WWE Backlash Results Coverage, Reactions & Highlights for May 16, 2021

Welcome to Ringside News’ live results, highlights, winners and reactions for the WrestleMania Backlash on May 16, 2021.

Start time for tonight’s PPV is 6:00 PM EST with the Kick-Off Show. Match-by-match highlights and results from the show will take place on this very page, so you should update frequently to get the latest happenings. Feel free to leave any reactions in the comment section below.

WrestleMania Backlash kicks-off tonight at 6 PM EST and there’s lots of big matches on tonight’s show. The Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, will be taking on Cesaro in the latter’s first-ever world title match. Meanwhile on the RAW side of things, Bobby Lashley will be defending the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman. Which Superstars do you see walking out with the belts tonight?

In terms of the women’s titles, Rhea Ripley will defend against Asuka and Charlotte Flair, while Bianca Belair will have her first defense against Bayley. Do you think either of the new ladies Champions will lose their titles tonight? And what about the SmackDown Tag Team Titles? Rey and Dominik Mysterio look to become father and son Champions when they face The Dirty Dawgs, Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler.

Well that’s the rundown for WrestleMania Backlash. Let us know your predictions for the show and whatever thoughts you might have. Follow along here by clicking the link below, and enjoy the show!

Kick-Off Show

Kayla Braxton, JBL, Peter Rosenberg and Booker T host the Backlash Kick-Off Show. They reveal that Sheamus will host an open challenge on the Kick-Off.

We see a video package for Cesaro Vs. Roman Reigns. JBL says he thinks Cesaro is great and he will be a Champion someday but that won’t be tonight. Booker disagrees and says Cesaro has momentum, he’s like a snowball rolling downhill. And all Cesaro needs is a moment. Rosenberg points out that Reigns has been in 39 title matches and this is Cesaro’s first and there’s no accounting for experience. JBL and Rosenberg pick Roman and Booker sticks with the upset.

Sonya Deville joins the panel to discuss Bianca Belair Vs. Bayley and she says Bayley has experience and she’s a Grand Slam Champion, but Belair is special. Booker says Bayley tried to steal from Bianca. Preparation is king and he knows Belair is prepared but you can’t take Bayley lightly. JBL says Bianca Belair is one of those special athletes who is raising the sport to a different level. Rosenberg says Bayley is the same, she’s firing on all cylinders and she just gets it. Booker agrees and says he wouldn’t be surprised if Bayley won the belt back.

We get a video package for Asuka Vs. Charlotte Flair Vs. Rhea Ripley. Sonya Deville makes her case for why Charlotte Flair was placed in the match and says she deserves it. Rosenberg says it felt like Flair bullied Deville and she denies it, saying she runs the show. Deville says the locker room has an agenda against Charlotte but it stems from jealousy. Sonya says the playing field is now fair and people are talking about this match because of Charlotte.

Dominik Mysterio is walking backstage when Roode and Ziggler stop him and won’t let him walk past. Ziggler headbutts him and Roode beats him down in a corner. They slam a couch into him before officials come and make them leave.

Sheamus Vs. Ricochet

Ricochet answers the open challenge and hits a dropkick right away. Ricochet lands a flying armbar and some kicks but Sheamus catches one and drops him with a clothesline. Sheamus drills the back of Ricochet with forearms, then tosses him across the ring with a belly-to-belly. Sheamus ties him up in the ropes and hits the Beats of the Bodhran. Sheamus gets on top of Ricochet and performs the Dublin Smile. Ricochet hits a jawbreaker and lands some punches but Sheamus drops him with a kick.

Sheamus lifts Ricochet bu the trousers like a child, then clobbers him with a forearm but Ricochet lands a Pele kick. Ricochet kicks Sheamus from the corner and hits a springboard dropkick, then a springboard moonsault for a two-count. Sheamus hits a knee to the face but Ricochet counters with a backstabber. Ricochet goes to the apron for a springboard 450 but Sheamus kicks out. Ricochet heads up top and wants a splash but Sheamus rolls away. Sheamus connects with another knee to the face for the win.

