2021 WWE WrestleMania Backlash predictions, matches, card, start time, date, PPV preview, location

Watching WrestleMania in the background, the WWE is attending the next event scheduled for the WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday from ThunderDome as it descends from ThunderDome inside the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. The event will feature a number of exits from the WrestleMania events, as well as some compelling pairings.

Only Friday’s edition of SmackDown remains before the event, with five title matches currently scheduled, including Bobby Lashley defending the WWE title alongside Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman against Cesaro defending the universal tournament with Roman Reigns.

WrestleMania Backlash will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 16, and the opening session will be one hour before the main ticket at 6 p.m. The action will be broadcast live on Peacock, both the opening session and the main card. CBS Sports will be with you on Sunday with live results, highlights and analysis.

For now, let’s see how we think WrestleMania Backlash will be played on Sunday.

2021 WrestleMania Backlash Forecasts

WWE Tournament: Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman’s inclusion offers plenty of opportunities to keep the problems between Lashley and McIntyre as the focus of Raw, without both men having to get a clean finish on each other. There’s not much chance that Strowman will win here and there’s a very good chance he’s the man he’s eating. It looks like the right time to change the belt to McIntyre would be at WrestleMania, as Lashley got a clean win. Winning Lowley with Strowman’s effort doesn’t do much good for McIntyre to advance because he beats McIntyre. What would lead to problems between the two would be McInty to lift the title by placing more on Strowman than Lashley. Selection: Drew McInty wins the title

Women’s SmackDown Tournament: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Bayley

There is no real drama here. Bayley went a long way in leading the SmackDown women’s division to Sasha Banks and eventually transferring to Belair before Belair won Banks at WrestleMania. Belai’s title won’t end in Backlash, but Bayley will provide him with a strong and credible opponent to continue building his legacy as a champion. Selection: Bianca Belair holds the title

Women’s Gross Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair

Similar to Belair’s situation, it feels too early to take Ripley’s title out of power. Flair and Asuka have had a lot of time in the sun – both women, of course, have been years and years ahead of their success – and should have played the same role as Bayley against Belai, who only helped raise the new champion. It probably shouldn’t have been a triple threat, as the other top title on Raw is also deciding on the same style of play. Flair is likely to avoid being the woman to take the pin here, unless Alexa Bliss somehow gets involved in the match. Selection: Rhea Ripley retains the title

World Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cesaro

Everyone has been waiting for years for Cesaro to finally get “his time” as the world champion and now he gets an important platform where he has to fight the company’s top champion to reach the top of the mountain. It’s hard to believe that WWE will affect Cesaro’s wearing of his belt, but it would be a horrible moment. If Cesaro wins, however, it looks like there would be a little more construction than what the Reaction match has achieved. This sets Reigns up for a cheap victory – probably aided by Usos – to take another month’s construction revenge. Select: Roman Reigns retains the title

SmackDown Tag Team Championship: Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Rey and Dominik Mysterio

All the sales of the game are Mysterios who manage to become the first father-son champions in WWE history. Few titles have been as unforgettable as the escape of Roode and Ziggler, who have only defended the title twice since winning belts on Jan. 6. To imagine that WWE suddenly gives weight to Roode and Ziggler is now an easy story with what Mysterios won. Choose: Mysterios wins titles

Damian Priest vs The Miz

Priest gave the profile a boost by teaming up with Bad Bunny to beat Miz and John Morrison at WrestleMania. Miz doesn’t need a win in this game, where he assures that Priest is the character who gets the win, as well as being the B side of a tag team run by celebrities. Selection: Damien Priest wins