Tag: bianca belair

WWE Night of Champions 2023 results: Rollins, Asuka win gold, Bloodline drama continues

Keep up with all the action with the latest WWE Night of Champions results to start a busy weekend in pro wrestling.

WWE Night of Champions doesn’t have every title in the company at stake, but a number of them will be as a big chunk of the roster heads overseas to Saudi Arabia. In fact, on a seven-match card, championships are up for grabs in five of the bouts.

Though WWE has humorously (to us) promoted the show as having a “triple main event,” two of those three matches also have gold up for grabs. The match that has been the subject of the most discussion will see Seth Rollins and AJ Styles compete to become the inaugural holder of the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The winner will take their gold exclusively to Raw, at least for the time being.

That’s because Roman Reigns has set up shop on SmackDown, but he’ll be vying for another championship in Saudi Arabia as well. He and Solo Sikoa are looking to take the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship from Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, even though that pursuit has exacerbated the fissures in the Bloodline even more.

And the highest profile non-title match is part of this group of three as well. Cody Rhodes has suffered several vicious attacks at the hands of Brock Lesnar, including one this week that left him with a left arm that Dr. Triple H says was broken (wink, wink). He’s determined to fight Lesnar anyway, even though tangling with the Beast Incarnate can be foolhardy enough with all one’s limbs functioning.

Because the show is overseas, it means an early start time for fans in the U.S.: afternoon on the east coast and late morning in the west. Join us back here starting at 1 p.m. ET for the latest WWE Night of Champions results, updated as they happen all day long.

WWE Night of Champions 2023 results:

(click any match with a link for full details)

  • Seth Rollins def. AJ Styles by pinfall in the tournament final to become the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion, and has the belt handed to him by Triple H after his victory
  • Cody Rhodes is shown getting checked on by a doctor, with a wrap or brace of some sort on his left forearm
  • Trish Stratus def. Becky Lynch by pinfall after Zoey Stark emerged from under the ring to assist
  • Gunther def. Mustafa Ali by pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • Sami Zayn tells Kevin Owens how crazy it is that they’re there and that even if it ended tonight … KO asks why it would end tonight, because he’s sick of hearing about Roman Reigns’ 1000-day reign and vows that Roman and Solo Sikoa will lose tonight
  • Asuka def. Bianca Belair by pinfall after raking Bianca’s eyes with mist on her fingers to become the new WWE Raw Women’s Champion
  • Rhea Ripley def. Natalya by pinfall to retain the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship, with help from Dominik Mysterio as a ringside distraction
  • Rollins tells Byron Saxton that he will be on Raw on Monday and every Monday moving forward, just with World Heavyweight Championship things on his mind
  • Brock Lesnar def. Cody Rhodes by submission as Cody passes out while in a kimura on his injured left arm
  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa by pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, after The Usos, who initially arrive to beat up the champs, end up accidentally superkicking Solo and then intentionally (from Jimmy, anyway) superkicking Reigns

WWE SmackDown results 05/26/23: Bloodline on the KO Show can only end one way …

See what transpired during the final WWE SmackDown before Night of Champions.

Just like Inigo Montoya before he reveals he’s not left-handed, we’ve got something to share: Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is not live.

You very likely are already aware of that, seeing as Night of Champions is tomorrow in Saudi Arabia, and talent reportedly left for Jeddah on Tuesday. That means this SmackDown was pre-recorded after last Friday’s show.

It’s a weird set of circumstances for a go-home show, but such are the logistical hurdles WWE must jump through when putting on shows in Saudi Arabia. It’s strange for us as well, because while the results are already out there, we’re going to press on and cover the episode like it’s playing out for the first time.

So let’s dig into what we’re getting. The most heavily promoted segment has been Kevin Owens hosting The KO Show with two guests who might not be in the mood for witty banter. We’re talking about Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, a.ka. The Bloodline, a.k.a. the two men who are going to try to take the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship from Owens and Sami Zayn on Saturday.

Let’s just say the chances of this erupting into violence are very high.

There’s also going to be a United States Championship match that could be very good. Austin Theory defends his title one-one-one against Sheamus, a man he’s never faced in a singles match until tonight. Er, last Friday night. You get what I’m saying.

Also, AJ Styles will get a tough stay busy match before he tries to become the first ever holder of the new World Heavyweight Championship as he takes on Karrion Kross.

