The Five Best Backlash Matches
Welcome to “Five Count.” This semi-regular column will feature a top-five list of anything wrestling related. Since Backlash is right around the corner, let’s start with a top-five list of the best Backlash matches ever.
Backlash originated in 1999, and was so named because the matches were usually the backlash of what happened at Wrestlemania. It’s pretty difficult to top Wrestlemania, but that doesn’t mean the individual matches aren’t worth discussing. Without further ado, here’s the list:
#5 2001 - Chris Benoit defeats Kurt Angle in an Ultimate Submission Match (4-3)
This match featured two of the best mat wrestlers of all time. Notable spots included each wrestler making the other tap to their own signature finisher (Angle tapped to the Ankle Lock and Benoit submitted to the Crippler Crossface). The match was tied 3-3 when Angle slapped on an Ankle Lock, but Benoit held out until the bell. Angle thought he had won, but the ref demanded sudden death overtime, where Benoit defeated him with a Crossface. This is a fantastic match to watch for anyone who loves technically sound mat wrestling, as these two worked very well together.
#4 2006 – John Cena defeats Triple H and Edge in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Championship
A great match that featured a great finish that made all three men look strong, this match featured some incredible moves. Highlights include: Cena trying to fireman’s carry both Edge and Triple H, and Edge sliding off Triple H and then spearing Cena; Edge whiplashing Triple H into a ring post to bust him open (if you watch close enough, you can see Triple H blade himself before he gets launched, although he sells the hit very well. By the end of the match Triple H loses so much blood his hair is stained red) and Cena and Triple H having a “who-can-bash-Edge’s-head-into-the-announce-table-harder” contest. Edge also DDT’s Triple H through the Spanish Announce Table, although Triple H gets a modicum of revenge by spinebusting Edge’s manager Lita after she tries a chair shot. The match ends with Cena countering a Pedigree with a roll-up. Triple H broke out the hammer and nailed everyone in the ring in defeat.
#3 2000 – The Rock defeats Triple H to win the WWF Championship
After the results of Wrestlemania 2000, the entire McMahon family (except Linda) was united behind WWF Champ Triple H. The Rock is supposed to have Steve Austin in his corner, but he was stuck in “traffic.” Shane McMahon is the special guest referee, and saying he’s not the most objective official is an understatement. The Rock had Triple H set up for a Rock Bottom through an announce table, when Shane McMahon jumped on the table to stop the People’s Champion. The Rock wasn’t too pleased with Shane at this point, so he delivered both The Game and his brother-in-law a double Rock Bottom through the table. Back in the ring, Triple H hit a textbook Pedigree, but there’s no ref. Vince’s goons Patterson and Briscoe came to the ring wearing referee shirts, but The Rock kicked out. As Vince, Triple H, Patterson and Briscoe are beating up on The Rock, Stone Cold made his first return since Survivor Series 1999, and hits everyone (except The Rock) with vicious chairshots. The Rock hit Triple H with a spinebuster and The People’s Elbow to win the title, as Linda reinstated fired ref Earl Hebner to count the pinfall. The show ended with The Rock and Austin toasting the title and each other.
#2 2004 – Randy Orton defeats Cactus Jack in a Hardcore match to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Mick Foley’s days as a main-eventer are over; by this stage in his career his primary job is to put young guys over. He does this admirably here, as he and Randy Orton beat each other senseless. This match is definitely one of Orton’s best, and it is probably one of Foley’s best as well. Some notable highlights include: Orton getting thrown off the stage and onto a table; Foley elbow dropping Orton after chucking him off the stage; and Orton’s RKO countered onto a pile of thumbtacks. The Legend Killer started the match wearing a t-shirt (smart man) but by the time he landed on the thumbtacks, the shirt was off and Orton’s back and arms looked like a pincushion. If you look closely you can see Orton pulling tacks out of his hand. He was bleeding from several dozen tiny holes in his back for the rest of the match. Foley tried to light his barbed wire baseball bat (the famous, or maybe infamous “Barbie”) on fire, and after Eric Bischoff told Foley not to Orton Irish whipped Foley into a large particleboard covered in barbed wire. After fighting off two Mandible Claws, Orton hit the RKO out of nowhere, but Foley kicked out. Orton next RKOed Foley onto “Barbie” and retained. This match is everything a hardcore match should be, and is Foley’s best match since his epic Hell In A Cell match against Triple H at No Way Out 2000.
#1 2004 – Chris Benoit defeats Triple H and Shawn Michaels to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
This was a rematch of their classic Wrestlemania XX match, and is at least as good, if not better. This gets bonus points for being in Edmonton (Benoit’s hometown) and for the Canadian fans chanting “You screwed Bret” whenever Michaels took the offensive (in remembrance of the Montreal Screwjob from Survivor Series 1997). In a great sequence, Benoit reversed the Pedigree into a Sharpshooter (the crowd went nuts). Michaels attempts to clothesline Benoit to break up the Sharpshooter, but Benoit counters that into a Crippler Crossface. The match ended with Michaels tapping out to the Sharpshooter, which marked the first time I recall of Michaels ever submitting to anything. I highly recommend that everyone should go out and see this match, as it is a fantastic example of three great athletes doing what they do best. The ebb and flow of this match is masterful and the crowd was totally into every move.
