History Wrestling / Backlash

* AHeroToHisHometown: Backlash 2023 focused on this due to it taking place in UsefulNotes/PuertoRico, with the audience rooting for Puerto Rican born [[Wrestling/TheaTrinidad Zelina Vega]] [[note: Vega was born in Queens, New York City, U.S and is of Puerto Rican descent.]] and Music/BadBunny.

* AHeroToHisHometown: Backlash 2023 focused on this due to it taking place in UsefulNotes/PuertoRico, with the audience rooting for Puerto Rican born [[Wrestling/TheaTrinidad Zelina Vega]] and Music/BadBunny.

* SuddenDeath: In 2001, this happens in the 30-minute Ultimate Submission match between Wrestling/ChrisBenoit and Wrestling/KurtAngle, in which Benoit wins at 4-3.

** Wrestling/MattHardy was undefeated at this event until 2009[[note]]Though he had actually lost to Val Venis at the 2004 event's pre-show[[/note]].

* AHeroToHisHometown: Backlash 2023 focused on this due to it taking place in Puerto Rico, with the audience rooting for Puerto Rican born Zelina Vega and Bad Bunny.

** 2000: Crash Holly vs. Wrestling/MattHardy vs. Wrestling/JeffHardy vs. [[Wrestling/BobHolly Hardcore Holly]] vs. Wrestling/PerrySaturn vs. Wrestling/{{Tazz}} for the WWF Hardcore Championship.

*** Wrestling/MattHardy vs. Wrestling/{{Christian}} vs. Wrestling/EddieGuerrero for the WWF European Championship.

** 2004: Wrestling/ChrisBenoit vs. Wrestling/TripleH vs. Wrestling/ShawnMichaels in the rematch from ''Wrestling/WrestleMania XX''.
** 2006: Wrestling/JohnCena vs. Wrestling/TripleH vs. Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}}.
** 2007: Wrestling/JohnCena vs. Wrestling/ShawnMichaels vs. Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} vs. Wrestling/RandyOrton.
** 2008: Wrestling/RandyOrton vs. Wrestling/TripleH vs. Wrestling/JohnCena vs. [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]].
** 2020: Wrestling/{{Bayley}} and Wrestling/SashaBanks vs. Wrestling/AlexaBliss and Wrestling/NikkiCross vs. [[Wrestling/PeytonRoyce The]] [[Wrestling/BillieKay IIconics]] for the Women's Tag Team Championships.

*** Wrestling/RheaRipley vs. [[Wrestling/KanakoUrai Asuka]] vs. Wrestling/CharlotteFlair for the WWE Raw Women's Championship.

** 2023: Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed for the WWE United States Championship.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: In the 2023 event, the Zelina Vega vs Rhea Ripley match had Zelina being given a slipper as a weapon, to which the Puerto Rico fans reacted with raucous cheers.[[note]]For those not in the know, the slipper, or ''la chancla'' was used by mothers to knock sense into their children if they misbehaved[[/note]]

** 2023: Austin Theory (c) vs. Wrestling/BobbyLashley vs. Bronson Reed for the WWE United States Championship.

Backlash is a Wrestling/{{WWE}} pay-per-view event that was created in 1999. The event is held at every April (2005 and 2016 being the exception). Started as an ''In Your House'' event (and the 28th and final event of the ''In Your House'' PPV series), ''Backlash'' was rebranded as an annual PPV event for WWE in 2000. During the brand-extension, the event was made exclusive to ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Raw]]'' in 2004 through 2006. In 2007, the brand-exclusive events ended, and ''Backlash'' became tri-branded. ''Extreme Rules'' replaced ''Backlash'' in its late-April slot in 2010. It returned as a ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]''-exclusive event in September 2016. The scheduled 2019 event was canceled and replaced by ''Stomping Grounds'', but Backlash was reinstated in 2020. In 2021, Backlash was scheduled for the May PPV slot, returning it to its original position of being the post-[=WrestleMania=] PPV in which the 2021 edition will be titled ''[=WrestleMania=] Backlash''.

