With WWE WrestleMania 41 now in the books, company emphasis shifts to the next PLE, Backlash.
Following this week’s Raw, it seems all but certain that the show will be headlined by Randy Orton challenging perennial rival John Cena for the Undisputed Title.
However, while the rest of the card is yet to fill out, there is the potential for some surprise returns of performers that could shift WWE’s landscape in the upcoming year.
Here are five stars we could expect to see on at Backlash in St Louis on May 10.
5. The Rock
The Rock’s lack of appearance at WrestleMania 41 angered many fans, causing a legitimate “backlash” to night two’s main event.
However, all could perhaps be forgiven if “The Final Boss” makes his appearance on May 10 at the WWE Backlash PLE.
While The Rock seems to have distanced himself from the John Cena storyline in his recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, his return could still be on the cards.
His cryptic Instagram post, where he wore a New Japan Pro-Wrestling shirt, has sparked speculation: could The Rock be involved in a storyline alongside a debuting Jeff Cobb?
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4. Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss made her return to action at the Royal Rumble, earning a monster pop from the Indianapolis crowd – based on that reaction, it seemed a push was in store.
She appeared shortly after in an Elimination Chamber qualifier on SmackDown, and then in the match itself, but then disappeared without a trace.
While the WWE women’s division is currently firing on all cylinders, the audience clearly remains firmly behind Bliss.
A return at Backlash could reignite her momentum and set her up for a major storyline moving forward.
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3. Paige (Saraya)
It has been seven and a half years since Paige last wrestled a match in WWE, initially retiring due to a severe neck injury.
She returned to in-ring action for AEW in 2022, but her middling run ended when she was released in March.
Recently, she mentioned wanting to begin working out with Natalya at her renowned Dungeon training school, stating that she planned to take a year off to focus solely on training.
However, with Evolution 2 reportedly taking place in the coming months, perhaps she could return sooner than fans might think.
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2. Sami Zayn
At the Raw-after-Mania, Sami Zayn appeared to celebrate Jey Uso’s title win alongside his former teammate.
Uso looked noticeably tentative, perhaps fearing a confrontation with Bloodline brethren.
However, that did not happen, with Zayn saying he was proud of him. Still, it seemed like seeds were being planted for an eventual challenge.
Could Zayn return to in-ring action in the upcoming weeks, setting up a title challenge at WWE Backlash?
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1. Pat McAfee
Could Backlash see a return to the ring for the NFL player-turned-podcaster, commentator, and occasional pro-wrestler?
On WWE Raw, Gunther choked out the ever-enthusiastic Pat McAfee after he attempted to defend his partner, Michael Cole.
While this may lead to an absence from the commentary desk for McAfee, it could also lead to a match between himself and Gunther – the last time McAfee had a ‘real’ match, he beat Baron Corbin at SummerSlam 2022, and had beaten Austin Theory at WrestleMania a few months prior to that.
Known for his passionate, high-energy performances, McAfee could bring his signature intensity to the ring at Backlash for his first real match in three years.
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