Damn, it feels good to be back. You didn’t seriously think I’d sit out Draft Season, did you? Please. But before I can dive into all that, I’ve gotta take a quick look at where the competition stands after their season finales.
Now, as much as I’d love to wax poetic about Exodus’ ratings dominance (coughhighest-rated show of all timehack), not to mention the return of Benny Mouse and the coronation of “The Forgotten” Brandon Lee as AEW World Heavyweight Champion, I’ve got business to handle. Namely, Backlash and Memorial Mayhem. Tonight we’re covering Backlash, but the goal is to be back Thursday or Friday with the ULW Mop-Up.
Hopefully before WOW Week kicks off, I’ll also have an extensive AEW Season 3 retrospective and my draft predictions, but first, let’s Mop this Up.
WWE Backlash:
Booker T, Wade Barrett, and Pat McAfee kick off the show, welcoming us to WWE’s final event of the 2024–2025 season—the first season of the so-called 7th Era. And right out of the gate, I’ve gotta say: I love Wade Barrett in this role.
Barrett was always one of those guys with unlimited potential as an in-ring character, but unfortunately, he burst onto the scene in BWM Inc. during the Teo and Metalhead era—when everyone else was basically a background extra. That unfortunate timing more or less set the tone for the rest of his run in PWI and later WWE. But behind the desk? He’s finally found his lane. Dude’s killing it in his occasional commentary spots.
First match of the night? World Heavyweight Championship on the line, as John Cena defends against a mystery opponent. Cena, much like AEW’s Brandon Lee, has completely reinvented himself in the 7th Era. And honestly? He’s riding a wave of momentum unlike anything he’s seen in his 20+ year career.
Is it a coincidence this renaissance began the moment he stopped pandering to the crowd and started doing whatever it took to win? Please. I’m not here for fairy tales. Cena ditched the hustle, loyalty, and respect schtick, and suddenly he’s more relevant than ever. Go figure.
So who answers the open challenge? The Undertaker. Fitting, really, considering Cena just “buried” AJ Styles’ WWE career after Styles’ one-year contract expired and he was booted back to AEW.
For what it’s worth, this title—this actual World Heavyweight Championship—owes a lot of its legitimacy to Styles, who carried it like it meant something and was, let’s not forget, AEW’s first World Champion. That legacy matters, even if Cena would prefer you forget it.
Anyway, Taker puts up a fight, sure, but let’s not pretend this was ever in doubt. Cena just won the title a month ago and has the kind of momentum you don’t halt for a nostalgia act. Taker didn’t get the hint, so Cena had to put him down. Simple math.
That said, I was expecting Dominik Mysterio to be the mystery opponent. AEW rushed to get the TV title off him, presumably so he could crawl back to WWE in time for Backlash. Ironically enough, by not putting him in this spot, WWE had to reveal he was back when they released their exemptions list.
Next up is a fatal four-way for the Tag Team Championships, as New Catch Republic defend against DIY, The Viking Raiders, and the Street Profits. Say what you want, but while ULW and AEW rightfully get their flowers for building deep, dynamic tag team divisions, WWE’s isn’t exactly chopped liver. Or, well—it wasn’t, at least not before the draft exemptions list came out and put half the tag roster in danger.
Still, we get a fun, high-energy match—classic car crash tag team chaos. Bodies flying, nearfalls galore, and just enough actual tag wrestling to remind you to take this division seriously. In the end, it’s the Street Profits who rise above the madness, reclaiming the gold and ending the first season with some serious momentum.
That leaves New Catch Republic, DIY, and the Viking Raiders heading straight into the 2025 Draft looking like well-polished trade bait. I’d bet money that DIY and the Viking Raiders are firmly on the radar for ULW and AEW. But who knows? All three companies have been unusually quiet about their respective draft strategies, so time will inevitably tell.
Next up is the bout that stole the show for me—and the one that proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when WWE is firing on all cylinders, there’s just no real competition. This was peak sports entertainment, for better or worse, and I loved every second of it.
Chad Gable has been the centerpiece of one of the best ongoing storylines of the season, with Doc Brown in his corner, as he wages an unhinged, borderline xenophobic war against Lucha Libre. Yes, you read that right. This story has taken Gable to Mexico, involved actual time travel, and even got him accidentally deported by ICE. A little too real? Maybe. Still hilarious? Absolutely.
The match itself? A four-way featuring Gable, Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, and Angel Garza. The goal: break open a piñata suspended above the ring. And not just any piñata—this thing was shaped like the Intercontinental Championship. Subtlety is dead, and I’m not complaining.
Now, I’ll be the first to say it: Gable has never been hotter. And while the dude has always had in-ring talent, it’s the addition of Doc Brown that’s catapulted him into main-event-level territory. Honestly, a World Heavyweight Title reign isn’t out of the question at this point.
Also, let’s talk about Doc Brown. The man is a walking, talking push machine. He could get anyone over. I mean, he dragged Nakamura into relevance for a hot second. He got Flex Fuller on national TV. And let’s not even bring up that weird experiment with DDP. Gable is one of the easier cases, sure—but still, Doc’s hit rate is undeniable. Ratings gold, every time.
What’s wild is that, despite the cartoonish gimmick, the match was a total banger. Brutal, stiff, high-energy. These guys beat the absolute hell out of each other in between swinging kendo sticks at a papier-mâché championship. Only in WWE, man. I dare the competition to even try pulling something like this off without it coming across as completely embarrassing.
Gable wins, of course—cracks open the piñata and retains the title, all thanks to Doc Brown’s last-minute calculations and a conveniently timed leaf blower full of pop rocks. Beautiful chaos. Just… good shit.
Backstage, we cut to a bloodied and battered Kofi Kingston laid out on the concrete, clearly the victim of a brutal assault by… well, someone. Who? No clue. But the beatdown is bad enough to postpone his U.S. Title match with Finn Bálor until Starrcade. Honestly? Probably a relief for both guys. I wouldn’t want to follow the piñata match either. Timing is everything, and in this case, the universe threw them a bone. (Even if that bone belonged to Kofi Kingston, and was sticking out of his skin…)
Now, let’s talk about one of the more shocking outcomes of the night: Naomi defeating Asuka to end her legendary Women’s Championship reign. Yes, you read that right. Naomi did what an entire roster couldn’t do for over a year—and honestly, it ruled.
Let’s not forget, there was a moment earlier this season when some absolute genius wanted to “reset” the division by stripping everyone of their titles except the two world champions. It was one of those “we have no idea what we’re doing” decisions, but thankfully, someone upstairs remembered they employ Asuka and came to their senses. Because if this is how Asuka’s reign ends? Then it ended the right way.
Giving Naomi the win here does two things. First, it immediately re-establishes her as a top-tier player—someone who can carry the division in the 7th Era without being an afterthought. And second, it gives Asuka’s reign the payoff it deserved. Not with a dusty finish, not with a cash-in, not with a technicality—but a hard-fought, clean loss in a damn good match.
And it was a damn good match. Fast-paced, crisp, emotional—all the stuff WWE’s women’s division is capable of when it’s actually given the time and attention. Post-match, Asuka offers a handshake, Naomi accepts, and the two share an emotional embrace. Respect. Earned and given.
For what it’s worth, this may have been Asuka’s WWE swansong. She’s officially been entered into the draft, and you know AEW and UWL are circling like vultures. If this is her last WWE match? Not a bad way to go out.
Finally, we arrive at the main event: Rock vs. Roman II for the WWE Championship. Their first clash was a circus—filled with hype, betrayal, and Murrey’s ill-advised alliance with The Rock, which blew up in his face faster than a Trump supporter investing in the president’s crypto scheme. Rock turning on Murrey the very next night on Raw was comedy gold, and honestly, it is exactly what Murrey deserves for ending the Pete storyline prematurely! BRING BACK PETE!
This time, Murrey tried to play the game again, hoping to tip the scales back in his favor. Spoiler alert: he’s still bad at it. He manages to nail The Rock with the title belt—finally landing a hit—but before he can celebrate, Roman decks him with a Superman Punch so clean it could’ve ended a Marvel phase.
And yet, even with Murrey getting flattened, The Rock still squeaks out another win. The guy’s not just holding onto the title—he’s clinging to it like it’s the last role in Hollywood that doesn’t involve CGI tights. But here’s the kicker: if he can keep the belt another six months, he’ll officially surpass Grand Daddy Duxen’s record for the longest world title reign in the industry’s history. You think they’re gonna stop that train now? Please.
Let’s be honest—the only reason the World Heavyweight Championship exists right now is so they have a belt they can toss around without touching the Rock’s title run. The real belt’s not changing hands until the record’s in the rearview mirror. Bank on it.
And just to twist the knife a little more: The Rock is now WWE’s majority shareholder. Yup. The most powerful man in the company just so happens to also be its top champion. If that sounds like a conflict of interest… welcome to pro wrestling.
He’ll represent WWE at the Draft, which raises the delicious question: how does a man who’s terrified of losing the belt fairly draft people who might beat him? Will he avoid threats? Stack the deck? Guess we’ll see.
Bottom line: Backlash delivered. Big fights, major moments, swerves, comedy, chaos—everything you’d want from a season finale. WWE may be messy at times, but when it hits, it hits. Hell of a way to end the year.
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 