''Backlash'' has often featured rematches from ''Wrestling/WrestleMania'', or matches based on events that took place at ''[=WrestleMania=]'', [[MeaningfulName hence the name]]. This is also the possible reason for the PPV's aforementioned name change.

** 2022: [[Wrestling/SamoanDynasty The Bloodline]] defeated the team of Wrestling/DrewMcIntyre and [[Wrestling/RandyOrton RK]]-[[Wrestling/MattRiddle Bro]]. Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}} defeated Wrestling/AJStyles. Omos defeated Wrestling/BobbyLashley.

** The one for the 2001 event has Wrestling/TripleH's silhouette about to smash [[WeaponOfChoice his trademark sledgehammer]].

** 2009: Two respective main event matches involve Wrestling/RandyOrton and Wrestling/{{Edge}}, two of the top heels at that time, respectively winning the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. Orton, along with his Legacy teammates Wrestling/{{Ted Dibiase|Jr}} and Wrestling/CodyRhodes, defeated Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/{{Batista}}, and Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon in a 6-man tag match in which Triple H's WWE title was on the line, while Edge defeated Wrestling/JohnCena in a Last Man Standing match due to Wrestling/BigShow's interference, claiming his 9th world title. Additionally Wrestling/ChrisJericho defeated Wrestling/RickySteamboat to end their feud. "[[Wrestling/SantinoMarella Santina Marella]]" beating Wrestling/BethPhoenix is a borderline case, as while the Santina character was a face, Marella was still a heel as Santino.

** 2020: Wrestling/RandyOrton defeated Wrestling/{{Edge}}, Wrestling/{{Bayley}} and Wrestling/SashaBanks defeated Wrestling/AlexaBliss and Wrestling/NikkiCross and [[Wrestling/BillieKay The]] [[Wrestling/PeytonRoyce IIconics]] to retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships, and Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} defeated Wrestling/JeffHardy.

** 2022: [[Wrestling/SamoanDynasty The Bloodline]] defeated the team of Wrestling/DrewMcIntyre and [[Wrestling/RandyOrton RK]]-[[Wrestling/MattRiddle Bro]]. Wrestling/{{Edge}} defeated Wrestling/AJStyles. Omos defeated Wrestling/BobbyLashley.

** Wrestling/{{Edge}} ended Wrestling/ChrisBenoit's undefeated streak on this PPV during the 2005 event.

* EasilyForgiven: Subverted with the "I Quit" match that Wrestling/JeffHardy and Wrestling/MattHardy had at the 2009 edition. The storyline leading to the match had Matt attacking his brother several times, including trying to blow him up with pyro and insinuating that he had something to do with the fire that destroyed Jeff's house and killed his beloved dog, on top of costing his brother the WWE Championship to Wrestling/{{Edge}}. Come the event, Matt begged for Jeff's forgiveness while he was hogtied to a table while Jeff was preparing a double leg drop from a rather tall ladder, including saying "I quit!". It ''looked'' like Jeff was going to back down after that, but he vaulted himself over the ladder and leg dropped Matt anyway, breaking Matt's arm in the process. Matt wouldn't be forgiven until several months down the line during his brother's famous feud with Wrestling/CMPunk, in which he had to prove himself by helping Jeff several times.

** Speaking of Cena, he and Wrestling/{{Edge}} had clashed in this event 3 times (2006, 2007, and 2009). The first involved a triple-threat match which involved Wrestling/TripleH, the second involved a Fatal-4-Way which involved Wrestling/ShawnMichaels and Wrestling/RandyOrton, and the last one was a one-on-one Last Man Standing match, with Edge capturing his 9th world title.
** Wrestling/RandyOrton and Wrestling/{{Edge}} faced each other in this event (2007 and 2020). The first involving a Fatal-4-Way which involved Wrestling/JohnCena and Wrestling/ShawnMichaels and in a one-on-one match.

