WWE SmackDown live results: Final Backlash build from Montreal

Date: May 1, 2018
Location: Bell Centre in Montreal, QC

The Big Takeaway —

Following a long week (or weeks) of travel, Smackdown was a talk-heavy show with just three matches, main evented by the women. Asuka picked up the win in a 6-woman tag match.

Daniel Bryan was not on the show. The announcers stated he was held back by trainers, trying to prevent a possible infection in his chest following the beating he took at Greatest Royal Rumble. Graves said Bryan would be back in the ring soon, and they did announce his match with Big Cass for Backlash.

Shinsuke Nakamura gave AJ Styles another low-blow after Samoa Joe issued a warning to Styles that he was coming for the winner of the WWE Title match.

Show Recap — 

Paige was backstage watching the footage of Shane McMahon being launched through the announce table at Greatest Royal Rumble and announced that he won’t be here tonight. She also recapped the events of the WWE Championship match. She announced that the AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura title match at Backlash would be no disqualification.

Miz TV

The Montreal crowd chanted for Maryse, who wasn’t there, and Miz let them know that he took her to Hollywood. He banned Daniel Bryan from Miz TV until further notice as punishment for no-showing last week. He also let Seth Rollins know that he would regain the IC title at Backlash.

Miz introduced Jeff Hardy and asked if he would make a better IC champion than Seth Rollins. Hardy was baffled at the question, then said Miz was better if it meant being obnoxious, annoying and overbearing.

Miz said Hardy disrespected a future hall of famer in Randy Orton and showed a clip of Hardy interrupting him two weeks ago. Miz wondered what Orton might think, then introduced him to the segment. Orton came out before Miz could officially introduce him.

Miz tried to egg on Orton but Orton wasn’t biting and said he wasn’t bothered by what Hardy did. He said they were cool. Miz asked if the crowd liked hearing that and they chanted “Oui.” Miz then brought up Orton being listed ninth on the top ten list. Orton laughed and said he didn’t care and neither did anyone else.

Miz tried to claim that Hardy cost Orton his match last week but Hardy reminded him it was Sunil Singh. Miz told Orton he should give Hardy an RKO but Orton blew him off. Orton told Hardy that he would win the US title at Backlash. Hardy said, “You can try.”

Miz was annoyed that they were getting along when Shelton Benjamin interrupted. Benjamin said Orton doesn’t deserve anything and it should be him that gets the “championship opportunity.” Orton kicked Benjamin as he entered the ring. Miz tried to go after Orton so Hardy made the save. This was a very ordinary segment.

US Champion Jeff Hardy & Randy Orton defeated The Miz & Shelton Benjamin

The match started during a break. The crowd chanted “Brother Nero” and “Olé” as the heels beat up on Orton. Hardy made a hot tag and set up for a Swanton Bomb but Miz distracted him allowing Benjamin to hit a jumping knee strike leading to another break.

As the heels worked over Hardy, the crowd chanted for him and also chanted “you suck” at Miz. Miz did the Bryan running dropkicks and mocked Orton. Hardy managed to make a hot tag and Orton hit Benjamin with a powerslam. He also gave Miz a backdrop onto the announce table and followed with a dropkick to Benjamin.

Orton did a double draping DDT to both Benjamin and Miz. Orton gave Benjamin an RKO and tagged Hardy who gave Benjamin a Swanton Bomb for the win. As Hardy celebrated with his music playing, Orton laid him out with an RKO. A fine match and the crowd popped for the babyface win.

Backstage, Renee Young had an interview scheduled with Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Carmella. However, Carmella wasn’t there. Young asked Kay and Peyton where she was and Royce did her impression of Young, attempting a Canadian accent. Young said her impression was of someone from Minnesota, not Canada, which is way different. (I can confirm this.)  

Royce and Kay bragged about beating Asuka and Young tried to remind them that they didn’t really beat her. They kicked her out and told her to chase a moose. They introduced Carmella who was happy with their introduction. She was confident she would beat Charlotte at Backlash and that the three of them would be victorious tonight. She did a moonwalk out of the frame.

The announcers talked about Bryan’s record-breaking performance at GRR. They said he showed up in Montreal ready to compete but the training staff wouldn’t allow him to wrestle due to a fear of an infection in his chest. They aired Bryan’s post-match interview, which showed off his badly bruised chest.

Bryan said he wasn’t getting tired in the GRR and felt so close to winning. He said he didn’t lose because he was tired, he just couldn’t get Braun Strowman out of the ring. (Bryan clarified that he couldn’t get Strowman out of the ring that particular day, not in general.) Graves said Bryan was probably furious that he wouldn’t be allowed to wrestle tonight but he would be back.

Sheamus and Cesaro walked around with their new Smackdown contracts and they bumped into the New Day. Kofi Kingston reminded them of their loss at GRR. The Bar said they could flatten New Day like pancakes. Xavier Woods used a bell to call in Mr. Bootyworth, their servant who bought them a plate of pancakes.

