WWE Backlash is set to emanate from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, featuring a high-stakes card packed with championship clashes and heated rivalries. Headlining the event is newly crowned WWE Champion John Cena making his first title defense against former champion and longtime adversary Randy Orton. This marks Cena’s first singles bout with Orton in over eight years, last facing off in February 2017, and now they collide once again with the top prize in WWE on the line.

After capturing the United States Championship at WrestleMania 41, Jacob Fatu will put the title on the line for the very first time in a high-octane Fatal Four-Way match. He will face former champion LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, and Damian Priest in what promises to be a chaotic encounter.

The Intercontinental Championship will also be defended as Dominik Mysterio takes on Penta in a WrestleMania rematch. This marks Dominik’s second title defense since dethroning Gunther.

In the women’s division, the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship will be contested in a personal grudge match. Lyra Valkyria faces former ally Becky Lynch, who turned on her partner the night after WrestleMania in a shocking betrayal.

Another headline-worthy bout sees Pat McAfee stepping into the ring for the first time since last year’s Royal Rumble, as he looks to get retribution against Gunther following the Austrian’s brutal attack on the Raw after WrestleMania.

The WWE Backlash pre-show begins at 5 PM ET, with the main card airing live at 7 PM ET on Peacock for U.S. viewers and Netflix for international audiences.

Countdown to Backlash

Michael Cole, Big E, and Wade Barrett kicked off the Countdown panel, welcoming fans as footage showed WWE Superstars arriving at the Enterprise Center. A tease for a sit-down interview between Wade Barrett and Randy Orton promised deeper insight into the night’s explosive main event.

Jackie Redmond delivered backstage updates, focusing on the growing animosity between Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch. After airing a video package detailing Valkyria’s title reign, Byron Saxton caught up with the champion for her thoughts just hours before her defense. Vic Joseph then joined the panel to comment on Valkyria’s rise and transitioned the discussion to the Intercontinental Title match between Penta and Dominik Mysterio.

Attention soon turned to Pat McAfee’s confrontation with Gunther. Michael Cole defended McAfee’s right to express his views and made it clear the former NFL punter would give it everything he had in tonight’s match.

Later, LA Knight was interviewed about his chances in the Fatal Four-Way United States Title match. Following that, a feature aired highlighting WWE’s long-standing history in the world of video games.

Peter Rosenberg and Jackie Redmond took over from Cole and Barrett as the panel shifted focus to tonight’s overall card. Barrett’s previously teased interview with Orton then aired, offering compelling words from The Viper.

Orton described the current John Cena as “selfish,” citing a shift in attitude. He reflected on meeting Cena in OVW and called their in-ring battles the most fun of his career. Orton vowed to kick off a retirement run lasting up to a decade, starting by punting Cena out of his way.

Finally, the Countdown wrapped with a preview of the Fatal Four-Way U.S. Title match, confirmed as the opening contest of the main card, followed by final analysis on Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio.

WWE Backlash 2025

Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest vs. LA Knight for the United States championship

The action exploded right from the start as alliances quickly dissolved. Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre immediately rolled to the outside, leaving LA Knight alone with United States Champion Jacob Fatu. Knight wasted no time, sending Fatu crashing headfirst into the ring post. Priest then re-entered the picture after downing McIntyre on the floor, but Knight managed to stand tall in the opening minutes. Despite the momentum, his early pin attempt on Fatu only earned him a one-count.

In a rare moment of cooperation, Priest and Knight temporarily joined forces to dump Fatu out of the ring. However, that alliance was short-lived. McIntyre reasserted himself with a series of neckbreakers, kipped up in classic form, and immediately ate a slam from Knight as the champion began to recover. Priest then launched himself into the spotlight, delivering a surprise hurricanrana to Fatu that shifted the tide and began a strong sequence of dominance for the “Archer of Infamy.”

That momentum built to a face-off between Fatu and McIntyre, where the Samoan powerhouse managed to stagger the Scottish Warrior. What followed was a wild, fast-paced sequence: Fatu landed a senton on McIntyre, only to get hit with the Blunt Force Trauma by Knight, who was then dropped with a chokeslam from Priest. Priest barely had time to stand before McIntyre blasted him with a Claymore Kick. The chaos left all four men down, with no one able to capitalize for a pin.

As the ring cleared, it came down to McIntyre and Knight. Drew connected with a devastating Claymore and covered, but before the referee could count three, Priest yanked him out of the ring, once again costing him a win. The two rivals brawled outside, crashing over the announce table and tumbling into the timekeeper’s area in a scene of total destruction.

