This BTB will begin the night after WrestleMania XXIV. However I will not write out full shows and all that, instead I will recap the events in the months and post PPV cards with details of the match. I have not decided if I will post a recapped version of the PPV or not, it really depends on the amount of interest I gain. The rosters at the moment are the same as the 'Mania results, I will post 'Mania results but not the rosters because they will change soon.
WrestleMania XXIV
WWE.com Exclusive Match: Kane won an 24-man Interpromotional Battle Royal (6:50)
Kane won by last eliminating Mark Henry to gain a ECW Championship match against Chavo Guerrero later on that night.
The other participants were: Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Deuce, Domino, Tommy Dreamer, Jim Duggan, Festus, The Great Khali, Hardcore Holly, Jesse, Brian Kendrick, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Shannon Moore, Trevor Murdoch, Jamie Noble, Chuck Palumbo, Cody Rhodes, Snitsky, Stevie Richards, Val Venis and Jimmy Wang Yang.
John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) in a Belfast Brawl (8:35)
JBL pinned Finlay after a Clothesline from Hell.
CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), Mr. Kennedy and John Morrison in a Money in the Bank ladder match (13:55)
Punk won by retrieving the briefcase suspended above the ring.
During the match, Matt Hardy returned to action and knocked MVP off a ladder with a Twist of Fate.
Batista defeated Umaga (7:06)
Batista pinned Umaga after a Batista Bomb.
Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero to win the ECW Championship (0:08)
Kane pinned Guerrero after a chokeslam.
Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair in a Career Threatening Match (20:23)
Michaels pinned Flair after executing Sweet Chin Music twice.
Beth Phoenix and Melina (w/Santino Marella) defeated Maria and Ashley in a Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack match (5:56)
Phoenix pinned Maria after a Fisherman suplex.
Snoop Dogg served as the Master of Ceremonies for the match.
Candice Michelle was originally scheduled to be Maria's partner, but suffered a legit clavicle injury and was replaced by Ashley.
Lumberjacks: Cherry, Eve Torres, Michelle McCool, Victoria, Mickie James, Jillian Hall, Katie Lea Burchill, Kelly Kelly, Layla and Maryse.
Randy Orton defeated Triple H and John Cena in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE Championship (14:09)[
Orton pinned Cena after a Pedigree from Triple H.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. defeated The Big Show in a No Disqualification match (11:36)
Mayweather won via knockout when Big Show failed to answer a ten-count after being hit with brass knuckles.
The Undertaker defeated Edge to win the World Heavyweight Championship (23:50)
Undertaker forced Edge to submit with the Gogoplata.
WWE.com Exclusive Match: Kane won an 24-man Interpromotional Battle Royal (6:50)
Kane won by last eliminating Mark Henry to gain a ECW Championship match against Chavo Guerrero later on that night.
The other participants were: Elijah Burke, Lance Cade, Deuce, Domino, Tommy Dreamer, Jim Duggan, Festus, The Great Khali, Hardcore Holly, Jesse, Brian Kendrick, Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Shannon Moore, Trevor Murdoch, Jamie Noble, Chuck Palumbo, Cody Rhodes, Snitsky, Stevie Richards, Val Venis and Jimmy Wang Yang.
John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) in a Belfast Brawl (8:35)
JBL pinned Finlay after a Clothesline from Hell.
CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), Mr. Kennedy and John Morrison in a Money in the Bank ladder match (13:55)
Punk won by retrieving the briefcase suspended above the ring.
During the match, Matt Hardy returned to action and knocked MVP off a ladder with a Twist of Fate.
Batista defeated Umaga (7:06)
Batista pinned Umaga after a Batista Bomb.
Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero to win the ECW Championship (0:08)
Kane pinned Guerrero after a chokeslam.
Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair in a Career Threatening Match (20:23)
Michaels pinned Flair after executing Sweet Chin Music twice.
Beth Phoenix and Melina (w/Santino Marella) defeated Maria and Ashley in a Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack match (5:56)
Phoenix pinned Maria after a Fisherman suplex.
Snoop Dogg served as the Master of Ceremonies for the match.
Candice Michelle was originally scheduled to be Maria's partner, but suffered a legit clavicle injury and was replaced by Ashley.
Lumberjacks: Cherry, Eve Torres, Michelle McCool, Victoria, Mickie James, Jillian Hall, Katie Lea Burchill, Kelly Kelly, Layla and Maryse.
Randy Orton defeated Triple H and John Cena in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE Championship (14:09)[
Orton pinned Cena after a Pedigree from Triple H.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. defeated The Big Show in a No Disqualification match (11:36)
Mayweather won via knockout when Big Show failed to answer a ten-count after being hit with brass knuckles.
The Undertaker defeated Edge to win the World Heavyweight Championship (23:50)
Undertaker forced Edge to submit with the Gogoplata.