Not to shabby for an episode that’s already taken place, or at least it appears that way.

WWE SmackDown results:

  • Austin Theory def. Sheamus by pinfall to retain the WWE United States Championship, thanks in part to Pretty Deadly causing chaos by attacking the Brawling Brutes at ringside
  • Roman Reigns tells Paul Heyman to let The Usos know they can join the Tribal Chief in the ring for the 1000-day celebration of his title reign, and now it’s Jimmy Uso who is chafing under Roman’s leadership and seems to be walking a thin line

  • Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi def. Damage CTRL (Bayley and IYO SKY) by pinfall, helped by some miscommunication by Bayley and IYO
  • A pair of videos hypes the World Heavyweight Championship tourney final at Night of Champions, taking individual looks at Seth Rollins and AJ Styles
  • Cameron Grimes def. Ashante Thee Adonis by pinfall, but gets attacked by Baron Corbin on his way back up the ramp
  • Bianca Belair discusses how this version of Asuka wants more than just her Raw Women’s Championship, and though she is jumped from behind by the Empress of Tomorrow, she fights back and nearly hits a KOD before officials and referees usher Asuka out of harm’s way

  • LA Knight def. Rick Boogs by pinfall, then turns his attention to calling out the Street Profits, who were on guest commentary
  • Karrion Kross and Scarlett say Styles should be worried about what kind of condition he’ll be in after their match tonight
  • A video vignette plays for Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
  • AJ Styles def. Karrion Kross after Michin helps drive off Scarlett to prevent any hijinks
  • Styles takes a second backstage to say that Rollins can be invincible … but not phenomenal, which he’ll prove tomorrow
  • A video package promotes the ongoing feud between Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar before they meet again at Night of Champions
  • The KO Show (which is The Kevin and Sami Show) prepares to “welcome” Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, but The Usos storm the ring instead, ending with Jimmy Uso saying ” … I am the Tribal Chief”; Reigns is obviously none too happy when he arrives, and after Owens stuns Reigns, all heck breaks loose; Reign spears Zayn after Sikoa spikes both the tag team champs, and Jimmy ends up holding the tag team belts before Jey takes them and hands them to Roman

WWE Night of Champions 2023: Predictions for every match in Saudi Arabia

Who will emerge triumphant in Jeddah? Our Vaughn Johnson takes a stab at picking all the winners in his WWE Night of Champions 2023 predictions.

Night of Champions (not to be confused with Clash of Champions or WCW’s Clash of the Champions) is usually a show some fans could skip. But WWE upped the ante in 2023 (mainly because it is taking place in Saudi Arabia) and decided to crown a new World Heavyweight Champion.

Yes, the title is a consolation for those unable to dethrone the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, but WWE will go out of its way to make it seem like this title is of equal importance Saturday despite the promotion’s own employees, including one who is vying for the title, having already disparaged its somewhat good name.

Who will leave Saudi Arabia with the new title? Will Cody Rhodes even make it to Night of Champions? Will the confusion surrounding the women’s titles be remotely cleared up?

Here are my predictions for the event:

Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar

I know, the world title should probably close out Night of Champions, but I feel like if WWE put Rhodes and Brock Lesnar after Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico, they’ll put them after Seth Rollins and AJ Styles.

If WWE is trying to get a third match out of this feud, which I imagine it will, then logically Rhodes would have to lose to set up the rubber match. WWE has already kind of given Rhodes the out of being less than 100%, so it wouldn’t completely extinguish what momentum the American Nightmare has left following WrestleMania.

With that said, this feud is not doing what WWE wants it to do, which is carry the main event scene while Reigns challenges for the tag titles for some strange reason. However, we’ll get one more between these two because Lesnar gets his win back to set up a third and decisive encounter in the future.

Winner: Brock Lesnar

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth “Freakin’” Rollins vs. AJ Styles

I am a big fan of both Rollins and Styles, but as I wrote last week, crowning Rollins as the first world champion since 2013 is the only decision, in my book.

The new title is indeed a consolation, but no one should be awarded that consolation before Rollins. Not to mention, Styles has already called the title secondary in an interview with the New York Post, which I’m willing to bet WWE didn’t love hearing.

