Following an EPIC WrestleMania 40 that saw The Rock, John Cena and The Undertaker return for a dramatic night of sports entertainment, all attention now turns to the next major event in the WWE calendar; WWE Backlash France.
On Saturday 4th May, WWE’s iconic Premium Live Event Backlash will air live from Lyon, France, at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines, marking the first WWE PLE to be held in France.
What is Backlash?
Backlash is an electrifying Premium Live Event that brings together some of the biggest names in Raw and SmackDown’s top Superstars. Since its inception, Backlash has been a platform for unforgettable moments in wrestling history, especially as the first event following WrestleMania each year, with surprise returns and shocking upsets.
What Happened at WrestleMania 40?
The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, defeated Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40 to win the Undisputed WWE Championship. The Main Event was ‘anything goes’, meaning plenty of surprise Superstar returns, with the most notable being WWE legends John Cena and The Undertaker.
The Undertaker appeared in the ring to chokeslam The Rock and neutralise “The Final Boss.” Soon after, Rhodes won the Undisputed WWE Championship, celebrating in the ring with the likes of Cena, Sami Zayn and Randy Orton, as well as his mother, wife, family and eventually WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
Where is Backlash Being Held?
Backlash is the first Premium Live Event to be held in France, taking place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon.
When is Backlash France?
WWE Backlash France is taking place on Saturday 4th May, and is scheduled to begin from 17:30 BST/18:30 CEST.
Watch WWE Backlash France via TNT Box Office and the WWE Network.
Who is On The Match Card For Backlash?
WWE Backlash France is set to be headlined by Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles. The former will be mounting a defence of his new Undisputed WWE Championship after he claimed it against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
Damian Priest will also defend his WWE World Championship against Jey Uso.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles
- WWE World Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs. Jey Uso
- Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga
- WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Naomi & Tiffany Stratton
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
What Time is SmackDown Televised In The UK This Week?
Ahead of WWE Backlash France, SmackDown will also emanate from the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, this Friday 3rd May, and is scheduled to air LIVE from 18:00 BST/19:00 CEST.
Watch WWE SmackDown live on TNT Sports in the UK.
What Happened at Backlash Last Year?
At Backlash 2023, in San Juan, WWE hosted international Superstar and hometown hero Bad Bunny against fellow Puerto Rican native Damian Priest.
Backlash also saw Cody Rhodes take on the 45-year-old Brock Lesnar in a grudge match and a random pairing of Seth Rollins vs. Omos. Despite this match not having a story, and Rollins’ character being limited to conducting singalongs to his theme music, Seth Rollins remains the inexplicable betting favourite to win the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
What Were the Results of Backlash 2023?
- Cody Rhodes def. Brock Lesnar
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) def. Zelina Vega
- Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and The Usos)
- Triple threat United States Title match: Austin Theory (c) def. Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed
- Seth “Freakin” Rollins def. Omos
Where Have The Previous 10 Backlash PLE’s Taken Place?
- Backlash 2007: Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Backlash 2008: 1st Mariner Arena (now Royal Farms Arena), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Backlash 2009: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Backlash 2016: Scottrade Center (now Enterprise Center), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Backlash 2017: Rosemont, Illinois, USA
- Backlash 2018: Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Backlash 2020:Orlando, Florida, USA
- Backlash 2021: Tampa, Florida, USA
- Backlash 2022: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Backlash 2023: San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
What Other Premium Live Events Are Taking Place This Year In Europe?
As well as Backlash France, WWE are hosting two more PLE’s in Europe this summer:
- Clash at the Castle: Scotland, June 15th
- Bash in Berlin, August 31st
What WWE PLE’s Are Still To Come In 2024?
In 2024, WWE are hosting six PLE’s including:
- 4th May: Backlash France – LDLC Arena in Decines-Charpieu, Lyon Metropolis, France
- 25th May: King & Queen Of The Ring – Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- 15th June: Clash at the Castle – OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- 6th July: Money in the Bank – Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 3rd August: SummerSlam – Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
- 31st August: Bash in Berlin – Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany
