Matt Hardy def. Jeff Hardy (Stretcher Match)

 
Fresh off his Extreme Rules victory over his brother at WrestleMania (recap), Matt Hardy looked to “erase Jeff from WWE.” He demanded that Jeff come to the ring and apologize to him and the WWE Universe for being an “extreme disappointment,” or he would end up leaving the ring on a stretcher. After Jeff emerged to chase Matt from the squared-circle, the returning Teddy Long made Matt’s choice of words into a reality. For the first time ever on SmackDown, Jeff and Matt would face each other in a Stretcher Match.In the culmination of the Hardys' excruciating Stretcher Match, Matt moved out of the way at the last second, causing Jeff to Swanton Bomb himself down onto an empty, unforgiving stretcher frame outside the ring. After Matt finished him off with a painful chair shot, he claimed victory by pushing his fallen brother up the ramp. Once his arms were raised in unsettling triumph, Matt sent Jeff hurling back down the ramp, causing the stretcher to smash into the ring below.

WRESTLEMANIA 25 RECAP

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. Edge (Last Man Standing Match)

It’s good to have connections. Just ask Edge.

Only one day after losing his precious World Heavyweight Championship to John Cena during a Triple Threat Title Match at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania, Edge’s wife, Raw General Manager Vickie Guerrero, arranged for her husband to compete against the reigning champion in a Last Man Standing Match for an opportunity to regain his title at Backlash.

Cena had captured the World Heavyweight Title by administering back-to-back Attitude Adjustments – first to Big Show, then to Edge – in a near superhuman display of strength. It was Show, however, who ultimately succumbed to The Champ for the three-count.

With that in mind, The Ultimate Opportunist could make the argument that he was forced to relinquish the gold through no fault of his own, and therefore, he rightfully deserves an opportunity to reclaim the title.

It’s certainly an argument Edge’s wife seems willing to entertain. While there’s no telling what goes on between these two behind closed doors – and to be honest, we really don’t want to know – Vickie always seems willing to offer excuses for her husband and to extend to him a title match shortly after he loses gold. This time proved no exception.

But while Vickie may be able to open the door for her husband, it’s Edge who must walk through. And when The Champ and The Ultimate Opportunist face off at Backlash in a Last Man Standing Match there will be no disqualifications, no count-outs and, most importantly, no more excuses.

ECW Champion Jack Swagger vs. the winner of the Elimination Chase to Backlash

In her first bold move as interim General Manager of ECW, Tiffany announced that ECW Champion Jack Swagger will defend his title at Backlash. But The “All-American American” doesn’t have a definite opponent just yet.

Tiffany announced that Swagger’s competitor on April 26 will be determined by the Elimination Chase to Backlash. Four Superstars – Finlay, Christian, Tommy Dreamer and Mark Henry – began their Chase on ECW on Sci Fi in a Fatal Four Way Match. Thanks to his trusty shillelagh, Finlay defeated Henry, eliminating him from the competition. 

On the next ECW, the three remaining Superstars – Finlay, Christian and Tommy Dreamer – will square off in a Triple Threat Match. The elimination of one of those Superstars will pave the way for a final match between the two remaining Superstars. The last man standing at the end of the Elimination Chase to Backlash will be the No. 1 contender.

With The World’s Strongest Man out of the running, who will go on to face Swagger at Backlash, Finlay, Christian or Tommy Dreamer? 

Finlay holds the most momentum going into the Triple Threat Match after pinning Henry on ECW, but hasn’t been able to defeat Swagger in an ECW Title Match, but has in singles competition. Finlay also has his son, Hornswoggle, in his corner. But will the man who loves to fight battle his way to another ECW Championship Match?

Christian also was defeated by Swagger in his last ECW Championship defense, but Christian has defeated The “All-American American” in singles action. With his Peeps on his side, will Captain Charisma have the chance to face him again? Will Christian advance in the Elimination Chase to Backlash?

Finally, Tommy Dreamer has vowed to walk away from WWE if he doesn’t win the ECW Championship before his contract expires in June. Will the ECW Original become No. 1 contender in the Elimination Chase to Backlash to earn his chance at the ECW Championship? Or will the Extreme road end for the former ECW Champion this summer? 

Now, Swagger must wait to see who he’ll defend his ECW Championship against at Backlash. Will it be Finlay, Christian or Tommy Dreamer? Also, will the WWE Draft on Raw affect the Elimination Chase to Backlash?

FAMILY VS LEGACY AT BACKLASH

At Backlash Randy Orton will have another opportunity to grasp the WWE Title when he & The Legacy take on WWE Champion Triple H, Shane McMahon & Batista, who took Mr. McMahon's place in the match.

For months, Randy Orton and The Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase) terrorized Triple H’s extended family, all in an effort to aide The Legend Killer in his quest to win The Game’s WWE Title at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania. The WWE Champion rebuffed Orton’s challenge, but over the months leading up to The Greatest Spectacle in Entertainment, their rivalry grew far too personal to be settled with a single match. At Backlash, two factions with deep-seated enmity for one another will meet as WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon take on Randy Orton & The Legacy, with The Game’s WWE Title at stake.

The night after the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania saw a bitter Orton take to the ring, incensed over his loss to Triple H. As he railed against the manner in which The Game obtained victory, the venomous Superstar was interrupted by the man he had incapacitated with a brutal punt, Mr. McMahon himself. The WWE Chairman denied Orton’s request for a rematch and instead placed him in another contest at Backlash, where The Legend Killer & The Legacy would go up against McMahon, his son Shane & his son-in-law, WWE Champion Triple H. Orton continued to hurl invective at his employer, prompting the WWE Chairman to place himself in a match against Orton later in the night. 

Later in the evening, Vickie Guerrero announced that during the Six-Man Tag Team Match, the WWE Title would be on the line. Raw’s new GM clarified that if anyone from Triple H’s team won the match, he would retain the title, but if Orton or his cohorts tasted victory, then The Legend Killer would become the new WWE Champion. Whether because Orton was right about his employer, or the viper-like Superstar’s underhanded tactics were just too devious, things didn’t go well for Mr. McMahon. 

As The Legacy joined their leader in the ring, The Legend Killer prepared to deliver another sadistic punt to the WWE Chairman’s head. Though both Shane McMahon and Triple H attempted to stop the cruel act, it was the returning Batista who was able to defend his employer, chasing the multi-generational Superstars from the ring. After The Animal’s shocking appearance, McMahon revised the match once again, replacing himself with Batista.

Though Randy Orton might not be taking place in the match he wanted, he will have another opportunity to obtain the WWE Title at Backlash, as he and The Legacy take part in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. But with Shane O’Mac and the returning Batista at WWE Champion Triple H’s side, will even Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase be enough to turn the odds in Orton’s favor?