WWE Backlash: France Results Coverage, Reactions and Highlights for May 4, 2024

Welcome to our live coverage of WWE Backlash: France, broadcasting from the LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu in Lyon Metropolis, France. We’ll be bringing you all the action from this highly anticipated event.

Our live coverage kicks off at 12PM ET, so be sure to join us as we follow the action and share your thoughts in the comments section below. Don’t forget to spread the excitement on social media!

WWE Backlash: France Matches (5/4/2024):

• Undisputed WWE Championship Match: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c) vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles
• WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest) (c) vs. “Main Event” Jey Uso
• WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match: Bayley (c) vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Damage CTRL’s The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. “The EST Of WWE” Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
• Street Fight: “The Viper” Randy Orton and “The Prize Fighter” Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and “MFT” Tama Tonga)

Countdown To WWE Backlash: France Kickoff Pre-Show (5/4/2024):

The Countdown To WWE Backlash: France Kickoff Pre-Show opens up with Jackie Redmond welcoming us. She is joined by CM Punk and Big E. We then see WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, “Main Event” Jey Uso, Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest arriving at the arena.

We then see a video package showing WWE’s history with France.

We then see WWE Women’s Champion Bayley, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, “The EST Of WWE” Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill arriving at the arena.

Jackie Redmond then asks Big E and Punk about wrestling in France, then we head to the back and see Byron Saxton outside of Cody’s locker room. Byron starts off by talking about some comments made about Cody Rhodes being champion and asks if he will be the same as he was going into Wrestlemania.

We then see Kayla Braxton outside of AJ Styles’ locker room.

We then get a video package of the Undisputed WWE Championship Match between “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles.

We then get a video package on WWE Hall of Famer and France’s own Andre The Giant.

Redmond, Punk and Big E then talks about the WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match and we get a video package of the World Heavyweight Championship Match between “Main Event” Jey Uso and World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest.

We then head to the back, where Byron Saxton is interviewing “Main Event” Jey Uso. Byron asks Jey about being the first draft pick on RAW and the World Heavyweight Championship Match at Backlash. Jey says he has goosebumps. Jey then says he appreciates Byron for being there since day one. Jey then says today we will see a career defining moment against Damian Priest. Jey then says he has to prove that he can do it on his own. Jey then says he will be the new champion tonight.

Peter Rosenberg then joins the panel to talk about the World Heavyweight Championship Match. Big E then talks about Jey’s comments from a few days ago, where he said he was disappointed with his match against his brother Jimmy Uso at WrestleMania. Big E says Jey will be extra motivated tonight, not only to win the title but to have a match people will remember.

We then get a video of Kevin Owens and Kayla Braxton touring Lyon, France.

We then see Damage CTRL arriving at the arena.

We then head to the back, where Byron Saxton is interviewing Jade Cargill and “The EST Of WWE” Bianca Belair. Bianca says she is so tired of talking about Damage CTRL and that she is done with all of them. Belair then says taking those Women’s Tag Team Titles means Damage CTRL will be going back to RAW and that she will be done with them for good. Jade then says they are excited to be the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Jade then says they don’t have time for this and she and Belair leave.

We then cut to a live shot of the crowd chanting for CM Punk. Punk says he appreciates it and promises to be there with his boots the next time WWE is in France.

We then get a video package of the Tag Team Match between “The Prize Fighter” Kevin Owens and “The Viper” Randy Orton vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and “MFT” Tama Tonga).

We then see Byron Saxton in the arena showing us the path down to the ring.

We then see the French announce team make their way down to the ring.

We then see “The Viper” Randy Orton arriving at the arena and “The Prize Fighter” Kevin Owens walking into Cody Rhodes’ locker room to take a banana.

Big E then mentions that Tama Tonga was in the Guerrillas of Destiny with Tanga Loa in New Japan and Punk was taken aback that he mentioned any of those things. Punk then admits he still wasn’t sure where the line was regarding what they can mention and what they couldn’t. Big E then says he didn’t care if he got in trouble.

We then see The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and “MFT”) Tama Tonga arriving at the arena.