Winner: Sheamus

After the match Sheamus puts his jacket and hat back on but Ricochet attacks him from behind and takes his clothes! Ricochet dances but Sheamus chases him off.

The final topic of the night is the Triple Threat for the WWE Championship. JBL says Bobby Lashley matches up really well to both McIntyre and Strowman, and he’s at the peak of his game right now. Rosenberg agrees but reminds that Lashley doesn’t have to get pinned to lose the title. JBL says that’s why this match is so exciting, because any of these guys can walk out with the title tonight. That’s it for the Kick-Off Show, the main card begins now!

WrestleMania Backlash

We are live with WrestleMania Backlash and the show is opening with the RAW Women’s Championship bout.

RAW Women’s Championship

(C) Rhea Ripley Vs. Asuka Vs. Charlotte Flair

The match gets underway and all three women are reluctant to engage. Charlotte leaves the ring but Asuka and Ripley go after her and chase her into the ring. Asuka hits a backfist and Rhea rolls Flair up but Asuka breaks it. Flair rolls back out and Ripley clubs Asuka, who then knocks Charlotte from the apron with a hip attack. Asuka wants the Asuka Lock but Rhea rolls away, only to get caught with a hip attack in the corner.

Asuka rolls outside and Charlotte grabs her with an exploder suplex on the floor. Charlotte gets back inside and trades with Rhea, then they talk trash to each other. Charlotte outsmarts Ripley and hits an exploder suplex, then stomps her in the corner. Flair moves to the apron and Asuka grabs her foot, allowing Rhea to dropkick her off. Ripley then knocks Asuka off with an enziguiri and she moves to the apron where Charlotte hits a chopblock.

Charlotte controls Asuka in the ring but almost gets caught with an armbar. Ripley returns to the action with aplomb and she takes Charlotte down with a snapmare and dropkick, then a northern lights suplex for a two-count. Asuka hits a pop-up knee to Ripley, then a head kick. Asuka builds a head of steam and takes Ripley down with a missile dropkick but Asuka knocks her to the outside beside Rhea. Charlotte heads to the top rope and wipes them both out with a moonsault on the floor!

Charlotte goes back to the top rope but Ripley grabs her, then Asuka climbs up as well and they hit a double superplex. All three women sit in the ring and trade punches. Charlotte counters Asuka and Ripley and drops them both with a chopblock, then hits both with Natural Selection and pins them both for a near-fall. Charlotte drags them to the corner, then climbs the ropes and jumps for a moonsault but both roll away. Asuka hits Charlotte and sends her out of the ring, then Rhea grabs her.

They exchange holds until Charlotte returns with a boot to Ripley. Charlotte takes Asuka down and tries to apply the Figure Four but gets kicked into the turnbuckles. Flair is sent to the apron and Asuka looks for the hip attack but Charlotte knocks her back. Rhea hits Charlotte, dropping her off the apron, then grabs Asuka for the Riptide and the win!

Winner: Rhea Ripley

We see Bobby Lashley and MVP arriving at the arena earlier today. Later tonight he faces Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman.

The Miz and John Morrison are backstage arguing about tonight’s match. Morrison says he’s going to the men’s locker room so he can convince the lumberjacks to help them out. Miz is sceptical.

A replay is shown of The Dirty Dawgs attacking Dominik Mysterio on the Kick-Off Show. Rey and Dominik are in the trainer’s room. Rey says he’s sorry but they’ll get another opportunity to fight. Rey hugs him and walks off.

SmackDown Tag Team Championships

(C) The Dirty Dawgs Vs. Rey Mysterio

Rey goes after Roode and Ziggler right at the offset and knocks Dolph from the ring. Rey hits Dolph with a baseball slide, then kicks Roode back into the ropes and slides through his legs to splash Dolph on the floor. The Dawgs look to gang-up on Rey on the floor but he manages to get back in the ring and the match finally takes shape as Ziggler gets on the apron and Roode comes in as the legal man. Roode beats on Rey and connects with a big clothesline.

