For the first time in WWE history, Lyon, France played host to a WWE PLE/PPV - the 2024 edition of Backlash. The show kicked off with French-Canadian Kevin Owens teaming with Randy Orton against the Bloodline's Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga. Owens and Orton got extended introductions and the crowd was incredibly loud for them, singing along to their entrance themes so loud that it nearly drowned out Cole and Graves on commentary. This one started out red hot with the heels and faces brawling before the match could even begin, clearing the locker room of referees and officials (2 of which ate Stunners from KO) before the SmackDown GM Nick Aldis came out and re-started the match as Anything Goes. The combatants then brawled throughout the arena before eventually finding their way back to the ringside area. Very good brawling here when the faces dominated, but the heel heat segment was a bit "mid" as the kids call it. Orton spent an exorbitant amount of time on the outside so that Owens could get beaten down by kendo sticks and garbage cans. Tama Tonga's brother Tanga Loa made his debut to help the heels gain the upperhand and get the victory following a Solo Sikoa spike to Owens. This match started better than it ended and I have no clue who Tanga Loa is and was surprised to learn that he wrestled as the forgettable Camacho character nearly 10 years ago in the WWE. (3/5)
After a lengthy break, Bayley defended her SmackDown Women's Championship against Tiffany Stratton and Naomi in a triple threat in the next match. Bayley was the most over of the three, but Naomi got a big response for her entrance and Tiffany Stratton definitely had some fans in attendance as well. Stratton had a star-making performance at the Elimination Chamber match a few months back and once again stole the show here. Bayley's sunset flips didn't look too great, but aside from that, this was an excellent match and I loved Bayley's reactions to the crowd's chants (at one point, she could be seen saying "I don't know what you're saying" with a smile after the crowd started chanting "Seulement Deux!" after every 2 count and then figured out moments later). This was the best of Naomi I've seen since her return as she's had some shaky performances. This wasn't "must see" but it was a step up from the previous match and Stratton's Alabama Slams into the announce tables were absolutely brutal to see. I kinda wish they had found a bigger "death blow" to Stratton to lead to the finish, but Bayley using a roll-up on a tired and beaten-down Naomi made logical sense to me (despite some fans criticizing the finish for being a bit "flat"). They got plenty of time and they put on a great match. Very good stuff. (3.5/5)
The World Heavyweight Championship was on the line in the next match as Damien Priest took on Jey Uso. Jey Uso is undeniably over - or at least his catchphrase is - but I still haven't seen him deliver a truly great singles match and this wasn't it either. I liked the story of Priest wanting to win this match on his own but JD McDonough and Finn Balor interfering anyway to help him retain his title. Solid match, but the suspense really only picked up when Balor and JD were involved. Feels like the bells-and-whistles of the Judgment Day story carried this match much more than the actual interactions between Jey and Priest. (2.5/5)
The Kabuki Warriors defended the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill in the next match. I'm not sure giving these four such a long match was a great idea as the match dragged a bit in the middle. There was an awkward stretch between Cargill and Sane that the crowd picked up on, but they recovered and the finishing stretch was very good. Cargill is a freak talent, no doubt, but she still looks a bit lost and robotic at times. Then again, the same thing can be said about Belair, who has worked with Asuka extensively over the past year but doesn't have the chemistry with her that one would imagine they'd have by this point. (2/5)
Main event time - AJ Styles vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Cody mentioned in a promo that this wasn't a "dream match" for him - it was a must win situation. Like every other match on this show, this one got plenty of time, running nearly 30 minutes. Personally, I would've liked this to have more of a story beyond both guys just taking turns dishing out punishment. At one point, Styles took a vicious Irish Whip into the bottom rope, for example, but then was back on offense within 30 seconds. Ditto for the powerbomb into the announce table. By this point, I'd also tired of the French audience and their constant singing. Yes, the energy level was great...but the repetitive chanting and singing got obnoxious. Cody kicking out of Styles' Burning Hammer seemed lifted wholesale from one of those NJPW epics and felt out of place here, almost more of a Hulk Hogan moment. (3.5/5)
With a Kwang Rating of 2.9-out-of-5, Backlash: France was another strong showing from the WWE, though not a single match struck me as "must see." By the end of the show, I was more bothered by the audience than I was delighted. The match of the night was the Women's Championship bout as the main event went a tad too long and didn't have a clear enough story.
FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand
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