Woods offered it to the Bar, but they figured it was laced with laxatives or something and they chucked the plate aside. Sheamus wanted a match and a pissed off Big E accepted. However, Sheamus wanted a match with Woods, not Big E, and Woods accepted by quoting Mortal Kombat: “Your soul is mine.”

Rusev and Aiden English were shown backstage and they were approached by Lana, wearing a Happy Rusev Day shirt. The crowd popped big for her. Lana said he came close to beating Undertaker but something was holding him back. Rusev didn’t think so, because there’s a day in his honour every day. English reappeared to grab his coat and it was clear Lana was referring to him.

Big Cass came out for a promo. He ran down Bryan and said we wouldn’t be getting a five-star match at Backlash. He also made fun of submission holds and wondered what a Yes Lock was. I mean, we know what it is. He called out Bryan for a match right now and the announcers reminded us that Bryan wasn’t cleared tonight. Bryan’s music hit and the crowd erupted, but a little person in a wig, fake beard, and Bryan’s gear came out instead.

Cass made a million short jokes as the guy gave him weak kicks to the leg. Cass then introduced the guy as an actor and asked for applause from the crowd for his performance. As he bowed to the crowd, Cass gave him a big boot. Cass hammered away at him and the crowd chanted “asshole.” Referees ran down and Cass left.

Renee Young was in the ring and introduced AJ Styles. The crowd loudly chanted for Styles which made it difficult for Young to ask her question. Styles said he was focused on defending the gold but Nakamura was focused on the wrong jewels.

Young asked if Styles would apologize as Nakamura requested. Styles said Nakamura ruined WrestleMania and took away Styles vs. Bryan. Basically, Styles threatened to leave Nakamura in pieces in their no DQ match. He said if Nakamura wanted an apology, he should come out right now.

That brought out Samoa Joe. I think there was a brief “TNA” chant but Joe talked over them. Joe said Styles was making a spectacle out of himself. Joe said he would end Roman Reigns and thought Brock Lesnar was the rightful champion. Joe said Styles needed to make peace with his upcoming destiny and that was that Joe was coming for the winner of the WWE Title match.

Joe’s music played so there was no response from Styles. As Joe and Styles stared down, Nakamura’s music hit. Joe turned around and got ready for him, but Nakamura suddenly appeared behind Styles and gave him another low-blow. Nakamura taunted Styles then gave him a Kinshasa.

Backstage, Becky Lynch was upset about costing Asuka her first match on Smackdown. Asuka told her to forget about it and they would fight back three times as hard this week. Charlotte said she would teach Carmella a lesson in respect for tonight. Asuka said she was the empress, Charlotte was the queen and Lynch was straight fire. She yelled “Avengers assemble” and left.

Almost 80 minutes into the show, we’ve had one match. Likely to give the performers a break after a long week.

Xavier Woods (w/Big E & Kofi Kingston) defeated Sheamus (w/Cesaro) (7:34)

Woods won with a roll-up after a bunch of distractions outside the ring.

They aired a website video from last week of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville mocking Lynch over costing Asuka her Smackdown debut last week. They said all she was now was Charlotte’s sidekick. Lynch was standing right there and threatened to side-kick their heads off.

Deville and Rose approached Paige backstage and they were all happy to see each other. Deville and Rose thought Paige was going to give them special treatment and a title match. Paige said no, and that Rose would have to face Lynch next week. 

Zelina Vega cut a selfie promo from a parking lot. Vega said everyone wanted to know when Andrade “Cien” Almas would debut, but we would only know that when she decides to let us. She said he would take over Smackdown. Almas finished off by telling us to stay tranquilo.

The announcers ran down the Backlash card. I don’t like single brand PPVs, but watching the Smackdown announcers plug the Raw matches like it’s all the same thing makes you wonder what the point of the brand split is.

6-Woman Tag Match: Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch & Asuka defeated Women’s Champion Carmella & The IIconics (13:35)

Phillips said if Charlotte wins the title, she would tie Trish Stratus’ record of seven title reigns. As Asuka entered, Graves wondered if she would ever win another match.  

Charlotte made a hot tag and hit chops and a suplex to Kay, followed by suplexes to Royce and Carmella. After a distraction, Carmella yanked Charlotte off the ropes and she landed face-first on the post.

As the crowd started a “Let’s go Charlotte” chant, Royce applied a conveniently timed headlock which allowed them to air an inset commercial for Backlash. As soon as the commercial ended, Charlotte came back and tried a Figure Four. Royce kicked her into the corner but that allowed Asuka to tag herself in.

Asuka ran wild on Royce and hit a shining wizard. Asuka used a running hip attack to knock Carmella and Kay off the apron, but that allowed Royce to get a nearfall on a roll-up. Asuka gave Royce a roundhouse kick but Kay broke up the cover.

Lynch gave Kay a diving dropkick, Carmella gave Lynch a superkick, and Charlotte gave Carmella a spear. Charlotte followed with a damn moonsault off the top to the outside, taking out Kay and Carmella. Crowd popped big for that.

Finally, Asuka put Royce in an Asuka Lock for the win. As the babyfaces posed, Carmella backed up the ramp hugging her title.