We then see a video of Kayla Braxton interviewing AJ Styles earlier in the week. She asks AJ about his new attitude since his return. AJ says it is more focus than attitude. AJ then says he was out, he got his mind right and he got focused and this is where he is at now. Kayla then mentions that AJ hasn’t been champion in a number of years. AJ then says he wondered why he had to be complacent with where he was. AJ then says he got his mind right and he got focused. Kayla then asks AJ about facing Cody for the first time and his thoughts about Cody. AJ then says he respects Cody and he has been there. AJ then says he wants that as well. AJ then says he wants the title and the feeling of going out there as champion.

Kayla then brings up how close they came in the past to meeting and if it is personal. AJ then says it is business, but he takes the business personally. AJ then says he doesn’t want to hurt Cody, but he has to beat him. Kayla then asks AJ what happens if things don’t go his way. AJ then says he wants it more than Cody. AJ then says it took Cody two years to finish his story and win the title and it will only take Cody 27 days to lose it.

Sam Roberts then joins the panel to talk about the main event and we go to Michael Cole and Corey Graves at the announce table. Cole and Graves then talk about how insanely loud the crowd was and Cole says he got a noise level warning on his smartwatch and the Countdown To WWE Backlash: France Kickoff Pre-Show comes to a close. 

WWE Backlash: France Results (5/4/2024):

WWE Backlash: France opens up with the same clips from the Countdown To WWE Backlash: France Kickoff Pre-Show of Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, Damage CTRL, Damian Priest and Jey Uso arriving at the arena earlier today.

We then get a Backlash: France intro video, then head inside the arena where the crowd is already as rowdy as they were for the pre-show and SmackDown. Corey Graves and Michael Cole then welcomes us to the show and we get the entrances of the first match of the PLE, which is the Tag Team Match.

Street Fight: “The Viper” Randy Orton and “The Prize Fighter” Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and “MFT” Tama Tonga)

Before the match can officially begin, all four men started to brawl. The fight then spills out of the ring. Owens and Tonga then trade punches into the crowd. Sikoa and Orton then battle by the commentary desk. Referees and officials then try to break up the brawl, but to no avail. Owens then hits a few of the security guards with the Stunner. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis then makes his way down to the ring and yells for everyone to stop. Aldis then says if they don’t want to follow the rules, that’s fine. Aldis then makes this match a Street Fight. The referee then rings the bell and the Street Fight officially begins.

Orton and Sikoa then fight into the crowd as Owens and Tanga trade strikes at ringside. Owens and Tonga then end up in the crowd as well. Owens then hits Tonga with the staging set up near the crowd. Owens then runs clear across the arena to attack Sikoa as Sikoa has the advantage over Orton. Tonga then attacks Owens from behind. Sikoa and Tonga then beat Owens down. Orton then charges in and nails Sikoa. Owens then sends Tonga flying over the barricade back to the ringside area. Sikoa then gets sent over the barricade as well. Owens then hits a frog splash on Sikoa off the barricade. Orton then gets on the barricade and motions as if he is going to do a frog splash of his own. Orton then chuckles as he jumps off the barricade and hits Tonga with a boot. Orton then hits a suplex on Tonga on both commentary desks. Tonga then gets to his feet and gets hit with a trash can from Orton. Orton and Owens then hit Tonga and Sikoa with kendo sticks.

Owens then puts Tonga through a table with a frog splash. Sikoa then hits a Samoan drop on Orton through a table. Sikoa then avoids a Stunner from Owens and hits a lariat on Owens that turns him inside out. Tonga then delivers some rights, lefts and headbutts on Owens in the ring. Sikoa and Tonga then take turns hitting Owens with a kendo stick. Sikoa then hits Owens with a running hip attack. Tonga then repeatedly hits Owens in the head with a trash can lid. Owens then hits Tonga with a spear and nails him with a flurry of punches. Sikoa then breaks up Owens’ offense from behind.