** 2006: Wrestling/JohnCena vs. Wrestling/TripleH vs. Wrestling/{{Edge}}.
** 2007: Wrestling/JohnCena vs. Wrestling/ShawnMichaels vs. Wrestling/{{Edge}} vs. Wrestling/RandyOrton.

* SlasherSmile: Wrestling/{{Edge}} in the 2007 poster.

** In 2006, Wrestling/JohnCena defeated Wrestling/TripleH and Wrestling/{{Edge}} in a triple threat match to retain the WWE Title after giving Triple a roll up pin. Triple H reacts by attacking Cena, Edge, and the referee with his sledgehammer, thus standing tall in the ring.

** 2002: Wrestling/TheUndertaker defeated Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin to become the #1 contender for the WWF Undisputed Title. [[Wrestling/CarleneMoore Jazz]] defeated Wrestling/TrishStratus to retain the Women's Title. Wrestling/EddieGuerrero defeated Wrestling/RobVanDam to win the Intercontinental title. Wrestling/KurtAngle defeated Wrestling/{{Edge}}. Wrestling/BrockLesnar defeated Wrestling/JeffHardy. Wrestling/ScottHall defeated [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield Bradshaw]].

** 2005: Wrestling/{{Edge}} defeated Wrestling/ChrisBenoit in a Last Man Standing match, which ended their feud that started in late 2004.

* EndOfAnAge: The 2002 event is the last PPV featured by the company under the WWF name[[note]]At least in the U.S.; British fans did have one more PPV under the WWF name that year in ''Insurrextion'', which ended with the name change literally ''the day after the PPV'' as well as the infamous "Wrestling/PlaneRideFromHell" when the crew returned to States[[/note]].

** 1999: Wrestling/TheUndertaker defeated Wrestling/KenShamrock. Wrestling/TripleH defeated [[Wrestling/SeanWaltman X-Pac]]. Wrestling/TheMinistryOfDarkness defeated The Brood.

** 2007: Wrestling/{{Melina}} defeated Wrestling/MickieJames to retain the Women's Title, and Wrestling/{{Vince}McMahon}} and Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon along with Wrestling/{{Umaga}} defeated Wrestling/BobbyLashley for the Wrestling/{{ECW}} Championship in a Handicap match.

** 2003: Half the card was won by heels. Sean O'Haire defeated Wrestling/{{Rikishi}}, [[Wrestling/CarleneMoore Jazz]] defeated Trish Stratus for the Women's Title, Wrestling/TheBigShow [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown destroyed]] Wrestling/{{Rey Mysterio|Jr}}, and the team of Triple H, Wrestling/RicFlair, and Wrestling/ChrisJericho defeated Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, Wrestling/KevinNash, and Wrestling/BookerT.

** 2006: Wrestling/{{Umaga}} [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown destroyed]] Wrestling/RicFlair, and Wrestling/VinceMcMahon and Wrestling/{{Shane|McMahon}} defeated Wrestling/ShawnMichaels and "God".
** 2007: Wrestling/{{Melina}} defeated Wrestling/MickieJames to retain the Women's Title, and Vince and Shane [=McMahon=] along with Umaga defeated Wrestling/BobbyLashley for the Wrestling/{{ECW}} Championship in a Handicap match.

