Backlash 2006 Review

Sunday, April 30th
Rupp Arena
Lexington, Kentucky

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Chris Masters vs. Carlito

I should note that the intro video to the show is another well done video package. They always do such a great job of setting the tone for the evening. Then they have Chris Masters come out. Masters hits Carlito with a right hand and then uses Carlito's shirt to choke him. Masters hits a buckle bomb into the corner while King tries to sell us on the fact that winning this match is a big deal. Masters is dominating the majority of this one, which is a little surprising. Carlito gets a nearfall with a roll up and then hits a springboard reverse elbow. Carlito grabs his apple and tosses it across the ring to distract Masters, then hits him with a dropkick to the legs. Carlito hits the Back Cracker and uses the ropes to score the victory over Masters. This was pretty pedestrian, but far from bad. 

Match Rating: **

We go to Maria and they show a video package of fans being interviewed about who they think will win the main event later. In walks Lita and she makes fun of the fans. 

Umaga vs. Ric Flair

Umaga starts attacking Flair before he gets to the ring. Flair sneaks in a thumb to the eye and a low blow to slow down Umaga. Flair avoids a splash in the corner and then again outside the ring against the ring post and steps. Flair finally gets Umaga down with a chop block, but Umaga kicks out of the Figure Four. He puts Flair in the tree of woe and hits a running headbutt. Umaga hits the Samoan Spike and Flair gets squashed. Kudos to Flair for being game and putting Umaga over big time. The crowd still isn't sure what to think of Umaga, but it's becoming pretty clear that he's a lot more impressive than a lot of the wrestlers who get this type of push. 

Match Rating: *1/2

Vince is backstage telling Shane that there's nothing that God can't do that he can't do. He pours some water on the floor and calls it walking on water. This seemed to go on forever and was making me want to doze off. 

WWE Women's Championship Match

Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus

Trish sticks it to Mickie early on. Trish takes Mickie out of the ring and hits a running Lou Thesz Press onto the floor. Trish goes for some punches in the corner and Mickie pushes her out of the ring. Trish takes a nasty looking spill. Trish gets back in the ring and the referee gives the injured sign. Mickie gets in some pinfall attempts to stall. Mickie starts choking her and the ref calls for the bell. This was the audible they called for Trish, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in that nasty fall. The match was off to a good start. I wish we would have gotten what was going to happen. 

Match Rating: *

Shawn Michaels is with Maria and he says that the lord is with him, as always. 

Winner Takes All Match For The Intercontinental Championship & Money In The Bank Briefcase

Shelton Benjamin vs. Rob Van Dam

This is one of those matches that are booked solely on the fact that they are both unique and amazing athletes. RVD is super over with the live crowd here tonight. Things start off slowly with lots of pauses between moves. RVD gets some offense going and hits a dive to the outside. Not to be outdone, Shelton hits a sunset flip powerbomb from the ring apron. RVD goes for Rolling Thunder, but Shelton counters it into a Samoan drop. That was a nice little move there. Shelton also hits a superplex after leaping up on the top rope. RVD makes his comeback and hits some quick offense. This leads to him finally hitting Rolling Thunder, but Shelton kicks out at 2. He hits a split-legged moonsault, but again Shelton is able to escape before the 3 count. Shelton lands on his feet from a monkey flip, but Van Dam hits a heel kick. He goes upstairs, but Shelton avoids the 5 Star Frog Splash and then hits RVD with a DDT. The ref takes a minor bump and the briefcase gets involved. RVD tosses it and hits a kick into Shelton's face behind the ref's back. He hits the 5 Star Frog Splash and wins the Intercontinental Championship. This was a good match, but not as good as I was hoping for. 

Match Rating: ***1/4

Big Show says that he doesn't care what happened in Kane's life on May 19th, he said it's an eye for an eye. 

Kane vs. Big Show

Lilian Garcia stood outside the ring here for the ring introductions. Kane dominates from the get go and the match itself is not off to a good start. I guess I should start writing about it. Kane goes off the top rope, but Big Show catches him. Big Show gets a few moves in, but when he goes for the chokeslam, Kane counters it into the DDT. The red lights turn on and we all hear the voices in Kane's head. Kane starts slamming his head into the turnbuckles. Big Show then hits him with a chair to the head and shows remorse before walking to the back. So we have no official announcement here and then go back to Vince. The match here was poor. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Vince is with Candice Michelle and she has a chest cold. She wants him to heal her and she insists on him grabbing her where the source is. This is among the worst skits you will ever see. 