Back in the ring, Fatu attempted a high-risk moonsault but missed the mark. Knight dropped an elbow on the champ, then another, and came heartbreakingly close to victory as Fatu kicked out at the very last millisecond.

Meanwhile, the war between Priest and McIntyre spilled into the crowd. As Damian hammered away at Drew in the stands, he paused mid-assault to look into the camera and mock his opponent, declaring that McIntyre was “bored at work.” The fight escalated to the production area, where Priest escaped Drew’s grasp with a brutal eye gouge. He then delivered a jaw-dropping South of Heaven chokeslam off a stack of production trunks, driving McIntyre through a table on the floor in a sickening crash.

The chaotic four-way has now boiled down to a one-on-one between LA Knight and Jacob Fatu, but the action refuses to stay contained inside the ring. Knight gains the upper hand and stuns Fatu, laying him across the announce table and preparing for another signature elbow drop. Before he can strike, Solo Sikoa rushes in to pull Fatu to safety.

Knight shifts his attention to Sikoa, only to be ambushed by a man dressed in all black , it is revealed to be Jeff Cobb, who is officially introduced on commentary. Cobb lays waste to Knight with a brutal assault before tossing him back into the ring.

An unaware Jacob Fatu looks toward Sikoa for answers, only to see him gesture toward Knight lying in the ring as if presenting a gift. Fatu takes the cue, climbs the ropes, lands a devastating moonsault, and secures the pinfall. After the win, Fatu locks eyes with the man who brought him into WWE and his newly revealed enforcer.

Jacob Fatu def. LA Knight, Damian Priest & Drew McIntyre via pinfall (on Knight) to retain the United States Championship.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Becky Lynch

The Women’s Intercontinental Championship was on the line as Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch collided in a physical and technical contest that kept the audience guessing until the final moments.

The match opened with tension and aggression, as both women engaged in a heated shoving contest. Lynch quickly grounded the champion and controlled the early moments with her signature grappling. Valkyria eventually rallied, turning the tide with a pendulum submission hold before transitioning into a surfboard stretch that kept the veteran Lynch at bay. Valkyria continued her momentum with a pinpoint dropkick, but Lynch avoided further damage by sidestepping a high-risk move from the top rope.

Lynch responded with a fierce neckbreaker after surviving a superplex from the champion. Valkyria then delivered a top-rope legdrop that nearly sealed the win, but Lynch barely escaped. What followed was a technical battle in the center of the ring, with both women trading submission attempts until Lynch seemed to lock in her patented Dis-Arm-Her.

Despite connecting with a crushing Manhandle Slam, Lynch was stunned when Valkyria kicked out just before the three-count. Growing desperate, Lynch grabbed a steel chair from the timekeeper’s area and used the distraction to expose the middle turnbuckle. She then sent Valkyria crashing into it before landing a second Manhandle Slam, but again, the resilient champion kicked out.

Lynch attempted to use the ring post as a weapon, but referee Jessika Carr caught her in the act. In the confusion that followed, Valkyria managed to kick out of Lynch’s Night Wing finisher due to the referee's delayed count. In the final moments, a rapid pinfall exchange ended with Valkyria catching Lynch in a surprise rollup to retain her title.

Lynch snapped after the match, locking the champion in the Dis-Arm-Her well after the bell. Officials, referees, and WWE authority figure Adam Pearce rushed the ring to put an end to the post-match attack.

Lyra Valkyria defeated Becky Lynch via pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

Intercontinental Championship Match: “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio versus Penta

The Intercontinental Championship was on the line as "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio defended against Penta in a match that never slowed down. The contest opened with both men exchanging rapid offense, neither able to build momentum until Penta delivered a Backstabber that nearly earned him a fall.

Dominik turned the tide by whipping Penta into the ropes and catching him with a stunning suicide dive-DDT combo at ringside. He rolled his challenger back inside and followed with a slingshot splash, but Penta refused to stay down.

With the upper hand, Dominik wore Penta down with a chinlock until the luchador battled back, firing up with a slingblade. Taking to the skies, Penta walked the top turnbuckle post and nailed a high-impact splash to Dominik on the floor. Back in the ring, Dominik attempted the Three Amigos, only for Penta to escape. The champion's 619 was dodged, and Penta countered with a crucifix bomb pin that almost ended the match.

In a tribute to Liv Morgan, Dominik hit ObLIVion, but even that was not enough. The fight moved to the apron, where Penta spiked the champion with a Mexican Destroyer, sending shockwaves through the crowd.

As the action intensified, Carlito appeared at ringside, soon followed by Finn Balor and JD McDonagh. A miscue between Balor and McDonagh caught the referee’s attention, but Penta capitalized with a leap over the official to take out Carlito and McDonagh. On the apron, Balor created a distraction, allowing a masked El Grande Americano, strongly hinted to be Chad Gable, to headbutt Penta. With the challenger dazed, Dominik soared with a Frog Splash to score the pin and retain his Intercontinental Championship.

Dominik Mysterio def. Penta via pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship

Gunther vs. Pat McAfee

Gunther made his in-ring return in dominant fashion as he took on commentator and former NFL punter Pat McAfee in a hard-hitting encounter that provided both intensity and a dose of drama.

As the match got underway, Michael Cole told viewers this would be the first time in his career he would be biased on commentary, clearly rooting for his longtime friend. McAfee entered the match dressed in black jeans, a white belt, and cross-trainers, rallying the crowd with chants of "You tapped out" directed at Gunther. However, it did not take long for the Austrian powerhouse to shift the tone entirely.

After escaping an early hold, McAfee impressed the former Intercontinental Champion briefly with a strike from the apron followed by a successful clothesline. But the momentum was short-lived. Gunther responded with his signature chops, crumpling McAfee with just one before delivering more punishment in the corner. McAfee, clearly dazed, staggered forward as if shadow boxing a ghost, only to be dropped again with ease.

Gunther refused to go for early pin attempts, instead opting to punish McAfee further. The former punter landed a few kicks and another punch, but they only seemed to amuse his opponent. Gunther suplexed McAfee on his head and continued to showboat, even as Pat managed to slip out of a top-rope superplex and counter a follow-up suplex with a standing escape and a kick to the back.

The crowd rallied as McAfee briefly got the upper hand in a strike exchange, even forcing Gunther to cover up while eating multiple kicks. Yet, Gunther recovered swiftly, slammed McAfee down, and locked in a Boston Crab. Cole stood up from commentary to cheer his friend on, only for Gunther to transition into even more brutal submissions.

Things escalated when Gunther dragged Cole into the ring. McAfee came to the rescue with a kick and managed a surprise roll-up that nearly stole the win. Cole grabbed Gunther's leg during a suplex attempt, giving McAfee another opening to jump on Gunther’s back and lock in a sleeper with a body scissors. Although McAfee connected with a few elbows to the ribs, Gunther never let go.

Eventually, McAfee passed out from the submission, forcing the referee to stop the match and award the win to the returning Ring General.

Gunther defeated Pat McAfee via submission

John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE championship

John Cena successfully retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton in a wild, chaotic battle that saw multiple referees taken out, a table destroyed, and even an unexpected cameo from R-Truth.

The match began with both men circling and locking up several times, each struggling to gain the upper hand. Cena offered a handshake early on, but when Orton eventually accepted, the champion poked him in the eye. Orton later returned the favor as tensions quickly escalated. Cena teased walking away to take a disqualification loss, but Orton dragged him back into the ring, where the two began a fierce exchange of strikes and holds.

Orton took control with measured stomps and a suplex, but Cena rallied back and attempted an Attitude Adjustment. Orton escaped and went for his trademark draping DDT, only for Cena to counter into the STF. Orton broke free and nailed the DDT on his second attempt, then signaled for the RKO. Cena blocked it, countered into the AA, but Orton transitioned into a surprise modified RKO mid-move.

Both men fought back to their feet, and Cena hit another AA, which only earned a near fall. Orton hit a big RKO and looked to end it with a punt to the skull, but Cena countered with yet another AA. Still not enough. In a dramatic turn, Cena attempted a punt of his own, accidentally taking out referee Chad Patton after Orton dodged. Cena then grabbed his title belt to use as a weapon, but Orton dropped him with an RKO. A second referee ran down, but Cena managed to kick out.

Orton, visibly frustrated, cleared the announce table, only to be ambushed by Cena. The challenger reversed an AA attempt and sent Cena crashing through the table instead. With Cena reeling, Orton set up another table in the ring, but Cena recovered again. Their battle continued with Cena being slammed through that table too.

Just when it seemed over, Cena kicked out of yet another RKO. Orton argued with the official, allowing Cena to accidentally hit the referee with the championship belt. Orton hit another RKO, but again there was no referee to make the count. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis and his staff rushed to the ring, only to fall victim to more RKOs.

Finally, as Orton turned his attention back to Cena, R-Truth appeared and pleaded with Orton to stop. He too took an RKO. As Orton leaned over the ropes to jaw at Truth, Cena struck with the belt. A slow-count followed as another referee finally arrived, and Orton was down for the three.

John Cena defeated Randy Orton via pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

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