Ziggler tags in and chokes Rey on the ropes before tagging Bobby again. Roode hangs Rey in the tree of woe and kicks him while Ziggler bends Rey’s head. Dolph tags in as Rey rolls to the floor. Ziggler attacks the leg and brings Rey back inside so they can hit a facebuster/Fameasser for a near-fall. Roode tags in and slides Rey out under the bottom rope and Dolph superkicks him in mid-air! The referee counts and Mysterio just makes it back inside at the count of nine.

Mysterio rallies and sends Roode into the ring post, then does the same to Dolph in the opposite corner. Dominik Mysterio comes hobbling down to the ring, holding his ribs. Rey sees him and tells him to leave but he doesn’t. Rey drops Dolph on the middle rope and runs for the 619 but Roode jumps on the apron and Mysterio knocks him off. Ziggler hits a Zig-Zag for a near-fall. Roode comes back and drops Rey for a near-fall and he’s getting frustrated. Roode puts Rey on his shoulders and goes to the top rope but Rey wriggles off and hits a bulldog!

Dominik gets the tag and he knocks Ziggler off the apron, then unloads on Roode but gets caught with a spinebuster. Ziggler tags in and they hit a neckbreaker/powerbomb for a near-fall. Rey tags back in and hits a springboard senton to Roode, then knocks Dolph from the apron but Bobby lands a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near-fall. Roode wants a powerbomb but Rey hits a hurricanrana into the buckles, then a 619 and tags Dominik. Rey slides through the ropes with a sunset bomb to Dolph into the barricade, then Dominik comes off the top rope with a frog splash to Roode and they win!

Winners and New Tag Team Champions: Rey & Dominik Mysterio

For the first time in WWE history we have father and son Tag Team Champions! Kayla Braxton comes into the ring and interviews them. Rey says he’s on top of the world right now and Dominik says it’s an honour and a blesssing.

John Morrison is backstage and he approaches the men’s locker room but inside is full of zombies. Morrison runs away and the zombies leave the room. Seems like the zombies will be the lumberjacks in tonight’s match to promote Batista’s new movie.

Jimmy Uso walks into Roman’s dressing room and he confronts Jey, trying to get him to see sense but Roman walks up and he wishes him well and walks off.

Lumberjack Match

Damian Priest Vs. The Miz W/John Morrison

Yes, the lumberjacks are zombies. And the fans have disappeared and been replaced with an apocalyptic city. Miz knocks Priest to the apron right away but he flies through the ropes and the zombies make for him but Miz gets back in the ring. Priest is then sent outside and he kicks some of the zombies before getting back inside. Miz takes Priest down and punches him, then backs him into the corner for a clothesline.

Priest sends Miz outside but again he narrowly escpaes the zombies by crawling under the ring. Back inside, Priest beats on Miz and goes up top to hit a flying heel kick but he lands badly on Miz’s legs. Priest wants a chokeslam but Miz counters it and applies a Figure Four. Priest reaches the ropes but he and Miz are dragged out of the ring by zombies. Miz and Priest fight the zombies at ringside, then both get back inside and Damian hits a Falcon Arrow for a near-fall.

Morrison returns to the apron and tries to hit Priest but gets punches. Miz then catches Priest with a flying knee for a near-fall. Morrison runs around the ring hitting athletic kicks to the zombies. Morrison climbs on the barricade but he gets dragged down behind it by two zombies. Miz is watching from the ring and Priest clocks him from behind, then lands Hit The Lights for the win.

Winner: Damian Priest

After the match, Priest jumps on the top rope to avoid the zombies coming into the ring. He escapes but the zombies crawl over Miz. Priest then shoots an arrow to the big screen above the ring and, just in case you didn’t know it yet, “Army of the Dead” appears. Move over Gobbledy Gooker.

