World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage Match: Triple H © vs. Booker T
The rivalry between Triple H and Booker T was reignited the night after
WrestleMania XIX, where Triple H barely retained his World Heavyweight Championship with the help of Ric Flair. Booker T, having come agonizingly close to dethroning The Game, was determined not to let this defeat define him. On the March 31 episode of
Raw, Booker interrupted Triple H’s celebration, confronting the champion and making it crystal clear that their business wasn’t over. For Booker, this wasn’t just about a championship—this was about proving that he belonged in the main event and earning the respect that Triple H had denied him. Booker’s confidence and fiery determination made it clear that he wasn't about to let Flair’s interference or Triple H’s mind games extinguish his championship dream.
In the weeks that followed, Booker T made it his mission to disrupt Triple H’s reign of terror, becoming a thorn in the champion’s side at every turn. On the April 7 episode of
Raw, Booker launched a surprise backstage ambush on Triple H, attacking the champion while he was vulnerable. The two brawled viciously, with Booker’s relentless aggression catching The Game off guard. Triple H, who had relied on Flair’s underhanded tactics at
WrestleMania, now found himself face-to-face with a more dangerous and determined Booker T. This attack sent a clear message to the champion: Booker wasn’t backing down, and he wouldn’t let The Game walk all over him.
By the April 14 episode of
Raw, things escalated when General Manager Eric Bischoff raised the stakes, announcing that Triple H would defend his title against Booker T inside a steel cage at
Backlash. With the promise of no outside interference, it was the opportunity Booker had been waiting for. That night, Booker faced Ric Flair in a brutal one-on-one match. Flair, the wily veteran, used every trick in his book to slow down Booker, but it wasn’t enough. Booker T dismantled Flair with ferocity, delivering a thunderous Scissor Kick to secure the win and send a message directly to Triple H. However, Triple H would not let Booker leave unscathed. As Booker celebrated, the champion blindsided him, smashing him with the World Heavyweight Championship belt before delivering a devastating Pedigree. Triple H stood tall, making it clear that no matter how resilient Booker was, The Game always had the final say.
On the April 21 episode of
Raw, just six days before
Backlash, Booker T once again made his presence felt. Teaming with Shawn Michaels, Booker faced Triple H and Flair in a chaotic tag team main event. The match was an all-out war, with Booker and Michaels fighting against both the numbers game and The Game’s ruthless tactics. But in the end, after a no contest finish, Booker T delivered another Scissor Kick, this time laying out Triple H in the middle of the ring, standing tall over the champion with the steel cage looming. The roar of the crowd echoed through the arena, as Booker T looked to be on the verge of his long-awaited coronation.
As
Backlash approached, the stage was set for what promised to be the ultimate showdown. Booker T, the underdog who had fought tooth and nail for respect, would face Triple H, the cerebral champion who believed he was untouchable. Inside the unforgiving structure of a steel cage, there would be no interference, no escape, and no excuses. For Booker T, this was the final chance to prove that he belonged at the top—and for Triple H, it was another opportunity to prove why he was, in his own words, "that damn good."
WWE Championship Triple Threat Match: Brock Lesnar © vs. The Big Show vs. The Undertaker
Brock Lesnar entered WrestleMania XIX with a mountain-sized challenge in Kurt Angle, but by the end of the night, he had cemented his place as the WWE Champion. However, the celebration of Lesnar’s hard-fought victory was short-lived. On the April 3 episode of SmackDown, Lesnar was blindsided by none other than The Big Show, the man who had previously toppled him for the championship months earlier. Big Show made it clear that he wasn’t finished with Lesnar, calling him a "fluke champion" and vowing to reclaim the title. As if that wasn’t enough, the same night saw the shocking return of The Undertaker, his eyes fixed on Lesnar—reminding the champion that their unfinished business from 2002 had not been forgotten.
The following week, on April 10, The Undertaker confronted Lesnar in the center of the ring. The tension was palpable as Undertaker told Lesnar that it was time for them to settle their rivalry once and for all. Before Lesnar could respond, The Big Show stormed down to the ring, and what ensued was a chaotic brawl between the three behemoths. Lesnar fought valiantly, but the combined strength of The Undertaker and Big Show proved overwhelming, with security barely able to separate the three men. Stephanie McMahon, recognizing the growing intensity of the situation, made a blockbuster announcement: at Backlash, Lesnar would defend his WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match against both The Big Show and The Undertaker.
From that point forward, SmackDown became a battleground. On April 17, a one-on-one match between The Undertaker and Big Show ended in complete chaos when Lesnar interfered, using his immense power to lay waste to both of his challengers. The animosity between the three men grew by the week. Lesnar, the young and hungry champion, refused to be intimidated by his massive opponents. Big Show, meanwhile, sought to impose his size and power on everyone, while The Undertaker remained relentless in his pursuit of vengeance, eager to reclaim the title and settle the score with Lesnar.
The April 24 episode of SmackDown saw Lesnar face off against The Big Show in what was expected to be a brutal showdown. However, just as Lesnar seemed to be gaining the upper hand, The Undertaker once again intervened. Chairs, steel steps, and anything not bolted down became weapons in the hands of these three titans, and security struggled to keep control as the brawl spilled into the crowd. With bodies flying and chaos reigning supreme, it was clear that there was no controlling the sheer force of will each man brought to the table.
As Backlash approached, the stakes had never been higher. Lesnar, the reigning champion, had proven time and again that he could overcome impossible odds, but this was his toughest test yet. Facing two of the most dangerous competitors in WWE history, he would have to outsmart the methodical Undertaker and survive the overwhelming power of The Big Show. With the WWE Championship hanging in the balance, all three men seemed poised for destruction, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats for what promised to be an unforgettable, explosive encounter.
Official Card for WWE Backlash:
April 27 2003 | Worcester, Massachusetts
THE FINAL CHAPTER
NO DISQUALIFICATION
** Loser is Fired, Winner earns World Heavyweight Championship Match
The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. The Big Show vs. The Undertaker
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
STEEL CAGE MATCH
Triple H (c) vs. Booker T
