The Backlash backlash: How the post-WrestleMania show became WWE's weakest PLE

The problem is when that leads to PLE matches feeling like foregone conclusions. Take last year's Backlash in St. Louis, for example: Did anyone really think that either Jacob Fatu or Dominik Mysterio had even the slightest chance of dropping the titles they'd just won at WrestleMania? Particularly since both of them were facing at least one of the same opponents they'd met in Vegas.

To be fair, the most predictable result on the card was the main event with John Cena defending his "never seen" 17th championship against Randy Orton. But at least that match had the excuse of feeling like an event in its own right, with WWE promoting the match as the final-ever encounter between the two longterm opponents.

So how does this year's Backlash compare? In terms of the title matches, it looks just as predictable. When it comes to the U.S. title, we're even getting a straight rematch of what happened at WrestleMania — with Trick Williams looking like the man to retain. If anything, the more interesting question is whether we see Carmelo Hayes finally make an appearance.

As for the odds of Roman Reigns losing to Jacob Fatu, you can insert your own sporting metaphor here. (I'd probably compare it to the chances of Scotland winning the World Cup, but please don't tell Drew McIntyre.) Again, the bigger question feels separate to the result — namely, whether WWE can keep "The Samoan Werewolf" looking as strong as possible in defeat. That Tongan Death Grip won't be enough to do it on its own.

In terms of non-title matches, we have Iyo Sky vs. Asuka — a match that we all wanted at WrestleMania, but which was bumped to make more time for commercials. It also suffers from the fact that Kairi Sane, the catalyst for the feud in the first place, was released from her employment with WWE at the end of last month.

Kairi Sane was the central figure in the Iyo Sky vs. Asuka feud. Now she's gone.

(WWE via Getty Images)

Then there's Kit Wilson and The Miz vs. Danhausen and his mystery partner, basically an extension of the comedy skit they did at WrestleMania with some extra wrestling thrown in. To be fair, Danhausen is one of WWE's top-three merch-sellers at the moment, which counts for a lot with TKO.

Of everything on Saturday’s card, I feel most excited about Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker, which at least has that big fight feel. Even then, though, the feud has some timing issues: In the six months since Breakker turned on Rollins, the whole Vision angle has been ransacked by injuries and Paul Heyman pulling double duty to mind Brock Lesnar.

On the plus side, we've already had one reminder this year of how Rollins is capable of turning in a stellar performance to liven up a flat show (i.e. Night 1 of WrestleMania). Similarly, it's hard to imagine Iyo Sky not delivering a solid outing — even her most random matches on “Monday Night Raw” usually beat the average PLE match.

At the end of the day, this weekend still feels a far cry from the card most of us would have fantasy booked coming out of WrestleMania 42. I mean, where on earth is Oba Femi? The man left Vegas with the momentum of a rocket ship after beating — and seemingly retiring — Brock Lesnar, yet is currently nowhere to be seen in PLE land. Is it that he hasn't sold enough t-shirts and key rings yet?

Who knows, maybe Backlash will exceed expectations and become the sleeper hit of the year. If not, it might be time to rethink the WWE calendar a bit, and perhaps consider programming something else at this time of year. After a few years of dull shows, the backlash against Backlash is gathering pace.