WWE Backlash: 5 memorable moments in the history of the pay-per-view
The past four weeks been pretty hectic for the WWE. After presenting probably their biggest ever (and longest) show in WrestleMania 34 on April 7th, WWE took a normal house show in Saudi Arabia to a new level and made it their biggest show outside of USA in over 25 years when they presented the Greatest Royal Rumble on April 27th.
Now, merely 9 days after that humongous event, WWE presents its perennial 'Mania fall-out pay-per-view, Backlash, on May 6th. Pheww! That's a lot of wrestling in such a short span of time. I hope that isn't what WWE meant when they said that they were making changes to their pay-per-view schedule in 2018.
Since 1999, Backlash has been the show that has followed WrestleMania (except 2016, when it followed Summerslam), and is usually the event that features the end of a lot of feuds that started before 'Mania.
Over the years, Backlash has had some of the most memorable and surprising moments. Here are the 5 most memorable moments in the history of pay per view.
#5 Malenko and Scotty steal to show (2000)
How often have we seen a lower mid-card match steal the show in a pay-per-view when the main event of that show was the most important match in the company? Not very frequently, right? However, even in the presence of Rock vs HHH in the main event of Backlash 2000, which is one of the highest grossing B-level pay per view in the history of WWE, it was Dean Malenko vs Scotty 2 Hotty that turned out to be the best match of the night.
'The Man of 1,000 holds' and 'Too Hot' had been at odds with each other for some time, with the two fighting each other in a Tag Match at 'Mania 2000 and in two light heavyweight title matches within a month.
However, they saved their best for Backlash, where they told a phenomenal story. Malenko, the heel champion, targeted Scotty's injured knee, while Scotty, the face, continued fighting back with the crowd completely behind him.
The humongous pop that Scotty got while doing his patented Worm was only bettered by Rock's victory in the night's main event. After a series of close pinfalls, Malenko retained his title in arguably the best match for the now defunct championship.