WWE Backlash 2024 Predictions: Cody Rhodes will defeat AJ Styles

WWE Backlash 2024 is two weeks away, and the WWE has only made two matches official for this PLE: (1) Damian Priest (c) vs. Main Event Jey Uso for the World Title and (2) Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Title. This PLE is fresh off a historic WrestleMania, where Cody Rhodes finished the story, Damian Priest successfully cashed in to become World Champion, Sami Zayn ended Gunther's 600+ day title reign, and Bayley got her revenge on Damage Control. Under the presumption that these champs keep their titles until this PLE, there are some riveting stories afoot.

With that being said, the following will provide some match card predictions for what should be an appropriate aftermath for WrestleMania: WWE Backlash 2024.

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles [WWE Championship]

Cody Rhodes will defeat AJ Styles to retain the WWE Championship because he is now the face of the WWE after only recently winning the title at WrestleMania 40 from Roman Reigns, who had a historic 1000+ day reign with the championship. Ending Cody's reign this early would be criminal, especially since he still has a long-term story with The Rock to fulfill as champion after being pinned by The Rock on WrestleMania 40 Night 1. That long-term story was further established on the Raw after WrestleMania and should be fulfilled at either SummerSlam or WrestleMania 41 next year.

AJ Styles earned this title shot by defeating Rey Mysterio and Kevin Owens in a triple-threat match two weeks ago and defeating LA Knight in a singles match last week on SmackDown. It seems counterintuitive that Styles would lose to Knight at Mania just to get a win back and a title shot at the following PLE. It almost made Knight's victory at Mania meaningless, but 50:50 booking is a common vice in WWE. Nonetheless, LA Knight cannot take another loss in a title match or else his stock will drop, while AJ Styles can take a loss, as he is already fully established in the main event scene.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes

Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill [Tag Titles]

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will dethrone Kabuki Warriors to become the new Women's Tag Team Champions because they are way too formidable as a team to take a pinfall loss and will solidify their 6-Women Tag Victory at Mania. This should be a solid booking methodology to get Jade Cargill's feet wet in the ring with one of the best to ever do it, Bianca Belair, before she targets world titles in her singles career. The only way Bianca and Jade lose their tag titles is whenever Jade decides to turn heel and betray Bianca, which will happen once WWE is ready to kickstart Cargill's singles career.

Prediction: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

A-Town Down Under (c) vs. Street Profits [Tag Titles]

A-Town Down Under will defeat Street Profits to retain the WWE Tag Titles because they only recently won the titles at Mania and need to solidify their reign in their first title defense against another top team, especially after receiving new belt designs. It can be argued that Street Profits have not been tag champions in a very long time and need to solidify their victory over Final Testament at Mania. However, when Theory and Waller cheat to win this match nefariously, Street Profits will still be protected in defeat and can be drafted to Raw to win those tag titles on the road to SummerSlam.

Prediction: A-Town Down Under

Sami Zayn (c) vs. Gunther vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed [IC Title]

Unlike the other champions who recently won their titles at Mania 40, Sami Zayn is the champion who will be in the most jeopardy. Gunther has a rematch clause for the IC Title after losing it to Sami Zayn at Mania 40. Chad Gable still has a claim for the IC Title after being the one who trained Zayn to beat Gunther and sourly betrayed Zayn in an epic heel turn in his hometown of Montreal last week in the main event of Raw. Bronson Reed staked his claim for the IC Title after winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and he will win the title to solidify that victory and go on a monstrous run.

Although Zayn ended one of the most historic IC Title reigns in history, he had outgrown the IC Title a long time ago and was never even the original plan to battle Gunther for the IC Title at Mania 40. With that being said, Zayn was still a highly credible opponent for Gunther and was a good choice to dethrone him, as there is no shame in the rising star, Gunther, losing to the already-established Zayn. Nonetheless, Zayn would be better off losing the IC Title to become a prime candidate for future Mr. MITB in his home country of Canada in July, and Zayn can use MITB to finally win his first World Title.

Prediction:: Bronson Reed

Bayley (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi [WWE Women's Title]

Bayley will defeat Tiffany Stratton and Naomi to retain the WWE Women's Title because she only recently won the world title at WrestleMania 40 from Iyo Sky, who still has a rematch clause for the championship. Ending Bayley's title reign before that rematch would be booking malpractice. WWE is clearly building up this triple threat after Tiffany Stratton forced a no-contest between Bayley and Naomi's title match on SmackDown. Although Naomi and Tiffany will take the loss here, they are top contenders for MITB this year and could always run this back by cashing in on Bayley in the future.

Prediction: Bayley

Damian Priest (c) vs. Main Event Jey Uso [World Heavyweight Title]

Damian Priest will defeat Main Event Jey Uso to retain the World Title because he cashed in his MITB Contract at WrestleMania, which is a big deal, as substantiated by Rollins at Mania 31. Uso earned this title shot by winning a Fatal Four Way Match against Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, and Bronson Reed and continued his momentum by defeating another member of Judgment Day in Finn Balor last week. Clearly, Priest won't lose his World Title in his first title defense, but it makes sense for Uso to get this title shot since he did win a major singles match at Mania that should have title implications.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Seth Rollins still has a rematch clause for that world title. Since Rollins is on hiatus to heal from injuries, it would be booking malpractice if Priest loses that title before WWE revisits that feud. As the only two men to cash in MITB at Mania, they have a cool story to develop there. Even Finn Balor, who was tag team champs with Priest, planted some seeds of dissension on Raw when he realized that he was being used as a sidekick for Priest's World Title run and mere fodder for #1C, Jey Uso. He could be the long term plan to dethrone Priest down the line.

Prediction: Damian Priest

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