Winner: Seth “Freakin’” Rollins

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa

By virtue of WWE debuting a new world title, Reigns, in theory, should no longer be an “undisputed” champion. Right? I guess he is trying to rectify that by bringing the undisputed tag titles back to The Bloodline.

I honestly have no idea why this match is happening. I thought the whole point of bringing back the World Heavyweight Championship was so that there would be a world title in the company while Reigns wasn’t around. What’s the point of that title when Reigns is, in fact, around? Not only is he around, he is traveling across the world to challenge for … the tag titles?

There are so many confusing things going on in WWE at the moment, and this is high on the list.

So what does WWE do here? Do they find a way to keep the titles on Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens? How does that happen? Does WWE want to beat Solo Sikoa? We know they won’t beat Reigns. Is there a disqualification finish? It would be kind of wild to have Reigns’ fly across the world for a DQ finish, but it is an option.

Or …

WWE could have Reigns and Sikoa defeat Zayn and Owens and give Reigns two more titles for a total of four. Let’s not forget that the tag titles are two separate titles that have been unified, not one consolidated title, which is why Zayn and Owens still walk around with two belts.

If Reigns is in possession of four titles simultaneously, he’d only be halfway to looking like Ultimo Dragon in these streets.

Jokes aside, that would be absurd. Reigns has been on top of the world in dominant fashion going on three years. He’s been so dominant that WWE literally created a new title for when he is not around. But here is WWE, using up one of Reigns’ few appearances not to headline a big show or put someone else over, but to possibly win the tag titles from a team that won them in the main event of WrestleMania not even two months ago.

Because it would be bizarre to give Reigns two more titles, I feel like I have to go with the champs to somehow retain. WWE has defied logic countless times in the past, and I wouldn’t put it past the company to look logic in the eye with defiance yet again.

Winners: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens

WWE Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka

On paper, Bianca Belair and Asuka should be must-see TV, but it really hasn’t been and I’m not sure why. They are both extremely talented and are over with the fans. But to put it simply, the feeling I get from this feud is apathy — and I don’t take joy in saying that.

As far as a winner, I don’t see a reason to take the title off of Belair to put it on Asuka. I would not be opposed to Belair losing the title, but it should not come after a feud as lackluster as this one.

Winner: Bianca Belair

WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Natalya

Rhea Ripley’s title reign has also been kind of uneventful so far. WWE has a pair of potential megastars on its hands with Ripley and Belair, but has seemingly forgotten how to book them in the last few months. It’s really weird, to be honest, and I’m not sure what happened.

Even Ripley’s lone title defense wasn’t really about her as much as it was a moment for Zelina Vega in Puerto Rico and dedicating the match to her late father. Ripley was sort of a background player in that encounter despite winning.

I’d be willing to bet that Ripley and Natalya will both put on great performances in Saudi Arabia, but I wouldn’t be willing to bet if anyone would remotely care.

Winner: Rhea Ripley

Before we move on to the next match, I would like to take this time to implore WWE to have Belair and Ripley switch titles so they can stop walking around with the title of the show they used to be on. It makes ZERO sense why this hasn’t happened already.

OK, back to our regularly scheduled programming …

Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus

Once again, on paper, this should be a dream scenario. In reality, it’s merely  fine. However, I think this could be a candidate to steal the show on Saturday.

As far as a winner, I think it has to be Becky Lynch.

Winner: Becky Lynch

WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Mustafa Ali

I mean, I think we all know how this one is going to go — Gunther retains.

However, where does Gunther go from here? You have to imagine folks like Drew McIntyre (whenever he returns) will go after the new world title. Maybe Shinsuke Nakamura? At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter that much as we’re just biding time for when Gunther finally drops the Intercontinental title and goes for the world title.

I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Until then, Gunther’s reign lives on.

Winner: Gunther

WWE SmackDown results 05/19/23: Usos continue their downward spiral

Things went from bad to worse for Jimmy and Jey Uso on the May 19 episode of WWE SmackDown.

It’s really only in retrospect that we realize that we were watching when a big star made their debut … because we don’t know until later they’re actually going to be a big star. But every debut could be something special down the road, which is a relevant idea for tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown from Columbia, South Carolina.

