WWE hosts their first premium live event since WrestleMania 41 where John Cena won his record-breaking 17th world championship. Now, Cena defends the WWE Championship this Saturday at Backlash against his longtime foe, Randy Orton.

But this isn’t the only reason you should watch Backlash this weekend.

PAT McAFEE vs. GUNTHER

You read that right. Pat McAfee is wrestling at Backlash. McAfee has competed in 5 singles contests, a brief appearance in a 30-man Royal Rumble Match, and a NXT WarGames Match. Two of these contests were more of a technicality, with less than 5 minutes in the ring with The Miz and a 76-year-old Mr. McMahon. McAfee arguably has only had two noteworthy matches, against Adam Cole in 2020 and “Happy” Baron Corbin in 2022.

If you know Pat McAfee from his ESPN radio show, his College Gameday contributions, or rarely punting the football with Peyton Manning at quarterback, he also calls color commentary for Monday Night Raw. He’s stepping into the ring with Gunther, who has been champion more than 80% of his time in WWE.

Gunther is the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, and just lost his World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania to Jey Uso, so he didn’t take kindly to Pat McAfee’s comments. Pat McAfee’s match landed him in hot water.

This match can be a complete devastation. It should be a mauling. Gunther should slap Pat McAfee around and re-establish himself as someone who means business. Expect Pat McAfee to be sacrificed and potentially off Monday Night Raw for a few weeks.

JACOB FATU VS. DAMIAN PRIEST VS. DREW McINTYRE VS. LA KNIGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

While Gunther lost his World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania, Jacob Fatu won the United States Championship against LA Knight. Jacob Fatu seems to have the rocket strapped to him as he begins climbing the ranks of Friday Night SmackDown. LA Knight gets his rematch, but you insert Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre, who had a killer Sin City Street Fight in Las Vegas.

We will get a well-rounded picture of SmackDown for the summer in this match. You have the upstart Jacob Fatu, former world champions in Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre, but also LA Knight, who hasn’t been launched into the main event picture yet. All four men can go in the ring and it will be a sleeper match of the night.

I expect Jacob Fatu to be the United States Champion for a while and not lose the championship in his first defense.

DOMINIK MYSTERIO VS. PENTA FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

You can say the same about Dominik Mysterio. The son of Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, his first singles title since his WWE debut back in 2020. Mysterio is squaring off against Penta, one of the new additions to the WWE roster in 2025.

It is awesome to see both of these men showcased on a premium live event. The work Dominik has put in so he could escape his father’s shadow and be his own man as a heel, and the work Penta spent on the independent circuit and AEW to get to this moment, is being honored this Saturday. They’ll make the most out of their spotlight on Saturday.

Expect Judgment Day shenanigans, but expect American Made or El Grande Americano to get involved to cost Penta his first singles championship in WWE.

LYRA VALKYRIA VS. BECKY LYNCH FOR THE WOMEN’S INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The men’s and women’s Intercontinental Championship will be showcased on the same premium live event for the first time ever this Saturday at Backlash. You can credit “The Man” Becky Lynch for inserting a main event star in the mid-card women’s division. Triple H is making this division matter, and giving the women a spot on this card is huge. There’s a story written into Lynch and Valkyria both having roots from Ireland and their battles down in NXT.

This is the only championship in jeopardy of changing hands this Saturday. Lyra Valkyria retaining by beating Becky Lynch could elevate Lyra. Making Becky Lynch the Women’s Intercontinental Champion could elevate the entire division. Expect a swerve and expect Becky Lynch to add to her collection.

JOHN CENA VS. RANDY ORTON FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

With Backlash being in St. Louis, this is the match selling the tickets. John Cena’s last time in St. Louis, combined with the final time for John Cena versus Randy Orton, makes this main event special. But this will be like any other John Cena versus Randy Orton main event.

The roles are reversed with John Cena and Randy Orton. John Cena has turned his back on the fans for the first time in his career, while Randy Orton has become the voice of reason. Orton will likely enter St. Louis with a ruckus crowd singing his “Voices” theme song by Rev Theory while John Cena will try to ruin wrestling.

As I mentioned, this championship is unlikely to change hands. Hometown heroes have often fallen in these high-profile matches in recent years (Drew McIntyre at Clash at the Castle 2022, Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber 2023, etc). John Cena just acquired the WWE Championship and it would be silly for him to drop it immediately after. Expect John Cena to retain and leave the fans with a bad taste in their mouth.

What do you expect to happen at WWE Backlash this Saturday? Any surprises? Let us know in the comments below.