** 2009: Two respective main event matches involve Wrestling/RandyOrton and Wrestling/{{Edge}}, two of the top heels at that time, respectively winning the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. Orton, along with his Legacy teammates Wrestling/{{Ted Dibiase|Jr}} and Wrestling/CodyRhodes, defeated Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/{{Batista}}, and Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon in a 6-man tag match in which Triple H's WWE title was on the line, while Edge defeated Wrestling/JohnCena in a Last Man Standing match due to Wrestling/TheBigShow's interference, claiming his 9th world title. Additionally Wrestling/ChrisJericho defeated Wrestling/RickySteamboat to end their feud. "[[Wrestling/SantinoMarella Santina Marella]]" beating Wrestling/BethPhoenix is a borderline case, as while the Santina character was a face, Marella was still a heel as Santino.
** 2016: Wrestling/TheMiz defeated Wrestling/DolphZiggler to retain the Intercontinental Championship, and Wrestling/AJStyles defeated Wrestling/DeanAmbrose to win his first ever WWE Championship.
** 2017: Wrestling/JinderMahal defeated Wrestling/RandyOrton to win his first ever WWE Championship, and Wrestling/TheUsos defeated Breezango to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.
** 2018: Wrestling/{{Carmella}} defeated Wrestling/CharlotteFlair to retain the [=SmackDown=] Women's Championship, and Ruby Riott defeated Wrestling/{{Bayley}}.
** 2020: Wrestling/RandyOrton defeated Wrestling/{{Edge}}, Wrestling/{{Bayley}} and Wrestling/SashaBanks defeated Wrestling/AlexaBliss and Wrestling/NikkiCross and The [=Iiconics=] to retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships, and Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} defeated Wrestling/JeffHardy.
** 2021: Wrestling/BobbyLashley defeated Wrestling/DrewMcIntyre and Wrestling/BraunStrowman to retain the WWE Championship. Wrestling/RomanReigns defeated Wrestling/{{Cesaro}} to retain the Universal Championship. In the pre-show, Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} defeated Wrestling/{{Ricochet}}.
** 2022: The Bloodline defeated the team of Wrestling/DrewMcIntyre and [[Wrestling/RandyOrton RK]]-[[Wrestling/MattRiddle Bro]].

** Speaking of Cena, he and Edge had clashed in this event 3 times (2006, 2007, and 2009). The first involved a triple-threat match which involved Triple H, the second involved a Fatal-4-Way which involved Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton, and the last one was a one-on-one Last Man Standing match, with Edge capturing his 9th world title.

* IcyBlueEyes: The poster of the 2016 event has Wrestling/DeanAmbrose with these[[note]]His natural eye color is baby blue[[/note]].

** 2000: Crash Holly vs Matt Hardy vs Jeff Hardy vs Hardcore Holly vs Perry Saturn vs Tazz for the WWF Hardcore Championship.

*** Matt Hardy vs Christian vs Eddie Guerrero for the WWF European Championship.
*** Stone Cold and Triple H vs Wrestling/TheUndertaker and Wrestling/{{Kane}} in an AllOrNothing match for the WWF (held by Austin), IC held by HHH) and Tag Titles (held by the Brothers of Destruction).
** 2004: Chris Benoit vs Triple H vs Shawn Michaels in the rematch from [=WM20=].
** 2006: John Cena vs Triple H vs Edge.
** 2007: John Cena vs Shawn Michaels vs Edge vs Randy Orton.
** 2008: John Cena vs Triple H vs Randy Orton vs [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]].
** 2020: Bayley and Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs The [=IIconics=] for the Women's Tag Team Championships.

*** Rhea Ripley vs Asuka vs Charlotte Flair for the WWE Raw Women's Championship.
*** Bobby Lashley (c) (with MVP) vs Braun Strowman vs Drew [=McIntyre=] for the WWE Championship.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Wrestling/TheBigShow gives one to Wrestling/{{Rey Mysterio|Jr}} in 2003. After {{No Sell}}ing ''three'' [=619s=] in a row and defeating him handily, Rey was taken out on a stretcher board. Big Show, however, came back down, picked up Rey still strapped to the board and swung the board like a baseball bat against the ring post (which would be sick in itself, but the immobile Rey also splatted face-first to the mat).

** In 2006, Wrestling/JohnCena defeated Triple H and Wrestling/{{Edge}} in a triple threat match to retain the WWE Title after giving Triple a roll up pin. Triple H reacts by attacking Cena, Edge, and the referee with his sledgehammer, thus standing tall in the ring.
* SuddenDeath: In 2001, this happens in the 30-minute Ultimate Submission match between Chris Benoit and Wrestling/KurtAngle, in which Benoit wins at 4-3.