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Backlash (2005)
Backlash (2005)
Backlash (2005)
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Backlash
Promotional poster featuring Triple H
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
BrandRaw
DateMay 1, 2005
CityManchester, New Hampshire
VenueVerizon Wireless Arena
Attendance14,000[1]
Buy rate320,000[2]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
WrestleMania 21 		Next →
Judgment Day
Backlash chronology
← Previous
2004 		Next →
2006

The 2005 Backlash was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was the seventh Backlash and took place on May 1, 2005, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. The event exclusively featured wrestlers from the promotion's Raw brand division. The concept of the pay-per-view was based around the backlash from WrestleMania 21.

In the main event, Batista defeated Triple H in a singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. From the five scheduled bouts on the undercard, two received more promotion than the others. The first was a tag team match, in which Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan defeated Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. The other was a Last Man Standing match, a match where a wrestler who is unable to respond to a ten count by the referee would lose. Edge defeated Chris Benoit after Benoit failed to get to his feet before the referee's count to ten.

Backlash helped WWE increase its pay-per-view revenue by $4.7 million, through ticket sales and pay-per-view buys.

Production

[edit]

Background

[edit]
The event was held at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Backlash is a pay-per-view (PPV) event that was established by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 1999. The concept of the pay-per-view was based around the backlash from WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania.[3] The 2005 event was the seventh Backlash and featured the backlash from WrestleMania 21. It was scheduled to take place on May 1, 2005, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, being the first Backlash held in May as the previous events were all held in April. Like the previous year, the 2005 event exclusively featured wrestlers from the Raw brand division.[4][5]

Storylines

[edit]

The event featured six professional wrestling matches with different wrestlers involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either villains or fan favorites as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. All wrestlers belonged to the Raw brand – a storyline division in which WWE assigned its employees to a different program, the other being SmackDown!.

Batista as World Heavyweight Champion.

The main event at Backlash was a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship, in which Batista defended the championship against Triple H. The buildup to the match began after WrestleMania 21, WWE's previous pay-per-view event, where Batista defeated Triple H to win the championship. On the April 11 episode of Raw, one of WWE's primary television programs, it was announced that Batista would defend the championship against Triple H at Backlash, after Triple H invoked his rematch clause.[6] The following week, Triple H had a no disqualification match, a match where neither wrestler can be disqualified, allowing for weapons and outside interference, against Raw commentator Jim Ross, in which Ross won by pinfall after Batista interfered and hit Triple H in the head with a steel chair.[7] On the April 25 episode of Raw, Batista defeated Christian in a singles match.[8] After the match, Triple H assaulted Batista and hit the World Champion with a Pedigree.[8]

The pay-per-view event featured the buildup of a rivalry among two tag teams, Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan versus Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. 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, however, was in no mood to listen to Hassan's comments regarding Michaels' loss. As a result, Michaels slapped Hassan, which led to Hassan and Daivari to attack Michaels, leaving him unconscious in the ring. The following week, Michaels approached authority figure Eric 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.[6] On the April 18 episode of Raw, Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his offer.[7]

Another preliminary match was between Edge versus Chris Benoit in a Last Man Standing match. 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.[9] On the April 4 episode of 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.[10] 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.[7] Other feuds that received less promotion and culminated into matches at Backlash include WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin versus Chris Jericho for the title, William Regal and Tajiri versus Rosey and The Hurricane versus The Heart Throbs (Antonio Thomas and Romeo Roselli) versus La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Robért Conway) in a tag team turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship, and a singles match between Kane (accompanied by Lita) versus Viscera (accompanied by Trish Stratus).

