Original subtitles

Welcome to WWE Backlash.

It is a night where the potent smell of vengeance

is in the air-

Look out.

Oh.

Oh my gosh.

the stakes are raised.

Don't do it, Shane.

Oh, my God.

For the love of God.

After stepping off the grand stage at

WrestleMania, some rivalries just aren't settled-

When one good story ends,

an even better one begins.

and, in many instances,

are just getting started-

You can just feel

the tension between these two.

the world tunes in as the WWE Superstars

prepare themselves for the impending Backlash.

Backlash is coming.

This is WWE's Greatest Moments.

If you smell-

Oh, my God.

What the hell are you doing?

Absolutely unbelievable.

Hulkamania is here.

Welcome, everyone,

to WWE's Greatest Moments.

I'm Michael Cole, and on this edition, we're looking back at

the best of Backlash.

We welcome you to Backlash.

WrestleMania has consequences.

All scores are not settled.

What will the Backlash be?

So, there is, quite frankly, no event more appropriately

named than this one.

Boy, this atmosphere.

Can you feel it?

In April of 2007, Cena walked in and out of

WrestleMania 23 holding the WWE Championship.

John Cena is still the champ.

With a target on his back the size of the moon,

some of the biggest names in WWE would vie for a chance

to take that title for themselves.

You want some?

Come get some.

At Backlash, the leader of the C-Nation would

defend his title against three challengers in what may

be the toughest match of his career.

The first man to score a pin or a submission

will be the WWE Champion.

Look at that talent.

You get The Edge, and you get Orton, you get Cena.

Every one of these men want to be

the champion, but who wants it more?

You know, it doesn't get much

bigger than that.

Four of the biggest stars in the company at the time.

Oh, man, in a fatal four-way,

you got to watch your back.

You need eyes in the back of your head, JR.

You got to watch every direction.

We threw everything we had at each other, and

everything about that night was so exciting.

That match at Backlash,

it was one of my favorite finishes that I can remember.

Oh.

Oh, Spear.

On Orton, does it.

Oh.

Cena.

FU.

FUs.

Oh, Michaels got-

Sweet Chin Music.

Sweet Chin Music.

Michaels, and Cena-- Oh, on Orton.

And it's over.

My God, I don't believe it.

The end of that match was insane.

The timing is ridiculous.

The audience and the-the crowd is there for all of it.

It's a masterpiece.

Bottom line, John Cena is, by God,

still the WWE Champion.

In 2016, the WWE Draft saw Women's Champion

Charlotte Flair taking her talents exclusively to the Raw

brand, leaving SmackDown without a title to compete for.

I was the best for over 300 days.

The Queen was designated the Raw Women's

Champion, and in turn,

the SmackDown Women's Championship was born.

Each one of you has the potential

to be the face of the Team Blue Women's Division.

At the 2016 event, a six-pack elimination

challenge was held to determine the inaugural

SmackDown Women's Champion.

And that's what it's all about.

It was a really exciting time in the company,

because this was a new championship.

It needed credibility instantly.

Oh.

Oh, man.

The women's division was hot at the time.

Because you had Carmella, Alexa Bliss, me, Nattie, Nikki Bella,

and there was Naomi.

Great ready.

Naomi.

Oh.

Ho-ho-ho.

Everybody wants to win the match.

Everybody wants to be the women's champion.

Natalya has just eliminated Naomi from

this six-pack challenge.

And the girls are competitive, just like the guys.

And Natalya's out.

Oh, Carmella, jackknife cover on Bella.

She's been eliminated too.

It's down to Becky Lynch and Carmella.

The whole crowd starts chanting Becky.

There's only one person they wanted to see as champ,

and that was me.

Oh.

Disarm-her.

Disarm-her.

Disarm-her.

Becky-- We've got a new women's champion.

We've got a new champion.

She did it.

And I became the first SmackDown

Women's Champion.

It's been miles.

It's been struggles.

And you have believed in me every step of the way,

so thank you.