No Holds Barred Match

Shane McMahon & Vince McMahon vs. God & Shawn Michaels

Vince introduces God and they have a spotlight that walks down the aisle. Vince then announces that this is a No Holds Barred match. Vince tells Shawn that they're going straight to hell, so Shawn slaps him and we're underway. Michaels starts off hot and hits a diving crossbody on Vince and then a diving somersault onto Shane. Shawn and Shane start battling up on the stage and Shane goes for a piledriver off the stage, but Shawn hits a back body drop. Shawn shoves Shane into the Backlash stage and then hits a crossbody onto Vince, which sends them crashing off the stage and into a wooden platform. As Shawn is walking back up the stairs to the stage, Shane nails him with a chair to the face. Shawn is now completely busted open. Shane brings him back to the ring, but misses with a top rope elbow. Vince hits Shawn with a garbage can to the head and then announces that God has left the building. Vince goes for a "superkick", but Shawn catches it and then hits the flying forearm. Shane comes in and goes for a chair shot, but Shawn ducks and he hits Vince. Shawn hits the top rope elbow drop and then hits Sweet Chin Music on both McMahons. Shawn goes under the ring and grabs a couple of tables to bring into the ring. He sets up both McMahons on the tables and then grabs a huge ladder. As he's climbing, the Spirit Squad is out and he instead leaps to the floor to take them out. The Squad recovers and starts destroying Shawn. They drive Shawn through the table and that's enough for the McMahons to get the victory. For what this was, this was entertaining. The first half of the match in particular was a fun garbage brawl. The whole God stuff was lame, but everything else delivered.

Match Rating: ***1/2

John Cena is backstage and he's going to be champion after tonight. 

Matt Striker is out for some reason. He introduces one of the smartest men to ever come out of Kentucky, Eugene. He asks Eugene to spell his name on the board and he writes "loves poop" after Matt Striker's name. Eugene then makes Striker eat his booger and gives him a Stunner. 

Triple Threat Match For The WWE Championship

Edge vs. Triple H vs. John Cena

Edge starts off to the side, trying to outsmart his two opponents. Cena and Triple H pull him in and team up to knock him out of the ring. They one up each other outside the ring by slamming his head into the announce table. Cena goes off the top rope and hits a splash for a 2 count on Edge. Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Lita pulls down the top rope and Cena goes over the top. Triple H throws him into the steps and goes inside to work on Edge. Cena comes in and tries to hit a double FU, but Edge slips off and hits Cena with a Spear with Triple H on his back. Edge attacks Triple H outside the ring and Triple H is busted open. He then hits an Edgecution on the announce table and of course it doesn't break. I have to say I forgot how bad Triple H bleeds in this one. Edge hits a missile dropkick on Cena for a nearfall. Cena is able to lock in the STFU on Edge, but then Triple H hits Cena in the head with a microphone. Triple H then wails Edge with a chair, sending him into the fans. Cena locks in the STFU now on Triple H. Triple H somehow powers his way to the ropes. Cena goes for the FU, Triple H counters into the Pedigree, but Cena counters that into the STFU again. Edge climbs the ropes, Cena sees him and Cena releases the hold to attack him. Cena has him up for a FU, but Triple H got underneath Cena and we have a tower of doom. The referee got knocked down, which is unnecessary since this is already no disqualifications. Lita gets involved and almost has some really bad luck. Triple H hits her with a spinebuster, but the chair she has in her hands almost took a really unlucky bounce and could have done some damage. Triple H pulls out the sledgehammer, but as he's coming in to use it on Cena, Edge hits a Spear. Cena gets Edge up for the FU, but Triple H hits him with a low blow. Triple H goes for a Pedigree, but Cena counters it into a pinfall and retains his WWE Championship in a fantastic match. I like triple threat matches more than most, but this one was constructed perfectly and was non-stop action. After the match, Triple H takes out Edge, Cena and the ref with the sledgehammer. Triple H's music plays as we go off the air.

Match Rating: ****1/2

Like a lot of the brand exclusive shows, there are portions that just feel like the weekly show. Fortunately, this show did deliver one of of the best main events on a non-big four show here probably of the decade. The McMahon/Michaels stuff was of course ridiculous, but also entertaining. Shelton and RVD also had a good enough match here to anchor the undercard. The rest was for the most part pretty uninspired, but the main event is absolutely worth watching. 

Overall Rating: 69%