Tag: Bad Bunny

Logan Paul surprised Bad Bunny has the same WWE 2K23 rating: ‘Maybe I don’t know anything’

The new WWE United States Champion seemed dumbfounded that Bad Bunny is an 84 just like him in WWE 2K23.

Logan Paul has proven he belongs in WWE, impressing everyone with how fast he’s adapted to pro wrestling. But he’s not the only performer to come from the outside and turn heads over the past year or two.

Mega-popular recording artist Bad Bunny has also made a big impression in a short period of time, stunning many observers with several strong in-ring showings. In some respects, what he’s done is even more surprising than Paul, who is a more stereotypically athletic guy (and has dabbled in boxing).

With Paul recently winning the United States Championship at Crown Jewel and currently residing in Bad Bunny’s homeland of Puerto Rico, ESPN’s Marc Raimondi asked the Maverick if there was any chance the two of them might end up in the ring together at some point. Paul said he’d leave that to Triple H but also scoffed a bit at the size difference involved.

He is good, but he’s scrawny, man. I’m pushing 250.

Then Paul brought up something that really seemed to have him incredulous: the two of them being rated equally in the current WWE video game.

Yo, that’s the crazy thing. On the WWE 2K23, he has the same rating as me, so maybe I don’t know anything.

While the WWE 2K23 ratings definitely shouldn’t be taken as gospel, maybe Paul has a point. Or if Bad Bunny wasn’t busy being arguably the most popular musician in the world right now, he’d have had his first title shot too.

Either way, though, it’s fun to keep these two in the minds of WWE fans as much as possible, and the idea of them crossing paths in a program isn’t actually all that crazy. Maybe someday.

Bad Bunny calls WWE Backlash match ‘one of the best moments of my life’ despite pain

Bad Bunny admitted his “whole body” hurt but said he wouldn’t trade his debut WWE singles match for anything.

Bad Bunny‘s match with Damian Priest at WWE Backlash took what celebrities can do in the ring to another level. While not the main event, it played out like the headliner match, with interferences, crowd-popping spots, and more to create memorable WWE programming. His entrance alone dazzled.

Obviously, pro wrestling is not Bad Bunny’s day job. He captivates crowds with his music as one of the world’s top music artists — worlds apart from taking bumps in a ring for people’s entertainment.

In an interview with Zane Lowe of New Music Daily, Bad Bunny called his Backlash match “one of the biggest and best moments of my life.” However, he apparently walked away in pain from his bruising match with Priest (h/t Fightful for transcription).

“Wow, that was insane. That was really crazy, the people, the energy was another level. What happened that night, I’m never going to forget it,” he said. “I remember, I said before the WrestleMania fight that day was one of my favorite moments of my life, but the Backlash fight in Puerto Rico was another level. It was really one of the biggest and best moments of my life, I really enjoyed that fight.”

Bunny continued, “I suffered. Yeah, I got hurt. I got hurt. My back, my back. My whole body, bro. My whole body. I felt that I was going to die after that match. I really thought that I was going to die after the match, but it’s part of it. I was prepared then, and now I’m going to drop a song. I know. I’m a crazy guy. I love it. I love it, and that’s what matters,” he said.

Wrestling entertainment is a different kind of beast, but Bad Bunny left Puerto Rico successfully. He might return sooner than later, too, if WWE wants another celebrity dosage for its next major premium live event.

Savio Vega says WWE may use Bad Bunny at SummerSlam

The WWE Universe would undoubtedly love seeing Bad Bunny again at Ford Field this summer.

Bad Bunny proved himself a WWE natural in only his second match, defeating Damian Priest at WWE Backlash. His matches, not counting the Royal Rumble, were over two years apart, but with last Sunday’s success, his third bout could be near.

In an interview with Wrestle Binge, Savio Vega said WWE has discussed using Bad Bunny at SummerSlam (h/t Fightful for transcription).