Why? Because even though we briefly saw Grayson Waller last week, this will be the show where he makes his first legit SmackDown appearance, hosting his segment “The Grayson Waller Effect.” He’s promised a big name guest, and if we were to make a wager, whoever it is just might be someone he antagonizes into being his first opponent on the blue brand.

There’s also no guarantee that Waller becomes a huge WWE star. But he might, and if so, you’ll be able to tell everyone you were watching when he took his first steps.

As for those who are already main eventers, tonight’s show has plenty of those as well. Most prominently, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are going to come face to face with their challengers at Night of Champions, Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.

Sure, KO and Sami have been in the ring with those two plenty of times, especially Sami seeing as he was once part of the Bloodline and all. But things are different now, particularly since Reigns brushed aside The Usos — who also happen to be in tag team action tonight. This has all the makings of a very combustible mix, and we’re here for it.

WWE SmackDown results from Columbia:

  • Roman Reigns doesn’t even get past the “Acknowledge me!” part of his promo before Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn join him and the Bloodline in the ring; when The Usos ambush Owens and Zayn and look for approval, however, Reigns is livid and storms out of the ring

  • Jey and Jimmy try to explain themselves, but Roman insists he had something to say and angrily kicks them out of the Bloodline dressing room
  • Pretty Deadly def. Brawling Brutes by pinfall
  • A tribute video is shown to remember the late “Superstar” Billy Graham
  • Zelina Vega says she is, in fact, ready for Asuka after the experience she had at Backlash in Puerto Rico
  • Asuka def. Zelina Vega by submission, then won’t let go of the Asuka Lock, which ends up bringing Bianca Belair to the rescue — and Belair barely avoids another dose of the mist

  • The Grayson Waller Effect welcomes AJ Styles, and Grayson Waller ends their conversation with what he thinks will be the best part of Night of Champions: “And new … World Heavyweight Champion, Seth ‘Freakin” Rollins!”

  • The LWO has a pep talk ahead of their match with The Usos
  • Street Profits def. LA Knight and Rick Boogs by pinfall, leading Knight to turn on Boogs after the match, hitting him with the BFT
  • Cameron Grimes says it feels like he’s living a dream and is ready to keep going … to the moon!
  • Karrion Kross and Scarlett have a tarot card for Styles, never a good thing
  • Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn def. Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon by pinfall
  • Due to Liv Morgan’s injury, Raquel Rodriguez has to relinquish the tag team titles and find another partner to compete for them against three other teams, but she gets mocked and challenged by Damage CTRL in the meantime
  • Austin Theory complains about being ganged up on last week, but Sheamus isn’t out there to talk and just drops Theory with a Brogue Kick
  • Heyman says the Tribal Chief forgives the Usos but still won’t be out there at ringside for their match
  • LWO (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) def. The Usos by pinfall, with an assist from Owens and Zayn, and Reigns is unhappy but keeps Sikoa from going out there

WWE Night of Champions 2023 match card: Rollins vs. Styles and more

WWE Night of Champions is set to crown the inaugural WWE World Heavyweight Champion, but that’s not the only big match on the card.

WWE Night of Champions has a little extra championship flavor to it this year.

That’s because the upcoming show from the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia will feature the crowning of the first ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion, as Seth Rollins (Raw) and AJ Styles (SmackDown) won the right to represent their respective brands to compete for this brand new title (not to be confused with the previous World Heavyweight Championship, a.k.a. the Big Gold Belt). The winner will be exclusive to Raw, or at least that’s the plan WWE has announced.

Another big title match will see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship … but not against The Usos. Instead, Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa will go for the tag team gold, which could make the already tense Bloodline situation even more fraught if they succeed.

WWE Night of Champions will start at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Saturday, May 27. We’ll be updating this post with the latest matches as they are announced.

Last update: May 23, 2023, 11:15 a.m. ET.

WWE Night of Champions 2023 match card:

WWE SmackDown results: Phenomenal night for AJ Styles sends him to tourney final

See who emerged from the SmackDown side of the tournament and what Roman Reigns had to say.

Knoxville, get ready for a packed two hours of WWE SmackDown tonight.

It’s the first episode with the new post-WWE Draft rosters, but the biggest intrigue is arguably about six men vying to be off to Raw. That’s because it’s the second night of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament, and if the SmackDown representative wins the whole thing, he’ll be defending that title exclusively on Monday nights.

