The WWE Backlash event held in Lyon, France, was meant to be an exciting evening of wrestling action, but it was unfortunately plagued by a series of mistakes and concerning moments that left fans and wrestlers alike scratching their heads.
Michael Cole, the veteran commentator, had a rough night, making multiple mistakes throughout the event. He not only got several names wrong but also referred to Kevin Owens as if he was wrestling himself in the opening match.
To make matters worse, Cole shared a false statistic about AJ Styles, claiming it was his first title match in almost a year, when in fact, he had participated in a fatal four-way match at The Royal Rumble earlier this year.
Another notable botch occurred during the Women’s Tag Team Championship match, where the referee became confused, stopping Kairi Sane from pinning Jade Cargill because he mistakenly thought she wasn’t the legal person.
Despite this, Sane was allowed to remain in the ring and tagged in Asuka, who was actually the illegal person at the time. The match ended with Asuka being pinned, but she wasn’t the legal person, leaving many to wonder if this would affect the championship moving forward.
In the same match, Jade Cargill, who eventually won the Women’s Tag Team Championship, seemed lost mid-match, missing a clothesline and falling to the floor multiple times. Fans speculated that she may have suffered a concussion, which raised concerns about her safety and well-being.
The main event saw Kevin Owens and Randy Orton take on a new possible Bloodline member, but the match was marred by a terrifying moment when Owens delivered a Brainbuster onto multiple steel chairs from the top rope on Tama Tonga, landing awkwardly on his neck. Although he managed to get up and continue the match, it was a chilling reminder of the risks wrestlers take every time they step into the ring.
WWE Backlash was a night to forget for many superstars, with mistakes and near-misses galore. One can only hope that these issues will be addressed and measures will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of wrestlers moving forward.