“He’s a natural. They take him step by step, all the way to the end, but he has the mentality. He has the power and hunger. He loves it and wants to make it good. On the other side you have Damian Priest taking care of him, carrying him big time. You maybe have to adjust here and there, of course, but one of the best things he has is respect for the ring and respect for the boys and the business. He kayfabes it big time. He has it. I hear they’re talking about SummerSlam for him. I don’t know. They know what they’re going to do, but Bad Bunny hit the ball out of the ballpark,” said Vega.

Using the same celebrity for a match months apart might seem soon, but it’s reminiscent of Logan Paul’s infrequent appearances that happen at marquee events. While even that is much due to Bad Bunny’s music career, having him appear occasionally to boost the mid-card and attract mainstream attention makes sense.

WWE also has Ford Field to sell out at SummerSlam by attracting as many big names as possible. With inevitable celebrity involvement, having Bad Bunny return brings that aforementioned mainstream publicity and star power to a show that comes second only to WrestleMania.

WWE’s plans for SummerSlam could pick up soon, and if Bad Bunny is part of them, he’ll strive to make another premium live event a success in 2023.

Bad Bunny helps WWE Backlash 2023 soar to viewership, gate records

WWE claimed new viewership and gate records for this year’s show.

WWE Backlash isn’t one of the most prestigious premium live events on the annual schedule, but it had two things going for it this year that it doesn’t always have: pent up demand from a market that hadn’t hosted a similar show in almost two decades, and the biggest recording star in the world, Bad Bunny — who happens to be from said market.

With those two factors for the show Saturday night at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, it came as no surprise that WWE announced today that the 2023 edition of Backlash was the highest grossing and most-viewed in the event’s history.

WWE says 28% more people watched Backlash compared to the previous high mark, set last year, when the show was held in Providence, Rhode Island. The 2023 show also set gate records for any Backlash and for any WWE show held in Puerto Rico.

While WWE’s stated attendances sometimes need to be taken with a grain of salt, there’s no question many more fans were in attendance in San Juan, where the company’s stated attendance was 17,944, than in Providence in 2022, where WrestleTix says there were just under 13,000 tickets distributed.

One noticeable aspect of this year’s show that helped with packing more fans into the venue was the absence of a big stage at one end of the arena. Wrestlers came to the ring via a path through the floor seats similar to some house shows, allowing WWE to sell tickets the whole way around the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.

Those fans presumably came away happy, with a crowd-pleasing set of results that included Cody Rhodes defeating Brock Lesnar in the main event. Bad Bunny did his part as well, turning in a number of memorable moments in his San Juan Street Fight with Damian Priest that incredibly was his first WWE singles match.

WWE has been on a run of event-record premium live events that also included WrestleMania 39 in April. It will be tougher to parse the numbers for its next big show, Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia later this month, but all eyes will be on SummerSlam in Detroit this summer to see if it can keep the momentum going.

WWE Backlash 2023: 5 takeaways from a hot night in San Juan

Backlash turned out to be one of WWE’s more fun and entertaining shows in recent memory

How do you follow up your biggest event of the year? With Bad Bunny.

That’s what WWE pulled off Saturday night, as they managed to get one of the famous people in the world to participate in a match, in his prime, in his native Puerto Rico.

With Bad Bunny on the show, WWE had to deliver with the rest of the card, and I think it did for one of the promotion’s more fun and entertaining shows in recent memory.

Here are my five immediate takeaways from the 2023 edition of Backlash.

What an atmosphere in San Juan

I think most fans were expecting a raucous atmosphere in San Juan for Backlash. WWE rarely runs premium live events there — the previous one was nearly two decades ago — and, of course, Bad Bunny.

The fans at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot did not disappoint.

Backlash produced some of the loudest pops I’ve heard in quite some time. The place was already roaring for Bad Bunny, but the pop for Carlito nearly blew the roof off the arena. Savio Vega got a long and sustained reaction. And we have to mention the reception Zelina Vega got before, during, and after her match against Rhea Ripley.