Jey Uso is walking backstage but Jimmy stops him and asks him where he’s going. Jimmy says he’s doing Roman’s dirty work again, so maybe the locker room door should read “Roman Reigns and his bitch”. Jey throws his water bottle in fury.

SmackDown Women’s Championship

(C) Bianca Belair Vs. Bayley

They lock-up and Bayley takes the back. Belair sends Bayley out of the ring and dances. Bayley gets back in and Belair takes her down with an armlock. They trade reversals for a while and Belair jumps to the middle rope and slaps her behind before jumping off and dropping Bayley. Belair overwhelms Bayley and she rolls outside but Bianca gives chase. Belair drops her and hits a handspring moonsault for a two-count.

Bayley starts to come back and applies a submission to Belair. Bianca fights up but Bayley cuts her off and snaps her on the ropes. Outisde the ring Bayley suplexes Belair onto the steel steps. Back inside, Bayley hits a sidewalk slam for a two-count. Bayley attacks Belair in the corner for a two-count and she flies out of the ring. Bayley gets back inside and continues beating Belair and mocks her. Belair slaps Bayley and hits her with forearms. Belair hits a hip-toss, then runs at Bayley in the corner but she moves and Bayley drops her with a chopblock.

Belair counters Bayley and hits a spinebuster for a two-count. Bayley clotheslines Belair and goes top for an elbow drop and a near-fall. They go outside and Bayley slams her into the ring post. Bayley then jumps through the ropes but Belair moves and she crashes. Belair hits a Glam Slam into the apron, then back in the ring. Bayley rakes Belair’s eyes, then looks for the Bayley-to-Belly but Bianca kicks out! Belair rolls-up Bayley using her hair for the win.

WInner: Bianca Belair

Kevin Patrick is backstage with MVP, who says Braun has proven a few times he doesn’t the intellectual capacity to be WWE Champion. MVP says he isn’t concerned about tonight’s match but everyone knows Lashley can lose the title without even getting pinned. Lashley can overcome anything.

WWE Championship

(C) Bobby Lashley W/MVP Vs. Braun Strowman Vs. Drew McIntyre

The match begins and Braun bowls over Drew with a shoulder, then backs Lashley into a corner and splashes him. Drew and Lashley drop Braun and try to keep him down by stomping him together. Lashley asks Drew to help him hit a suplex and they hit a stalling one! Drew and Lashley then trade hands and McIntyre hits a belly-to-belly that sends Bobby outside. Lashley drags McIntyre out and slams him into the barricade, then Strowman hits a rolling senton off the apron into both men! 

Braun shoves Drew into the barricade, then gets Lashley inside and hits a chokeslam for a near-fall. McIntyre jumps on both with a flying crossbody, then catches Lashley with a belly-to-belly. McIntyre goes up top and hits a flying axe handle to Lashley before a neckbreaker to Braun. Lashley clears the ring and lifts Drew up to run him into the ring post. Braun appears with the steel steps and slams Lashley twice. McIntyre hits Braun with a Claymore, sending him over the barricade.  

McIntyre then drags Lashley up the ramp and slams him into the steps that Bruan tossed aside. Bobby turns the tables and looks to suplex McIntyre into the LED screens but Drew wriggles free and shoves Lashley through an LED wall and sparks fly everywhere! McIntyre slowly gets up to look for Lashley but he’s not there, then Braun attacks Drew. Strowman throws Drew down the ramp, then runs down and tackles him into the apron.

Strowman hits a sledge to the chest for a two-count. Braun runs at Drew in the corner but the Scot moves and catches him with a Michonoku driver! They roll outside and McIntyre catches Strowman with a belly-to-belly on the floor. McIntyre waits for Braun to get up, then runs for a Claymore but gets caught in mid-air and powerbombed through the announce desk! Braun brings Drew back into the ring and looks to finish it but Lashley appears and tosses Drew out, then Spears Braun and wins! 