Be that as it may, the Triple Threat matches for tonight are pretty sweet. One features AJ Styles, Edge and Rey Mysterio, while the other will see Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley and Sheamus collide. The winners will then face each other in what we expect will be the night’s main event, with that winner then going against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions for the title.

There are also titles up for grabs tonight. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez will defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against the Damage CTRL duo of Bayley and Dakota Kai, because we guess IYO SKY can’t get all the title shots even though we’d stan for that.

Last and certainly not least, Roman Reigns now calls SmackDown his exclusive home, and he’ll be live in Knoxville as well. What will he want to talk about? Not Cody Rhodes any more, probably, so look for him to address the tension within the Bloodline and the status of The Usos.

It should be an entertaining two hours of pro wrestling without a whole lot of filler, which is just the way we like it.

WWE SmackDown results for Knoxville:

(click any match with a link for full details)

  • AJ Styles def. Edge and Rey Mysterio by pinning Edge to advance in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament first round match
  • Bobby Lashley def. Sheamus and Austin Theory by pinning Theory to advance in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament first round match
  • Grayson Waller gets Adam Pearce to agree to put the SmackDown tourney finalist on his talk show next week
  • Cameron Grimes def. Baron Corbin by pinfall in a matter of seconds to win his SmackDown debut
  • Accompanied by the entire Bloodline, Roman Reigns gives tons of credit to Solo Sikoa for solving problems, but wants The Usos to apologize for losing a match they dedicated to him …

  • … and after Reigns getting in Jimmy’s face, Jey steps in and apologizes but gets some surprising news: Solo and Roman will go for the tag team titles at Night of Champions
  • Damage CTRL seems to be having a Bloodline moment of its own with Bayley saying she pushed IYO SKY too hard and that she and Dakota Kai will win the tag team titles tonight
  • Still, stinging from their public humiliation, the Usos get into it briefly with the LWO but decide not to press it since they’re outnumbered
  • Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def. Damage CTRL (Bayley and Dakota Kai) by pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • The Brawling Brutes get a visit from Pretty Deadly but don’t know what to make of them
  • Bianca Belair has a championship celebration in front of her hometown fans that is quickly interrupted by Asuka, who sprays her with the blue mist
  • AJ Styles def. Bobby Lashley by pinfall in a World Heavyweight Championship Tournament semifinal

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 results: IYO SKY dazzles but Bianca Belair retains her Raw title

Was IYO SKY able to soar to an upset victory and claim the Raw Women’s Championship from Bianca Belair?

As the announce team points out, IYO SKY comes to the ring without her Damage CTRL teammates. That might mean something … or nothing. Both IYO and Bianca Belair hear cheers as they are introduced.

A “let’s go IYO” chant breaks out as the two women lock up, but Belair is able to take her foe to the mat. SKY returns the favor, and now the crowd seems more behind the challenger than the champ, even as Bianca hits a dropkick.

Belair hits a pair of body slams to take the wind out of SKY’s sails. IYO wriggles to the ropes and slams the champ’s arm across the top rope, then uses Bianca’s own arms to choke her in the corner. SKY continues working on Belair’s left arm, which isn’t a bad idea.

SKY takes the champ to the mat but quickly is slammed back down in return. IYO fires forearm shots with Bianca’s arm trapped behind her, then drives that left arm into the turnbuckles.

Belair needs to compose herself, which she does by dodging a pair of corner charges. But she eats a stomp to the midsection after a reversal by SKY, who covers and gets a two count.

Forearm shots are traded in both directions before Belair counters a hurricanrana attempt into a backbreaker, selling her left arm damage after doing so. Bianca hits a dropkick and a stalling vertical suplex and seems to have her swagger back.

Now in the corner, Belair rains down right hands as the fans count along in Spanish. She hoists SKY into a military press and even switches to one arm before slamming SKY down and hitting her handspring moonsault for a near fall.

Belair is really fighting with one arm now, as SKY tomahawks the left arm down across the ropes again. A springboard missile dropkick finds the target, but it also forces the champ all the way to the floor.

After knocking the challenger off the top rope, Belair tries a 450 splash and catches nothing but knees. SKY locks in a crossface, yet Belair is able to power to her feet … only to fall victim to a facebuster. IYO covers but gets just two again.

