WWE Backlash (2025) – Match Card, Storylines and Predictions

WWE Backlash (2025) is the 20th annual Backlash event set to take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

This will be the first-ever WWE Backlash PLE to stream live on Netflix as part of the 10-year deal between WWE and Netflix. WWE Legend John Cena will also be appearing on the show as part of John Cena’s farewell tour which will continue till the end of 2025.

John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton – Undisputed WWE Championship

John Cena made his when he defeated Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 to win his record-breaking 17th World Championship. Cena then appeared on WWE Raw after WrestleMania, declaring himself the last real champion. Cena continued to trash-talk the fans in attendance, calling them a group of idiots before Randy Orton hit him with an RKO outta nowhere.

Orton and Cena then met on the Apr. 25th edition of WWE SmackDown, where Orton told Cena about how he has motivated a generation of kids during his legendary career saying that he finally needs to have kids in real life as well. Cena replied saying he has spent the last 25 years raising other people’s kids — taking a shot at the kids present in the arena. Cena also told Orton about how he will erase the past 3 generations of his family when he takes the Undisputed WWE Championship with him and force WWE to create a new championship. Orton then had enough and challenged Cena to a match at WWE Backlash and hit him with an RKO.

Orton then appeared on May. 2nd edition of WWE SmackDown and stated that selling his soul isn’t new to John Cena and that he has been doing it for 20 years now.

Cena and Orton have had a very deep and epic rivalry over the years against each other. They have competed in 21 singles matches against each other in their long and historic career. Cena also holds the record of 13-7-1 against in their singles matches. Orton and Cena and their last match on WWE SmackDown in 2017 when Cena defeated Orton.

Cena and Orton had their final confrontation on the May. 9th edition of WWE SmackDown, where Orton hit Cena with another RKO outta nowhere after he trash-talked about Orton’s family.

My Prediction: John Cena

Lyra Valkyria (c) defends her WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch at WWE Backlash

Becky Lynch made her shocking return at WrestleMania 41 when she came to help Lyra Valkyria defeat Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to win the Women’s Tag Team Championship after Valkyria’s original partner Bayley got attacked during the WrestleMania 41: Night 1 countdown show.

Morgan and Rodriguez then defeated Valkyria and Lynch on WWE Raw after WrestleMania to regain their championship. Lynch snapped on Valkyria after the match, hitting her with three Manhandle Slams.

Lynch then appeared on the Apr. 28th edition of WWE Raw, saying that she was the one behind the attack on Bayley. She also blamed Bayley for attacking her since 2019. Lynch also stated that Valkyria would have been able to win the Tag Team Championships if she teamed with Bayley at WrestleMania 41. Lyra Valkyria then arrived and scene and took the fight to Lynch and challenged her to a match at WWE Backlash and even put her Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line.

Lynch then accepted the challenge to make the match official.

Lynch and Valkyria then had their final meeting on the May. 5th edition of WWE Raw where they took the fight to each other with Valkyria standing on top in the end.

My Prediction: Becky Lynch

Pat McAfee vs. Gunther

After losing his World Heavyweight Championship to Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41, Gunther appeared on WWE Raw after WrestleMania saying he felt disrespected by them following his loss to Jey. Gunther also attacked the voice of WWE Michael Cole before his friend Pat McAfee jumped in to save him. Gunther then attacked McAfee who passed out under the chokehold. Meanwhile, Cole continued the commentary for the entire night along with Joe Tessitore, saying he won’t let a bully stop him from doing his job.

McAfee then addressed the whole situation on the Apr. 28th edition of WWE Raw, saying if anyone has a problem with Cole they also have a problem with him. McAfee asked GM Nick Aldis for a match against Gunther and also asked him to lift Gunther’s suspension. Aldis then proposed a singles match between McAfee and Gunther at WWE Backlash, which McAfee accepted.

Gunther then met McAfee on the May. 5th edition of WWE Raw saying that he would simply drop him in their match.

My Prediction: Gunther

Jacob Fatu (c) vs. LA Knight vs. Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre – Fatal four-way match for the WWE United States Championship

Jacob Fatu defeated LA Knight at WrestleMania 41: Night 1 to become the new WWE United States Champion. Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre stood tall in the Sin City Street Fight against Damian Priest at WrestleMania 41: Night 2.

LA Knight and Drew McIntyre then appeared on the Apr. 25th edition of WWE SmackDown, challenging Fatu for his US Championship. GM Nick Aldis then put them in a No.1 Contenders match later on the show, which ended with Priest attacking McIntyre and Solo Sikoa attacking Knight. But the referee only noticed the attack by Priest and declared McIntyre the winner via disqualification. Fatu then also arrived on the scene and took out both Knight and Priest.

Knight and Priest then collided in a Singles match on the May. 2nd edition of WWE SmackDown which ended in a disqualification win for Damian Priest after the attack by Sikoa. Knight and Priest then attacked Sikoa after the match, before Fatu arrived on the scene and took out both Knight and Priest.

Considering all the chaos, GM Nick Aldis then announced that Fatu will defend his United States Championship against Damian Priest, LA Knight, and Drew McIntyre in a Fatal Four-Way match at WWE Backlash.

Knight and Priest then defeated Sikoa and Fatu on the May. 9th edition of WWE SmackDown, before Fatu assaulted them both after the match. McIntyre also made his presence felt when he hit Fatu with the Claymore kick.

My Prediction: Jacob Fatu

Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta – WWE Intercontinental Championship

Dominik Mysterio defeated Bron Breakker, Penta, and Finn Bálor in a Fatal Four-Way match at WrestleMania 41: Night 2 to become the Intercontinental Champion. Mysterio then successfully defended his Championship against Penta on WWE Raw after WrestleMania, after an assist from Judgment Day.

Penta then came for retribution when he cost Finn Balor and JD McDonagh their tag team match against the War Raiders on the Apr. 28th edition of WWE Raw. Penta then defeated JD McDonagh on May. 5th edition of WWE Raw, while Bálor and Carlito turned out to be of no help to their friend inside the ring. It was then announced that Mysterio would defend his Intercontinental Championship against Penta at WWE Backlash.

My Prediction: Dominik Mysterio

WWE Backlash (2025) – Match Card: