Wrestling
WWE Backlash 2025 preview and predictions
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WWE's first Premium Live Event since WrestleMania sees them head to St Louis for Backlash 2025.
The event's headline act will see John Cena make his first defence of his Undisputed WWE Championship as he goes one-on-one with old rival Randy Orton, while there are two more championship bouts on a interesting-looking card.
DAZN News predicts what might go down on Saturday night.
Pat McAfee vs Gunther
A match not many would have seen coming a few weeks ago, but a nice sidestep story for former World Champion Gunther to enter, against the popular co-commentator.
In the build-up to this match, the two of them have done some excellent mic work, which has given it some real intrigue.
McAfee is bound to get in some spots to please the crowd, but ultimately, this has to be a convincing and brutal win for the Ring General. One that is so bad that Michael Cole needs to get involved and is only broken up by the familiar sounds of a returning legend as Gunther's next opponent in Goldberg.
Winner: Gunther
Jacob Fatu vs LA Knight vs Drew McIntyre vs Damian Priest for the United States Championship
A post WrestleMania feud mixer with a US Championship thrown into the mix as four of SmackDown's biggest names compete for the gold.
There's huge momentum with the current champion, Fatu, who surely must be in line for a full babyface turn in the not-too-distant future, and there's little chance of him dropping the belt here.
Not sure where that leaves the others, as it feels like both Knight and McIntyre should really be moving up the card and having their eye on the world title, while Priest feels like a prime contender to be in next month's Money in the Bank scene.
Winner: Jacob Fatu
Dominik Mysterio vs Penta for the Intercontinental Championship
The Judgement Day still seem to be hanging on as a unified group as they look to help Dominik in his Intercontinental Championship defence against Penta, but expect more cracks to appear in this one.
Finn Balor still doesn't seem to be quite on the same page and may look for some revenge following the WrestleMania win for Dirty Dom, while there's also an AJ Styles ingredient to factor in as well.
There'll be plenty of shenanigans in this one, but Dom will still somehow come away with the belt.
Winner: Dominik Mysterio
Lyra Valkyria vs Becky Lynch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship
Becky's turn on her tag team partner for WrestleMania has been brilliant for Valkyria, who has come into her own in the last two weeks.
Her mic work has seen her really step up a notch and prove why she was chosen as the first-ever women's Intercontinental champion.
The fact that Lyra stood tall over Lynch on Monday's Raw suggests we may see a title change in St Louis, but although it goes against that familiar pattern, it feels more likely that we see a returning Bayley cost 'The Man' the match.
Winner: Becky Lynch via DQ
John Cena vs Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship
These two lifetime rivals roll it back 'one last time' as John Cena puts his newly won WWE Championship on the line against old adversary - and hometown hero - Randy Orton.
For a while in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it felt like these two Superstars did nothing but fight each other, but it feels only right in Cena's final run to throwdown with the Viper once again.
With the match in St Louis, Orton will be a huge crowd favourite and the match will have a proper 'big fight' feel, but there's no way Cena's dropping the belt anytime soon.
Expect another screwy finish - hopefully better than WrestleMania's and without Travis Scott - to see 'the last world champion' continue his record run with the belt.
Winner: John Cena
