WWE Backlash 2020: Braun Strowman Retaining And 5 Smart Booking Decisions

WWE Backlash 2020 sure looks like a standard B-level pay-per-view on paper, and it will have the tough task of trying to increase interest in WWE when that is easier said than done.

At a time when both Raw and SmackDown are consistently hovering around historic viewership lows and WWE’s creative team is in a state of flux following the removal of Paul Heyman from his role as Raw Executive Director, WWE has put together what is a mediocre Backlash card and one that’s sorely lacking in the star power department. The event is highlighted by Edge vs. Randy Orton in a match that WWE is oddly billing as one that will be “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever,” as well as Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship, Braun Strowman defending his Universal title in a 2-on-1 handicap match and new Raw Women’s Champion Asuka putting her belt on the line against the controversial Nia Jax.

If that card sounds underwhelming, it’s because it is. In many ways, Backlash feels like it is a placeholder pay-per-view that is simply biding time until fans can return to WWE shows and/or until we near SummerSlam, which is WWE’s next “Big Four” pay-per-view. Especially given that Heyman has now been replaced by Bruce Prichard on Raw, that will likely result in Backlash being yet another run-of-the-mill event without much to write home about, but there are actually some ways to potentially make this pay-per-view a worthwhile one for WWE’s entertainment-hungry fan base.

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In fact, this pay-per-view, if done right, could and should serve as a way to set up much bigger storylines in the future. Here are five smart booking decisions WWE must make at Backlash 2020.

Asuka Retains Her Title

Asuka wasn’t originally supposed to be Raw Women’s Champion, but Becky Lynch’s pregnancy paved the way for her to become just that.

Now, Asuka has instantly gone from heel tag team performer to babyface singles champion, and she’s also essentially the new face of the Raw women’s division. As such, there is no reason why Asuka—who has impressed Vince McMahon as of late—should drop her newly won title to an unexciting performer like Nia Jax, who should serve simply as someone for Asuka to beat in what should turn out to be a lengthy title reign for “The Empress of Tomorrow.”

Though Lynch’s absence may present difficulties for WWE’s women’s division, this is a classic case of WWE needing to ride with the hot hand, and right now, that hot hand is Asuka.

Randy Orton Ties Up His Series With Edge

Why WWE chose to go the “this will be the greatest wrestling match ever” route with Edge vs. Orton is anyone’s guess, and though that tagline has become almost comical at this point, the feud itself continues to be one of the best WWE storylines of the past several years.

Both Orton and Edge have been at the top of their game in terms of delivering elite-level promos, and while their tremendous rivalry hasn’t been a ratings hit the way it was initially, it’s one that, at least logically, shouldn’t end at Backlash. Edge, of course, won at WrestleMania 36, and so the next step in this rivalry is simple: Orton should win at Backlash, setting up a rubber match between the two somewhere down the line, whether at SummerSlam (especially if there are fans there) or another pay-per-view altogether.

There have been very few, if any, storylines in 2020 that have resonated with fans the way that Edge vs. Orton has, and WWE would be making a big mistake if it pulled the plug on this feud prematurely. Orton needs to win at Backlash, and this rivalry needs to become even more intense in route to Edge vs. Orton III.

This match has reportedly already been taped, and though no spoilers about its outcome have leaked, the bout between “The Viper” and “The Rated R Superstar” is said to be a stellar one. Meanwhile, Vince McMahon is said to be keen on pushing stars like Orton, so a win for the future Hall of Famer seems like a shoo-in.

Sheamus Is Proven Innocent

The ongoing angle involving Sheamus and Jeff Hardy has drawn its fair share of criticism for being built around Hardy’s real-life substance issues and for its controversial segment on the latest SmackDown, and at least thus far, it seems obvious that Sheamus is the man behind the attempted frame job.

But what if he isn’t? Sheamus, of course, is the easiest option here, but WWE would make a bigger and bolder move for its future by having someone else be behind the attack on Hardy. Though both Sheamus and Hardy are great talents, “The Celtic Warrior” isn’t at the stage of his career where he needs to be getting a mega heel push, but having a rising heel be revealed as Hardy’s true framer/attacker could be a great way to help ignite a push for an up-and-coming villain who hasn’t really gotten a chance like Sheamus has (numerous times) over the years.

At Backlash, Sheamus and Hardy will do battle in singles action, but since this match is a bit rushed in the first place, the smarter move than giving either star a decisive victory is to use the pay-per-view stage to clear Sheamus’ name and start the build toward identifying the true attacker.

Drew McIntyre Wins, But His Feud With Bobby Lashley Continues

WWE has issued a strange edict for Drew McIntyre to be referred to as “The Star of Monday Night Raw,” a name that is just a bit too much but also proves that he could indeed be the face of Raw for the foreseeable future.

That means that he shouldn’t—and likely won’t—be dropping the WWE title anytime soon, though what has been a surprisingly good feud with Bobby Lashley should continue beyond Backlash. Even though WWE has experienced some obvious ratings woes during McIntyre’s title reign, that really isn’t a reflection on him as he’s performed incredibly well and done a great job of representing the company.

WWE’s tanking viewership is more indicative of the time of the year (ratings always decrease after WrestleMania), a lack of overall star power and a lack of interest due to a combination of both poor storytelling and the difficult-to-watch nature of the audience-less Performance Center shows. WWE needs to ride the wave of momentum McIntyre is on until the time is right, and though Lashley reportedly may be the man to end his reign, Backlash isn’t the time or place.

This feud should be an extended one that continues to revitalize Lashley’s career while also getting McIntyre some much needed babyface sympathy.

Braun Strowman Quickly Dismantles The Miz and John Morrison

Boy oh boy, has this been an underwhelming rivalry or what?

With WWE making the decision to keep Bray Wyatt off TV for the time being and Roman Reigns out of action indefinitely, Braun Strowman really doesn’t have any viable rivals at this stage of his career—certainly not The Miz and John Morrison, who have become midcard comedy performers and aren’t portrayed as capable challengers in the WWE title scene.

There is little, if any, doubt that Miz and Morrison are in this match at Backlash to give Strowman a dominant win and potentially set the stage for a reignited rivalry between Strowman and Wyatt, and truth be told, that’s exactly what should happen. Anything other than a quick and decisive win for Strowman would be both a surprise and a questionable booking move that could further hinder Strowman’s already struggling momentum as champion.