SK Exclusive: No title changes at Backlash; plenty of changes on Raw
What's the story?
While no title changes are currently booked for SmackDown's Backlash PPV, the Raw brand is due for plenty, with every title, except the WWE Universal Championship, set to change before SummerSlam. The story was broken by The Dirty Sheets Podcast on the DS Breaking News Show, which you can listen to below.
In case you didn't know...
Brock Lesnar is the current Universal Champion, while Dean Ambrose is the present Intercontinental Champion. The Hardy Boyz are the Tag Team Champions on Raw and The Usos are the current Tag Team holders on Smackdown.
Randy Orton is the present WWE Champion and will defend his title against Jinder Mahal at Backlash.
The heart of the matter
While enquiring about the Backlash results for this Sunday, I was told that no title changes were set for Sunday's show. However, I was also told that every single Raw title would be changing before SummerSlam, with the exception of the WWE Universal Title. This means that Dean Ambrose, Alexa Bliss, Neville and the Hardyz will all lose their titles prior to SummerSlam in Brooklyn.
The source added, “SmackDown's champions are more long-term than Raw, especially Orton. Owens and Styles are going to be a series, they want to get to Usos vs The New Day and the long term goal is to get the SmackDown Women's Title onto Charlotte.”
He added, "over on Raw, everyone is going to drop their belts. Alexa's run was meant to be something for Bayley to do until they do Bayley vs Sasha. But they are so happy with Alexa, that could change. But, Ambrose, Neville and The Hardyz are definitely dropping their belts. You may have noticed, Matt and Jeff are winning all their singles matches, as they want to protect them for singles pushes."
What's next?
SmackDown's Backlash PPV goes down this Sunday and Raw's next PPV will be Extreme Rules on June 4th.
Author's Take
The titles don't mean that much these days, however, Neville is an example of how the right person can make the title relevant, proving that other acts can improve the status of the title if given a credible run.
Therefore, this why I'm completely against Alexa Bliss being pencilled in to lose her title, just to get to a Sasha vs Bayley feud, which personally doesn't excite me. I hope the source is correct and that the WWE let their happiness with Alexa over-ride their plans.
I have no issues with any of the other title changes, especially Dean Ambrose, who I do not consider to be a good Intercontinental Champion. I also have no issues with the much less "hot shot" plans over on SmackDown.