WWE Backlash 2018 is a chance for the women of WWE to shine. What matches represent the best talents from both brands, and where could their stories go next?
On May 6, WWE Backlash 2018 will take place, and there are already two women’s matches on the card. Alexa Bliss will be taking on Nia Jax for another run at the Raw Women’s Championship, and Charlotte will be attempting to reclaim the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Carmella.
It’s great to see two high-profile women’s matches at a WWE event, but given the fact that women were completely excluded from the Greatest Royal Rumble, one could make the argument that WWE owes their women’s division a much larger spotlight at the next big event. Also, what’s the point of having dual-branded pay-per-views if Backlash matches only happen between wrestlers on the same brand?
That doesn’t exactly seem like the “best of both worlds” to me, Sheamus’s enthusiasm aside.
Backlash as a co-branded pay-per-view is a chance to settle old grudges, get revenge for past slights, and start writing the next chapter for WWE’s talented women’s roster. So let’s get creative. Here are five matches we’d love to see.
Credit: WWE.com
EMBER MOON VS ASUKA
Ember Moon and Asuka had one of the best feuds going in NXT before Asuka got called up to Raw. Up to this point, Asuka has been one of the only wrestlers in the WWE to defeat Ember, and she’s been responsible for nearly every major loss that Ember has suffered: two losses in a title match and Ember’s elimination from the Royal Rumble.
To say that Ember owes her one is an understatement. Also, now that Asuka’s streak has been broken and neither is a champion, the playing field is level between the two. This is a great time to revisit their conflict and finally let Ember get a win- or lose to Asuka yet again, and build the feud up for SummerSlam.
Beyond the storyline, Asuka and Ember are magic together in the ring. They might be two of the best wrestlers on either brand, and together they push each other to the limits of what is possible in a wrestling ring.
Their match at Brooklyn TakeOver III was breathtaking, and they have incredible chemistry in promos. When Ember got called up to Raw, they were only on the same roster together for one episode before Asuka moved to SmackDown. Don’t waste the potential here, WWE. Give them the Backlash match they (and we) deserve.
NAOMI VS NATALYA
Speaking of people who have a beef to settle, how about Naomi and Natalya?
Naomi is an incredible wrestler, but lately SmackDown hasn’t seemed to know quite what to do with her. Having her run in on Usos matches is funny, and she can hold her own in a tag-team bout, but she deserves a larger spotlight. While her week-to-week opportunities vary, Naomi shines in pay-per-views. Nobody is going to forget Naomi’s “Kofi Spot” at the Women’s Royal Rumble, and her recent win at the Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania is proof that WWE still sees her as a talent worth investing in.
Likewise, Natalya has floundered a bit storywise as of late. Her strange quitting-but-not-quitting speech after her loss at Clash of Champions didn’t really seem to go anywhere, and aside from being a general antagonist to the other women’s wrestlers on SmackDown, she’s been adrift ever since. Her recent move to Raw and friendship with Ronda Rousey is a potential new start for the character, but she also needs to have the in-ring opportunities to prove she’s as talented as she is catty. (Pun fully intended.)
If we’re looking at cross-roster feuds, Naomi vs. Natalya is worth a revisit. These two have historically done some of their best work together on pay-per-views, and there’s storyline rationale for revisiting their feud at Backlash. After all, Naomi lost the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Natalya before Natalya lost it to Charlotte, and they’ve been fighting ever since.
Now that Naomi has some new shine as the Battle Royal winner, and Natalya is trying to establish herself on a new roster, targeting Naomi and giving her a rematch would give Natalya a huge potential boost- or give her something to be mad about at SummerSlam. It’s a win-win for both wrestlers, and a huge win for fans. Plus, it opens the door for Rousey to do another Natalya protecting run-in and begin to establish tension with the ladies on the SmackDown roster. Rousey vs Naomi at SummerSlam? I’d watch it.
Credit: WWE.com
RUBY RIOTT VS SONYA DEVILLE
It’s time for WWE to figure out what they’re going to do with Absolution and the Riott Squad. Given Paige’s unfortunate retirement (and welcome transition into SmackDown GM), Absolution lacks an anchor and purpose. The Riott Squad looks like its having fun holding it down over on Raw, but the likelihood of a good payoff from just repeating the story arc they had on SmackDown is iffy. With the potential of Women’s Tag Team Titles still very much in question, now is a good time for the women in these stables to begin to distinguish themselves as singles competitors.
Currently, the two strongest in-ring talents on these teams are Ruby Riott and Sonya Deville. Before Ruby was on the Riott Squad, she was a thorn in the side of NXT’s women’s division and one of the strongest singles competitors on the brand. Ruby’s stock is also continuing to rise on the main roster.