A series of counters and escapes ends with Belair being hurled through the ropes to the floor again. SKY signals for her moonsault and hits it beautifully to the outside. She slides the chant back into the ring and covers for another two count.

SKY buries her shoulder into Belair’s midsection several times but ends up crashing out to the floor. She recovers quickly and tries for a top rope hurricanrana only to have Belair counter with a sitout powerbomb. Bianca covers and finds it’s still not enough.

SKY’s Damage CTRL teammates are now ringside, but just in time to see SKY narrowly miss winning the match again. Bayley gets too close to the action and is hauled in, where she has the ref distracted. Dakota Kai kicks Belair in the head, but Bayley has Belair’s braid.

The ref sees it and it delays SKY’s moonsault. That proves costly, as Belair rolls away from it and hits the KOD to retain the Raw Women’s Championship and become the longest reigning women’s champ of the modern era.

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 JosĂ© 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)

WWE SmackDown results: Bad Bunny unites with the LWO

Bad Bunny and Cody Rhodes are looking to make a final point or two ahead of their respective Backlash matches.

WWE Backlash is almost ready to ignite the fans of San Juan, Puerto Rico, but they’ll get a chance to see some of their favorite wrestlers — and the biggest recording artist in the world — a night ahead of time tonight on WWE SmackDown.

Bad Bunny was announced some time ago as the host of Backlash, which made all the sense in the world. But he’s been embroiled in some drama involving The Judgment Day since WrestleMania, and it all boiled over once Damian Priest put him through an announce table.

As tends to happen in WWE, Bad Bunny came looking for Priest with a kendo stick, and the two men ended up getting booked for a San Juan Street Fight for Saturday night. Before that takes place, we’ll see if Bad Bunny gets the final word on SmackDown.

Another superstar who figures to want to say his piece ahead of a big Backlash match is Cody Rhodes. What will the American Nightmare want to talk about ahead of his showdown with Brock Lesnar?

Matches? Yep, there have been a couple of those promoted for SmackDown as well. Shinsuke Nakamura will take on Karrion Kross in singles action, while the Viking Raiders take on Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows of The O.C. in a tag team match.

Neither of those jumps out as a main event, so figure we’ll get another prominent match added to the card during the show that will fill that spot and whip the crowd into a proper pre-Backlash frenzy.

WWE SmackDown results from San Juan:

  • Rey Mysterio and the LWO hit the ring but are quickly joined by The Judgment Day, and San Juan hates Dominik Mysterio as much as any U.S. audience, and they end up agreeing to a mixed tag match before Dom gets in a cheap shot on his dad
  • The O.C. def. The Viking Raiders by pinfall
  • Michael Cole and Wade Barrett promote the World Heavyweight Championship tournament taking place next week
  • Bianca Belair talks about how important SmackDown is to her before she’s interrupted by Damage CTRL; Bayley calls her conceited, and Belair gets assistance from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez when it inevitably turns into a fight

  • Karrion Kross delivers one last warning to Shinsuke Nakamura
  • The Usos are getting psyched for their Backlash match, but Solo Sikoa just silently wraps his thumb before finally telling his brothers they better do their part

  • Street Profits def. Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) by pinfall
  • A lengthy hype video for the Cody Rhodes-Brock Lesnar match is shown
  • “I don’t have any time to be scared of Brock Lesnar.” Rhodes hits the ring for his mic time, some of it in Spanish, and makes his case for calling Lesnar a gatekeeper while vowing to get back on track to finishing his story

  • Nakamura has just one thing to say to Kross: Come on!
  • Matt Riddle thinks he, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have the Bloodline right where they want them for Backlash
  • Shinsuke Nakamura def. Karrion Kross by pinfall
  • A video package provides a closer look at the NXT talent drafted to SmackDown, including Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre, Cameron Grimes, Pretty Deadly and Grayson Waller
  • Adam Pearce welcomes Cameron Grimes to SmackDown but their discussion is interrupted by the non-drafted Baron Corbin, and they end up agreeing to a match next week
  • Zelina Vega and Rey Mysterio def. Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio by pinfall, only to be attacked by The Judgment Day right after the bell, but …
  • … Bad Bunny leads the LWO to the rescue, though his kendo stick shots intended for Damian Priest are intercepted by Dom; Bad Bunny accepts and puts on an LWO shirt to end the show