Winner: Bobby Lashley

We get a commercial for Hell In A Cell, which will take place on June 20th. What do you think the matches will be? Let us know below!

WWE Universal Championship

(C) Roman Reigns W/Paul Heyman Vs. Cesaro

The main event gets underway and they lock-up but break apart. Roman takes a headlock and Cesaro shoots him off but gets knocked down with a shoulder. Roman controls the pace and beats Cesaro by the ropes, then whips him but Cesaro ducks and hits a springboard European uppercut. Cesaro wants The Swing but Roman grabs the ropes and rolls outside. Roman tosses Cesaro out of the ring and he lands on his side and starts favouring his shoulder. Cesaro slowly gets back inside and Roman tosses him into the ring post shoulder-first.

Cesaro fires back and looks to suplex Roman but can’t lift him with his shoulder. Roman takes Cesaro down with a submission. The Swiss Superman fights up and shoots him off but Reigns connects with a flying lariat for a two-count. Roman hits a back suplex for another two-count and he’s getting frustrated. Roman wants a Superman punch but Cesaro avoids it and hits a pop-up uppercut. Cesaro hits an uppercut in the corner and a big boot for a two-count. Cesaro grabs a leg and stomps it, then drops an elbow on it before applying a Sharpshooter.

Roman crawls to the ropes and rolls from the ring but Cesarohits a spining tope onto him. Roman moves away and Cesaro runs for a big uppercut into the barricade. Roman rolls to the apron and Cesaro goes to the adjacent apron but Roman yanks his shoulder into the ring post. Cesaro leans on the steel steps and Roman hits a running dropkick against them. Back inside, Roman continues attacking the arm while talking into the camera about Daniel Bryan.

Cesaro rallies and beats Roman down in the corner. Roman moves to the apron and Cesaro stands on the bottom rope to hit a deadlift suplex and a two-count. Cesaro stomps the gut of Roman a few times, then lands a double stomp to the chest. Cesaro wants the Neutralizer but Roman counters and lands a punch, then takes him down with an armbreaker. Cesaro rolls over with a crucifix pin for a near-fall. Cesaro wants a springboard uppercut but Roman connects with a Superman in mid-air! Roman runs for a Spear but gets caught with an uppercut.

Cesaro wants a pop-up uppercut but his arm gives out. Roman grabs Cesaro with a guillotine but Cesaro doesn’t tap, instead he stands and slams Roman into the mat to break it. Cesaro punches Roman a few times, then applies a Sharpshooter with one arm. Roman looks to grab the ropes but Cesaro transitions to a crossface. Cesaro rolls it over into the middle of the ring but Roman turns it over and pummels him with forearms.

Roman lifts Cesaro for a deadlift powerbomb and a two-count, then lands more forearms until Cesaro catches one and throws him off. Roman catches Cesaro with a guillotine. Cesaro struggles, then lifts him and hits a slam again but this time Roman holds on. Cesaro fights and struggles, almost gettting his head free but Roman punches him and locks it in again until Cesaro passes out. 

Winner: Roman Reigns

After the match, Jey Uso comes down with the Hawaiian headdress and puts it over Roman’s head. Jey then turns his attention to Cesaro and drops him with a superkick. Jey beats on Cesaro, then goes to the top rope but out comes Seth Rollins. Seth gets in and stands face-to-face with Roman, then laughs and he attacks Cesaro as well. Rollins beats Cesaro out of the ring and hits him with a steel chair a few times. Rollins puts Cesaro’s arm inside a chair and bends it, then runs it into the ring post. Rollins hits The Stomp on a chair and poses in the ring. 

That’s it for WrestleMania Backlash. Let us know what you thought of the show, especially the zombies, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow night for WWE RAW. Until next time, stay safe.