Nearly three weeks after John Cena gained his seventeenth WWE world championship at WrestleMania 41, he’ll face the hometown hero Randy Orton at Backlash: St. Louis of their first singles match in years.
The 2 have fought quite a few instances over time. Nevertheless, this time, Cena is the heel making an attempt to break skilled wrestling whereas Orton performs the babyface.
That is not the solely marquee match taking place at Backlash. Pat McAfee has his first style of in-ring motion because the 2024 Royal Rumble, which he eradicated himself from. He faces the “Ring Normal” Gunther after he misplaced the World Heavyweight Championship to Jey Uso.
Plus, Becky Lynch has her first singles bout since Could 2024 in opposition to Lyra Valkyria for the Ladies’s Intercontinental Championship. Jacob Fatu and Dominik Mysterio will even defend the lads’s midcard titles at Backlash.
WWE Backlash: St. Louis match card and predictions
Beneath is the complete match card for WWE Backlash: St. Louis. The order of the cardboard is unknown, however these are the 5 confirmed matches. Notice: Predicted winners are bolded.
Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton
Ladies’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Becky Lynch
United States Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. LA Knight vs. Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre
Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta
Gunther vs. Pat McAfee
John Cena vs. Randy Orton for the final time
The match: John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship
All through their storied careers, Cena and Orton have confronted a number of instances. The final chapter of their careers possible comes at Backlash, which emanates from Orton’s hometown of St. Louis this 12 months.
The matchup was certain to occur one final time when Cena introduced his retirement tour in 2024. Having Cena enjoying the villain provides a brand new wrinkle to it, even when an ordinary Cena-Orton matchup with the “Viper” enjoying the heel would have been welcomed.
Cena will win, however hopefully, Orton is ready to get a superb match out of the 17-time world champion. The Peacemaker star is extra restricted than ever within the ring, and his heel moveset has but to be totally unlocked throughout this run, given his restricted in-ring motion.
Some could hope Cena disqualifies himself as Orton did in 2008 at No Manner Out. I am hoping for a definitive victory with no help from Travis Scott.
I believe Cena wins, and the 2 give followers a best hits run within the match. He’ll most likely cheat to select up the victory, however he isn’t dropping the championship but.
If this was taking place later in Cena’s retirement tour, Orton would have a greater probability of profitable. Sadly, this was one of the best time to drag the set off since Backlash is in St. Louis.
Closing prediction: John Cena retains the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Does Becky Lynch turn out to be Becky Hogan?
The match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Ladies’s Intercontinental Championship
Some wish to dub Becky Lynch “Becky Hogan” as a result of she often beats youthful stars. I believe her resume speaks for itself, and she or he has often executed what’s greatest for enterprise.
Her present heel character does have plenty of potential. This model of Lynch is entitled, feeling that she laid the groundwork for children like Valkyria.
To show her level, she’s going to most likely beat Valkyria this time round. I think about WWE will comply with an analogous plan as Lynch’s final heel run throughout her feud with Bianca Belair. Finally, Valkyria will rebuild herself to dethrone Lynch, giving her a decisive win over the “Man.”
However, for now, Lynch will beat the upstart. Count on the “Becky Hogan” chants and on-line trolls to be out in full swing after Backlash: St. Louis.
Closing prediction: Becky Lynch defeats Lyra Valkyria to win the Ladies’s Intercontinental Championship.
A star-studded deadly four-way
The match: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. LA Knight vs. Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre for the US Championship
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For his first United States Championship title protection, Jacob Fatu faces two former world champions — Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest — in addition to a future world champion in LA Knight.
The chances seem like stacked in opposition to Fatu, however the “Samoan Werewolf” is one in all WWE’s most protected Superstars. One way or the other, someway, Fatu will beat the opposite three most important eventers.
Priest and McIntyre proceed their feud from WrestleMania. In the meantime, Knight hopes to get revenge on Fatu. Deadly four-ways present every Famous person an opportunity to showcase themselves, and all 4 ought to rise to the event.
Closing prediction: Jacob Fatu retains the US Championship.
Gunther will obliterate Pat McAfee
The match: Gunther vs. Pat McAfee
The one non-title match on the WWE Backlash: St. Louis is Gunther vs. Pat McAfee. The “Ring Normal’s” beef with the WWE commentator has been brewing for months. Gunther at all times hated McAfee’s “Yeeting” with Jey Uso, and now he has an opportunity to put arms on him in a sanctioned setting.
Whereas McAfee has beforehand placed on good matches with the likes of Adam Cole and Austin Principle, his bout in opposition to Gunther won’t be aggressive.
If WWE desires to rebuild Gunther as a scary heel after his WrestleMania 41 loss, he must obliterate McAfee. If something, possibly McAfee will get a brief flurry of offense. However this ought to be a match stuffed with chops, dropkicks, and powerbombs.
Closing prediction: Gunther defeats Pat McAfee.
Will Dominik Mysterio get kicked out of Judgment Day?
The match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta for the Intercontinental Championship
Dominik Mysterio as soon as once more defends the Intercontinental Championship in opposition to Penta. He ought to win, even when it requires assist from his Judgment Day stablemates.
One fascinating wrinkle is that WWE appears to be altering a change within the Judgment Day lineup. Initially, it appeared Finn Bálor was certain to be kicked out of the group. Now, with Liv Morgan out taking pictures a film, Mysterio is susceptible.
It could be too quickly for the betrayal, although. In some unspecified time in the future over the summer season, somebody is getting kicked out of Judgment Day. For now, Mysterio will proceed his first run with the Intercontinental Championship.
Closing prediction: Dominik Mysterio retains the Intercontinental Championship.
WWE Backlash: St. Louis begins at 7 pm EST on Saturday, Could 10, 2025.
