WWE Backlash 2016: Reading Between the Lines of Each Match

Styles finally won the gold!

 In the first-brand exclusive pay-per-view since the Brand Split, Smackdown Live’s pay-per-view WWE Backlash brought a whole new look to the Smackdown brand, crowning three new champions in Becky Lynch, Heath Slater and Rhyno, and new WWE World Champion AJ Styles.

Becky Lynch became the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion, besting five other women in an entertaining six-pack challenge that opened the show. Heath Slater and Rhyno’s unexpected run as a`tag team reached its pinnacle, as the team became the inaugural Smackdown Tag Team Champions.

But, most notable of all, AJ Styles became WWE World Champion in a spectacular match with Dean Ambrose. These were the focal points of WWE Backlash, but what did other matches contribute to the show?

Here is reading between the lines of each match from WWE Backlash.

Note: I will not be including Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews, but despite the lack of build, it was a fun match between two highly underutilised talents, and it was a great way of adding an additional bout to the card.