2024 saw WWE venture to heights

it had never reached before.

One of which took place at that year's Backlash, marking the

first time it was held outside North America.

And the first time any premium live event was held in France.

We are here in France, because of you.

I got goosebumps at ringside,

as the Lyon faithful showed their appreciation and brought

a sheer energy and excitement that won't soon be forgotten.

You are looking live

at the sold-out LDLC Arena in Lyon, France.

This is Backlash.

Corey, it is loud as hell in here tonight.

The crowd is just so loud,

so excited for us to be there.

One of my absolute favorite moments in my career,

from the fan reaction to the match.

You feed off of that crowd.

Kevin Owens soaking in an incredible moment.

The decibel level on that one?

It definitely ranks up there.

It's got to be one of the top ones we've done.

When they're excited like that, so are all of us.

I've never felt anything like this.

It's like the walls are moving.

This is nuts.

I'm listening to this crowd firsthand,

and I'm just thinking, wow.

They took me to another level

that I hadn't been in in a long time.

The camera is bouncing.

It's a traditional celebratory song

here in France.

It's about the word phenomenal.

Good luck to anyone who thinks

they can come close to Lyon, France that night.

It was such an amazing moment.

An absolutely incredible night.

Thank you, Lyon, for Backlash.

Two superstars that were no strangers to

absolute carnage were the Brothers of Destruction,

Kane and The Undertaker.

In 2001, the satanic siblings were WWE Tag Team Champions.

How impressive is The Undertaker on Sunday at WrestleMania?

But standing in their way was an unlikely alliance between WWE

Champion, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,

and Intercontinental Champion, Triple H.

the two most dominant men

in the World Wrestling--.

At Backlash 2001, all the respective titles

were on the line in a winner-take-all match.

This will be a slobberknocker main event.

Two-Man Power Trip,

Triple H and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,

against the Brothers of Destruction.

I remember this match being pretty, like,

chaotic and wild, for sure.

This is what they call for all the marbles.

The twin powers of doom asserting themselves.

You look in the ring and see two guys like that

with that mystique about each one of them, man, I mean, that-

that's something that's just straight out of a comic book.

You have to admire the teamwork of Austin

and Triple H here.

The guys that I trust the most in the ring with,

those-those three guys, it was a lot of fun to be a part of that.

Oh, my God.

Oh, no.

Stunner on Kane.

Austin knocked over the railing by the Undertaker,

but The Game's got the sledgehammer,

and right in the head.

Hit Kane in the head.

No.

No, God.

No, damn it.

No.

New tag team champions.

When you have every championship

that there is for you to gain in WWE, I think that just kind of,

honestly, solidifies a legacy.

The Two-Man Power Trip have all the gold.

At WrestleMania 19,

The Rock defeated his longtime rival,

"The Texas Rattlesnake" "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

The hook of the leg and The Rock has done it.

New dawn.

History has been made.

The following night on Raw, a Rock

appreciation night was held by the man himself.

I like that.

The Rock likes that.

I like that, thank you.

But the party came to a screeching halt when

WCW legend, Goldberg, made his long-awaited debut in WWE.

You're next.

Oh, how long have we been

waiting for this, and here we go.

Sit back and enjoy it, folks, The Rock and Goldberg.

I think that coming from WCW to WWE and making

that splash, it had to be with the right person.

Yo.

Oh, and so much power.

It was the opportunity to create something

that was once in a lifetime.

Oh, and now-- oh, baby.

Oh.

Straight into that steel post.

Oh.

Oh.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Oh, an illegal low blow.

The main difference between Rock and myself

is that he's an entertainer

and I'm a competitor.

Spear.

What the hell is that?

The Spear out of nowhere.

Oh, no, I don't love

what I think is about to happen.

Oh no, and he--

Oh, and he Spears The Rock again.

Oh no.

No.

Oh, my God.

And Goldberg calling for it.

Picks up The Great One.

Oh, my God.

Oh, the Jackhammer slam.

The Jackhammer slam by Goldberg.

