WWE Backlash emanated from St. Louis, Mo. and featured hometown hero Randy Orton seeking his 15th world championship against the “Never-Seen 17” John Cena.
Backlash also advertised a Fatal 4-Way United States Championship match, Becky Lynch challenging Lyra Valkyria for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship, Dominic Mysterio vs. Penta for the WWE Intercontinental Championship and Gunther vs. announcer Pat McAfee in a grudge match.
WWE Backlash 2025 Results On May 10
- Jacob Fatu def. LA Knight, Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest | WWE United States Title
- Lyra Valkyria def. Becky Lynch | WWE Women’s Intercontinental Title
- Dominik Mysterio def. Penta | WWE Intercontinental Title
- Gunther def. Pat McAfee
- John Cena def. Randy Orton | WWE Title
WWE Backlash 2025 Ticket Sales
- WWE Backlash 2025 Venue: Enterprise Center (St. Louis, Mo.)
- WWE Backlash 2025 Tickets Distributed: 17,057
- WWE Backlash 2025 Tickets Available: 79
WWE Backlash 2025 Highlights, Winners And Grades
Jacob Fatu Def. Damian Preist, Drew McIntyre And LA Knight; Jeff Cobb Debuts
LA Knight started the match on fire. Wade Barrett called it an LA Knight highlight reel.
Michael Cole brilliantly gave a background of Jacob Fatu’s checkered past as an inmate, and how he used pro wrestling as a way to turn his life around.
Fatu and Drew McIntyre faced off, eliciting loud cheers for the meat matchup.
Everybody hit their finishers, only for a Damian Priest nearfall to be broken up by Drew McIntyre. This earned a second “this is awesome” chant.
Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest brawled into the crowd. Priest mocked Drew McIntyre’s “bored at work” meme before chokeslamming McIntyre through a table. A third “this is awesome!” chant followed chants of “holy s—t!”
In the ring, it was down to LA Knight and Jacob Fatu. Fans chanted “Fatu,” but they did participate in an “LA Knight!” chant when prompted.
LA Knight attempted to answer “we want tables” chants from earlier. As he went to deliver a flying elbow, Solo Sikoa moved LA Knight from the announce table. A mystery assailant attacked LA Knight from the crowd. That man was Jeff Cobb, who got a huge reaction.
A confused Jacob Fatu took advantage of the situation, reluctantly hitting a moonsault on Knight for the win.
WWE US Title Fatal 4-Way Grade: A-
Lyra Valkyria Def. Lyra Valkyria
Wade Barrett referred to Lyra Valkyria’s win over Becky Lynch at NXT’s Halloween Havoc as a fluke. He went on to say he will call it a fluke if Lyra wins again, “if it’s in a fluky way.”
Lynch’s early attempt to get heat only resulted in cheers, though there were some boos mixed in.
Valkyria, the Irish submission machine, hit an impressive swinging reverse Boston Crab on Lynch, followed by multiple surfboards.
Fans really got behind Lyra early as she dominated Becky Lynch with submissions and a dropkick to the outside. Lynch even got booed when she finally cut off Valkyria’s offense.
Lynch was bleeding from her elbow as she took control. Becky taunted Valkyria’s fiancee, who was in the crowd. This lit a fire in Valkyria, who battled back and stuck Lynch with a Fisherman’s suplex.
There were dueling Lyra-Becky chants as the two Irishwomen battled on the top rope. Valkyria got the better of it with a delayed superplex for a nearfall.
Lynch tried to use the bottom rope to steal the win, but Jessika Carr caught her. Valkyria continued to shine with a flying Fame-Asser followed by a middle-rope moonsault for another nearfall.
Valkyria surprisingly kicked out of a Manhandle Slam as fans chanted “this is awesome.”
Becky Lynch removed the turnbuckle pad, only to walk into a Nightwing from Valkyria. Unfortunately, Carr was distracted while trying to reattach the turnbuckle pad, allowing Becky just enough time to kickout.
Valkyria won with a rollup, but an incensed Becky Lynch immediately attacked Lyra Valkyria. Lynch slapped on a Disarm-her on Valkyria, who appeared to have suffered a legit broken nose.
Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria Grade: B+
Dominik Mysterio Def. Penta
Michael Cole admitted he has been impressed by Dominik Mysterio’s athletic prowess, but remains disappointed by his attitude.
This Backlash PLE crowd picked up where they left off at WrestleMania by chanting for Dirty Dom. They gave him a standing ovation after he turned a suicide dive into a DDT.
As the match went on, there was dueling support for Penta and Dom. Penta appeared to be suffering legitimate pain in his leg as he gingerly climbed to the top ring post, hitting a flying cross body to the outside.
Mysterio hit an Oblivion to Penta, an ode to Liv Morgan, for a nearfall.