Sikoa then tries to send Owens through a table that was set up in the corner, but Owens reverses it and sends Sikoa through the table. Tonga then blasts Owens with a lariat. Orton then slithers in the ring as Tonga is ready to charge at him. Tonga and Orton then circle each other. Tonga then misses a chair shot and Orton lands a series of strikes on Tonga. Orton then hits Tonga with a powerslam, then follows it up with the draping DDT. Orton then hits Tonga with the RKO, but Sikoa breaks up the pin. Sikoa then sends Orton out of the ring.

Sikoa then goes for a Samoan Spike on Orton on the commentary desk, but Orton reverses it into an RKO on the table. Owens then nails Tonga with a chair. Owens then sets up a bunch of chairs in the ring, while hitting Tonga with the chair. Owens then goes up top, but Tonga cuts him off. Tonga then tries to superplex Owens onto the standing chairs, but Owens counters and hits Tonga with a fisherman’s buster onto the chairs. Owens then goes to pin Tonga, but someone pulls the referee out of the ring and it is none other than Tama Tonga’s brother, Tanga Loa. Loa then hits Orton with the steel steps. Owens then looks up and gets hit in the face with the steel steps as well. Sikoa then hits Owens with the Spinning Solo on the chairs. Sikoa then picks Owens up and hits him with a Samoan Spike for the win.

The winners of the Street Fight, The Bloodline!

After the match, Heyman kneels in front of Owens’ fallen body and asks the Bloodline to stop. Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa then stands tall and does the Bloodline pose and Heyman joins them.

We then get the entrances of the next match, which is the WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match.

WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match: Bayley (c) vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

The match starts off with Stratton hitting Naomi with a stiff kick. Bayley then sends Stratton flying with a hip toss. Stratton then tries a hip toss of her own on Naomi, but Naomi puts on the brakes. Naomi then ducks a dive attempt from Stratton with a split. Stratton then does a front flip over Naomi. Bayley, Stratton and Naomi then all trade pin attempts, but no one could get a three count. Naomi and Bayley then try to double team Stratton, but Stratton fights back. Naomi then nails Stratton and Bayley with dropkicks. Stratton then hits Naomi with a handspring elbow. Bayley then goes for a sunset flip on Naomi, but Naomi puts on the brakes. Stratton then hits a double stomp on Naomi and gets a near fall. Naomi then rolls out of the ring and Stratton works over Bayley.

Bayley then tries to get back in the match, but Stratton nails Bayley with a cartwheel Alabama slam and Naomi breaks up the pin. Naomi then spears Stratton through the ropes. Naomi then lands a few shots on Stratton before sending Naomi into the barricade. Stratton then hits Naomi with a handspring elbow while Naomi is on the barricade. The crowd then boos as Stratton jaw jacks with them. Bayley then hits Stratton with a suicide dive. Bayley then tries to get Naomi, but Naomi hits Bayley with a head kick. Naomi then nails Bayley with a diving blockbuster off the barricade. Naomi then hits Stratton with the Heat Seeker followed by a split-legged moonsault, but Bayley breaks up the pin. Naomi then hits Stratton with a powerbomb. Stratton then kicks out, but Naomi puts her in the Superstar lock. Bayley breaks up the hold with a diving elbow off the top. Bayley then hits Naomi with a sunset bomb into the corner. Bayley then goes for the same move on Stratton, but Stratton blocks it and gets a two count.

Stratton then gets to her feet and is hit with a Bayley to Belly, but Stratton kicks out. Stratton then hits a rolling senton and sets up her finish, but Naomi pulls Stratton out of the ring. Stratton then hits Naomi with a cartwheel Alabama slams on the commentary desk. Bayley then gets pulled out of the ring and Stratton does the same to her. Stratton then sets up Bayley and Naomi for a double Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Bayley and Naomi then both roll out of the way. Stratton ten lands on her feet, charges in and gets hit with a 3D by Naomi and Bayley. Naomi and Bayley then trade pin attempts. Bayley then reverses Naomi’s roll up with one of her own for the win.

The winner and still the WWE Women’s Champion, Bayley!

After the match, Naomi hugs Bayley and raises her hand. The crowd then applauds.