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Following Backlash the Age of Orton was going strong. Randy Orton addressed the fans on the episode following WrestleMania and flat out told everyone that his WWE Championship reign wasn’t going anywhere. Orton made it clear that he plans to be the WWE Champion for a long, long time. Triple H, the man who should’ve won at WrestleMania, then made it clear that his sole purpose was to be the WWE Champion and too bad for Orton he was standing in his way. However Orton gained back up the following week when Triple H and Orton shared a brawl in the ring when the “Rated R Superstar” Edge returned to Raw! Rated RKO was re-united once again and the next week Edge made it clear that he had left Smackdown and was now a Raw superstar once again. This was huge news for Raw, but it wasn’t that Edge jumped to Raw, he was traded – and for whom will be discussed further down. Rated RKO began to double team Triple H whenever possible until unexpectedly Edge turned on Randy Orton spearing him straight into the canvas. The return of Rated RKO was over as soon as it had begun. This however was not a face turn for Edge rather that he wanted to make it clear he has come to Raw in hopes of becoming the WWE Champion once again. The General Manager, William Regal then made it so – at Backlash a triple threat match, Randy Orton versus Triple H versus Edge for the WWE Championship.
There was a new era on Smackdown and that was the era of the “Deadman” the World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker. Undertaker was back on top and took on all comers. One man however made his present known on Smackdown and he was backed by Matt Striker. This man came over from Raw in the trade for Edge and it was the “Samoan Bulldozer” Umaga! Matt Striker had made the deal work and now was the new handler for this Samoan beast, and his first target was The Undertaker. However Batista did not fell Umaga earned a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship seeing how he had beaten Umaga at WrestleMania. A re-match was then made for Backlash.
The Undertaker soon found a new contender though. The Untied States Champion MVP was done with Matt Hardy and now turned his attention to Taker. Porter tasted gold and wanted more of it. The Undertaker played his typical mind games with the young superstar and for awhile they worked. However in a match up Taker’s brother and new ECW Champion Kane, Porter worked through the games and was able to pin Kane following a Playmaker. Theodore Long set up the match for Backlash, in what would be his last move as the Smackdown General Manger (explained later).
Shawn Michaels had retired Ric Flair at WrestleMania. The night after Ric Flair made his last appearance on Monday night Raw (for the time being) and was sent away with a retirement speech and ceremony (just like in real life). Following that week Shawn Michaels had begun to change a bit. HBK told the world that he had won World Championships, he had put on 5 star matches, he had done everything as a competitor but now he did something that no one, will EVER do and that was retire the GREATEST man to ever step into a ring, Ric Flair. Many took offense to Michaels and his new found attitude but one person, one diva in particular took a liking to it. This diva was Maria and she begun to accompany HBK down to the ring. Michaels also began to grow a swag about him (heel turn?) and began to put down other wrestlers throughout the company. One man stood up for himself and that was Chris Jericho. The Intercontinental Champion made it clear he would not be pushed around by anyone, even Shawn Michaels. The “Heart Break Kid” teased Jericho into and tricked him into a match at Backlash for his Intercontinental Championship.
ECW had a new champion in the “Big Red Machine” Kane. However two nights after Kane won the championship and he was addressing the fans, none other than Matt Striker (re) introduced us to the “Alpha Male” Marcus Cor Von! Cor Von came out to new fierce music sporting some gym shorts and a tank top. Cor Von took the mic from Striker and told the world he was ready to step up and be the ECW Champion. He then challenged Kane to a match at Backlash, which Kane accepted. Also on ECW, the MITB holder CM Punk has been teasing a cash in coming out after main event matches.
Teddy Long left Smackdown and showed up on the Raw brand alongside Cryme Tyme!~? T-Lo, as he was no referred to, said he left that pity of brand Smackdown because he saw the potential Cryme Tyme has and with his managerial skill he could lift JTG and Shad into tag team greatness. The first stop was the World Tag Team Championships. The team earned their shot for the gold at Backlash when they took on Santino Marella and Carlito, when Rodney Mack returned to the WWE! Mack helped Cryme Tyme pick up the win and now the team of JTG, Shad, Mack and T-Lo is looking to become a very powerful unit. At Backlash Cryme Tyme gets a shot at the championships when they take on Rhodes & Holly.
On an episode of Smackdown Jamie Noble cut a promo on the (lack of) Cruiserweight Division. He spoke about how the division was once the pride of the business and of Smackdown and now it was only a memory. Noble challenged ANY cruiserweight to meet him in the ring at Backlash in a match where the Cruiserweight Championship would be reactivated.
Also announced for the event was a Women’s Championship match between the champion Beth Phoenix and Mickie James. The winner of this match would become the Women’s Champion, however if James loses she will not gain another title shot as long as Phoenix holds the gold.
