Owens was the first competitor to make his entrance for his tag team match with Orton against Sikoa and Tonga. He took his time getting to the ring while interacting with the French crowd.
The crowd chanted “We want Roman” as The Bloodline came out. All four men started brawling before the ref could call for the bell. KO and Tonga paired up while Sikoa and Oron fought.
Several producers and security tried to break up the fight before SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis showed up.
He declared the match to be a Street Fight and ordered the bell to be rung. Orton and Sikoa went into the crowd, while Owens and Tonga fought at ringside.
The crowd was going nuts during the whole contest. This was never going to be a match filled with technical exchanges due to the nature of the feud, but turning it into a Street Fight ensured it was going to be absolute mayhem.
Several weapons such as kendo sticks, garbage cans, steel steps and tables were used to inflict punishment on both teams.
If WWE wanted to start the show with lots of energy, this was the perfect way to do it. All four men were beating the life out of each other, and the crowd ate up every second of it.
They eventually slowed down a bit and started making every spot feel more important because everyone had taken so much damage already. As it looked like KO was about to win, Tanga Loa made his WWE debut by breaking up the pin. Sikoa hit Owens with a Samoan Spike for the win.
This was a smart way to kick off Backlash. The fans were invested and the Superstars put in a great effort to ensure the only non-title bout on the card left an impression.
Many assumed Jacob Fatu would be in this spot, so seeing Tonga’s brother brought in was a nice surprise.
The Bloodline continues to grow, so it will be interesting to see where Fatu ends up debuting and whether he will be with or against the group.
Result: Sikoa and Tonga defeated Orton and Owens
Notable Moments and Observations
- Big E, CM Punk and Jackie Redmond were a good trio on the pre-show.
- Owens being distracted by an animal during his interview with Kayla Braxton was hilarious.
- The crowd singing along to Orton’s music was cool. It’s surprising it hasn’t happened with his song more often.
- The Viper is always great at selling back injuries after going through a table.
- Owens took a stiff shot to the head from a garbage can. Sikoa used the bottom of the can, not the side. It didn’t crumple at all.
- Tonga’s back was heavily bruised from taking some kendo-stick shots.
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