We then see “Main Event” Jey Uso warm up in the back for the next match when he is suddenly approached by the Bloodline. We then get a brief stare-down before the Bloodline walks off. Paul Heyman then approaches Jey Uso with a look of concern. Heyman then shakes his head and walks away.

We then get the entrances of the next match, which is the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest) (c) vs. “Main Event” Jey Uso

The match starts off with Jey getting the crowd to yeet at Priest. Priest then attacks Jey, but Jey avoids it and delivers a few strikes on Priest. Jey then leapfrogs over Priest and yeets at him again. Priest then charges in and Jey sends him over the top. Jey then goes for a dive off the apron, but gets caught by Priest. Priest then slams Jey onto the apron. Priest then continues to work over Jey in the ring. Jey then hits Priest with a back suplex. Priest and Jey then trade strikes. Jey then hits Priest with a kick and Priest falls into the corner. Jey then goes for a running hip attack, but Priest counters with a backdrop to the apron. Jey then hits Priest with another kick followed by a crossbody from the top, but Priest kicks out and rolls out to the floor.

Jey then hits a dive on Priest. JD McDonagh then appears at ringside and crotches Jey on the middle rope. Priest then spears Jey, but Jey kicks out and Priest notices McDonagh at ringside. Priest then yells at McDonagh and tells him to stay out of this. Jey then superkicks McDonagh and Priest. Jey then hits Priest with the Uso Splash, but Priest kicks out. Jey and Priest then exchange strikes and both men are down. Priest then hits Jey with the Razor’s Edge, but Jey kicks out.

Priest then calls for his finish, but Jey escapes and hits a spear on Priest. Priest then kicks out and Jey goes up top. Finn Bálor then jumps the barricade, but Jey superkicks Bálor off the apron before he can get involved. Priest then blasts Jey with a lariat. Priest then hits Jey with the South of Heaven, but Jey kicks out. Priest then yells at Jey to rise before hitting him with a cyclone boot. Priest then hits Jey with another kick. Jey then hits Priest with a flurry of superkicks. Jey then hits Priest with a spear and follows it up with an Uso Splash, but McDonagh puts Priest’s foot on the bottom rope to break the count. Jey then hits McDonagh with a tope suicida and follows it up with a spear on Bálor. Jey then climbs to the top, but Priest trips him. Priest then hits Jey with the South of Heaven off the top rope for the win.

The winner and still the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Damian Priest!

After the match, McDonagh and Bálor attack Jey Uso, but Priest pulls them off. Bálor then continues to stomp Jey, but Priest shoves Bálor. McDonagh then gets involved and deescalates things. Priest then tells them to stand and pose with him and they do.

It is then announced in French that today’s WWE Backlash PLE was the largest gate in any arena show in WWE history.

We then get the entrances of the next match, which is the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Damage CTRL’s The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) (c) vs. “The EST Of WWE” Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

The match starts off with Asuka trying to hit a shoulder block on Belair, but ends up bouncing off of Belair. Belair then tells Asuka to bring it. Asuka and Belair then trade strikes. Asuka then hits Belair with a kick to her gut and Belair drops to one knee. Asuka then hits the ropes and gets run over by Belair. Belair and Asuka then trade pin attempts. Asuka then puts Belair in an octopus, but Belair slams Asuka to break the hold. Asuka then hits Belair with the drop toe hold into the middle rope. Sane then tries to get involved, but Belair knocks her off the apron. Belair then hits a suplex on Asuka and tags Cargill in. Asuka then tags Sane in. Sane then goes for a waist lock on Cargill, but Cargill tosses Sane. Sane then goes for a spear, but it has no effect. Belair and Cargill then nail Sane with the elevator drop. Belair then works over Sane. Sane then grabs Belair’s hair. Belair then does a backflip and hits a dropkick on Sane. and Sane rolls out of the ring. Belair then misses a dive, but lands on her feet. Asuka then kicks Belair in the head. Sane then hits a dive off the top and lands on Belair.

