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Professor Wrestling: The 'Backlash' Review

Cena, HHH, Edge Clash For WWE Title

Posted: 12:35 am EDT April 28, 2006

Listen up!

Class is in session.

Last night the WWE "Raw" crew hit the ring for "Backlash," the company's first pay-per-view since "WrestleMania 22." On Friday, I made my predictions as to what "should" and "would" happen. Today, I'm back to tell you what "did" happen -- and then later, I'll brag about how great a guesser I am. Enough yakkin' -- let's get to it!

WWE Women's Championship: Mickie James (c) vs Trish Stratus
What Should Happen: These two have "traded identities" in recent weeks, creating a storyline that makes my poor little mask spin. What should happen? Can we bring back Molly Holly, please?

What Will Happen: Too early for babyface Trish to get her belt back. James retains.

What Did Happen: James kept her belt with a clean win, but Trish suffered a legit injury -- a dislocated shoulder.

Challenge Match: Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin
What Should Happen: In this match, RVD puts up his "Money In The Bank" WWE title match contract up against Shelton's Intercontinental Championship. The winner takes both prizes. If it were up to me, Ric Flair would walk down, force a triple threat match -- and win.

What Will Happen: RVD will win, and then lose the IC title back to Shelton a few weeks later. There's no way he's going to lose his title shot before the upcoming ECW pay-per-view.

What Did Happen: RVD takes the IC title with a clean win after hitting Benjamin with a frog-splash.

Challenge Match: Ric Flair vs. Umaga
What Should Happen: Speaking of Flair, he's slumming here in a tussle with the repackaged Eddie Fatu (he was Jamal in the Three Minute Warning gimmick with Rosey). If I were running things, this match wouldn't be made. It's beneath the Nature Boy. I also have the feeling he'll lose, since he's facing someone getting a new push. Let's just hope The Man doesn't get squashed.

What Will Happen: Umaga takes it. Flair goes out on a stretcher.

What Did Happen: Umaga won clean, Flair's career -- for losing to this stiff -- is on life support. A terrible turn of events.

Challenge Match: Carlito vs. Chris Masters
What Should Happen: I'm really not ready to cheer Carlito as a babyface just yet. He's really a great weasel-type character. It also seems like this feud will go on for a bit, so it really doesn't matter what happens in the first pairing. Either man can win, and that's fine.

What Will Happen: If WWE is trying to build a new good guy in Carlito, it makes sense that he'll win. That's my pick.

What Did Happen: Carlito pinned Masters for the victory.

Challenge Match: Kane vs. Big Show
What Should Happen: The former pals face off in a monster versus monster showdown as Kane gets set to release his monster movie, "See No Evil." If all goes wrong, this match could be renamed "See No Talent." But I have a feeling these two might put on a decent short show.

What Will Happen: Kane has to win, of course. He's the next Freddie Krueger (or at least Vince hopes so).

What Did Happen: This one ended up as a No Contest, with no winner or loser. When that happens during a pay-per-view, the viewer is the loser.

Challenge Match: Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels and "God"
What Should Happen: The good Lord shouldn't strike down VKM for using His name in vain. He should strike him down for this dumb angle.

What Will Happen: While I want to say that Team McMahon will lose badly, I have a strange feeling something else will happen. Michaels will lose badly, and then lose his faith. In the weeks ahead, that means the reformation of Degeneration X -- with Hunter at his side. Handled properly, that pairing could re-energize tag team wrestling in this country.

What Did Happen: Something else did happen. The Spirit Squad interfered, and helped the McMahon's win. God help us.

WWE Title Match: John Cena (c) vs. Triple H vs. Edge
What Should Happen: In this triple-threat format, "Raw's" big dogs fight it out. It's time for the smarmy Edge to regain the belt, Cena to turn heel and HHH to team with Michaels once again.

What Will Happen: I'm sticking with Edge to pick up the cheap win, perhaps with Lita's help.

What Did Happen: The safe bet would have been to pick Cena in this one, but I went with Edge anyway. Cena won, and Hunter kept on giving the "X" chop. Can I be half right on this one? Guess not.

But you know what? It doesn't matter. I'm still a genius. In this one, I had four right and two wrong. As for the No Contest, you can't tell me that it was smart booking for Kane not to destroy his opponent before his stupid monster movie opens (that one really irritated me).

Now scram!

Class dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting. Got a question, comment, complaint? E-mail him right here. )