Event

[edit]
Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English commentators Jim Ross
Jerry Lawler
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewers Jonathan Coachman
Todd Grisham
Ring announcer Lilian Garcia
Referees Mike Chioda
Chad Patton
Earl Hebner
Jack Doan

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Tyson Tomko defeated Val Venis on Sunday Night Heat.[11][12]

In the first match of the event, Shelton Benjamin faced Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Championship.[4][11] When the match began, Benjamin had the upper hand. Benjamin then performed a springboard off the ropes, but Jericho countered with a hurricanrana off the ring apron to the floor. Jericho utilized a chinlock on Benjamin. Jericho then climbed to the top rope, but Benjamin stopped Jericho, leaping to the top rope and superplexing Jericho. Jericho then hit a running enzuigiri, but only got a near fall. Benjamin performed the T-Bone Suplex, but Jericho put his foot under the bottom rope to void the pin. Jericho locked in the Walls of Jericho, but Benjamin got to the rope. Jericho then locked in the Walls of Jericho again but Benjamin rolled-up Jericho to retain the Intercontinental Championship.[4]

The next match was the tag team turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship. Tajiri and William Regal were the champions heading into the match. The teams would come out at random, and it was The Heart Throbs (Antonio Thomas and Romeo Roselli) who entered first, with the champions Tajiri and Regal coming out next. Tajiri utilized a lot of kicks and then locked in the Tarantula. The Heart Throbs then kept Tajiri isolated, but Tajiri pinned Antonio with a sunset flip. Simon Dean and Maven entered into the match next, trying to pick apart the weakened Tajiri. Their inclusion in the match did not last very long as Regal made the tag and cleaned house, putting Dean away with a knee to the head. La Résistance came in next, but Regal and Tajiri tried to fight back. Regal was then rolled up, with a handful of tights, eliminating him and Tajiri and guaranteeing new champions. Rosey and The Hurricane were the last two men to enter the match. Hurricane was then smashed on the turnbuckle post. Hurricane and Rosey got the pin when Hurricane leapt off the shoulders of Rosey, who was perched on the top rope to grab the win. [4]

The third match of the night was a Last Man Standing match between Edge and Chris Benoit. The match started out with Benoit getting the upper hand. Edge then got the upper hand by throwing Benoit sternum first into the turnbuckles. Benoit then applied the Sharpshooter on Edge. Benoit then performed multiple German suplexes on Edge, which sent Edge outside to the floor. Benoit dived through the ropes, but was met with a trash can lid to the face. Edge hit a superplex on Benoit through a trash can. Edge grabbed a ladder and dragged it into the ring, only to get a German suplex off of the ladder. Benoit missed a diving headbutt off the top of the ladder, Edge grabbed the Money in the Bank briefcase but was caught in the Crippler Crossface. Edge got out of the Crippler Crossface and performed an Edgecution on Benoit on the briefcase. Benoit reached his feet at nine, only to get speared by Edge. After spearing Benoit again, Edge pulled a brick out of his briefcase and hit Benoit in the back of his head, leaving Benoit unable to answer the ten count.[4]

In the fourth match, Kane (accompanied by Lita) faced Viscera (accompanied by Trish Stratus). Kane's early attempts to take Viscera off his feet resulted in Kane being knocked down. Viscera then was clotheslined out of the ring by Kane. Trish tried to hit Kane with a steel chair, but Lita hit her with a crutch. Viscera then executed a Chokebomb on Kane, but only got a two count. Kane then came back and hit a big boot and a chokeslam to get the pinfall.[4] Trish then verbally slammed Viscera, who responded by bear hugging and splashing Trish, who was then taken out on a stretcher.[13]

Hulk Hogan teamed up with Shawn Michaels to face Muhammad Hassan and Daivari.

In the fifth match, Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels faced Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. Hogan and Hassan began and Hassan was immediately sent into the turnbuckles. Hogan double clotheslined both his opponents and then he and Michaels teamed up with a big double boot to Hassan's face. Michaels climbed to the top rope but missed an elbow drop. Daivari was tossed outside where Hogan bashed him. Michaels hit Daivari with a flying forearm smash and a kip up. Michaels was about to hit Daivari with Sweet Chin Music, but instead Hassan hit Michaels with a lead pipe. Hassan then took advantage and locked Michaels in the Camel Clutch. Michaels fought his way to his feet and dropped Hassan with an Electric Chair. Hogan then got tagged in and went for a leg drop to Daivari, but Hassan hit Hogan with a lead pipe instead. As the referee had his back turned at Hogan, Michaels hit Daivari with Sweet Chin Music allowing Hogan to get the pinfall and win the match for his team.[4]

Triple H challenged Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship.

