The first premium live event after WrestleMania 41, WWE Backlash, is here, and it’s time to deal with the fallout from WWE’s biggest event. WrestleMania might have only been three short weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean these matches haven’t been fully heating up in that short time!
There will be five matches tonight, headlined by the highly anticipated renewed rivalry between Randy Orton and John Cena. These two legendary stars will face off for what is expected to be the final time in their careers for the Undisputed WWE Championship that Cena won for the historic 17th time back at Wrestlemania 41 in April. So, what else does WWE have in store for fans tonight?
WWE Backlash 2025 Match Card
The Champion, Jacob Fatu, will face off against Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Damian Priest in a Fatal Four-Way match tonight at WWE Backlash. At WrestleMania 41, Fatu won the United States Championship from LA Knight. This match combines a few things: Jacob Fatu’s ongoing dominance across WWE, which has earned him the name of The Samoan Werewolf, and the feud between challengers McIntyre and Priest, which has continued past Mania.
Intercontinental Championship
This Intercontinental Championship match at WWE Backlash is a rematch from WrestleMania 41, where Mysterio won the championship in a fatal four-way match, which Penta was also involved in. The stakes in this match go beyond just who comes out with the gold; the tension between Mysterio and Finn Balor, part of the Judgement Day storyline, is expected to be highly impacted by this match.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Valkyria will defend her gold against a newly returned Lynch. When Becky Lynch returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, she returned as Valkyria’s surprise tag team partner when her original partner, Bayley, was mysteriously attacked and unable to compete. Lynch quickly embraced her heel persona and attacked Valkyrie soon after their win. This is the first time that Lyra Valkyria will be defending her Intercontinental Championship on a premium live event.
Pat McAfee vs. Gunther
Weeks back, Gunther lost a match by submission and then later took his frustrations out on Michael Cole, WWE’s legendary announcer. Cole’s counterpart, Pat McAfee, stood up to Gunther to protect Cole and got choked out by Gunther for his trouble. Tonight, at WWE Backlash, the former world champion, Gunther, returns from suspension to settle things in the ring against McAfee.
Undisputed WWE Championship
After announcing his in-ring retirement and multi-year in the making heel turn, John Cena walked out of WrestleMania 41, earning his 17th world championship, finally passing the record holder Ric Flair. Cena is adamant about leaving the company with the championship over his shoulder, but Randy Orton had a few things to say. WWE Backlash takes place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, which just so happens to be Randy Orton’s hometown, which adds another layer to this already highly anticipated matchup.
With a long-standing history between the long-tenured stars, Randy Orton looks to end Cena’s reign and leave with the gold. In contrast, John Cena looks to continue with his legacy of “The Last Real Champion” as he gets closer and closer to his last appearance and official WWE retirement.
Final Thoughts
All five matches on the WWE Backlash card have their significance as they look to deal with the aftermath of WrestleMania 41. This year, the show will start at 7 p.m. EST, with the preshow beginning at 5 p.m. Fans can stream the event on Peacock, but only with the premium or premium plus subscription, and international fans can watch the event on Netflix! No matter how you choose to watch or where in the world you’re watching, tonight’s event is one that WWE fans will not want to miss!
