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By Eric Cohen, About.com Guide to Professional Wrestling since 2005

Backlash 2008 Recap & Results

Sunday April 27, 2008
- Mick Foley is making his debut as the new color commentator of SmackDown. He is replacing Jonathan Coachman.

U.S. Championship: Champion MVP vs. Matt Hardy - Matt has just come back after being out of action for several months due to a knee injury and a ruptured appendix. MVP spent the majority of the match working on these body parts. Towards the end of the match, MVP kept punting Matt in the head and body. When he went for the knockout blow, Matt moved and hit the twist of fate to get the win. Winner and new champion: Matt Hardy

ECW Title: Champion Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero - Kane entered this match with an injured knee due to the 5-on-1 beat down he received at the hands of Chavo and his friends on Tuesday night. The injury only delayed the inevitable as it took Kane considerably more than eight seconds this month to hit the choke slam on Chavo to get the win. Kane hit the move when Chavo was lying on top of him after he hit the frog splash. Winner: Kane

The Big Show vs. The Great Khali - After wasting several minutes of my life that I will never be able to get back, this atrocity mercifully ended when the Big Show hit the choke slam to get the win. I usually find it rude when the fans chant boring during a match but in this case that was an accurate description of this match. Winner: The Big Show

Chris Jericho is special guest referee: Shawn Michaels vs. Batista - Shawn spent the majority of the match working over the left arm of Batista. The ending of the match was strange. Michaels escaped from a Batista Bomb attempt and landed awkwardly. He went down complaining about his knee. As soon as he got up, he hit Batista with the Sweet Chin Music to get the win. At first it looked like Michaels was playing possum but after the match Shawn it now looks like Shawn might be legitimately hurt. He needed to be helped to the back by several officials. I guess we’ll find out soon whether he is really hurt or if he was doing a great job selling an injury. Winner: Shawn Michaels

12-Diva Tag Team Match: Mickie James, Maria, Ashley, Michelle McCool, Cherry & Kelly Kelly against Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian, Layla, Victoria & Natalya Neidhart - I can’t believe I’m about to write this but this has been the best match of the evening so far. That statement is more of an indictment of this card so far and not a glowing endorsement of this match. It featured constant action both inside and outside of the ring. The battle ended when Beth Phoenix hit Ashley with the fisherwoman’s suplex to get the win for her team. Winner: Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian, Layla, Victoria, & Natalya Neidhart

World Heavyweight Championship: Champion The Undertaker vs. Edge - Two WrestleMania rematches tonight and they both had the same endings as they did a month ago. The Undertaker won this match by submission by using “that move” which still has yet to be named. The match was much better last month. However, the commentary was much better tonight. After the match, Edge was stretchered out of the arena due to the damage inflicted by that hold. SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero was screaming and crying as she watched her fiancé get carted away. Winner: The Undertaker

WWE Championship: Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H vs. JBL - John Cena made JBL tap out to the STFU. Immediately following the tap out, Randy Orton kicked Cena in the head and pinned him. That left Triple H and Randy Orton. The battle between these men went outside the ring several times and saw the tables, ring steps, and ringside barricade used as weapons. The match ended with a series of finishing hold reversals that ended when Triple H hit Randy Orton with the Pedigree to get the win and the championship. Winner and new champion: Triple H

What does this event mean for the future?
In three weeks, the WWE will be holding their Judgment Day PPV event. With that little time, there is no time to develop any new feuds. I expect that Orton and Triple H will have a one-on-one match next month and that the feud between the Undertaker and Edge will culminate in a Hell in a Cell Match. The big question leaving this event is whether or not Shawn Michaels is really hurt.

Overall Thoughts
Without a doubt, this was the worst WWE PPV event so far this year. With the exception of the final match, there is nothing that makes this event worth watching. If you didn’t see this show, I’d hold off on ordering the replay.

Match Results


  • U.S. Title: Matt Hardy beat MVP to win the title
  • ECW Title: Champion Kane beat Chavo Guerrero
  • The Big Show beat The Great Khali
  • Shawn Michaels beat Batista
  • Beth Phoenix, Melina, Layla, Victoria, Jillian, & Natalya Neidhart beat Mickie James, Michelle McCool, Ashley, Cherry, & Kelly Kelly
  • World Heavyweight Championship: Champion The Undertaker beat Edge
  • WWE Championship: Triple H beat Champion Randy Orton, John Cena , & JBL to win the title

Photo: © 2008 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

April 29, 2008 at 9:29 am
(1) GJ says:

Where is coachman

April 30, 2008 at 11:18 am
(2) GJ says:

Do anybody know where he is???

April 30, 2008 at 4:23 pm
(3) prowrestling says:

Hi GJ,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. As far as the Coach goes, I’m not sure what his WWE status is at the moment. He is still listed on the SD Superstar page at the moment and with the way ECW ended last night, there appears to be something brewing with the commentary positions in the company. Outside of the WWE, he does commentary gigs elsewhere for the MSG network and he also broadcasts some college football games.

Thanks,
Eric

May 1, 2008 at 12:15 pm
(4) Mr.Kraken says:

I believe that “That Move” is named Gogoplata.

May 1, 2008 at 2:52 pm
(5) Eric Cohen says:

If this was the UFC or another MMA federation then that would be the name of the hold. In the WWE, the move still has no name.

May 2, 2008 at 9:44 am
(6) GJ says:

Ohhh ok

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