The Judgment Day hit the ring. Finn Balor had Penta dead to rights with a steel chair, but Balor suspiciously stalled. The referee kicked out Judgment Day, who took a dive from Penta for their troubles. Balor remained on the outside, distracting the ref as El Grande Americano used a loaded mask on Penta. Dirty Dom retained.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta Grade: B+
Gunther Def. Pat McAfee
Pat McAfee walked out with a football jersey, but wrestled shirtless. Michael Cole apologized for putting McAfee in this position, and also—hilariously—apologized because tonight would be the first time in his career that he’d be unbiased. Mind you, in 2011, Michael Cole made a career out of being The Miz’s own personal cheerleader. He was more biased toward the Miz than Dave Melter is toward Will Ospreay.
Gunther dominated early and no-sold all of McAfee’s offense. It got to the point where Cole pleaded with Gunther to put McAfee out of his misery.
McAfee connected with a punt on Gunther, but Gunther no-sold it in favor of a much more potent punt from Gunther.
Fans chanted “you tapped out!” as Gunther continued to maul McAfee.
Cole continued to plead with Gunther to end this match, but Barrett reminded Cole that Gunther’s mind is a compassion-free zone.
Fans rallied behind Pat as McAfee defended himself from a super German suplex. McAfee landed on his feet twice in defense of two German suplexes, and connected with a punt that actually hurt Gunther. Gunther quickly recovered, eating several chops from McAfee before dishing out chops of his own.
McAfee dug deep and unleashed a flurry of offense on Gunther, punctuated with a kick to the face. Gunther answered with a power bomb. Gunther slapped on a Boston Crab, prompting Cole to step up from the announce desk. Gunther transitioned the hold to ground-and-pound elbows as St. Louis chanted “Michael Cole!”
Gunther dragged Cole into the ring and threatened to power bomb Cole before McAfee interrupted with a bicycle kick. Gunther swatted McAfee with a kick to the face.
Cole tried to interrupt by holding Gunther’s leg as McAfee pinned him off a suplex counter. Nearfall.
Gunther locked in a rear-naked choke, but McAfee refused to die. McAfee let out one last gasp, elbowing for his life, before finally succumbing to the hold. A perfect match for what it was.
After the match, Gunther bowed in respect to McAfee and Cole, then went about his business.
Gunther vs. Pat McAfee Grade: A-
John Cena Def. Randy Orton With Help From R-Truth
The Xfinity decibel meter during Randy Orton’s hometown entrance peaked at 115.
Michael Cole did a great job setting the stage for the (alleged) final chapter in the Cena-Orton rivalry. Cole noted the two faced each other at a Brian Pillman memorial show before their first WWE-branded match in OVW.
John Cena poked Randy Orton in the eye to begin the match, but Orton quickly responded with an eye poke of his own. Barrett noted that Cody Rhodes’ refusal to take the low road cost him the WWE Championship, but Orton had no problem taking the low road.
There were dueling chants against John Cena of “you can’t wrestle/yes he can!”
Cena threatened to leave the match, but Randy Orton chased after him.
Fans rallied behind Orton as he and Cena exchanged chinlocks and sleeper holds. 10 minutes into the match, and it was still in first gear.
Cena hits his comeback, but Orton cut him off and launched a comeback of his own. Cena countered a Draping DDT with an STFU.
Orton fought out of the STFU, but walked into an AA. Orton countered the AA with the RKO. Both men took each other out as these old pros got a “this is awesome” chant on the strength of their star power.
Cena and Orton exchanged blows before Cena connected with an AA for a nearfall. Orton hit a second RKO out of nowhere on Cena, mid-shoulder tackle, but Cena rolled to the corner.
After Orton kicked out of an AA, Cena mockingly went for a punt, but Orton moved out of the way. Cena shoved Orton into the the referee and hit another AA. Cena brought the WWE Title into the ring but took an RKO for another nearfall. Fans chanted “bulls—t” at Chad Patton.
The action spilled to the outside, but Cena shoved Orton into Patton, who went headfirst into the steel steps. Orton answered with an AA on Cena through the announce table, which collapsed well after Cena landed on it.
With Patton out cold, Orton hit another AA on John Cena, this time through a wooden table. Orton hit another RKO on Cena. Referee Eddie Orengo sprinted to the ring for a two count. This man John Cena kicked out of countless RKOs and two AA’s through two different tables. Cena missed a belt shot on Orton and hit Orengo. Orton hit another RKO on Cena for another visual pinfall.
WWE officials hit the ring, led by Nick Aldis, as Aldis and Orton bickered in the ring. Orton went on an RKO rampage, giving RKO’s to Aldis, Shawn Daivari, Hurricane Helms and another WWE official for free.
Orton went for a final RKO on Cena, but R-Truth stopped him. Truth got an RKO for his troubles. Cena low-blowed Orton and followed up with a belt shot. Patton came to, registering the final three count. A lot of bells and whistles for what ended up being a highly entertaining match.
After the match, Cena said “I know you can’t see me, but can you hear me?!” Cena said he doesn’t need music, he needs competition, because this is what the last real champion looks like.
