WWE Backlash 2018: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades
By Bryan Heaton
Source: WWE.com
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
Result: Nia Jax defeated Alexa Bliss via pinfall
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
The clash of styles in this match gives the perfect contrast to the lightning hot opener. Jax’s raw power and Bliss’s, uh, double-jointedness opens up a world of opportunity to do crazy spots. You ever see Happy Gilmore, where Happy’s boss bends Shooter’s club with his bare hands? Nia can basically do that to Alexa.
#TheGoddess @AlexaBliss_WWE is oozing confidence, but is it enough to become the NEW #RAW #WomensChampion? #WWEBacklash @NiaJaxWWE pic.twitter.com/j7J0bm0nHs
— WWE (@WWE) May 7, 2018
Giving Bliss a little bit of a chance early on is essential, though. We’re long past the point of Nia needing true squash victories to build up her character. And Alexa is a multiple time women’s champion on both Raw and SmackDown Live. She should not be a total pushover.
It is officially PLAY TIME for the #RAW #WomensChampion!#WWEBacklash @NiaJaxWWE pic.twitter.com/cSQbXmhCr5
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 7, 2018
I really enjoy the constant callbacks to NXT, where Nia lost her first championship challenge to Bayley via guillotine choke. Since then, several years ago, nearly every superstar who’s gone up against Jax has tried the same move. Eventually, it’ll be like Ric Flair constantly going up to the tope rope, just to be thrown off. No one will know why everyone goes for a guillotine on Nia when it never works.
No shortage of CONFIDENCE on the part of #LittleMissBliss...#WWEBacklash @AlexaBliss_WWE pic.twitter.com/ayFvbqxklP
— WWE (@WWE) May 7, 2018
The match took a turn when Bliss dumped Nia off the tope rope to the outside. I get the whole “Bliss can’t get Nia back in the ring” thing they were going for. But it came across as “Nia is fat, so poor little Alexa can’t pick her up.” Not a good look, and it really took the wind out of the sails in the momentum of the match, and the crowd. It was very quiet — somewhat expected after Rollins and Miz delivered as well as they did.
In the end, it’s the right call for Nia to retain. And hopefully, after Nia’s post-match promo, that puts the final nail in the coffin of this body-shaming, bullying feud. Let everyone move on to something else.
"TONIGHT, I TURN THE BIG DOG into a WHIMPERING PUPPY!" - @SamoaJoe #WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/QuzVDm4sqk
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 7, 2018
Best Promo in the Business Does it Again
Samoa Joe is untouchable on the microphone, change my mind. His eventual WWE Championship reign is going to be the best thing the company books in the past 5-10 years, easily.