No, I can't believe it.

And he does it.

I think he was instrumental

in my success immediately at the WWE.

Could a new era be dawning?

Few rivalries were as explosive

during the late 1990s than that of The Rock

and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

A conflict fueled on pure contempt.

The two paragons of the wrestling world relished in

getting their hands on one another and claiming

the top spot in all of WWE.

There ain't no way that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

will ever beat The Rock.

There ain't no way that

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is going to go into Backlash

and not come back with that belt.

Smile for the camera, Austin,

because the Great One said so.

The title is on the line here.

Remember, no holds barred.

There must be a winner in this matchup.

You had a guy like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin,

who came along, who was all about attitude,

all about bucking the system.

This is not a wrestling match,

this is nothing more than a Sunday night fist fight.

The Rock was a fit for Stone Cold because

he gave me one of the best opponents,

if not the best opponent I've ever had.

Rock.

What is Rock doing?

Come here, guy.

Give me the camera.

There was this classic moment where Rock

commandeered the ringside camera.

Rock commandeering a camera.

Look at this.

Stone Cold, you go directly to hell, and you take

that with you, compliments of The Rock.

The Rock was cool, so cool that he could suffer

humiliation and still be the man.

Hey, Rock, put that camera back.

Hey, Rock.

Watch this.

Oh.

The Rattlesnake is up.

A Stunner.

Oh, God.

The craziest thing is,

he takes a Stunner while holding the camera,

so you get his POV.

Good God Almighty.

This is maybe the first or one of the first

times where we saw anyone truly sort of break the fourth wall.

Something very unique and special that was just

able to be authentic.

Austin wins.

Austin wins.

The death defying antics of Shane McMahon are not

for the faint of heart.

Putting his body on the line for the fans countless times seemed

like something Shane O'Mac did just for the fun of it.

Oh, my God, Shane with a dropkick.

At Backlash 2001, The Boy Wonder was set to take

on the colossal Big Show in a Last Man Standing match.

Once the match started, the giant looked high

and low, but he couldn't find Shane, which way did he go?

Shane O decided he would take

a giant leap of faith.

Well, Shane McMahon, he knows no fear,

he'll not be intimidated.

It's all about telling that physical story.

And Shane McMahon using that kendo stick.

How then do you create

this atmosphere and an excitement

where everyone is just going, "Oh,"

and they want to see more?

And man, I get goosebumps thinking about it.

I'm going to kill you.

Now the big man's got a weapon, that pipe.

Shane wanted to entertain the fans,

and for him giving everything he had

was taking a ridiculous risk.

And Shane McMahon doing the smartest thing

that he could do, and that's to get as far away

from the Big Show as he can.

But the Big Show's following him.

There's Test.

Test with that big shot.

The Big Show and Test had quite the altercation last week,

and Test hasn't forgotten.

Oh, Shane.

What?

Oh, my God, don't do it, Shane.

Don't do it.

Oh, my God.

For the love of God.

Oh, my God.

He went out there and put it all on the line,

and I think, fearless, what's the term?

There is no third gear.

There's first gear and sixth gear, he had the sixth gear.

He had to be 50 feet in the air.

That goes down in the annals of time

of one of the coolest things I've ever done.

Shane McMahon is, yes, The Last Man Standing.

In 2002, the WWE Universe witnessed the return

of "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan in his rightful home.

I never thought that Hulkamania today would be

running wilder and stronger than it's ever been.

The icon would soon find himself in the world

title picture with "The King of Kings" Triple H.

It will be an honor for me to be in the ring

with "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan.

The young lion to fight the older lion.

That was the guy we watched growing up, and, like,

being a kid again and stepping in the ring with Hulk Hogan.

So, it was- it was really cool.

Before I wrestled Triple H, I was a little bit

nervous going out there, you know?

Because he was real hungry and real aggressive.

Come on, hey.

Come on, Hogan.

Come on.

It made for an interesting match.

This championship is as much a part of The Game's

life as any fiber in his being, but the same can be said

for "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan.