Backlash originated in 1999, and was so named because the matches were usually the backlash of what happened at Wrestlemania. It’s pretty difficult to top Wrestlemania, but that doesn’t mean the individual matches aren’t worth discussing. Without further ado, here’s the list:
#5 2001 - Chris Benoit defeats Kurt Angle in an Ultimate Submission Match (4-3)
This match featured two of the best mat wrestlers of all time. Notable spots included each wrestler making the other tap to their own signature finisher (Angle tapped to the Ankle Lock and Benoit submitted to the Crippler Crossface). The match was tied 3-3 when Angle slapped on an Ankle Lock, but Benoit held out until the bell. Angle thought he had won, but the ref demanded sudden death overtime, where Benoit defeated him with a Crossface. This is a fantastic match to watch for anyone who loves technically sound mat wrestling, as these two worked very well together.
#4 2006 – John Cena defeats Triple H and Edge in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Championship
A great match that featured a great finish that made all three men look strong, this match featured some incredible moves. Highlights include: Cena trying to fireman’s carry both Edge and Triple H, and Edge sliding off Triple H and then spearing Cena; Edge whiplashing Triple H into a ring post to bust him open (if you watch close enough, you can see Triple H blade himself before he gets launched, although he sells the hit very well. By the end of the match Triple H loses so much blood his hair is stained red) and Cena and Triple H having a “who-can-bash-Edge’s-head-into-the-announce-table-harder” contest. Edge also DDT’s Triple H through the Spanish Announce Table, although Triple H gets a modicum of revenge by spinebusting Edge’s manager Lita after she tries a chair shot. The match ends with Cena countering a Pedigree with a roll-up. Triple H broke out the hammer and nailed everyone in the ring in defeat.
#3 2000 – The Rock defeats Triple H to win the WWF Championship
After the results of Wrestlemania 2000, the entire McMahon family (except Linda) was united behind WWF Champ Triple H. The Rock is supposed to have Steve Austin in his corner, but he was stuck in “traffic.” Shane McMahon is the special guest referee, and saying he’s not the most objective official is an understatement. The Rock had Triple H set up for a Rock Bottom through an announce table, when Shane McMahon jumped on the table to stop the People’s Champion. The Rock wasn’t too pleased with Shane at this point, so he delivered both The Game and his brother-in-law a double Rock Bottom through the table. Back in the ring, Triple H hit a textbook Pedigree, but there’s no ref. Vince’s goons Patterson and Briscoe came to the ring wearing referee shirts, but The Rock kicked out. As Vince, Triple H, Patterson and Briscoe are beating up on The Rock, Stone Cold made his first return since Survivor Series 1999, and hits everyone (except The Rock) with vicious chairshots. The Rock hit Triple H with a spinebuster and The People’s Elbow to win the title, as Linda reinstated fired ref Earl Hebner to count the pinfall. The show ended with The Rock and Austin toasting the title and each other.
#2 2004 – Randy Orton defeats Cactus Jack in a Hardcore match to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Mick Foley’s days as a main-eventer are over; by this stage in his career his primary job is to put young guys over. He does this admirably here, as he and Randy Orton beat each other senseless. This match is definitely one of Orton’s best, and it is probably one of Foley’s best as well. Some notable highlights include: Orton getting thrown off the stage and onto a table; Foley elbow dropping Orton after chucking him off the stage; and Orton’s RKO countered onto a pile of thumbtacks. The Legend Killer started the match wearing a t-shirt (smart man) but by the time he landed on the thumbtacks, the shirt was off and Orton’s back and arms looked like a pincushion. If you look closely you can see Orton pulling tacks out of his hand. He was bleeding from several dozen tiny holes in his back for the rest of the match. Foley tried to light his barbed wire baseball bat (the famous, or maybe infamous “Barbie”) on fire, and after Eric Bischoff told Foley not to Orton Irish whipped Foley into a large particleboard covered in barbed wire. After fighting off two Mandible Claws, Orton hit the RKO out of nowhere, but Foley kicked out. Orton next RKOed Foley onto “Barbie” and retained. This match is everything a hardcore match should be, and is Foley’s best match since his epic Hell In A Cell match against Triple H at No Way Out 2000.
#1 2004 – Chris Benoit defeats Triple H and Shawn Michaels to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
This was a rematch of their classic Wrestlemania XX match, and is at least as good, if not better. This gets bonus points for being in Edmonton (Benoit’s hometown) and for the Canadian fans chanting “You screwed Bret” whenever Michaels took the offensive (in remembrance of the Montreal Screwjob from Survivor Series 1997). In a great sequence, Benoit reversed the Pedigree into a Sharpshooter (the crowd went nuts). Michaels attempts to clothesline Benoit to break up the Sharpshooter, but Benoit counters that into a Crippler Crossface. The match ended with Michaels tapping out to the Sharpshooter, which marked the first time I recall of Michaels ever submitting to anything. I highly recommend that everyone should go out and see this match, as it is a fantastic example of three great athletes doing what they do best. The ebb and flow of this match is masterful and the crowd was totally into every move.
