IWE Backlash (2007)
From Iwe
| Backlash (2007) | ||
 Promotional poster featuring Edge | ||
| Theme song(s) | "There and Back Again" by Daughtry | |
| Imformation | ||
| Promotion | International Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Brand(s) | Raw Smackdown! XCW | |
| Date | April 29, 2007 | |
| Attendance | 14,500 | |
| Venue | Philips Arena | |
| City | Atlanta, Georga | |
| Pay-per-view chronology | ||
| WrestleMania 23 | Backlash (2007) | Judgment Day (2007) |
| Backlash chronology | ||
| Backlash (2006) | Backlash (2007) | Backlash (2008) |
Backlash (2007) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view]] (PPV) event produced by International Wrestling Entertainment (IWE), which took place on April 29, 2007 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Following WrestleMania, all pay-per-views became tri-branded. It was the ninth annual event under the Backlash name and starred talent from Raw, SmackDown!, and XCW.
The main match on the Raw brand was a Fatal Four-Way match for the IWE Championship involving champion Dustin Simpson, Kevin McAlmond, Edge, and Ryan Barnhart. Simpson won the match and retained the championship after pinning McAlmond. The primary match on the SmackDown! brand was a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Jesse Dern, which ended in a no-contest after both men failed get to their feet before the referee counted to ten. The featured match on the XCW brand was Bobby Ashley versus Team Mayer (Umaga, Grant and James Mayer) in a Handicap match for the XCW World Championship. Grant won the title and the match for his team after pinning Ashley.
Contents |
[edit] Background
The main event scripted into Backlash on the Raw brand was a Fatal Four Way match for the IWE Championship, a standard match involving four wrestlers between Dustin Simpson, Edge, Ryan Barnhart and Kevin McAlmond. At the Royal Rumble in January, Barnhart was one of the final two participants in the Royal Rumble match, a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner before being eliminated by The Undertaker. On the February 5, 2007 edition of Raw, Barnhart earned the right to become the number-one contender to the IWE Championship at WrestleMania after defeating Edge and McAlmond in a Triple Threat match, a standard match involving three wrestlers. At WrestleMania, Simpson defeated Barnhart to retain the IWE Championship, after wrapping his arm around the neck of Barnhart in a sleeper hold, a submission referred to as an STFU. On the April 9 edition of Raw, a standard match between Barnhart and McAlmond to determine the number-one contender to the IWE Championship ended in a no-contest, after both men's shoulders were on the mat while they were pinning one another. Later that night, during Edge's talk show, "The Cutting Edge", Edge claimed that General Manager Jonathan Coachman, a portrayed match maker and rules enforcer had named him the number-one contender to the IWE title. Honorary General Manager Michael Pena, from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, however, announced that Barnhart, McAlmond, and Edge would face Simpson for the title at Backlash in a Fatal Four-Way match, a standard match involving four wrestlers.
Another rivalry leading up to the event was between The Undertaker and Batista over the World Heavyweight Championship. At the Royal Rumble in January, The Undertaker won the 2007 Royal Rumble match. As a result, he was given the right to a title match at WrestleMania for any of IWE's three major championships (XCW World, World Heavyweight, or IWE). On the February 5 edition of Raw, Undertaker teased all three World Champions (Bobby Ashley, Batista, and Dustin Simpson). Undertaker then chose World Heavyweight Champion Batista as his opponent to face at WrestleMania 23. At WrestleMania, The Undertaker defeated Batista to win the World Heavyweight Championship to extend his WrestleMania undefeated streak to 15-0. Their rivalry, however, did not end, as General Manager Theodore Long booked a Last Man Standing match—a match where the first person unable to respond to a ten count by the referee lost—between The Undertaker and Batista at Backlash.
The main rivalry on the XCW brand was between Bobby Ashley and Team Hiatt (Umaga, Terry and Jacob Hiatt), in which Ashley and Terry were feuding over the XCW World Championship. The rivalry started on the February 26 edition of Raw, when Ashley was selected by Donald Trump to compete at WrestleMania 23. Ashley was selected to compete against Terry's representative, Umaga, in Hair vs. Hair match, a match in which the loser or the loser's representative would have to get his head shaved bald. At WrestleMania, Ashley defeated Umaga, and after the match, Trump and Ashley shaved Terry's head bald. On the April 9 edition of Raw, Jacob challenged Ashley to a Hair vs. Title match for the XCW World Championship. Jacob got himself intentionally disqualified, but did not get his head shaved. After the match, Umaga and Terry and Jacob attacked Ashley. After the beating, Vince announced that Ashley would have to defend the XCW World Championship against Team Hiatt at Backlash in a 3-on-1 Handicap match, a match consisting of one team of wrestlers facing off against a team of wrestlers with numerical superiority such as three against two, or three against one.
