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Backlash (2007)

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Backlash
Promotional poster featuringEdge,parodying the movieThe Shining
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown!
ECW
DateApril 29, 2007
CityAtlanta, Georgia
VenuePhilips Arena
Attendance14,500[1]
Buy rate210,000[2]
Pay-per-view chronology
←Previous
WrestleMania 23 		Next→
Judgment Day
Backlashchronology
←Previous
2006 		Next→
2008

The 2007Backlashwas the ninthBacklashprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view(PPV)eventproduced byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion'sRaw,SmackDown!,andECWbrand divisions.The event took place on April 29, 2007, at thePhilips ArenainAtlanta, Georgia.It was WWE's first monthly PPV held to feature all three brands after the company discontinued brand-exclusive PPVs. The concept of the pay-per-view was based around the backlash fromWrestleMania 23.

The main match on the Raw brand was afatal four-way matchfor theWWE Championshipinvolving championJohn Cena,Randy Orton,Edge,andShawn Michaels.Cena won the match and retained the championship afterpinningOrton. The primary match on the SmackDown! brand was aLast Man Standing matchfor theWorld Heavyweight ChampionshipbetweenThe UndertakerandBatista,which ended in a no-contest after both men failed get to their feet before the referee counted to ten. The featured match on the ECW brand wasBobby Lashleyversus Team McMahon (Umaga,VinceandShane McMahon) in ahandicap matchfor theECW World Championship.Vince won the title and the match for his team after pinning Lashley.

Production[edit]

Background[edit]

The event was held at thePhillips ArenainAtlanta,Georgia.

Backlashis apay-per-view(PPV) event that was established byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE) in 1999. The concept of the pay-per-view was based around the backlash from WWE's flagship event,WrestleMania.[3]The 2007 event was the ninth Backlash and featured the backlash fromWrestleMania 23.It was scheduled to take place on April 29, 2007, at thePhilips ArenainAtlanta, Georgia.[4]From 2004 to 2006, Backlash was held exclusively for theRawbrand,but following WrestleMania 23, WWE discontinued brand-exclusive PPVs.[5]The 2007 Backlash was the first PPV held following this change and thus featured wrestlers from Raw,SmackDown!,andECW.[4]

Storylines[edit]

Themain eventscripted into Backlash on the Raw brand was afatal four-way matchfor theWWE Championship,a standard match involving four wrestlers betweenJohn Cena,Edge,Shawn Michaels,andRandy Orton.At theRoyal Rumblein January, Michaels was one of the final two participants in theRoyal Rumble matchbefore being eliminated byThe Undertaker.[6][7]On the February 5 episode ofRaw,Michaels earned the right to become the number-one contender for the WWE Championship atWrestleMania 23after defeating Orton and Edge in atriple threat match.[8]At WrestleMania, Cena defeated Michaels to retain the WWE Championship after forcing Michaels to submit to theSTFU.[9]On the April 9 episode ofRaw,a number one contender's match between Michaels and Orton for the WWE Championship ended in ano contestafter 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 thatRaw General ManagerJonathan Coachmanhad named him the number-one contender to the WWE title. Honorary General Manager Michael Pena, from theMake-a-Wish Foundation,however, announced that Michaels, Orton, and Edge would face Cena for the title at Backlash in a fatal four-way match.[10]

Bobby Lashleyduring his first reign asECW Champion.

The main rivalry on the SmackDown! brand was between The Undertaker andBatistaover theWorld Heavyweight Championship.At the Royal Rumble, Undertaker won the 2007 Royal Rumble match. As a result, he was given the right to a world title match at WrestleMania for any of WWE's three major championships (ECW World,World Heavyweight, or WWE) at WrestleMania 23.[6]On the February 5 episode ofRaw,Undertaker teased all three respective World Champions (Bobby Lashley, Batista, and John Cena) before choosing Batista as his opponent to face at WrestleMania.[8]At WrestleMania, Undertaker defeated Batista to win the World Heavyweight Championship to extend his WrestleMania undefeated streak to 15–0.[11][12][13]Their rivalry, however, did not end, as SmackDown! General ManagerTheodore LongbookedaLast Man Standing matchbetween Undertaker and Batista at Backlash.[14]

The main rivalry on theECWbrand was betweenBobby Lashleyand Team McMahon (Umaga,VinceandShane McMahon), in which Lashley and Vince were feuding over the ECW World Championship. The rivalry started on the February 26 episode ofRaw,when Lashley was selected byDonald Trumpto compete at WrestleMania 23. Lashley was selected to compete against Vince's representative, Umaga, inHair vs. Hair match,a match in which the loser's representative would have to get his head shaved bald.[15]At WrestleMania, Lashley defeated Umaga, and after the match, Trump and Lashley shaved Vince's head bald.[16]On the April 9 episode ofRaw,Shane challenged Lashley to a Hair vs. Title match for the ECW World Championship. Shane got himself intentionally disqualified, but did not get his head shaved. After the match, Umaga and Vince and Shane attacked Lashley. After the beating, Vince announced that Lashley would have to defend the ECW World Championship against Team McMahon at Backlash in a three-on-onehandicap match.[10]

Event[edit]

Preliminary matches[edit]

