Tonight at Backlash, things start off with Bayley squaring off against Ruby Riott during the show’s kickoff show.
Read WWE.com‘s preview of the match below:
Whether friends or foes, Bayley’s longstanding history with Sasha Banks has always been a hot topic for the WWE Universe. However, before they could settle their differences on Monday Night Raw several weeks ago in a singles bout, the sudden emergence of The Riott Squad — as part of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up — brought their match to a screeching halt, as the volatile faction left both Superstars laying on the canvas.
Would the former Raw Women’s Champions see past their own conflict to repel the new threat to the red brand? Well, not if this past Monday was any indication. Despite Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan’s constant interference in The Boss’ one-on-one match against Riott, Bayley watched the contest from the back and chose not to get involved on Banks’ behalf.
With The Riott Squad most assuredly at ringside once again tonight, will Banks opt to do the same as The Huggable One?
The Raw Women’s Championship will also be on the line as Nia Jax defends the title against Alexa Bliss:
At WWE Backlash, newly-crowned Raw Women’s Champion Nia Jax will look to thwart the always-dangerous former titleholder Alexa Bliss in a WrestleMania rematch.
There was a time when Jax and Bliss were best friends (or so we were led to believe). The Irresistible Force could always be counted on to help The Goddess of WWE hold onto her title whenever she was in a jam. Their relationship came crashing down, however, when Bliss was caught mocking her longtime cohort backstage on The Road to WrestleMania. Then, at The Show of Shows, Jax rose above the hate and bested Five Feat of Fury to lay claim her first Raw Women’s Championship.
Just because something is heroic, however, does not mean it’s destined to continue. After several attempts to paint Nia as the bully rather than the victim, Bliss made it known that she’s gunning for her fifth Women’s Title in a highly anticipated rematch against Jax at WWE Backlash.
The Raw Women’s Champion is a truly imposing force, possessing the talent and the attitude (not to mention the DNA) to thrive on her throne for a very long time, but the cunning and ruthless former champion will stop at nothing to once again take her place at the head of the pack.
The SmackDown Women’s Champion will also be on the line as Carmella defends the title against Charlotte Flair:
At WWE Backlash, The Queen will be looking to take back her throne when she goes one-on-one with SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella.
WrestleMania saw Charlotte Flair overcome the undefeated Asuka in an epic showdown between two of WWE’s elite Superstars. However, after Flair’s celebration was cut short by a vicious attack from the debuting Ilconics two days later, Carmella seized the moment and cashed in the Money in the Bank contract that she had been holding for longer than any Superstar in WWE history, capturing her first SmackDown Women’s Championship after a wicked kick.
Though dynamic catchphrases and Mellabrations have since followed, perhaps giving the impression to some members of the WWE Universe that “Mella is money,” there is one small obstacle to her plan, namely Charlotte’s contractually obligated rematch. And if their volatile Contract Signing was any indication, Carmella may find her title reign over before she can even experience a celebratory parade through Staten Island.
Charlotte is a six-time Women’s Champion who is as fearless as she is athletic, and she is one of many Superstars responsible for the Women’s Evolution, from being the longest-reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion to competing in the first-ever Women’s Hell in a Cell Match against Sasha Banks. After having her title stolen away from her, there is no doubt she will be more determined than even to set things right.
The Queen would be wise not to underestimate a competitor like Carmella, however. From becoming the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank to taking part in such innovative events as the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble, the first-ever WWE Mixed Match Challenge Tournament and the first-ever Women’s WrestleMania Battle Royal, the calculating titleholder has truly put the “bling bling” into the squared circle spotlight and has repeatedly demonstrated that she knows how to seize her moment.
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