STW - Backlash 2005 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Backlash 2005

Backlash 2005 took place on May 1st at the Verizon Wireless Arena, in Manchester, New Hampshire. It drew 14,000. 

This was a Raw brand pay per view. We're coming off of WrestleMania 21, where we saw Batista win his first World Title, by defeating former Evolution stable mate, Triple H and the WrestleMania rematch between the two for the title was set to take place here at Backlash.

We're also going to be seeing the return to the ring of Hulk Hogan, as he formed a dream team with Shawn Michaels to take on Muhammad Hassan and Davari

Let's get to some company news heading into Backlash

There was a lot of releases earlier this month, but the same thing happened in April of 2005.

Keller reported -  (Torch screenshots included)

The Matt release got a lot of backlash with the fans and pretty much turned Edge into the biggest heel in the company, and started a ground swell to bring Matt back to the company, which would eventually happen.

A few weeks later, Keller reported -

On April 28th, 2005, four days after breaking his ankle during a match in TNA, Chris Candito passed away. He surgery to repair it, and a blood clot formed and unfortunately it caused him to pass away. Chris wrestled as Skip in the WWF. Do you have any memories or stories about Chris?

That takes us to Backlash

The next match was a last man standing match between Edge & Chris Benoit

 At WrestleMania, Edge won the first ever Money in the Bank ladder match, gaining himself a contract that gave him a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship within one year. On the April 4th Raw, Edge chose not to use his contract that night, deciding to wait until the right opportunity. When Edge declined to force Batista into a title defense, Eric Bischoff scheduled Edge in a match against Chris Benoit. 

Benoit won the match by pinfall after performing a roll-up. After the match, Edge attacked Benoit's injured arm with a steel chair. Two weeks later, Benoit and Edge faced off in another match, in which ended in a no-contest, leading to Bischoff to book the Last Man Standing match for Backlash 

I believe it was Melissa Coates, who is the Super Genie, Sabu's manager/girlfriend

I believe it was Melissa Coates, who is the Super Genie, Sabu's manager/girlfriend

The next match saw Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels team up for the first time, as they took on Muhammad Hassan and Davari

The night after WrestleMania, Michaels thanked the fans for their support towards him, despite Michaels losing at the event. Michaels continued, but was interrupted by Hassan and Daivari. Michaels, after Hassan's comments regarding Michaels' loss, Michaels slapped Hassan, which led to Hassan and Daivari to attack Michaels, leaving him unconscious in the ring. 

The following week, Michaels approached Bischoff, and demanded a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari. Bischoff refused to schedule the match, but informed Michaels to find a partner and he would grant him the match. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan to come back and team with him On the April 18th Raw, Hassan attacked Michaels until Hogan came out to save Michaels and accept his offer. 

Was it already planned that they'd end up wrestling each other at this point?

That takes us to the main event, Batista defending the World title against Triple H

On the April 11th Raw, it was announced that Batista would defend the championship against Triple H at Backlash, after Triple H invoked his rematch clause. The following week, Triple H had a no DQ a match  against Jim Ross, in which Ross won by pin, after Batista interfered and hit Triple H in the head with a chair. On the April 25th Raw, Batista defeated Christian in a singles match. After the match, Triple H assaulted Batista and hit him with the pedigree

Batista beat Triple H in 16:27

This would lead to a 3rd match between them at the Vengeance pay per view, in a Hell in a Cell match, which Batista would also win

The next night on Raw, from the Fleet Center in Boston, we saw the Gold Rush tournament with the winner becoming the #1 contender for the World Title

Kane beat Christian in round 1

Shawn Michaels beat Shelton Benjamin in round in, in an amazing finish where Shelton came off the top rope and HBK hit him with the sweet chin music 

Edge beat Chris Jericho with a spear in round 1

Chris Benoit beat HHH with the sharpshooter in rd 1 after Batista comes out and lays out HHH & Flair

The next week on Raw to continue the tournament, Kane beat Benoit, Edge beat Michaels and on the May 16th Raw in the finals, Edge beat Kane to win the tournament and become the #1 contender