Sane and Asuka then take turns beating Belair down. Belair then manages to tag Cargill in. Cargill then springboards off the ropes and hits a double crossbody on Sane and Asuka. Cargill then hits a spinebuster on Sane, but Asuka breaks up the pin. Cargill then hits a side slam on Sane. Sane and Asuka then land a flurry of strikes on Cargill. Sane then tries to pin Cargill, but Asuka is now legal. Asuka and Cargill then trade kicks. Sane then puts Cargill in an armbar. Asuka then puts Belair in an armbar as well. Belair and Cargill then both manage to lift and powerbomb Asuka and Sane to break both holds. Belair and Cargill then hit a wheelbarrow/DDT combo and Sane kicks out. Asuka then pulls Cargill off the apron and sends her into the ring steps. Belair then misses a corner spear and Sane and Asuka hit their finisher on Belair, but Cargill breaks up the pin. Sane then dives off the top for a rana, but Cargill catches her and hits her with the Jaded. Asuka then rolls into the ring and Belair hits Asuka with the KOD on top of Sane. Belair then pins Asuka for the win.

The winners and new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, “The EST Of WWE” Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill!

The first round matches for the Queen of the Ring and King of the Ring tournaments taking place on RAW this coming Monday night was then announced and matches taking place on SmackDown will be announced later.

We then get the entrances of the main event, which is the Undisputed WWE Championship Match.

Undisputed WWE Championship Match: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c) vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles

The match starts off with Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles locking up. Both men then trade headlocks and take downs. Rhodes then slaps Styles in the face. Styles and Rhodes then trade chops. Rhodes then hits Styles with a dropkick. Rhodes then does the Stardust hand gesture in front of Styles’ face. Styles then hits Rhodes with a dropkick. Rhodes then hits Styles with a high-angle back body drop. Rhodes then hits Styles with a delayed gourd buster. Styles then sends Rhodes into the corner shoulder first. Styles then focuses his attack on Rhodes’ injured shoulder. Rhodes then sends Styles into the bottom rope. Rhodes then goes for a dive, but Styles cut him off with an elbow strike. Styles then sends Rhodes into the commentary desk. The crowd then boos as Styles clears the French announce desk. Styles then tries to hit a powerbomb on Rhodes, but Rhodes responds by sending Styles into the steel steps.

Rhodes then looks for a superplex, but Styles reverses the attempt and sends Rhodes down to the mat. Styles then hits Rhodes with the electric chair drop. Styles then goes for a springboard moonsault, but Rhodes gets his knees up. Rhodes then delivers a flurry of strikes on Styles followed by a powerslam. Rhodes then hits Styles with a disaster kick, but Styles kicks out. Styles then hits Rhodes with the ushigoroshi, but Rhodes kicks out. Rhodes then hits Styles with a bulldog and Styles rolls out to the apron. Rhodes then goes for a suplex on the apron, but Styles reverses it into a brainbuster. Styles then goes for a sliding knee on the apron, but Rhodes blocks it and powerbomb Styles through the commentary desk. Both men then exchange strikes and are down.

Rhodes and Styles then both struggle to get to their feet. Both men then lock eyes and stare each other down. Rhodes then hits Styles with the Dusty Rhodes jabs and the Bionic Elbow. Rhodes then goes for the Cody Cutter, but Styles blocks it. Styles then hits the suplex on Rhodes in the corner. Styles then hits Rhodes with the springboard 450, but Rhodes kicks out. Styles then hits Rhodes with a burning hammer, but Rhodes kicks out. Rhodes then tries to get back in the match. Styles then hits Rhodes with a few kicks, but they have no effect. Rhodes then its Styles with a kick and follows it up by a Cody Cutter, but Styles kicks out. Rhodes then nails Styles with the lariat. Rhodes then calls for the Crossroads, but Styles escapes and hits Rhodes with a Pelé kick. Styles then goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Rhodes counters it with a superkick. Rhodes then puts Styles in a kimura, but Styles escapes.

Both men then attempt their finishes, but to no avail. Rhodes then hits Styles with a super Cody Cutter and follows it up with the Crossroads for the win.

The winner and still the Undisputed WWE Champion, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes!

After the match, Rhodes stands tall and celebrates as the show comes to a close.