Vega’s moment was especially touching as she dedicated the match to her late father, who lost his life during the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

I think most people knew Vega wasn’t going to defeat Ripley, as the the champ had only just won the title last month, but this wasn’t really about that. This was about giving Vega her much-deserved flowers. She has come a long way: from Thea Trinidad in Impact Wrestling, to being released by WWE, to having a championship match in Puerto Rico. That’s really, really cool.

Bad Bunny is great for wrestling

WWE has used its share of celebrities over the years, but I am not sure any of those crossovers have had the level of success as Bad Bunny.

Bunny helped WWE sell out an entire arena just off of his name alone. He wasn’t even initially announced as a wrestler. He was just going to be the host and the tickets were flying.

On top of that, he can put on a damn good match. Yes, it takes two to tango, so we have to give kudos to Damian Priest, who definitely played his part and thrived. With that said though, Bad Bunny is honestly a revelation in the ring.

It’s not just Bad Bunny’s wrestling ability, which no, is not as technically sound as Bret Hart, but the guy’s got charisma and he understands what this professional wrestling stuff is all about. He knows how to tell a story.

I also still find it astounding the Bad Bunny is even wrestling. If I had his level of fame and wealth, I’d probably try my best to wrestle a match on pay-per-view. But I’m also a diehard wrestling fan. I’m not sure how many non-wrestling fans would share the same desire. The fact that Bad Bunny is doing this when he most definitely doesn’t have to speaks to just how big of a wrestling fan he is.

Bad Bunny should have closed the show

I mean, I thought this was obvious. Bad Bunny was literally the reason why the show was even in San Juan. Why wouldn’t he close the show? I understand why WWE didn’t have Bad Bunny main event WrestleMania back in 2021, because that would have been absurd.

But Backlash? I’m very much cool with that. Also, it’s Backlash in his homeland. Yes, let the most popular musician in the world close out the show.

I had those thoughts before the show. Then I watched Backlash and saw Bad Bunny and Priest tear the house down in a match that featured interference from the Judgement Day and the LWO, which on this night included Carlito (who looked great) and Savio Vega (also looked great).

Then after the match, I watched Bad Bunny celebrate in the ring with the LWO while holding up the Puerto Rican flag and receive a standing ovation.

That only confirmed what I thought coming in. Instead, for some reason WWE thought to put not one, but two more matches after Bad Bunny. Did Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar really have to finish out the night?

At Backlash?

With no title on the line?

I don’t think so.

Bad Bunny’s post-match celebration was a moment that will be talked about for years to come. Nothing that followed it was going to top it. No amount of blood leaking out of Lesnar’s head was going to surpass Bad Bunny being hoisted up on people’s shoulders while holding up the Puerto Rican flag in Puerto Rico. Ain’t no way.

So why do that to the talent? Why put them in a position to follow Bad Bunny of all people? You know follows Bad Bunny? No one! Literally no one in the world follows Bad Bunny on a night to night basis. He is the main event the majority of his life outside of wrestling, and for events much larger than the one he was at Saturday night. I think he could have been the main event of … Backlash.

As The Bloodline’s World Turns

If there’s one thing the Bloodline is going to do, it’s tell a compelling story during the group’s matches.

In the latest episode of the weekly television drama, Solo Sikoa got real close to going off on his brothers, specifically Jey Uso.

Jey Uso had things under control in the ring, but Sikoa put a halt to his brother’s momentum by tagging himself in. Jey Uso took offense to Sikoa’s decision and tagged himself right back in, which got a big pop from the fans and an angry stare from Sikoa.

At one point, Sikoa was going to walk over to Jey Uso and probably dish out the Samoan Spike, but he was interrupted by his opponents, of all people. Later in the match, Sikoa “unknowingly” grabbed Jey Uso around his neck. Once he realized it was his brother, he did not immediately let go.

Sikoa then won the match for his team while starring daggers at his brothers in another intriguing chapter in the Bloodline story.

Bianca Belair and IYO SKY put on a banger

While Bad Bunny should have closed the show, WWE made the right decision by having Bianca Belair and IYO SKY open it up.