Other on-screen personnel[17]
Role: Name:
Englishcommentators Jim Ross(Raw)
Jerry Lawler(Raw)
Michael Cole(SmackDown!)
John "Bradshaw" Layfield(SmackDown!)
Joey Styles(ECW)
Tazz(ECW)
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewers Todd Grisham
Maria Kanellis
Ring announcers Justin Roberts(Raw/ECW)
Tony Chimel(SmackDown!)
Referees Mike Chioda(Raw)
Chad Patton(Raw)
Jim Korderas(SmackDown!)
Mickie Henson(SmackDown!)
Marty Elias(Raw)
Jack Doan(Raw)
Scott Armstrong(ECW)

Before the event airedliveon pay-per-view,CarlitodefeatedJohnny Nitroin adark match.[18]The first match of the event wasThe Hardys(MattandJeff) versusLance Cade and Trevor Murdochfor theWorld Tag Team Championship.Cade and Murdoch controlled a majority of the match; however, The Hardys won the bout when Matt pinned Murdoch after aTwist Of Fate,which was followed by Jeff'sSwanton Bomb.[19]

The match that followed wasMelinaversusMickie Jamesfor theWWE Women's Championship.The match was short lived, as Melina performed anInverted DDTon Mickie James and pinned her to retain the WWE Women's Championship.[20]

The third match was betweenChris BenoitandMontel Vontavious Porterfor theWWE United States Championship.Benoit and MVP struggled throughout the match, attempting to gain the upper hand. In the end, Benoit pinned MVP with asmall packageto retain the WWE United States Championship.[21]

Main event matches[edit]

Shane McMahonin the ring before his match at Backlash.

The three-on-one handicap ECW World Championship match between champion Bobby Lashley and Team McMahon (Umaga, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon) was next. Shane struck Lashley with the ECW World Championship belt and Umaga executed adiving splashon Lashley. Umaga thentaggedin Vince, who scored a near-fall. Vince then tagged in Umaga, who executed a second diving splash on Lashley. After being tagged in again, Vince pinned Lashley to win the ECW World Championship and the match for his team.[22][23]

The next match was The Undertaker against Batista in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship. At onespot,Undertaker executed aleg dropthrough an announce table on Batista. Towards the end, the two fought up the entrance ramp, where Batista executed aspearto The Undertaker off the stage. Neither man could get to their feet before the referee's count of ten; in result, the match ended in a draw. Due to WWE regulations, titles can't change hands in a Last Man Standing match by a draw, so The Undertaker remained champion.[24]

The main event was John Cena against Edge, Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels in a fatal four-way match for the WWE Championship. During the match, Michaels performed amoonsaultonto Cena, Edge, and Orton on the floor. Edge performed aspearon Orton. Cena then performed anFUto Edge. Michaels executedSweet Chin Musicon Cena, who fell on Orton for the pinfall victory, retaining the title.[25]

Aftermath[edit]

Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch continued their rivalry with The Hardys until the two teams had a rematch atJudgment Dayfor the World Tag Team Championship, which The Hardys won.[26]

Chris Benoit and Montel Vontavious Porter also continued their rivalry for the WWE United States Championship, which led to atwo out of three falls matchat Judgment Day, which MVP won.[27][28]

On the May 11 episode ofSmackDown!,The Undertaker defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Batista in aSteel Cage match.Both men escaped the steel cage at the same time, and The Undertaker was therefore declared still the champion. After the match,Mark Henryreturned and attacked The Undertaker. Edge, who defeatedMr. Kennedyon the May 7 episode ofRawto win theMoney in the Bank contract,[29]cashed in his opportunity and defeated The Undertaker to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[30][31]

Team McMahon's feud with Bobby Lashley continued as Mr. McMahon gave Lashley a rematch at Judgment Day, which was another three-on-one Handicap match for the ECW World Championship.[29]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.[32]The rivalry continued untilOne Night Stand,where Lashley challenged Vince to astreet fight.Lashley won the match and the ECW World Championship, and their rivalry ended.[33]

This was the last Backlash ever to be in 4:3 format until January 2008 when it went tohigh definition.

Results[edit]

No.Results[18]StipulationsTimes[1]
1DCarlitodefeatedJohnny NitrobypinfallSingles match—
2The Hardys(Jeff HardyandMatt Hardy) (c) defeatedLance CadeandTrevor MurdochbypinfallTag team matchfor theWorld Tag Team Championship[19]14:18
3Melina(c) defeatedMickie JamesbypinfallSingles matchfor theWWE Women's Championship[20]09:02
4Chris Benoit(c) defeatedMontel Vontavious PorterbypinfallSingles matchfor theWWE United States Championship[21]13:10
5Mr. McMahon,Shane McMahon,andUmagadefeatedBobby Lashley(c) bypinfallHandicap matchfor theECW World Championship[22]
Vince won the title due to pinning Lashley.		15:45
6The Undertaker(c) vs.Batistaended in adrawLast Man Standing matchfor theWorld Heavyweight Championship[24]21:23
7John Cena(c) defeatedEdge,Randy OrtonandShawn MichaelsbypinfallFatal four-way matchfor theWWE Championship[25]21:21
(c)– the champion(s) heading into the match
D– this was adark match

References[edit]

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  2. ^"WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)".Wrestlenomics.March 25, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
  3. ^"WWE Backlash".The History of WWE.RetrievedAugust 23,2009.
  4. ^abElliott, Brian (April 30, 2007)."No filler makes for a consistent Backlash".Slam! Sports.Canadian Online Explorer.RetrievedNovember 19,2007.
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  9. ^Dee, Louie (April 1, 2007)."Detroit, Champ City".WWE.RetrievedNovember 16,2007.
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External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Backlash_(2007)&oldid=1218821561"