The main event was for the World Heavyweight Championship between champion Batista and Triple H. In the opening seconds, Flair grabbed Batista's leg, providing the distraction necessary for Triple H to attack Batista and gain an early advantage. Both men attempted to hit their finishers early on, but both attempts failed. Triple H went for another Pedigree attempt, but was backdropped over the top rope to the floor. Batista returned to the ring and walked into a spinebuster for a two count. Batista then went for a Batista Bomb, but Triple H hit Batista in the head with the championship belt. Batista performed a spinebuster on Triple H, but there was no referee to make the pin. Jack Doan then ran down and made the pin, but only got a two count. A second Batista Bomb attempt was stopped with a low blow by Triple H. Triple H then backed Batista into a corner and punched him ten times. Batista then performed another Batista Bomb to win the match and retain the championship. After the match, Triple H pedigreed referee Mike Chioda, while Batista celebrated on the entrance ramp.[4][14]

Reception

[edit]

The Verizon Wireless Arena usually can accommodate 11,000, but the capacity was increased for the event. This event grossed over $700,000 from an approximate attendance of 14,000 which was the maximum allowed.[15] Backlash helped WWE earn $21.6 million in revenue from pay-per-view events versus $16.9 million the previous year, which was later confirmed by Linda McMahon, the CEO of WWE, on September 7, 2005, in a quarterly result.[15] Canadian Online Explorer's professional wrestling section rated the event six out of 10.[16] The rating was higher than the Backlash 2006 event, which was marked as a "complete disaster".[17] The World title match was rated a seven out of 10.[16] Additionally, the Intercontinental title match between Shelton Benjamin and Chris Jericho was rated seven out of ten, the last man standing match between Edge and Chris Benoit was rated six out of ten and the tag team match of Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan and Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari was rated five out of ten.[16]

Aftermath

[edit]

The next night on Raw, General Manager Eric Bischoff held a Gold Rush Tournament to determine who would be the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. The matches were Kane versus Christian, Shawn Michaels versus Shelton Benjamin, Edge versus Chris Jericho, and Chris Benoit versus Triple H. Kane, Michaels, Edge, and Benoit all advanced to the next round.[18] The next week, Edge faced Michaels and Kane faced Benoit. Edge and Kane advanced to the finals.[19] One week later, the finals took place between Edge and Kane. Edge won the tournament after Lita helped Edge win.[20] One week later, Edge faced Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship. Batista won the match by pinfall after executing a Batista Bomb.[21] Edge then started a feud with Kane, which lasted until Kane defeated him at Vengeance.[22][23]

The next night on Raw, Triple H and Batista verbally taunted each other.[24] Three weeks later, after Batista's world title match against Edge, Triple H then came out with a sledgehammer and Ric Flair attacked Batista with a low blow, leading to Batista being attacked by Triple H. Afterward, Triple H told Batista that they were going to face each other again at Vengeance in a Hell in a Cell match and performed a Pedigree on Batista onto the title.[25] At Vengeance, Batista retained the title against Triple H.[23] In June, Batista was drafted to SmackDown! in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery, which, as a result, ended the rivalry.

Results

[edit]
No.Results[1][4]StipulationsTimes[1]
1HTyson Tomko defeated Val Venis by pinfallSingles match5:40
2Shelton Benjamin (c) defeated Chris Jericho by pinfallSingles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship14:31
3Rosey and The Hurricane won by last eliminating La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier) by pinfallTag team turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship13:43
4Edge defeated Chris BenoitLast Man Standing match18:47
5Kane (with Lita) defeated Viscera (with Trish Stratus) by pinfallSingles match6:09
6Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels defeated Daivari and Muhammad Hassan by pinfallTag team match15:05
7Batista (c) defeated Triple H (with Ric Flair) by pinfallSingles match for the World Heavyweight Championship16:23
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
H – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view on Sunday Night Heat