It was a welcome sight after seeing some less-than-stellar storytelling in the women’s division, which is surprising given its depth of talent.

WWE Backlash 2023: Twitter reacts to choice of main event, wanted Bad Bunny

The consensus after WWE Backlash 2023 is that the Bad Bunny Street Fight deserved to be the main event.

WWE Backlash had an electric, showstopping performance by one of the biggest music superstars in the world, Bad Bunny. The crowd loved every minute of his San Juan Street Fight with Damian Priest, including appearances by Carlito, Savio Vega and the LWO. It was the kind of match that would be the perfect feel good go home moment, especially in Puerto Rico.

Yet it wasn’t the main event.

That spot went to Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar, a match that was fine and bloody, but ended quickly and surprisingly.

Did WWE make the wrong call putting that on last and Bad Bunny’s bout two spots before the main event (though it tried to have it both ways by promoting it as a “double main event”)?

Let’s see what wrestling Twitter had to say.

WWE Backlash 2023: Bad Bunny had the best entrance of the year

Bad Bunny turned in an incredible performance at Backlash, and it started with a jaw-dropping entrance.

WWE shows have featured some great crowds over the years, but the audience in San Juan, Puerto Rico for Backlash was on another level. They were electric for every match and each wrestler involved, making for a special night.

Then, there was Bad Bunny and Damian Priest — a match that redefined what an amazing crowd is with their San Juan Street Fight.

It began with seemingly a drone used to fly up behind Bad Bunny, as he entered to his hit song “Chambea.” The crowd sang along like a concert and roared, making for an incredible reaction, rivaling an Attitude Era pop. It was strong, powerful, and ice cold — a scene someone would crave to be in the building to witness.

The audience remained vocal throughout the match, captivated by every moment and action of Bad Bunny in and outside the ring, as well as each move he made and the offense he took from Priest.

When Carlito made his shocking WWE return to help Bad Bunny fend off the Judgment Day, the reactions peaked. Savio Vega then upped the ante even more when he came out to help and fight Finn Balor, having gifted Bad Bunny a kendo stick earlier at the show.

What WWE said en route to this match held true: Bad Bunny is a megastar. Everything that happened in that arena proved it and helped create an unforgettable match at Backlash, which Bad Bunny also walked out victoriously.

From the appearance at WrestleMania 39 to how this match finished, every step of the way was a home run for WWE. Celebrity involvement often doesn’t work, but when the crowd loves the person, and especially when the celebrity takes it seriously, it’s entertaining and show-stealing, like the match at Backlash was.

Bad Bunny’s performance at Backlash will be remembered for years to come, and his entrance to kick it off demonstrated how extraordinary the night was.

WWE Backlash 2023 results: Bad Bunny shows out, wins San Juan Street Fight with Damian Priest

Bad Bunny had the help he needed to prevail over Damian Priest in their San Juan Street Fight.

Damian Priest is wearing the same ring gear he wore while teaming with Bad Bunny two years ago at WrestleMania, some obvious head games. The crowd explodes when Bunny makes his walk to the ring, stopping to take a shopping cart full of weapons with him.

Despite their height difference, Bunny steps right to Priest after the bell rings and gets knocked back into the corner twice. Bad Bunny catches Priest off guard with a Michinoku driver but Damian immediately kicks out.

Bunny tries for a kendo stick shot but gets a right hand to the body for his trouble. Priest shatters the kendo stick, then body slams the music superstar.

Priest crotch chops the fans for chanting for their hero, then takes Bad Bunny to one knee by wrenching his left arm. A thumb to the eyes is answered by a knee shot, but Bunny uses a jawbreaker to press his attack to the corner. He pulls off a backslide for a quick two count as well.

Priest is able to hit a chokeslam and might have it won, but he pulls up on the pin at two so he can continue to beat on Bad Bunny. Damian heads out for the shopping cart and grabs a wooden bat, then tosses it aside. Alas, Bunny is prepared for him on the floor and throws a steel chair in his face.

