BACKLASH:Khali and Santina to lock up

The kiss heard ‘round the world will just have to wait – but only until Backlash.

It’s then that Santino’s “twin sister” Santina will have to pucker up for The Punjabi Playboy on The Khali Kiss Cam. 

Ever since Santina hoisted her brother’s girlfriend, Beth Phoenix, over the top rope to capture the first-ever Miss WrestleMania title, The Glamazon has had it in for the fairer Marella. When Santina explained to her brother, via satellite, that she had developed a blister on her lip and, therefore, could not kiss The Punjabi Playboy this Friday on SmackDown, Phoenix offered to be oh-so-helpful. 

The Glamazon informed Santino that she had even spoken with Raw’s new General Manager Vickie Guerrero and cleared the way for Santina and Khali to lock lips this Sunday at Backlash.

For some inexplicable reason, though, Santino seemed more than a little concerned at the thought of his “twin sister” playing tonsil hockey with The Punjabi Playboy. Go figure.

BACKLASH:CM Punk vs. Kane

It all began on the top of a ladder. In the closing seconds of the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania, CM Punk and Kane slugged it out 20 feet above the canvas all in a desperate bid to grab the briefcase and win a World Title opportunity that could be cashed in any time over the next year. Despite a massive size and strength advantage over The Straightedge Superstar, Punk persevered with a series of jaw-breaking kicks to knock The Big Red Monster from the ladder and claim his second straight Money in the Bank victory.Of course, The Big Red Machine hadn’t been so willing to accept this defeat. On last Monday’s Raw, he challenged CM Punk to a match, attempting to avenge his loss to The Straightedge Superstar. Instead, The Big Red Monster was once again upset when Mr. Money in the Bank countered a devastating chokeslam with a rollup and scored the pinfall victory. Although he flashed a sadistic smile after Punk outmaneuvered him, it was clear that Kane was not happy about what had just transpired.

The 7-foot behemoth would successfully vent his frustrations days later on “WWE Superstars,” briefly sating his thirst for vengeance when he manhandled Punk in a tag match, pinning him for the win. Of course, where Kane's warped mind is concerned, there’s no doubt that he intends to inflict much more pain and suffering on Punk at Backlash.

This Sunday, The Big Red Machine gets that opportunity to break Mr. Money in the Bank. Can CM Punk do the unthinkable and conquer Kane for a third time? Or will The Big Red Monster live up to his name and drag The Straightedge Superstar through hellfire and brimstone on his way to victory?

SMACK DOWN:Batista def. Ted DiBiase

Batista dropped Legacy member Ted DiBiase with a hard-hitting spear, followed by a thunderous Batista Bomb for the win on SmackDown. They will meet again on the battle grounds at Backlash in a Six-Man Tag Team Match.Since making his surprise comeback on Raw, Batista has been full of pent up aggression. Tonight, it was his Backlash opponent, Ted DiBiase, who felt The Animal’s wrath. Batista dominated the first part of the match, delivering one punishing maneuver after another.

However, DiBiase was able to turn the tables and strike back, delivering targeted attacks to Batista’s leg. But, The Animal regained momentum and dropped The Legacy member with a hard-hitting spear, followed up by a thunderous Batista Bomb for the win. In just nine days, they will meet again on the battle grounds at Backlash.

HAVE A SEAT

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena faced off against Chris Jericho on Raw, but their extraordinarily even-matched contest was interrupted by The Champ's Backlash opponent Edge, who attacked Cena with a brutal Con-Chair-To.

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.

RAW:GOD SAVE THE KING

Just days before they meet at Backlash, Triple H and Randy Orton were joined in the ring for a brawl in London that only ended when The Legend Killer took advantage of the chaos to hit The King of Kings with a RKO.
For months, Randy Orton and The Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase) terrorized Triple H’s extended family, all in an effort to aid 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. Closer to Backlash, Guerrero also stipulated that Orton can still capture the title if his team wins by count-out or disqualification. 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?

To find out of Orton can continue his Legacy, make sure to watch Backlash, live on pay-per-view.