Tag team turmoil match

[edit]
Draw Wrestler Order Eliminated by
2 Tajiri and William Regal (c) 3 La Résistance
1 The Heart Throbs (Antonio and Romeo) 1 Tajiri and William Regal
3 Simon Dean and Maven 2 Tajiri and William Regal
4 La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier) 4 The Hurricane and Rosey
5 The Hurricane and Rosey Winners N/A

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Backlash (2005)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Backlash (2005) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), featuring matches from the Raw brand roster, held on May 1, 2005, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, in front of an attendance of 14,000 spectators. The event consisted of six matches, with the main event seeing World Heavyweight Champion Batista defeating Triple H in a singles match to retain his title, continuing their rivalry from WrestleMania 21. Other key bouts included Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin retaining his title against Chris Jericho via roll-up, The Hurricane and Rosey winning a Tag Team Turmoil match to become the new World Tag Team Champions by last eliminating La Résistance, and a tag team match where Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels defeated Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. The undercard also featured Edge defeating Chris Benoit in a Last Man Standing match and Kane beating Viscera. This installment marked the seventh Backlash PPV overall and was notable for solidifying Batista's reign as champion while providing a platform for midcard developments, such as the crowning of new tag team champions.

Production

Background

Backlash (2005) marked the seventh installment in WWE's annual Backlash pay-per-view series, established in 1999 as a thematic response to the outcomes and lingering tensions from . The event's concept centered on the "backlash" from , positioning it as the immediate post-WrestleMania showcase for the Raw brand to resolve high-profile rivalries and defend championships won at the flagship event. Under WWE's brand extension policy, introduced in March 2002 to split the roster between the Raw and SmackDown brands, Backlash transitioned to an exclusively Raw roster event starting in 2004. This separation allowed each brand to develop independent storylines and talent pools, with Raw's PPV calendar including Backlash as a key spring event to capitalize on momentum without crossover interference. Scheduled for May 1, 2005, the event took place at the Verizon Wireless Arena in , a multi-purpose venue with a capacity of approximately 11,000, drawing a reported of 14,000 spectators. The location was chosen for its modern facilities, central position in the region to draw a strong local audience, and history of successfully hosting WWE productions. Promotional efforts post-WrestleMania 21 highlighted the event as a platform for title defenses and surprise returns, including the teased comeback of Hulk Hogan on Raw episodes in April, which aimed to boost viewership by leveraging his iconic status. Key angles, such as Batista's World Heavyweight Championship status following his WrestleMania victory, were teased to emphasize continuity and high stakes.

Storylines

The primary storyline heading into Backlash 2005 revolved around Batista defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Triple H, his former Evolution stablemate. Following Batista's upset victory over Triple H at WrestleMania 21 on April 3, where he ended Triple H's nearly nine-month reign, Triple H became fixated on regaining the title he viewed as rightfully his, launching a series of aggressive attacks and interference attempts on Raw to psychologically torment the new champion. Triple H's obsession escalated with personal barbs, accusing Batista of betrayal and vowing to expose him as a fluke champion, culminating in multiple confrontations that highlighted Batista's resilience against his mentor's mind games and physical assaults during weekly episodes. A high-profile tag team feud developed between Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Muhammad Hassan, and Daivari, sparked by Hassan's inflammatory anti-American promos that criticized U.S. treatment of Middle Eastern individuals post-9/11 and targeted iconic American wrestlers. Following Hogan's return appearance on the episode of Raw, where a clip from the previous night showed him saving Eugene from an attack by Hassan and Daivari, the heels ambushed Hogan during his segment, prompting Michaels—who had been feuding with Hassan over similar provocative segments—to intervene and defend Hogan's legacy, leading to their alliance against the heel duo. Hassan's promos, delivered with Daivari's assistance, portrayed them as oppressed outsiders seeking revenge, drawing massive and setting up the tag match as a patriotic clash on Raw broadcasts. The grudge between and originated from Edge's frustration after winning the Money in the Bank at but suffering a clean loss to Benoit in a singles bout on the episode of Raw. In retaliation, Edge unleashed a brutal post-match on Benoit, smashing his head into the ring post and with a steel chair, busting him open and igniting a vicious personal rivalry that played out through escalating brawls on television. The feud intensified with Benoit vowing revenge for the unprovoked attack, leading Raw General Manager to book their confrontation as a Last Man Standing match to settle the score without interference. Chris Jericho's pursuit of Shelton Benjamin's Intercontinental Championship formed a technical showcase rivalry, built on Jericho's repeated challenges after Benjamin's defenses earlier in the year, including his victory over Jericho at Taboo Tuesday 2004 to win the title. The storyline gained layers when Jericho's former tag team partner Christian, aligned with Tyson Tomko, interfered in Jericho's opportunities, betraying his old ally by aiding Benjamin during key Raw segments to hinder Jericho's title quest. Jericho positioned himself as the rightful challenger, emphasizing his experience against Benjamin's athletic prowess in promos that hyped their athletic clash. Additional undercard feuds contributed to the event's depth, including the setup for the World Tag Team Championship Tag Team Turmoil match, where defending champions and Tajiri faced off against a field of challengers amid internal Raw brand tensions. La Résistance, , and other teams vied for the titles in a multi-team elimination format, stemming from chaotic brawls and challenge segments on Raw that showcased the division's instability following .

