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WWE Backlash 2024 in France Delivers Action and History
WWE’s international tour continued with a record-breaking Backlash event in Lyon, France. The show surpassed the previous record for highest-grossing live gate set just a month ago in Philadelphia. The night featured a highly anticipated main event of Cody Rhodes defending his WWE Undisputed Championship against AJ Styles.
Who will the CHAMPIONS be after #WWEBacklash France? ????????
TODAY at 1PM ET/10AM PT
Streaming exclusively on @peacock in U.S. and @WWENetwork everywhere else.???? https://t.co/xRBTNzqw23
???? https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/ZEJKHAjwvF— WWE (@WWE) May 4, 2024
Memorable Opener and Title Changes
The show kicked off with a thrilling Street Fight pitting Randy Orton and Kevin Owens against The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga with Jey Uso). The French crowd erupted for Owens, while surprisingly knowing every word to Orton’s entrance theme. The wild brawl escalated when Owens doled out Stunners to unsuspecting security guards. Nick Aldis upped the ante by declaring it a Street Fight, much to the delight of the French audience.
The fast-paced encounter featured hilarious moments like Owens executing a Frog Splash on Tama Tonga, followed by Orton teasing the same move only to calmly step down from the barricade. The Bloodline secured the victory thanks to a surprise appearance by Tanga Loa, who delivered a Thumb Strike to Owens.
The WWE Women’s Championship witnessed a captivating Triple Threat match between Bayley, Naomi, and Tiffany Stratton. While Bayley received a chorus of “Hey Bayley” chants, Stratton garnered “Tiffy Time!” cheers, leaving Naomi somewhat serenade-less. The match focused primarily on the dueling chants between Bayley and Stratton, but Naomi impressed the crowd with her athleticism and powerful maneuvers.
In a closely contested battle, Bayley emerged victorious with a roll-up pin on Naomi. Interestingly, Naomi displayed sportsmanship by congratulating Bayley after the match.
Priest Retains, Belair & Cargill Capture Gold
The World Heavyweight Championship was on the line as Damian Priest defended against Jey Uso. A tense backstage exchange between The New Bloodline (Priest, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh) hinted at potential discord within the group. The match mirrored the Raw encounter where McDonagh’s interference nearly cost Priest the title.
The French fans added a unique flavor by chanting “yes/no yet” during the punching exchanges. Despite interference from Judgment Day, Priest prevailed over Uso with a South of Heaven from the top rope. However, the post-match scene hinted at a potential fracture within The Judgment Day as Priest exchanged tense words with Balor and McDonagh.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship picture underwent a shift as Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill challenged The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane). The commentary team acknowledged Cargill’s meteoric rise, referencing Santino Marella’s Intercontinental Championship win in his debut match. The crowd heavily favored Belair, especially during the power exchanges between her and Cargill.
AND NEWWWWWWWWW!!!#WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/BXbpzCNiMJ
— WWE (@WWE) May 4, 2024
The Kabuki Warriors displayed impressive teamwork with quick tags, isolating Belair while Cargill was neutralized. This strategy effectively built heat for a fiery hot tag from Cargill, who executed a springboard crossbody onto both members of The Kabuki Warriors.
A minor botch occurred when Cargill and Sane failed to synchronize on a military press. Nevertheless, Cargill recovered with a standing spinebuster. The referee halted a pinfall attempt due to Sane being the illegal competitor. There was a sense of confusion as Asuka remained on the apron before awkwardly tagging in.
Despite a couple of clunky moments, the competitors regained their composure, culminating in a breathtaking stereo powerbomb by Belair and Cargill. Cargill delivered the match’s highlight with a devastating Jaded on Kairi Sane after flipping her multiple times.
Epic Main Event and Electric Crowd at WWE Backlash 2024
The main event between Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles for the WWE Backlash 2024 Undisplaced Championship was preceded by a barrage of commercials, considering the early broadcast time.
Styles’ ring gear paid homage to his NWA Championship match against Dusty Rhodes, Cody’s father. The French crowd erupted in a seemingly endless pro-Styles chant, with some fans even shaking the camera. The energy was palpable as the crowd sang along to every word of Cody’s entrance theme, even after it ended.
The match itself was a display of athleticism and high-risk maneuvers. Cody even channeled his Stardust persona, eliciting “Stardust” chants from the audience. A minor hiccup occurred during a superplex attempt where Cody held Styles for an extended period before dropping him.
Despite the occasional distraction from the chants, the action remained intense. AJ Styles delivered a stunning Burning Hammer, which Cody remarkably kicked out of at one count, sending the crowd into a frenzy. This marked a rare instance of the move being used in a WWE ring.
Rhodes countered a Cody Cutter attempt with an impressive variation, followed by a Cross Rhodes to secure the victory.
Overall, WWE Backlash 2024 in France delivered a compelling night of action, title changes, and a record-breaking crowd.
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