This is the current confirmed card for Backlash, a SmackDown Live Brand exclusive event, that will go down on May 21, 2017. It will air on pay per view and WWE Network.
WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal
Smackdown Tag Team Title Match: The Usos (c) vs. Breezango
United States Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. AJ Styles
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler
Charlotte Flair, Naomi (c), and Becky Lynch vs. Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina.
Baron Corbin vs. Sami Zayn.
Tye Dillinger is also expected to be featured at Backlash though he has no prospective opponent as of yet.
This is the current card for NXT Takeover: Chicago, which will take place May 20, 2017 at Allstate Arena and will air on pay per viewand WWE Network.
NXT Championship Match: Bobby Roode vs. Hideo Itami
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Ruby Riot
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: The Authors Of Pain vs. DIY
WWE UK Championship Match: Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne
Kairi Hojo has announced that she is leaving Stardom Wrestling for the WWE.
Hojo (real name Koari Housako) was actually signed back in March but due to a contract clause, she was unable to disclose the news until after the WWE announced it. Despite being a relative newcomer to the professional wrestling industry with only five years of experience, she is considered one of the elite talents in the world. She was an Olympic prospect in yachting before becoming involved in professional wrestling. She has previously wrestled in Lucha Underground but wasn’t under contract. WWE is also pursuing Io Shirai from Stardom as well.
Former WWE wrestler Rene Dupree can be added to the list of victims who can attest to JBL’s bullying.
In a recent interview with Hannibal TV, Rene weighed in on his experience with Bradshaw in light of the bullying that Mauro Ranallo experienced. He said that JBL does most of his antics remotely and that the WWE’s work culture encourages dysfunction. He also stated that he’d “Even though I’m persona non grata, there’s no way in hell that a person like me would go back knowing that he’s there cause I’d probably break his f*cking neck.” Dupree was half of the tag team La Resistance.
Titus O’Neil is facing a $1.2 million for injuring a cameraman’s hand during the taping of a bit on Swerved that took place May 18, 2015. No criminal charged were filed and it remains unknown if police were contacted. According to the suit, Titus knocked the camera out of his hand by kicking him after being shocked by a cattle prod.
Braun Strowman is expected to be out at least a month due to elbow surgery. This injury will be problematic to say the least. Brock’s part time status notwithstanding, it alters other wrestlers as well. Roman Reigns’ push will certainly be affected by this. It’s also possible that Bray Wyatt would be affected as well. His stable still needs members and there’s groundwork for either a feud between Bray and Braun and or an attempt for recruitment by Bray regarding Braun.
Triple H was inducted into The Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame this past Wednesday. He was inducted alongside WNBA star Skylar Diggins, MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, actor Anthony Anderson, Dr. Dante Lauretta and Dr. Philip Schein.
Brie Bella gave birth to a daughter, Birdie Joe, this past Monday.
