WWE Backlash (May 2005)

Original Airdate: May 1, 2005

From Manchester, New Hampshire; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

Opening WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Shelton Benjamin v Chris Jericho: They trade waistlocks to trigger a reversal sequence that ends in Shelton hooking a backslide for two, then armdragging his challenger into an armbar. Chris counters to a standing wristlock, so Shelton uses the top rope as a springboard to reverse, so Jericho revises his strategy: simply slapping the taste out of the champion's mouth. That leads to a scuffle on the mat that Chris controls with some chops, but a backdrop over the top is countered with a sunset bomb, then countered back by Jericho with a rana on the outside. These two are bringing it thus far. Now firmly in control, Jericho drops him on the rail out there, then rolls him for a sloppy vertical suplex for two. More time spent in the gym and less on the hair might help with that, Chrissy. Reverse chinlock applied, so Shelton escapes with a diving double-ax, but gets cutoff with a baseball slide from the challenger. Cross corner whip is reversed to allow Benjamin a side suplex, and he unloads a few chops of his own, but walks into a bulldog. Lionsault, but Shelton pops up and shoves him out to the apron to block, then brings him back in with an impressive pop-up superplex. That was a helluva move. It only gets two, however. Flapjack gets two, and Shelton works a chinlock, but Jericho escapes - a double clothesline leaving both men looking up at the lights. The crowd enthusiastically counts along with the referee, and Shelton tries a cross corner splash as they get up, but Jericho dodges, and a drop-toehold sets Shelton up for a straddling ropechoke - only for Benjamin to counter with a Samoan drop for two. He tries (and misses) the cross corner splash again, and this time Jericho punctuates it with an enzuigiri for two. Criss cross ends in Benjamin delivering a nice springboard bulldog for two, but an Oklahoma roll is reversed for two, and Chris tries for the Walls. Shelton blocks, so Jericho shifts into a slingshot instead - only for Benjamin to land on the middle rope, and dive back at him - landing into his T-Bone suplex for a pair of two counts. Back to the T-Bone, but this time Jericho blocks, so Shelton throws a spinheel kick, but Jericho has it scouted and counters into the Walls! Great sequence there! Shelton gets the ropes (drawing eager 'boos' from the hot crowd), and Jericho stays on him, but Shelton fires off an inverted enzuigiri for two. Rana, but Jericho dodges and tries the Lionsault, so Shelton lifts his knees to block - causing Jericho to reroute in midair to land on his feet and grab Benjamin's extended legs for the Walls. That leads to a pinfall reversal sequence that ends in Benjamin hooking a somersault cradle to retain at 14:38. Quite an opener, there! Loaded with great counter sequences, and had the hot crowd totally rocking throughout - though the execution was maybe not as crisp as it could have been. Off to a good start, I'd say. ****

Tag Team Turmoil Match: William Regal and Tajiri v The Heart Throbs: Regal and Tajiri are the World Tag Team Champions at this point, but only the final bout in the Turmoil is for the title. Regal starts with Romeo, and gets trapped in a headlock, then shoulderblocked down for two. Romeo keeps on the headlock, but Regal is able to armdrag him into a wristlock, but Romeo reverses, and tags out. Antonio keeps the wristlock going, so Regal utilizes a drop-toehold, then passes to Tajiri for a baseball slide. Hiptoss sets up weird cradle where Tajiri essentially pins himself for two, so he tries again, and it turns out he was going for a double-underhook suplex. Not sure how that got fucked up, but there it was. Standing moonsault follows, so Romeo takes a cheap shot, and the Heart Throbs cut the ring in half on Tajiri. They don't even bother with the hot tag, however, as Tajiri just puts Antonio away with a sunset cradle at 3:09. Okay then. ½*

Tag Team Turmoil Match: William Regal and Tajiri v Maven and Simon Dean: Could JR sound any less excited to see this team? Not that I blame him. An actor on the level of Marlon Brando would have a hard time faking excitement for Maven. They keep the heat segment on Tajiri going, but Maven gets cocky, and Regal gets the tag. He's a pub of fire, and Dean is done at 2:21. DUD

Tag Team Turmoil Match: William Regal and Tajiri v La Resistance: La Resistance jump both guys on the floor and double up on them, but Tajiri is able to springboard backelbow them both off, and spinheel kick Sylvain Grenier. Tag to Regal for a tandem hiptoss, and Regal unloads a series of uppercuts for two. The champs work Grenier over with quick tags, but Regal walks into a knee, and Robert Conway gets the tag. They briefly cut the ring in half on Regal, but he's in no mood, and Tajiri comes in for a four-way brawl without even bothering to wait for the tag. If that's allowed, why not do it in every damned tag match? Doesn't matter anyway, as Regal gets rolled up with a handful of tights at 2:57. DUD