Event

Venue and broadcast

Backlash (2005) took place at the Verizon Wireless Arena in , on May 1, 2005. The arena, configured for the event to a capacity of approximately 14,000, hosted a sell-out crowd of 14,000 fans. The broadcast was handled by lead commentators and , who provided English-language play-by-play and color commentary throughout the show. served as the primary , introducing matches and competitors. A Spanish-language announce team was also present at ringside for international audiences. Production elements included a stage setup aligned with the event's "Backlash" branding, featuring entrance pyrotechnics for key superstars such as . Video packages opened the show and interspersed segments, recapping major storylines from , including 's title win over and Edge's victory in the Money in the Bank . The pay-per-view was distributed domestically in through traditional cable and satellite providers. Internationally, it aired on networks including in the , with broadcasts also reaching and . The total runtime was approximately 3 hours.

Event narrative

The event kicked off with a high-energy video package recapping the highlights of , including 's victory over for the World Heavyweight Championship, setting the stage for their highly anticipated rematch later in the night. The footage transitioned into promos hyping the personal stakes between and , emphasizing Triple H's determination to reclaim the title he felt was rightfully his, while the arena erupted in cheers as the Verizon Wireless Arena in , filled with anticipation from the sold-out crowd of around 14,000 fans. The opening contest pitted Intercontinental Champion against in a showcase of athleticism. Benjamin entered with confident swagger, while Jericho drew loud "Y2J" chants from the enthusiastic audience as he made his way to the ring. The action began with Benjamin grounding Jericho in an armbar, only for Jericho to fire back with a sharp slap and a series of forearm strikes, igniting a fast-paced exchange. Benjamin dazzled with a backflip arm drag and a springboard , but Jericho countered aggressively, hitting a hurricanrana and locking in the Walls of Jericho submission hold to torque Benjamin's neck. The crowd buzzed with nearfall reactions as both men traded high-impact moves, including a perilous superplex from the top rope that left the audience gasping. Benjamin retained the title via roll-up at 14:31. A video package hyped the upcoming Last Man Standing match between and . The bout spilled immediately into the aisle, with Benoit unleashing vicious chops and German suplexes that had the crowd chanting his name. Edge retaliated with a trash can lid to Benoit's arm, targeting the injury from prior encounters, and introduced a for added carnage, slamming Benoit through it to thunderous boos. Benoit rallied with five consecutive German suplexes, but Edge escalated by superplexing him onto the trash can. In a daring sequence, Benoit climbed the for a diving headbutt, missing and crashing hard, which drew sympathetic "oohs" from the audience; Edge then capitalized with a , intensifying the "We Want Matt" chants referencing Edge's real-life rival . The intensity peaked with Edge wielding a brick in a bloody, grueling exchange that left both men battered. Edge won after striking Benoit with the brick from his Money in the Bank briefcase, leaving Benoit unable to answer the ten-count at 18:47. Post-match, Edge celebrated his victory. Following the match, a backstage segment featured Kane and Lita discussing their issues with Viscera and . Jerry then appeared in the ring to introduce the Raw Divas, promoting their magazine feature, but the segment was interrupted by , who demonstrated his Masterlock challenge on a female fan (bodybuilder ), drawing boos before referees intervened. Another backstage vignette showed Viscera presenting with lingerie, heightening the tension. The card continued with Kane, accompanied by Lita, facing Viscera, escorted by , in a match tied to the ongoing women's drama. Kane dominated early with uppercuts and elbow drops, his monster persona drawing