Going into the 2025 edition of WWE Backlash, it was of my opinion that WWE had built a one match, C-level PLE coming out of WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. Then, Pat McAfee was shown on the big screen inside the Enterprise Center in St. Louis and the night took a bit of a different turn.
Hearing the crowd get that excited for McAfee meant that WWE also had a strongly anticipated co-main event in McAfee vs. Gunther, which I wasn’t expecting. Jacob Fatu? I expected him to be good, but he stole the show in the opening fatal four-way WWE United States Championship match.
Now, the entire card was full of interference, blatant non-finishes, and shenanigans — but nobody in the audience seemed care. St. Louis was in on the madness and they got a lot of it.
Overall, the building was loud, the matches delivered at a level that certainly pleased the live audience, and even while dodging some booking landmines, WWE still continues to chug along with some nice momentum.
Here are my Brass Ring Ratings for the event and here’s how they work … I call it like I see it and grade accordingly. Period.
Jacob Fatu vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest - Fatal Four-Way WWE United States Championship Match
Well, this was everything I wanted it to be going in — and then some. Each guy was intense and hard-hitting as expected, but in the end, it was Jacob Fatu’s match. Everything was designed with him in mind and the big spots showed off his magic. The guy is on another level. He’s charismatic in a fresh way and the crowd reacted to him. With McIntyre and Damian Priest essentially taking themselves out of the match, look for a definitive end to their feud via a stipulation match down the road. As for the debut of Jeff Cobb, good for him, but he seems to be around just to give Fatu some bodies to beat once he officially starts feuding with Solo Sikoa.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOOO 1/4
Lyra Valkyria vs. Becky Lynch - WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match
Just as good as the first match, but in an entirely different way. Valkyria and Lynch had a mission and that mission was to get Lyra more over as a babyface and get Lynch more over as a heel. Mission accomplished. At the start of the match, the crowd was in on Lyra, but up for grabs. The action and psychology of the match pushed them to her side. In that regard, Becky was tremendous. Really good stuff.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OOOO
Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta - WWE Intercontinental Championship
A good match, but nothing really to it either. It was missing the big angle of Finn Balor turning and instead, was just a par for the course and flat finish, which saw Dom beat Penta after interference. All of that said, Dominik went and got himself over as a babyface. The St. Louis crowd loved him and that’s a tidal wave of momentum that likely won’t be stopped.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OO 1/2
Gunther vs. Pat McAfee
Look, the audience loved this. They were super into Pat McAfee winning this match and the match itself capitalized on that reaction. That said, McAfee got way too much offense here and was way too legitimate opposite Gunther. The respectful stare between both at the end nuke the entire storyline too.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OO 1/4
John Cena vs. Randy Orton - Undisputed WWE Championship Match
Boy, this was overbooked madness, but the crowd ate it up the entire way. Let’s take inventory. This had multiple ref bumps, a referee injury angle — but only to one of the beat up refs, not all of them — interruption from Nick Aldis and a cohort of officials, interference from R-Truth, and a low blow. Goodness. If that type of hodgepodge match is your thing, then you loved this — and the entire Enterprise Center in St. Louis did. Hard to grade, but over is over and whatever this was, was.
Heydorn’s Brass Ring Rating - OO 3/4
What did you think of WWE Backlash 2025? Let us know in the comments!
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