WWE Backlash was a 2003 professional wrestling event put on by World Wrestling Entertainment. It was the 5th Backlash event, the 4th event of 2003, and the 160th event overall in the alternate WWE timeline. The event was also exclusive to the Raw brand of WWE. Emanating from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, the main event was a World Heavyweight Title match between Triple H and Goldust. Other matches on the card included a Steel Cage match for the IC Title between Randy Orton and Kane, a Women's Title match between Trish Stratus and Victoria and a tag match featuring Christian teaming with Chris Jericho against Shawn Michaels and Diamond Dallas Page.
Prelude[]
Following his victory over DDP at Wrestlemania, Triple H was content to rest on his laurels and state that no true contender could exist for his World Heavyweight Championship. However, the appointment of Stone Cold Steve Austin as the new co-General Manager of Raw (alongside an unhappy Eric Bischoff) put this idea to bed, as he made a triple threat match that night for the #1 contendership to Triple H's World Title, involving the three men who had defeated Evolution in a six man tag at Wrestlemania: Kane, Rob Van Dam and Goldust. The Bizarre One would eventually win that match, due to outside interference from Ric Flair and Batista. Goldust had been feuding with Evolution on and off since November, when his father Dusty Rhodes had been beaten down by the group, and thus was seeking revenge against Triple H for his entire family.
Kane had also been feuding with Evolution, but mostly with Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton, who had orchestrated the arm injury that put him out of action for several months. After a feud that saw Kane literally chase Orton out of the Royal Rumble, and saw the young prodigy of Evolution cheat to win in an Intercontinental Title defense, the two were set to finally face off for the final time inside a Steel Cage with the Intercontinental Title on the line.
After losing to his childhood idol Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania, the jaded and cynical Chris Jericho feigned shaking his hand for a great match, only to lowblow HBK in frustration, continuing their feud. Jericho sought help against Michaels in the form of his fellow Canadian, former Intercontinental Champion Christian. With a 2 on 1 advantage, Michaels seemed to be outgunned heading into a rematch at Backlash, until enlisting aide of his own in the form of Diamond Dallas Page.
Trish Stratus had regained the women's championship in a triple threat match at Wrestlemania, defeating both Victoria and Lita. However her personal rivalry with the former fitness model Victoria was far from settled, and the two women agreed to face each other a final time to determine who the real best was, as the match was made Falls Count Anywhere to ensure that there would be a winner.
Event[]
Coming Soon...
Results[]
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Show | Val Venis d. Dave Taylor by Pinfall | Singles Match | 8:20 |
| 1 | "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown d. "The Con Man" Rob Conway by Pinfall | Singles Match | 1:49 |
| 2 | The Dudley Boys [Bubba Ray, D-Von & Spike Dudley] d. The Dupps [Bo & Stan Dupp] & William Regal by Pinfall | Six Man Tag Match | 6:23 |
| 3 | Batista w/Ric Flair d. Rob Van Dam by Pinfall | Singles Match | 11:30 |
| 4 | Trish Stratus (c) d. Victoria by Pinfall | Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWE Women's Title | 10:37 |
| 5 | Shawn Michaels & Diamond Dallas Page d. Chris Jericho & Christian by Disqualification | Tag Team Match | 12:54 |
| 6 | Randy Orton (c) d. Kane by Pinfall | Steel Cage Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title | 17:00 |
| 7 | Triple H (c) w/Ric Flair d. Goldust by Pinfall | Singles Match for the World Heavyweight Championship | 16:02 |
Aftermath[]
Triple H would enter a feud with a returning Kevin Nash, as well as picking up his feud with Shawn Michaels, the following night on Raw, which would run through the rest of the summer. Kane & Rob Van Dam would also continue to defend the tag titles, engaging in a brief feud with the Dudley Boys that would be interrupted with Ric Flair and Batista wanting a shot at their belts too. Monty Brown would go on a long winning streak, culminating in a title match shortly before Summerslam.