Bad Bunny grabs another kendo stick and gets in a few shots, following with a tornado DDT off the middle rope and clotheslining Priest to the floor. Bunny heads to the top rope and hurls himself down with a cross body as Michael Cole yells “bunnies can fly!”

Now Bad Bunny wails away with trash can lids in both hands before grabbing another kendo stick. He gets in four shots, then an elbow in the corner. Bunny hits a second Michinoku driver (or perhaps a Broken Arrow), covering for a near fall.

With Priest recouping on the floor, Bad Bunny draws a line on the mat with his foot. Damian goes to walk up the ramp, turning to kick a trash can into Bunny’s head and smashing him with it as well.

Priest has the custom Puerto Rican kendo stick that Savio Vega gave Bad Bunny and uses it to good effect. The fans are chanting but see Bunny get hurled into the timekeeper’s area. They fight into the crowd, with Bunny bravely trying to trade right hands but getting the worst of it.

The two men end up atop some equipment lockers, where Priest hits a Broken Arrow down through some tables.

Adam Pearce and other officials come out to check on Bad Bunny, but Priest says he’s not done.

Back near ringside, Priest kicks Bad Bunny in the chest several times. But Bunny rallies with a kendo stick back in the ring, with Priest selling damage to his left knee … and Bad Bunny goes right after it. Damian tells the ref he’s hurt, but his foe keeps targeting the knee, smashing it into the ringpost.

Back at the shopping cart, Bad Bunny gets a steel chain and uses that to assist in the assault on the knee. He returns for a steel chair and smashes the knee between that and the post. He’s not done, as he hits a low blow on Priest … but Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio rush in to attack him.

A chair is set up in the corner, but Rey Mysterio is now in there too. And soon Carlito is too! Yes, you read that right.

He takes a bite from an apple but gets smashed from behind by Dom, who is soon eating a 619 from Rey. Carlito and Rey chase Balor and Dominik back up the ramp, but there’s nowhere to run as Savio Vega comes toward them.

The rest of the LWO arrives to back up Vega, and when Balor abandons Dom, he finds Vega is more than enough to take care of him. Vega has some for Dominik too, and the LWO chases the Judgment Day to the back.

Meanwhile, Priest’s knee betrays him as he attacks Bunny, who smartly locks in a Figure Four. He tries for several pinfalls too, but Priest ends up getting smashed into a chair and takes a Sliced Bread No. 2. He kicks out at two, so Bad Bunny goes for a chair again.

The chair rains down numerous times as Bad Bunny fires up the fans again. He hits the Bunny Destroyer and Priest isn’t kicking out from that.

Click here for full WWE Backlash 2023 results.

WWE Backlash 2023 results: Bad Bunny shines, Cody Rhodes sneaks out a W

Get live updates for Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest, Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar, and all the WWE Backlash matches from San Juan.

While WWE Backlash typically deals with the fallout from WrestleMania, the 2023 edition set to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico seems more like it’s going to be the show that answers a bunch of pressing questions.

The two biggest men’s matches fall into that category. One sees Cody Rhodes facing off with Brock Lesnar after the Beast Incarnate attacked him several weeks ago. Can the American Nightmare pass this very stiff test and get back on the road to finishing his story?

The other is an aptly named San Juan Street Fight between music superstar Bad Bunny and Damian Priest. In this showdown between former friends, can Bad Bunny continue his string of impressive in-ring showings in his first solo match?

Both women’s championships will be on the line at Backlash as well. Neither Bianca Belair nor Rhea Ripley is expected to lose, but if that indeed turns out to be the case, what will happen to their championships — since both women were drafted to the “opposite” shows last week?

As has increasingly been the case as of late, there’s a big question about the Bloodline too. The Usos came up short in their attempt to regain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, and even worse, dedicated their effort to their Tribal Chief. As they team with Solo Sikoa to face Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle, are they all on the same page, and what will happen to Jey and Jimmy if they lose?

There should be answers to all of these questions before the night is over at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, and we’ll be bringing them all to you here at Wrestling Junkie.

WWE Backlash 2023 results:

(click on any match link for full details)