Her Championship match with Charlotte was far and away one of the best matches either of them ever had on the SmackDown brand. While Sonya hasn’t had as much in-ring time as Ruby, she has had excellent matches against Sasha Banks and was a force to be reckoned with at Elimination Chamber. Sonya’s MMA style brings something new and interesting to the current women’s division, and a cross-brand feud would be a good chance to develop and establish it further.
As for the score to settle, Sonya sidelined Ruby from action on NXT with an ankle injury just before Ruby left for SmackDown. As a result, Ruby’s last matches on NXT were both grudgematches with Sonya- the last of which Ruby lost. We know Ruby Riott holds grudges, and we know Sonya Deville is eager to prove herself. Put them in the ring together and see what happens.
Credit: WWE.com
NIKKI CROSS VS THE IICONICS (HANDICAP MATCH)
OK, this may be pure fantasy booking on my part. As far as we know, Nikki Cross was not included in the Sanity call-up to the main roster. Apparently Nikki was left behind to bolster the gutted NXT Women’s Division after the loss of Ember and the IIconics. So technically, there is no way that Nikki could wrestle at Backlash.
However, Triple H has recently discussed plans for elevating NXT’s brand to the same status as Raw and SmackDown, and the potential for superstars to be able to move between the more established brands and the “alternative” brand of NXT. If superstars will be able to cross from NXT to SmackDown and Raw and vice versa, there’s no reason they can’t show up on the co-branded pay-per-views either. And what’s the fun of a WWE pay-per-view that doesn’t have a couple of real tricks up its sleeve? They can’t all be Sami and Kevin at Hell in a Cell, but a surprise guest is a fun swerve. Why not Nikki?
And look, I just miss Nikki Cross. Nikki is one of the best all-round women’s wrestlers on any roster, and her character is a lot of fun. Don’t let the madwoman gimmick fool you. Nikki is a great technical wrestler and she gives every opponent she had a great match.
She also has a history of conflict with the IIconics. Nikki cost Peyton multiple shots at the NXT Women’s Championship, and Nikki has also run-in on matches between the IIconics and other competitors to mess up their matches. Their mutual animosity would make the foundation for a fun feud, and give Nikki some in-ring time on the main roster while still allowing her to remain on the NXT.
The IIconics have made a huge impact in a short amount of time on SmackDown. I love them as monster heels, but I think they’re at their best when they’re flexing their arrogance and then get taken down a peg. Imagine if they issued an open challenge for a handicap match at Backlash, and Nikki was the one who ran down the ramp to take them up on it? Book it, Backlash!
And if you want to throw Ruby Riott in there too, well, I wouldn’t complain.
Credit: WWE.com
FOUR HORSEWOMEN FATAL FOUR-WAY
My final dream match-up is obvious, but it would also be incredible. It’s been too long since we’ve seen the Four Horsewomen together at a pay-per-view. Let’s give the people what they want.
If we want to talk the best women’s wrestlers of both brands, we’re talking about the Four Horsewomen. Many fans that are new to WWE might have missed the glory days of Sasha Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch and Charlotte running the show on NXT. (There is a decent collection of their best moments on the WWE network if you need to catch up.)
For a while, these wrestlers have been marooned from each other on opposite brands, which is a shame. When you look at the WWE careers of these women, their historic matches and memorable moments have nearly all happened together. Bayley vs Sasha at NXT Take Over: Brooklyn is widely acknowledged as one of the best matches ever on NXT, and the string of historic women’s firsts that WWE is currently bragging about were mostly products of match-ups between these women.
Main-eventing pay-per-views and breaking down barriers as the first female competitors in Hell in a Cell and Ironman matches are just a few examples of what these women can do for WWE and for each other as friends and rivals. These ladies do their best work together, and there’s no better opportunity to reunite them and highlight the strength of the women’s division than a co-branded pay-per-view.
As for why they’d be fighting, well, take your pick. Sasha and Bayley are currently embroiled in a “best frenemies” feud that is in need of a payoff. Charlotte and Sasha still have beef over the NXT Women’s Championship, and Sasha has said she wants another chance to settle that score. Even Becky, the women’s division’s consummate sweetheart babyface, could draw on her frustrations from never winning the NXT championship to draw up some ire against the other three.
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All four are at the top of their game right now, and both Bayley and Becky would benefit strongly from the storyline possibilities this match-up would provide. I mean, honestly, is there any way this could be anything less than incredible? Make it the main event, give it half an hour, and watch the magic happen. Come on, Backlash!