There are certain moments that are surreal,

standing in the ring, looking at Hulk Hogan pointing at you and

the whole crowd going "No."

And there's just a part of you that steps back

in your life to a little kid.

It makes you realize like, "Holy cow, this is quite a life."

Look out here, the Leg Drop.

Hogan got the Leg Drop, the referee's there.

There's the count.

What?

It's over.

Oh, my God.

Hogan has done it.

My God.

My God, he's done it.

Oh, my God.

The celebration afterwards was like a dream.

You know, I'd never dreamed that I would be the champ again.

Never dreamed I'd be in front of the WWE Universe.

I never dreamed that the fans would keep

this dream alive so long.

I mean, this was- this was one for the books

to win that title again.

We have witnessed a rebirth of Hulkamania.

Stars across the globe have always been drawn

to the spectacle of WWE.

Snoop.

Perhaps none as impressive as Latin hip-hop icon--

Bad Bunny is here.

The hottest star on the planet.

After interfering in a match at WrestleMania 39-

Bunny took the chain.

Bad Bunny now had a score to settle with his former ally

turned bitter rival.

I'm going to end your entire career.

Don't do this, Priest.

No.

And what better place to do it, than his home,

the island of Puerto Rico, in a San Juan Street Fight?

I'm going to Puerto Rico to kick your ass.

It is a San Juan Street Fight

where anything goes.

If you don't know who Bad Bunny is,

you're not living under a rock, you're living under a mountain.

Here on the island that made hardcore

famous, Bad Bunny.

I'll be honest, I've never felt a ring rumble.

During Bad Bunny's entrance is the first time in my career

that I felt that.

Let the games begin.

I know what Bunny,

I know what he brings to the table.

Bunny's the kind of celebrity that comes in,

he's gonna be unbelievable.

Bunnies can fly.

It was bigger than any one win or loss.

Oh.

Oh, God, no.

No, my God.

He basically let the world know,

"We can do this, and we can do it anywhere."

The Bunny Destroyer.

Bad Buddy with the win.

I was very proud of that.

Every aspect of that felt so special.

Tonight belongs to San Juan and Bad Buddy.

It's now time for our number one moment,

and it's one of the most brutal matches in WWE history.

In early 2004, Mick Foley and Randy Orton locked

in a bitter rivalry, following a violent confrontation

at the Royal Rumble.

How personal is this between Foley and Orton?

The King of Hardcore would soon issue

a challenge for Orton's Intercontinental Championship,

Backlash 2004.

No rules.

No holds barred.

What's it going to be, Randy?

Yes.

Randy Orton may be in store

for a beating here tonight at Backlash.

Has this started already?

This is not right.

It's a no holds barred match.

The match itself was just crazy.

Oh, my God.

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Body slam on a bed of barbed wire.

You call yourself The Legend Killer,

well, then prove it.

Oh, my God.

There's thousands of thumbtacks.

I remember sprinkling those thumbtacks

on the ground, and I knew it was going to hurt.

Ooh.

Ooh.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

He looked like a human pin cushion.

Oh, my God.

The match that played to all of my strengths

and shied away from what we thought were his strengths.

No.

Oh, no.

Oh, no, no, Oh, my God.

And yet he hung in there.

Falls count anywhere.

My God, Orton got a shoulder up, and I don't know how he did it.

I didn't think he was tough enough, but he is.

Oh, my God.

Ooh.

Ooh, Ooh.

The RKO on the bat.

That did it.

And it's over.

I could tell there was a shift

where the fans started taking me more seriously after that.

We saw a different side of Randy Orton.

Backlash has been the stage for countless

unforgettable matches and moments, giving the WWE Universe

a front-row seat to the birth of bitter rivalries,

and the end of the excruciating contentions.

As long as someone is looking for a fight,

the hits will keep on coming.

Well, that'll do it for this edition

of WWE's Greatest Moments.

I hope you've enjoyed this look back at the best of Backlash.