Backlash
WWE Championship
Randy Orton © vs. Triple H vs. Edge
World Heavyweight Championship
The Undertaker © vs. United States Champion MVP
Grudge Match
Batista vs. Umaga w/ Matt Striker
ECW Championship
Kane © vs. Marcus Cor Von w/ Matt Striker
Intercontinental Championship
Chris Jericho © vs. Shawn Michaels w/ Maria
World Tag Team Championship
Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes © vs. Cryme Tyme w/ Rodney Mack & T-Lo
Cruiserweight Championship – Jamie Noble Open Challenge
Jamie Noble vs. Any Cruiserweight
Women’s Championship
Beth Phoenix © vs. Mickie James
There was a new era on Smackdown and that was the era of the “Deadman” the World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker. Undertaker was back on top and took on all comers. One man however made his present known on Smackdown and he was backed by Matt Striker. This man came over from Raw in the trade for Edge and it was the “Samoan Bulldozer” Umaga! Matt Striker had made the deal work and now was the new handler for this Samoan beast, and his first target was The Undertaker. However Batista did not fell Umaga earned a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship seeing how he had beaten Umaga at WrestleMania. A re-match was then made for Backlash.
The Undertaker soon found a new contender though. The Untied States Champion MVP was done with Matt Hardy and now turned his attention to Taker. Porter tasted gold and wanted more of it. The Undertaker played his typical mind games with the young superstar and for awhile they worked. However in a match up Taker’s brother and new ECW Champion Kane, Porter worked through the games and was able to pin Kane following a Playmaker. Theodore Long set up the match for Backlash, in what would be his last move as the Smackdown General Manger (explained later).
Shawn Michaels had retired Ric Flair at WrestleMania. The night after Ric Flair made his last appearance on Monday night Raw (for the time being) and was sent away with a retirement speech and ceremony (just like in real life). Following that week Shawn Michaels had begun to change a bit. HBK told the world that he had won World Championships, he had put on 5 star matches, he had done everything as a competitor but now he did something that no one, will EVER do and that was retire the GREATEST man to ever step into a ring, Ric Flair. Many took offense to Michaels and his new found attitude but one person, one diva in particular took a liking to it. This diva was Maria and she begun to accompany HBK down to the ring. Michaels also began to grow a swag about him (heel turn?) and began to put down other wrestlers throughout the company. One man stood up for himself and that was Chris Jericho. The Intercontinental Champion made it clear he would not be pushed around by anyone, even Shawn Michaels. The “Heart Break Kid” teased Jericho into and tricked him into a match at Backlash for his Intercontinental Championship.
ECW had a new champion in the “Big Red Machine” Kane. However two nights after Kane won the championship and he was addressing the fans, none other than Matt Striker (re) introduced us to the “Alpha Male” Marcus Cor Von! Cor Von came out to new fierce music sporting some gym shorts and a tank top. Cor Von took the mic from Striker and told the world he was ready to step up and be the ECW Champion. He then challenged Kane to a match at Backlash, which Kane accepted. Also on ECW, the MITB holder CM Punk has been teasing a cash in coming out after main event matches.
Teddy Long left Smackdown and showed up on the Raw brand alongside Cryme Tyme!~? T-Lo, as he was no referred to, said he left that pity of brand Smackdown because he saw the potential Cryme Tyme has and with his managerial skill he could lift JTG and Shad into tag team greatness. The first stop was the World Tag Team Championships. The team earned their shot for the gold at Backlash when they took on Santino Marella and Carlito, when Rodney Mack returned to the WWE! Mack helped Cryme Tyme pick up the win and now the team of JTG, Shad, Mack and T-Lo is looking to become a very powerful unit. At Backlash Cryme Tyme gets a shot at the championships when they take on Rhodes & Holly.
On an episode of Smackdown Jamie Noble cut a promo on the (lack of) Cruiserweight Division. He spoke about how the division was once the pride of the business and of Smackdown and now it was only a memory. Noble challenged ANY cruiserweight to meet him in the ring at Backlash in a match where the Cruiserweight Championship would be reactivated.
Also announced for the event was a Women’s Championship match between the champion Beth Phoenix and Mickie James. The winner of this match would become the Women’s Champion, however if James loses she will not gain another title shot as long as Phoenix holds the gold.
Backlash
WWE Championship
Randy Orton © vs. Triple H vs. Edge
World Heavyweight Championship
The Undertaker © vs. United States Champion MVP
Grudge Match
Batista vs. Umaga w/ Matt Striker
ECW Championship
Kane © vs. Marcus Cor Von w/ Matt Striker
Intercontinental Championship
Chris Jericho © vs. Shawn Michaels w/ Maria
World Tag Team Championship
Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes © vs. Cryme Tyme w/ Rodney Mack & T-Lo
Cruiserweight Championship – Jamie Noble Open Challenge
Jamie Noble vs. Any Cruiserweight
Women’s Championship
Beth Phoenix © vs. Mickie James
