be Tag Team Champions. It will be Rey’s 1st Championship of any kind since he was United States Champion in 2019, 1st ever Smackdown Tag Team Championship, but 5th Tag Team Championship & 1st since he & Batista were WWE Tag Team Champions in 2005. He will be the 4th Champion in a row to be both Raw & Smackdown Tag Team Champion after Roode & Ziggler, The Street Profits, The New Day, & Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura, but only Cesaro was Raw Tag Team Champion. This will be Robert Roode’s Backlash debut, making him the 1st since Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas in 2003 to make their Backlash debut defending a Tag Team Championship. This will be his 1st PPV of 2021. This will be Dolph Ziggler’s 4th Backlash, 1st since 2017, & 1st Tag Team Championship Match at Backlash. This will be his 1st PPV since the Royal Rumble on January 31. Against The Mysterios will be Roode & Ziggler’s 4th Smackdown Tag Team Championship Defense, so if they would have lost, they would have been the 2nd Champions in a row after The Street Profits to lose in their 3rd Defense. As of Backlash, Roode & Ziggler’s Smackdown Tag Team Championship has lasted 128 Days, which is the 3rd Longest of All-Time after The Usos’ 3rd Reign (10/8/17 – 4/8/18, 182 Days) & The Bludgeon Brothers (4/8/18 – 8/21/18, 135 Days). The Smackdown Tag Team Championship has changed hands once in 2021, on Smackdown on January 8, & has changed hands 3 times at Backlash, with the last title change taking place in 2016 when Rhyno & Heath Slater won the Vacant Smackdown Tag Team Championships. Tag Team Titles actually changed hands from a Champion to another Champion when The Hurricane & Rosey won a Tag Team Turmoil in 2005 & the last time it changed hands in a 2-on-2 Match was when Steve Austin & Triple H defeated Kane & The Undertaker in 2001. The Smackdown Tag Team Championship has changed hands 24 times in History.

Dominik Mysterio (0-0-0)

This will be Dominik Mysterio’s Backlash debut

Rey Mysterio (0-1-0)

  1. Lost to The Big Show (4/27/03)

Robert Roode (0-0-0)

This will be Robert Roode’s Backlash debut

Dolph Ziggler (0-3-0)

  1. Lost to Kofi Kingston in a Dark Match prior to the PPV (4/26/09)
  2. Lost to WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz (9/11/16)
  3. Lost to Shinsuke Nakamura (5/21/17)

LUMBERJACK MATCH: DAMIAN PRIEST VS THE MIZ

Damian Priest VS The Miz was the 2nd Lumberjack Match of 2021, the 1st since Bobby Lashley VS The Miz on Raw on March 1, the 1st in Backlash History, the 1st Men’s Non-Title Lumberjack Match since Roman Reigns VS Erick Rowan on Smackdown on October 4, 2019, the 1st on PPV since Charlotte Flair VS Natalya at Clash of Champions on December 17, 2017, & the 1st Men’s Lumberjack Match on PPV since Seth Rollins VS Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam on August 17, 2014. This will be Damian Priest’s Backlash debut & 1st ever Lumberjack Match. It will be his 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. This will be The Miz’s 5th Backlash event & 3rd in a row. It will be his 5th Lumberjack Match in his career, & 1st since he lost to Bobby Lashley on Raw on March 1, & 1st ever on PPV, giving him a Lumberjack Match Record of 0-4-0. This will be his 2nd PPV in a row in 2021. This will be the 3rd 1-on-1 Match between them after Ra on February 1 & April 19, with Priest winning both matches.

 

Damian Priest (0-0-0)

This will be Damian Priest’s Backlash debut

The Miz (2-2-0)

  1. With John Morrison defeated Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang in a Dark Match prior to the PPV (4/27/08)
  2. Defeated Dolph Ziggler to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship (9/11/16)
  3. Lost to WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins (5/6/18)
  4. With John Morrison lost to WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match (6/14/20)

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