[edit] Event
[edit] Preliminary matches
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentator | Jim Ross (Raw) |
| Jerry Lawler (Raw) | |
| Michael Cole (SmackDown!) | |
| John "Bradshaw" Layfield (SmackDown!) | |
| Joey Styles (XCW) | |
| Tazz (XCW) | |
| Interviewer | Todd Grisham |
| Maria Kanellis | |
| Ring announcer | Justin Roberts |
| Tony Chimel | |
| Referee | Chad Patton |
| Jim Korderas | |
| Mickie Henson | |
| Marty Elias | |
| Jack Doan | |
| Mike Chioda | |
| Scott Armstrong |
Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Carlito defeated Johnny Nitro in a dark match. The first match of the event was The Hoopers (Matt and Josh) versus Collin McCullough and Phillip Legg for the World Tag Team Championship. McCullough and Legg controlled a majority of the match; however, The Hoopers won the bout when Matt pinned Legg after a Twist Of Fate, which was followed by Josh Hooper's Swanton Bomb.
The match that followed was Denise versus Sari Pasma for the IWE Women's Championship. The match was short lived, as Denise performed an Inverted DDT upon Sari Pasma and pinned her to retain the IWE Women's Championship. The third match was between Kevin Hunter and Montel Vontavious Porter for the IWE United States Championship. Hunter and MVP struggled throughout the match, attempting to gain the upper hand. In the end, Hunter pinned MVP after a series of counters from both superstars, culminating in a small package to win the match and retain the IWE United States Championship.
[edit] Main event matches
The 3-on-1 Handicap XCW World Championship match between champion Bobby Ashley and Team Hiatt (Umaga, Terry and Jacob Hiatt) was next. Near the end of the match, Jacob hit Ashley with the title belt, which was followed by Umaga landing a top rope splash to Lashley. Umaga then tagged in Terry, who attempted to pin Ashley. Ashley, however, kicked out. Terry then tagged in Umaga, who once again executed a diving splash on Ashley. After being tagged in again, Terry pinned Ashley to win the XCW World Championship and the match for his team.
The following match was a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between The Undertaker and Batista. One spot in the match saw Undertaker perform a leg drop on Batista and through an announce table. Towards the end of the match, the two fought up the entrance ramp, where Batista gave a spear to The Undertaker off the stage. Neither man was able to get to their feet before the referee counted to ten; as a result, the match was declared a no-contest. Due to IWE regulations, a title can not change hands in a Last Man Standing match via a no contest, so The Undertaker retained his title.
Next was the main event, which saw Dustin Simpson defend the IWE Championship against Edge, Kevin McAlmond, and Ryan Barnhart in a Fatal Four-Way match. During the opening minutes of the match, Barnhart performed a moonsault from the top turnbuckle onto Simpson, Edg, and McAlmond outside the ring. Near the end of the match, McAlmond attempted to RKO Simpson. Simpson, however, pushed McAlmond into Edge, which made Edge execute a Spear to McAlmond. Simpson then performed an FU to Edge. When Simpson turned around, Barnhart superkicked Simpson/ When Simpson fell, he landed on McAlmond and the referee counted the pinfall. Simpson won the match and retained the IWE Championship.
[edit] Aftermath
[edit] Results
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| Dark | Michael defeated Johnny Nitro | Singles match |
| 1 | The Hoopers (Matt and Josh) (c) defeated Collin McCullough and Phillip Legg | Tag team match for the World Tag Team Championship |
| 2 | Denise (c) defeated Sari Pasma | Singles match for the IWE Women's Championship |
| 3 | Kevin Hunter (c) defeated Montel Vontavious Porter | Singles match for the IWE United States Championship |
| 4 | Team Hiatt (Umaga, Terry Hiatt, and Jacob Hiatt) defeated Bobby Ashley (c) </small> | Handicap match for the XCW World Championship </small> |
| 5 | The Undertaker (c) fought Jesse Dern to a no contest | Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship |
| 6 | Dustin Simpson (c) defeated Edge, Kevin McAlmond and Ryan Barnhart | Fatal Four-Way match for the IWE Championship |
