WWE Backlash 2017: Matches, Rumors, and More

As WWE is still sifting through the aftermath of WrestleMania 33, we’re about to get our first post-ManiaSmackDownPPV in WWE Backlash 2017. This will be the thirteenth installment, starting back in 1999 when it was a subtitle of In Your House, headlined by Steve Austin vs. The Rock. Since then, it’s been the go-to post-WrestleManiashow up until being phased out and replaced with Extreme Rules and Payback. It was brought back in 2016 as the post-SummerSlamPPV for SmackDown.

This year, the show centers itself around the main roster debut of former two-time NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.

WHEN IS WWE BACKLASH 2017?

Backlashwill take place on May 21, 2017 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. It will begin at 8pm Eastern with the Kickoff at 7pm.

WWE BACKLASH 2017 MATCHES

RANDY ORTON (C) VS. JINDER MAHAL

WWE Championship

Jinder Mahal won a Six-Pack Challenge where the winner would become #1 contender. Despite his victory, he was annoyed that Randy Orton was more focused on his impending House of Horrors match against Bray Wyatt at Payback. With the help of cruiserweight tag team the Bollywood Boys, Jinder attacked Orton and stole his WWE Championship for a time.

Jinder and his henchmen then showed up during the House of Horrors match to aid Bray Wyatt. Lucky for Jinder, it was a non-title match.

Shane McMahon later insisted he return the belt, but not before Jinder had photos taken of him "as champion." He proceeded to taunt Orton and spent the following weeks building up a winning streak, including victories over Sami Zayn, AJ Styles, and even pinning Orton in a six-man tag.

THE USOS (C) VS. BREEZANGO

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship

After months of trying, the Usos finally not only defeated their rivals American Alpha, but they won the rematch. To figure out a new pair of challengers, a Beat the Clock Challenge was put together. Although American Alpha defeated the Shining Stars, the always-losing tag team Breezango shocked the world by pinning the Ascension in only a fraction of the time.

The two fashion police officers are now preparing themselves to take down “The Uggos” for being a crime to the eyes. On the other side, the Usos have been aggressively laughing off Breezango's antics and getting in their heads.

KEVIN OWENS (C) VS. AJ STYLES

United States Championship

Though Kevin Owens was brought in to SmackDownas US Champion, he still had a PPV showdown with Chris Jericho coming up. In the meantime, a triple threat was put together to figure out who would challenge the winner. AJ Styles came out on top.

Chris Jericho defeated Kevin Owens at Paybackand went on to join the SmackDownroster. Owens immediately got a rematch and not only won, but destroyed Jericho after the match, thereby writing him out of WWE so Jericho can go tour with his band. Now he has to focus on AJ Styles yearning to bring the US Championship back to the US.

Weird to think that back at Survivor Series, Owens and AJ were at war with each other as world champions.

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA VS. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Former NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura started showing up on SmackDownafter WrestleManiaand while he's yet to face anyone in the ring, the company has chosen to build up his televised debut with Backlash. Over the course of a month or so, Dolph Ziggler's resentment has become increasingly apparent. The fact that he's being overshadowed by a guy who's never stood on the big stage doesn't sit right with him. He started out treating it with sarcasm, but the frustration's got the best of him and the two have come to blows.

BECKY LYNCH, CHARLOTTE, AND NAOMI VS. NATALYA, CARMELLA, AND TAMINA

With the roster shake-up, Charlotte was brought to SmackDownand almost immediately found herself with a title opportunity. Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina didn't appreciate that and chose to attack Naomi and Charlotte during their title match. They kept overwhelming and thrashing Charlotte time after time until it looked like Becky Lynch was going to join their side. Instead, she chose to stand up for her old friend and opposed the jealous trio.

Due to Charlotte's ego and outright desire to be champion, her team has had a hard time getting along, but they have gradually been able to gel. That said, Carmella was able to pin Naomi in a singles match, putting some doubt on the champ's team's chances.

SAMI ZAYN VS. BARON CORBIN

When AJ Styles won the right to face Kevin Owens for the United States Championship, he did it by defeating Sami Zayn and Baron Corbin in a triple threat. This didn't sit well with Corbin and when Sami was discussing Corbin on an episode of Talking Smack, Corbin attacked him out of nowhere. Since then, the two have been constantly blindsiding each other until the match was signed. Then there was MORE blindsiding!

LUKE HARPER VS. ERICK ROWAN

Recently, Luke Harper broke away from Bray Wyatt's influence. Erick Rowan, on the other hand, remains loyal despite his master now being on another show. Very little time has been dedicated to this feud, but the two did have a singles match on SmackDown. Rowan won and that seemed to be all there was to say, but a disturbed Rowan appeared on Talking Smack to insist that his torment of Harper hasn't been severe enough. They're going to go at it one more time at Backlash.

TYE DILLINGER VS. AIDEN ENGLISH

A recent call-up from NXT, "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger has started strong on SmackDown with a string of wins. On the other hand, Aiden English has started on his own singles career after losing his Vaudevillain tag partner Simon Gotch. English hasn't found any success and it's even brought him to an emotional breakdown.

Maybe he'll have better luck on the pre-show.

WWE BACKLASH 2017 RUMORS AND UNCONFIRMED MATCHES

At this point, it looks like the pool is full. The biggest names not to be on the show are Mojo Rawley and American Alpha, but they don't have anything going on at the moment. Maybe either of them will get a nothing squash match on the Kickoff, but don't hold your breath.

Then again, we're still waiting on New Day and Rusev. Could any of them show up on Backlashor are they just going to wait for the Smackdownafter?

Check back for more on WWE Backlash 2017!

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