WWE Backlash

WWE Backlash is a series of professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming events made by WWE. They are usually held in April or May, following WrestleMania.^[1]

WWE Backlash
The 2007 Backlash set
Information
Other name(s)	WrestleMania Backlash (2021–2022) Backlash France (2024)
Promotion(s)	WWE
Brand(s)	Raw (2002–2009, 2018–present) SmackDown (2002–2003, 2007–2009, 2016–present) ECW (2007–2009)
First event	1999
Event gimmick	Big event after WrestleMania (1999–2009, 2021–present)

History

The first event, which happened in 1999 was also supposed to be part of the In Your House series.^[2][3] From 2004 to 2006, only Raw superstars appeared at Backlash. The 2007 event was the first WWE PPV event since Judgment Day 2003 (other than the "big four" shows WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series) to feature all three brands (Raw, SmackDown! and ECW) after WWE stopped with brand-only events.^[4]

After the 2009 edition, Backlash no longer took place, with its April/May slot being taken over by Extreme Rules in 2010.^[5] Backlash returned in 2016 (this was the only edition no to be held in spring) and has taken place yearly since (except in 2019). The 2016 and 2017 editions were exclusive to SmackDown.^[6] The 2021 and 2022 editions were titled WrestleMania Backlash.^[7][8] The following year's event, now simply called Backlash again, took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[9] The 2024 event, titled Backlash France, was the first big WWE show in the country, taking place near Lyon.^[10]

Events

Raw-branded event

SmackDown-branded event

#	Event	Date	City	Venue	Main Event	Ref.
1	Backlash (1999)	April 25, 1999	Providence, Rhode Island	Providence Civic Center	"Stone Cold" Steve Austin (c) vs. The Rock in a No Holds Barred match for the WWF Championship with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee	[3][11][12][1]
2	Backlash (2000)	April 30, 2000	Washington, D.C.	MCI Center	Triple H (c) vs. The Rock for the WWF Championship with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee	[13][14][15]
3	Backlash (2001)	April 29, 2001	Rosemont, Illinois	Allstate Arena	The Two Man Power Trip ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WWF) and Triple H (Intercontinental)) vs. The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane) (Tag Team) in a Winners Take All match for the WWF Championship, WWF Intercontinental Championship, and WWF Tag Team Championship	[16][17][18][19]
4	Backlash (2002)	April 21, 2002	Kansas City, Missouri	Kemper Arena	Triple H (c) vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the Undisputed WWF Championship	[20][21][22]
5	Backlash (2003)	April 27, 2003	Worcester, Massachusetts	Worcester Centrum	Goldberg vs. The Rock	[23][24][25]
6	Backlash (2004)	April 18, 2004	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	Rexall Place	Chris Benoit (c) vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H in a triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship	[26][27][28]
7	Backlash (2005)	May 1, 2005	Manchester, New Hampshire	Verizon Wireless Arena	Batista (c) vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship	[29][30][31]
8	Backlash (2006)	April 30, 2006	Lexington, Kentucky	Rupp Arena	John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Triple H in a triple threat match for the WWE Championship	[32][33][34]
9	Backlash (2007)	April 29, 2007	Atlanta, Georgia	Philips Arena	John Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels in a fatal four-way match for the WWE Championship	[35][36][37]
10	Backlash (2008)	April 27, 2008	Baltimore, Maryland	1st Mariner Arena	Randy Orton (c) vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield vs. John Cena vs. Triple H in a fatal-four-way elimination match for the WWE Championship	[38][39][40]
11	Backlash (2009)	April 26, 2009	Providence, Rhode Island	Dunkin' Donuts Center	John Cena (c) vs. Edge in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship	[41]
12	Backlash (2016)	September 11, 2016	Richmond, Virginia	Richmond Coliseum	Dean Ambrose (c) vs. AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship	[6]
13	Backlash (2017)	May 21, 2017	Rosemont, Illinois	Allstate Arena	Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship	[42]
14	Backlash (2018)	May 6, 2018	Newark, New Jersey	Prudential Center	Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe	[43]
15	Backlash (2020)	June 14, 2020	Orlando, Florida	WWE Performance Center	Edge vs. Randy Orton	[44]
16	WrestleMania Backlash (2021)	May 16, 2021	Tampa, Florida	WWE ThunderDome at Yuengling Center	Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cesaro for the WWE Universal Championship	[7]
17	WrestleMania Backlash (2022)	May 8, 2022	Providence, Rhode Island	Dunkin' Donuts Center	Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) vs. The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso)	[8]
18	Backlash (2023)	May 6, 2023	San Juan, Puerto Rico	Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot	Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar	[9]
19	Backlash France	May 4, 2024	Décines-Charpieu, France	LDLC Arena	Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles for the Undisputed WWE Championship	[10]
20	Backlash (2025)	May 10, 2025	St. Louis, Missouri	Enterprise Center	John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship	[45]
(c) – is the champion(s) going into the match