While there were still plenty of scores to be settled after WWE WrestleMania 41, there ended up being only 12 performers set for Backlash 2025.
With some absence due to injury as well as matches that were moved to TV, there are plenty of stars WWE fans may have expected to see on the card who didn’t end up being featured.
Here are seven stars that ended up not making it onto the card for WWE Backlash 2025.
7. Bianca Belair
After an impressive display at WrestleMania 41, it would have seemed possible that Bianca Belair would finally get her one-on-one match with IYO SKY at Backlash 2025.
However, Belair would pick up an injury during the WrestleMania 41 triple-threat match – that also featured Rhea Ripley – and is out of action with a broken finger.
After NXT stars Giulia and Roxanne Perez popped up on the Raw after Mania to begin targeting SKY and Ripley, it seemed as though a tag match would be in their future.
The match was later confirmed to be occurring on the WWE Raw on Netflix after Backlash 2025, leaving all of the aforementioned stars off the card in St. Louis.
Click the next page button below for more
6. Jey Uso
While he was able to win his first singles World Championship at WrestleMania 41 – Jey Uso faced a near immediate onslaught of potential challengers.
When Sami Zayn returned to congratulate his pal, fans immediately feared that it spelled the end of their friendship, however Zayn ended up not betraying Uso and instead remained genuinely happy for him.
Logan Paul on the other hand was not so happy for Uso, beginning to target the new champ, even making an attack from the crowd after the show went off air.
However, as the Backlash 2025 card has continued to come together, it did not feature any match between the pair. Perhaps we will see the two charismatic stars tangle soon with a Saturday Night’s Main Event hailing from Tampa, Florida coming up on May 24.
Click the next page button below for more
5. Tiffany Stratton
After she was able to retain her title at WrestleMania 41 by beating Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton was attacked by a returning Nia Jax on SmackDown which seemed to suggest they would tangle at the upcoming premium live event.
However, the match would not end up being announced for WWE Backlash 2025 after al, although it does look like the match is set to happen at some point.
After defeating Jade Cargill on SmackDown, Jax became the #1 contender to the WWE Women’s Championship, which means she’s earned herself a shot at Stratton’s title
However, it didn’t come without shenanigans, as Naomi ran out mid-match to interrupt, including attacking Stratton who was at ringside watching the match – potentially setting the stage for a four-way match in the future.
Click the next page button below for more
4. Finn Balor
After taking a loss in the WWE Intercontinental Championship four-way at WrestleMania 41 against Bron Breakker, Penta and eventual winner Dominik Mysterio – it certainly seemed like the tension between the Judgment Day members could boil over at Backlash 2025.
However, the Judgment Day instead remains hanging on – albeit by a thread – after the return of JD McDonagh temporarily smoothed things out within the group.
In the end, at Backlash 2025 Dirty Dom is set for his first title defense of the Intercontinental Championship against Penta.
While it certainly seems that there could be some serious chicanery in this match finish – fans will keep their eyes on Balor – who could be equally likely to cost Dom the title as he is to help.
Click the next page button below for more
3. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
After losing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship to Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria at WrestleMania 41, the new champs’ reign would be very short-lived.
Lynch and Valkyria would go on to lose the titles right back to Morgan and Rodriguez on Raw the next night – sparking a feud after Becky attacked Lyra post-match.
While their freedom may be temporary with no immediate tag team title threats in their future, there was no title defense set for the pair at Backlash 2025, as Morgan has been in Japan to film Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo.
Instead there will be one women’s match on the card – Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria.
Click the next page button below for more
2. El Grande Americano
After a meteoric rise to success in WWE – including picking up a big win at WrestleMania 41 over Rey Fenix – one might think El Grande Americano would be set for an appearance at WWE Backlash 2025.
However, Fenix has seemingly moved on to feud with Santos Escobar and Los Garza back on SmackDown, and El Grande Americano remains on Raw.
Already announced for the Raw after Backlash, the Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) will take on the War Raiders in a #1 contenders match to see who gets the next shot at The New Day for the World Tag Team Championship.
With both El Grande Americano and Chad Gable seemingly poised to be in their corner for the bout, perhaps Gable and the luchador can finally dispel rumors that they are actually the same person.
Click the next page button below for more
1. CM Punk
While the premium live event may be named WWE Backlash, the biggest betrayal to occur at WrestleMania 41 won’t be represented at all.
After Paul Heyman turned on both Roman Reigns and CM Punk to align with Seth Rollins – and later adding Bron Breakker to their power squad – it would make sense for there to be some Backlash 2025 fall out.
However, none of Punk, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns nor Bron Breakker are scheduled for any in-ring action at the event in St. Louis, headlined by John Cena taking on Randy Orton.
Perhaps as to not distract from the aforementioned main event, most WWE stars are not on the card for Backlash which contains five matches and 12 performers – including Pat McAfee.
To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!
Comments.
Loading comments…