SUMMARY
- WWE Backlash in France was one of the greatest international PLE’s in history of the Stamford-based promotion.
- Despite all the great success the event achieved, the show also had botches, so let's take a look at some of them.
WrestleMania 40 set the bar really high for WWE Backlash, and many expected that it would not even be close to The Show of Shows. But it’s safe to say that the company continued their spectacular product through this PLE in France too. In fact, the Triple H-led promotion made history through, as the premium live event turned out to be way more successful than fans expected it to be.
Alongside the spectacular match card, the crowd at the LDLC Arena in the Metropolis of Lyon also played a major role in making the show memorable. From Cody Rhodes’ first title defence as the Undisputed WWE Champion to the debut of Tanga Loa, Backlash had a lot to remember. But it also had a number of botches, so let’s take a look at four insanely ridiculous botches you might have missed during the show on May 4.
Tanga Loa’s WWE debut ended up getting botched
WWE took a great decision by having The Bloodline vs. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens be the opener for Backlash, and the crowd loved every bit about it. From singing The Viper’s theme to the reactions throughout the tag team match, everything was perfect, and all four participants were giving it their all in the encounter.
Even though this bout was Tama Tonga‘s debut match in the company, he was exceptional in his work and even took a Brainbuster on the chairs from him. With the kind of momentum the baby faces were heaving, Owens went for the pin on Tama, but then came a surprise as someone dragged the referee outside.
brother WHOS UNDER THE RING #WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/xkhl190re3
— jesse (@solsrvca) May 4, 2024
It was none other than Tonga’s brother, Tanga Loa, who saved his sibling from losing, thus making his debut in the Triple H-led promotion. While it was a memorable moment for him, it ended up becoming a botch, as there was slight movement below the ring when he was shown on the screen. This botch killed the prestigious moment and took away a lot from Loa’s first appearance in WWE.
Jade Cargill still feels unsettled in WWE
Ever since Jade Cargill came to the Stamford-based promotion from AEW, she has been treated as The Chosen One, and the company has been doing everything in its power to make her a superstar. It’s true that Jade has all the aura and strength in the professional wrestling world, but she still feels unsettled in WWE.
This thing was again on display during her match at Backlash, as she teamed up with Bianca Blair to take on Kairi Sane and Asuka. The stakes for this match were really high, as it was for the Women’s Tag Team Championship, and Cargill had the perfect opportunity to win her first title in the company. Entering the PLE in France, everyone was expecting her team to come out victorious, and it happened at the premium live event.
Cargill and Bianca defeated The Kabuki Warriors to become the new tag champs, and it was surely a memorable moment for her. But despite this win, her ring rust was visible, as Jade Cargill didn’t look at her best in terms of in-ring performance. Amid this, many fans have been left wondering when they’ll be able to witness what The Storm has in store for them.
AND NEWWWWWWWWW!!!#WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/BXbpzCNiMJ
— WWE (@WWE) May 4, 2024
But the other half of the WWE Universe has praised her for the improvements she has made. In addition to that, some spots she performed in the match were exceptional, and it shows how good she can be in the ring. But, all in all, it’s safe to say that Jade still has a long way to go, and her association with EST is surely going to help her a lot in this regard.
Referee botches a spot at WWE Backlash
While wrestlers are usually targeted for botching moves and spots during matches inside the ring, something different happened at the event in LDLC Arena, France. During WWE Backlash in France, a referee botched a major spot, and it was surely something nobody expected to happen on the show.
This incident took place during the Women’s Tag Team Championship bout, when Kairi Sane mistakenly went for the pin despite not being a legal participant. As the referee took note, he explained to her that she isn’t the legal competitor in the match, and it felt that the female superstar botched this spot, but what happened after it was even funnier.
wtf is happening, this moment is confusing me af #WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/8NGJnV6thE
— 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 (@TwistedJohnX) May 4, 2024
After the official told Sane that she wasn’t legal, Asuka, the actual legal woman, arrived on the ringside and tagged Kairi, which was obviously meaningless. But the extent of this whole scenario’s weirdness went even further when the referee allowed it to happen, and it was absolutely pathetic to watch for the WWE Universe.
This spot from this tag-team encounter created an absolute mess of the whole contest, and fans’ responses to this botch also reveal the same. All in all, it was a weird thing, and it took a major toll on the overall quality of this match, which itself was pretty cool, as the dominant duo of Jade Cargill and Bianca Blair became the new Tag Champions.
Cody Rhodes botched a spot against AJ Styles
The list of botches at WWE Backlash also includes The American Nightmare’s main event match, as Cody Rhodes botched a spot against AJ Styles. It happened when the fan-favorite star ran towards one corner to get on the ropes and deliver a Cody Cutter to Styles, but he wasn’t able to execute the move to perfection.
Hard carry for aj.
— Brave (@itsBravebro) May 4, 2024
This other guy just cant get it without botching once in a match💀
Amid the way the move ended up happening, it looked like a botch, and as it was related to Rhodes’, fans were quick to take note of this. Despite this particular spot from their encounter, The Phenomenal One and The American Nightmare were able to put on an instant classic in the ring and showcase why they are two of the best in the business.
With this victory, Cody Rhodes has been successful in defending his Undisputed WWE Championship, but it remains to be seen what’s the next challenge in his title reign. Will he continue his ongoing feud with AJ Styles, or will a new challenger rise to challenge him for the prestigious title? Only the future knows the answer to this question, but one thing is sure: the Triple H Era is giving fans everything they want from pro wrestling, and it is going to continue this way in the future too.