WWE Blacklash 2023 – Match card, rumours and start time
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Now the dust has settled somewhat – and in before the Backlash – we can have a good look at what went down at WrestleMania Saturday and WrestleMania Sunday in 2023.
It's fair to say that Saturday won the WWE some of its greatest ever notices, and Sunday wasn't too far off.
Related: Is wrestling real or fake? All your WWE questions answered
It was the main event though that split opinion. Surely after his Royal Rumble victory Cody Rhodes should have won the big one?
More on that later, but for now it's worth noting that after his defeat he doesn't have a rematch. Instead, Cody is going head-to-head with none other than The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar at Backlash. Yikes.
Related: Who should dethrone Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion?
There's also plenty more excitement on the bill for Backlash 2023, which takes place at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday, May 6, 2023 with a start time of 8pm ET/5pm PT (1am in the UK ).
A one hour kick-off show would starts at 7pm ET/4pm PT (Midnight pm in the UK each night).
What's the full match card and predictions for WWE Backlash 2023?
WWE SmackDown Women's Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs Zelina Vega
Given her Puerto Rican heritage, Zelina Vega pretty much demanded a title shot when the venue for Backlash was set.
And knowing what tells a good story, the WWE gave her one.
But while Zelina is a serious talent that no-one, least of all Rhea Ripley, should be taking lightly, we don't think she's got what it takes to knock Mami off her perch.
PREDICTION: Rhea Ripley
WWE Raw Women's Championship: Bianca Belair vs Iyo Sky
Yes, we've been predicting the downfall of Bianca Belair for a little while now, and yes, she keeps making complete fools of us.
Apparently though, we never learn, and despite their downs and ups, we've got a feeling that post-WrestleMania 39, Damage CTRL are really going to start coming into their own.
That means winning gold, and doing it in style with the WWE Raw Women's Championship with a well-assisted Iyo Sky victory.
How any singles win affects the team dynamic will be an interesting one.
PREDICTION: Iyo Sky
WWE United States Championship: Austin Theory (c) vs Bobby Lashley vs Bronson Reed [Triple Threat Match]
Austin Theory has well and truly shrugged off the idea that he's some sort of joke.
No, it wasn't clean, and no, it wasn't pretty, but he beat John Cena on the grandest stage of them all, and there aren't many wrestlers who can say that.
And while champions' advantage goes out the window in a triple threat match, we think that Theory is wiley enough to let Lashley and Reed take lumps out of each other and then pick up the pieces.
PREDICTION: Austin Theory
Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar
Back to that controversial Roman Reigns victory at WrestleMania.
A win for Cody Rhodes would have capped off his decades-in-the-making story, doing what his dad Dusty never could, making good on all the potential and promise he sparked into being when he bravely walked out of the WWE.
But it wasn't to be... bad fortune and The Bloodline meant he was robbed of victory, and any thought of an instant rematch was put out the window straight away.
Instead, a beatdown by Brock Lesnar on the Raw after WrestleMania poured salt into the wound.
So Cody Rhodes has to pull himself back up that mountain once more, and – aside from his admittedly serious injury – this feels like the first real setback the American Nightmare has suffered since his WWE return.
We're backing him to come out on top, and while Brock won't take it lying down, we're also backing Cody to eventually win this feud and have another, more successful crack at the Head of the Table.
Should he overcome adversity on his way to the WWE Championship, it'll make his victory all the more sweet.
PREDICTION: Cody Rhodes
Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn vs The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso) [Six Man Tag Match]
Roman Reigns wasn't deposed at WrestleMania 39, but on night one Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens successfully dethroned Jimmy and Jey Uso.
The Usos had held on to the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship with an iron grip for the past few years, but their luck eventually ran out when faced with the best frenemies in all the world.
Again there's no immediate rematch at Backlash. Instead a returning Matt Riddle, who was put on the shelf by Solo Sikoa, has joined forces with SZ and KO.
So there's no gold on the line, but a six-man-tag match filled with talent, strength, veteran skills and enough bad blood to fill a river.
We can't wait, and we think that the good guys are going to stamp down their authority, too.
PREDICTION: Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn
Bad Bunny vs Damien Priest [San Juan Street Fight]
Bad Bunny is up there with Logan Paul as one of the most incredible natural talents to ever step foot into the squared circle.
What's more, he's a much nicer character to get behind, and that's what everyone in Puerto Rico (and many of us beyond) will be doing on Saturday night when he goes head to head with Damian Priest.
Rhea Ripley will have other things on her mind, but you'll fancy Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio sticking their noses in.
But Bad Bunny will likely have some help from Dominik's Papi to even up the numbers game, and that'll be enough to give him a famous victory, especially with the hometown stipulation.
PREDICTION: Bad Bunny
Seth 'Freakin' Rollins vs Omos
Seth Rollins was nonplussed when this match was announced out of nowhere, and the feeling is that surely it must be an easy win for the ex-Shield man.
But while he's still somewhat green in the ring, you can't argue with the sheer size and power of Omos, and with MVP by his side he'll have someone who knows it all helping him out.
So we're predicting something of a shock here. It won't be a technical masterclass, but Omos will surprise a few people come Saturday night, including Seth 'Freakin' Rollins.
PREDICTION: Omos
What date and start time is WWE Backlash 2023 the UK?
WWE Backlash 2023 takes place in the UK at 1am on the morning of Sunday, May 7, 2023.
A one-hour kick-off show starts at Midnight.
What date and start time is WWE Backlash 2023 in the US?
WWE Backlash 2023 has a projected start time of 8pm ET/5pm PT on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
A one-hour kick-off show starts at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
How do I watch WWE Backlash 2023 ?
The venue for WWE Backlash 2023 is the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico and tickets are available now.
If you're not making the trip, you can watch on the WWE Network (direct in the UK, or via Peacock in the US) which we highly recommend, or if you don't have a fast and reliable internet connection, the more traditional – and expensive – pay-per-view.
How do I live stream WWE Backlash 2023 on the WWE Network?
To watch the premium tier for live PPVs, which includes WWE Backlash 2023, the WWE Network is priced at £9.99 per month in the UK – first-time subscribers get a month free.
You can access it via the following platforms and devices – click for info on how to access with each app:
In the US, to access the WWE Network you need to subscribe to Peacock after the WWE signed a deal in 2021 to give the NBC service exclusive access. It'll only set you back $4.99, and you get oodles of other content too.
You can sign up for Peacock here.
How do I watch WWE Backlash 2023 on WWE pay-per-view in the UK?
You can buy WWE PPVs in the UK via BT Sport Box Office, after a deal was struck in 2019 that saw UK broadcast rights for WWE move from Sky to BT Sport starting January 2020.
How do I watch WWE Backlash 2023 on WWE pay-per-view in the US?
You can only watch WWE PPVs in the US via Peacock.
What are your predictions for WWE Backlash 2023?
Let us know at @digitalspywwe. Catch up on Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all the big WWE action via the WWE Network or BT Sport.
You Might Also Like
