WWE is taking Backlash to Lyon, France this Saturday. The cardboard presently options solely 5 matches, however 4 of these matches are championship bouts, with the opposite that includes a number of the greatest stars in WWE.

In the primary occasion, Cody Rhodes will make the primary televised protection of the undisputed WWE championship he gained from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Standing throughout from Rhodes will likely be multi-time former champion AJ Kinds. Rhodes and Kinds have traveled most of the identical roads all through their careers however have by no means confronted one another in singles or tag competitors.

Plus, Damian Priest seems to be to start his run as world heavyweight champion towards Jey Uso after the challenger gained a No. 1 contender’s match. Then, there are a pair of girls’s titles at stake. Newly topped WWE ladies’s champion Bayley will face Tiffany Stratton and Naomi in a triple risk whereas the Kabuki Warriors put the ladies’s tag group titles on the road towards Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.

It needs to be an thrilling evening of motion. Let’s check out who the CBS Sports activities specialists really feel will emerge victorious. The occasion streams reside on Peacock at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday with a kickoff present starting one hour earlier than.

2024 WWE Backlash predictions

Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Kinds

There are occasions the place you simply have to just accept that you simply’re getting a foremost occasion with a completely predictable final result. That is a type of circumstances. Rhodes simply ended Reigns’ near-historic title run to “end the story” of profitable the championship Dusty Rhodes by no means did. He isn’t dropping the title a month later within the first televised protection of that title. Fortunately, Rhodes and Kinds are nice wrestlers who ought to be capable of produce a improbable match. And it’s uncommon to have two stars of this degree who’ve by no means confronted one another, in order that provides an additional little bit of enjoyable to the entire thing. Cody Rhodes retains the title — Brent Brookhouse (additionally Shakiel Mahjouri)

Rhodes simply gained one of many greatest WrestleMania matches of all time within the fruits of a two-year journey to grow to be world champion. Having him flip round and drop the title in his first protection can be lunacy. Cody Rhodes retains the title — Connor Casey

World Heavyweight Championship — Damian Priest (c) vs. Jey Uso

Priest is in a lot of the identical spot as Rhodes, having simply gained the title at WrestleMania 40 and with much more have to construct his legitimacy as a top-tier participant. Uso merely is not a plausible world champion however he is a high-quality opponent to assist Priest increase his resume. Whereas I do not anticipate Priest to have a prolonged run with the title, when he loses it, there will likely be a narrative to the match that goes past an opponent profitable a four-way for a title shot. Damian Priest retains the title — Brookhouse (additionally Casey)

I may see a brief reign for Preist if Uso nonetheless had his momentum from September. Do not get me improper, Uso is fashionable with the followers and will reignite at any second; nonetheless, he isn’t an plain world champ proper now. Priest, 41, will not get many runs on the high. Priest ought to stay up for a stable few months as champion working beneath a extra affected person inventive group and with Uncooked’s hottest foremost eventers sidelined. Damian Priest retains the title — Mahjouri

WWE Ladies’s Championship — Bayley (c) vs. Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

This match feels tailored to present Stratton her first probability to shine on pay-per-view with out having her take the pin or dethrone Bayley simply as her new championship reign begins. I anticipate Bayley retains however her program with Stratton will stick with it. Bayley retains the title — Casey (additionally Brookhouse)

The recurring theme is that newly topped champions will retain their belts. Nothing improper with that. It is merely the price of producing so many “WrestleMania moments.” The triple risk itself ought to produce good motion and the match is logically booked. Naomi by no means noticed a transparent conclusion to her title match towards Bayley. Stratton is a rising thorn in her opponents’ aspect and a reputable contender having beforehand overwhelmed Naomi. Bayley doubtless retains her title with the match being a transition level from Naomi to Stratton as the highest contender. The newly drafted presence of Nia Jax additionally looms giant. Bayley retains the title — Mahjouri

WWE Ladies’s Tag Staff Championship — The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

WWE has big expectations for Cargill. The AEW rookie amassed a 61-match undefeated streak within the younger promotion but is offered as an excellent greater star within the WWE. Cargill’s presence is second to none within the ladies’s division however her union with Belair advantages each events. Cargill is understandably tough across the edges. The partnership protects Cargill and validates her whereas giving Belair compelling work. The 2024 WWE Draft additional solidified the result. Belair was drafted No. 1 general to remind everybody the place she sits within the pecking order. Injury CTRL was drafted to Uncooked to distance them from Bayley. That’s solely potential if The Kabuki Warriors lose their cross-brand titles. A dominant reign ought to observe for Belair and Cargill resulting in a cut up and high-profile showdown. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill win the titles — Mahjouri (additionally Brookhouse and Casey)

Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga)

The Bloodline is off in a brand new route. However for Sikoa to be taken critically because the group’s new chief throughout Roman Reigns’ hiatus, he’ll want to start out racking up some wins. In the meantime, poor Orton has been jogging in place since his return from damage and will simply be slotted right into a world championship program with Rhodes that carries SmackDown for months. Anticipate a Bloodline victory that results in a cut up between the Owens & Orton makeshift tag group. The Bloodline wins — Casey (additionally Mahjouri)

The Bloodline story feels as if it can by no means finish and meaning the group must construct some momentum after issues didn’t go their manner at WrestleMania. Sikoa is positioning himself because the shot caller of the group whereas Reigns is away and Tonga is a brand new participant within the group. These two males want this win to additional set up these roles. Orton and Owens are bulletproof at this level. No loss goes to hurt their standing, however it may arrange their short-term alliance breaking apart and shifting them in additional attention-grabbing instructions. The Bloodline wins — Brookhouse