World Tag Team Title Match: La Resistance v The Hurricane and Rosey: Hurricane comes in with a flying bodypress on Grenier for two, and a neckbreaker gets two. Headscissors, but Grenier is able to dump him over the top to block, where Conway is ready with a cheap shot. Back in, they cut the ring in half on Hurricane until Grenier misses a 2^nd rope elbowdrop, and both guys tag. Rosey is a lair of fire, and he and Hurricane grab the tag title at 4:05. I've always hated the Tag Team Turmoil concept, and this is no exception. At least, in the years prior, they had actual marquee teams, and the concept was a logical (albeit flawed) way to showcase them. But why even bother with this crop of teams? This also served to bore the crowd after the hot opener got them going. ¼*

Last Man Standing Match: Edge v Chris Benoit: Edge tries a attacking as Benoit enters the ring, but Chris is ready for it, and sweeps him off his feet for some mounted punches. Benoit unloads a series of knees to the head, then follows with a turnbuckle smash to neutralize Edge for some chops in the corner. Edge turns things around, and uses a bodyslam to setup the Spear, but Benoit is ready with a drop-toehold to block. Running forearm smash follows, but Edge beats the count, so Chris goes for the Crippler Crossface - Edge in the ropes. Benoit punishes him with more knees, but a side suplex is blocked with some rights, and Edge goes to the outside to grab a trashcan, so Benoit knocks it away from him with a baseball slide. They spill into the crowd for a quickie brawl, then back into the ring Chris slaps on a sharpshooter - Edge tapping. However, there are no submissions, so referee Earl Hebner refuses to ring the bell. That must have taken but all of his willpower. The visual win there should also telegraph who's winning this, too. Chris lets off and delivers a five-alarm rolling German suplex, and Edge wisely rolls to the floor - though the referee continues to count him out anyway. Hmm, I thought these things could only end inside of the ring, but then I guess they change the rules to suit their whims anyway. Chris dives out after him with a tope, so Edge swats him out of the air with a trashcan lid - a spot that looks more impressive the less you think about it. That's what makes those great wrestling weapons though, as they look and sound great, without actually killing the guy. Benoit beats the count, and back in, Edge superplexes him onto a trashcan. Benoit beats the count, so Edge beats the piss out of him with the remnants of the can, then brings a ladder into the ring. Bodyslam neutralizes Benoit so that Edge can climb, but he takes his sweet time (which looked horrible, given that he was moving at normal speed just moments before... is the ladder covered in molasses, or something?), and ends up getting German suplexed off of the thing. Nice spot. Chris with another release German for good measure, and he scales the ladder for a sick flying headbutt off the top - made considerably more sick when he misses. Edge grabs his Money in the Bank briefcase to finish him off, but gets countered into the Crossface - tapping again. Poor Hebner, this must be killing him! Chris lets off, but he's still battered from the missed headbutt, and both are left taking the count. Chris is up first for a three-alarm rolling German, but Edge counters the second alarm into a DDT onto the case! That was a nice little sequence there. Benoit beats the count, so Edge Spears him down, but Chris beats it again. Another Spear, but Benoit just won't stay down, so Edge produces a brick from inside of the briefcase, and clobbers Chris for the win at 18:00. This was good, but there was too much focus on brawling for two guys who so excel at wrestling, and the flow was regularly disrupted by the counts - an inherent problem with this match type. ***

Kane v Viscera: Lita is in Kane's corner, and Trish Stratus is in Viscera's - both guys essentially proxy’s for their feud. Viscera wins a slugfest to start, but misses an avalanche (it would have been more shocking if he actually hit it, given how slowly he was moving), and Kane big boots him out of the ring. Kane follows with a flying shoulderblock that Viscera is nearly out of position for, and inside Kane drops a series of elbows and adds a legdrop for two. Sign in the crowd: "Lita is the trick of the trade." Heh. Viscera manages a spinkick, then stops to make thrusting motions in Trish's direction - perhaps his best spot of the match thus far. Bodyslam and an avalanche setup a Samoan drop for two, and a spinning scrapbuster is worth two. Backdrop, but Viscera telegraphs it, and Kane is able to counter with a DDT, then follow with a flying clothesline. Chokeslam, but Viscera elbows free, and clotheslines him over the top - only to miss an avalanche into the post. That draws Trish over with a chair to save, but Lita smacks it back into her face with her crutch. Kane with another flying clothesline on the way back in, but Viscera counters with a sitout chokeslam for two. Lita runs in, so Viscera literally tries to rape her in the corner, but Kane saves with a boot. Thank God. Chokeslam finishes at 6:07. This wasn't good by any means, but it was surprisingly decent given my expectations going in, and the Trish/Lita stuff helped keep it interesting. *

Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan v Muhammad Hassan and Daivari: Shawn bouncing along with Hogan's entrance routine is fucking hilarious. The crowd is really into him, too. Stalling to start, as the heels cower on the floor. Things finally get started with Hogan and Hassan, and Hulk overpowers him through the initial lockup, then grabs a standing side-headlock. Hulk throws him around for a bit, so he defers to Daivari, but Hulk kills them both. Tag to Shawn for a tandem big boot on Hassan, and Daivari tags back in - Michaels delivering a series of chops and a backdrop. Tag to Hogan for a tandem backelbow, and he dumps Daivari to the outside for a shot into the rail and post. Inside, Hulk chokes him out - which looks awkward given that Daivari is half his size. It's one thing to resort to cheap stuff against an evil heel who's bigger, but with a relative midget like Daivari, Hulk should have no problem dominating him. Back to Shawn for a diving double-ax and an inverted atomic drop, followed by a bodyslam to setup a flying elbowdrop. Superkick, but Hassan is ready with a cheap shot to stop it, and they cut the ring in half on Michaels in rather dull fashion. That brings on a 'USA' chant, and the guy with the Lita sign from earlier impresses again with a "but they're FROM the USA" sign. Someone sign this guy to creative, stat, or at least subscribe to his newsletter. Shawn is able to escape a camel clutch with an electric chair, but takes forever getting to Hogan - causing Daivari to have to come in at half speed to cover for the gaffe. Big boot and a Superkick finish Daivari at 15:20. Basically just an extended squash, but the crowd was into it, and it delivered what it was supposed to. ¾*

Main Event: World Heavyweight Title Match: Batista v Triple H: I'm not much of a lip reader, but I'm pretty sure Triple H is saying "You want to fuck me? Look into these eyes, I'm not hollow! I'm not fucking hollow!" during the stare down. He goes for the Pedigree right away, but Batista blocks. HHH tries again, but Batista counters into the Batista Bomb, but HHH blocks. Here's a thought: maybe stop repeatedly trying for a finisher in the first minute? Batista reverses a cross corner whip to setup a backdrop, but HHH goes for the Pedigree yet again, so this time Batista backdrops him out of the ring. Again, maybe try even a single token offensive move first, Game. To the outside, HHH manages a spinebuster into the rail, and he adds a vertical suplex on the floor. Back in, HHH works the back, so Batista goes for the Bomb again, but HHH blocks by swiping at the back. What is this obsession with hitting a finisher so early? They're like two kids with a videogame cheat code, or something. Batista tries slugging back, but walks into another spinebuster for a series of three two counts. You know, there's trying to wear a guy down by forcing him to kickout multiple times, and then there's egotistically thinking you'll actually pin him if you keep trying, and this was the latter. Batista manages to reverse Hunter in the corner, and hits a sidewalk slam before clotheslining him over the top. He follows for a whip into the steps, then back in, whips Hunter into the corner to setup a front-powerslam. Bomb time, so Ric Flair passes Hunter the title belt, and he wallops the champ with it for a dramatic two. The crowd was totally buying that as the finish, but honestly, belt shots haven't been legit finishes since the late 90s. Pedigree, but Batista backdrops out - only to clobber the referee on the follow-up. That allows Hunter the Pedigree, but of course, now there's no referee. And like earlier, the visual pinfall should telegraph who's winning here. Another referee runs in as Hunter sets up a second Pedigree, but Batista is able to counter with a spinebuster this time. Backdrop, but HHH counters with a kneeling facebuster for two. Pedigree, but Batista counters with a corner whip, and adds a series of three corner clotheslines. The new referee ends up going down as Batista sets up the Bomb, and Flair runs in to allow HHH to counter to the Pedigree, but Batista counters with a slingshot. Bomb, but HHH blocks by blowing him low, but stupidly goes for a ten-punch, and the Bomb finishes him at 16:27. I half thought they'd do a Dusty Finish with the two referees to setup another rematch, but thankfully that was not the case. This was decent for what it was, though not quite on par with the (not particularly impressive) WrestleMania match. * ¼

BUExperience: The opener is outstanding and the Last Man Standing match is good as well, but overall this one falls flat. Had the main event delivered more, or had there at least been another strong undercard match, or any historical significance I could see a recommendation, but as is it’s a decent card that’s entirely forgettable in the grand scheme of things.

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