solid , while Viscera countered with a thunderous splash and Samoan drop that shook the ring. Interference brewed as Trish swung a chair at Lita, only for Lita to dodge and retaliate, heightening the tension; Kane then hoisted Viscera for a amid the chaos, securing the pin at 6:09. Post-match, Viscera turned his aggression toward Trish in a bearhug and splash, prompting a job that shifted the crowd's boos to concern. A video package hyped the tag team clash between Hulk Hogan, returning for "one more match," and Shawn Michaels against Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. Hogan's entrance ignited the hottest reaction of the night, with fans chanting "Hogan" and waving signs, while Michaels received a massive pop for his DX-era flair. Hassan and Daivari entered to resounding boos, their anti-American gimmick fueling the crowd's disdain. Michaels started with technical holds against Daivari, but Hogan tagged in to a deafening roar, delivering shoulder blocks and a big boot that sent the audience into frenzy. The heels isolated Michaels with underhanded tactics, including Daivari's eye rake, building sympathy until the hot tag to Hogan, who hulked up amid cheers. Hogan attempted his signature on Daivari, but Hassan interfered with a lead pipe shot to the back, drawing furious heat; Michaels recovered to nail a flying elbow and Sweet Chin Music, with Hogan sealing the victory with a pin at 15:05 in a nostalgic pose-down that had the crowd on their feet, including a fan displaying a . A backstage interview with Triple H saw him vow to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. This was followed by a pre-recorded promo from Christian, accompanied by Tyson Tomko, where Christian rapped taunts aimed at the main event participants, mocking Batista and Triple H while asserting his own relevance despite being excluded from the card, eliciting mixed reactions from the live crowd. Building to the climax, a video package recapped the Batista-Triple H rivalry. The main event featured World Heavyweight Champion Batista defending against Triple H, with Ric Flair at ringside. Batista entered to cheers as the new face of the company, while Triple H's ominous entrance with Flair's strut drew villainous jeers. The methodical start saw Triple H targeting Batista's back with spinebusters and stomps, Flair's interference adding frustration to the pro-Batista crowd. Batista powered back with clotheslines and a spinebuster of his own, eliciting "Ba-tis-ta" chants that grew louder. The exchanges intensified as Triple H set up for multiple Pedigree attempts, only for Batista to counter into Batista Bomb teases, each reversal popping the audience. A referee bump allowed Flair to swing the title belt, but Batista ducked and unleashed a furious comeback, hitting the Batista Bomb for the pin at 16:22 to retain the title. The World Tag Team Championship was defended earlier in a chaotic Tag Team Turmoil match involving multiple teams: , champions and Tajiri, Simon Dean and Maven, La Résistance, and challengers . The elimination format created constant momentum shifts, with Regal and Tajiri opening against in technical grappling before Tajiri unleashed his signature kicks to clear the ring. As teams cycled in, the pace quickened with Maven's impressive dropkicks and La Résistance's double-team tactics, keeping the crowd invested through each exit. The Hurricane and Rosey entered to a wave of cheers, their personas energizing the audience as Rosey hoisted Hurricane for a massive double-team splash that echoed through the arena, securing the win at 13:43 to become new champions.

Results

Match card

The match card for Backlash (2005) consisted of seven televised matches, with the event structured around championship defenses and personal rivalries, culminating in the main event for the World Heavyweight Championship.
No.MatchStipulationWinner(s)TimeReferee
1Eugene vs. TajiriSinglesTajiri (by submission with the Dragon Sleeper)7:35Chad Patton
2 & Tajiri (c) vs. vs. Simon Dean & Maven vs. La Résistance vs. The Hurricane & RoseyTag Team Turmoil for the World Tag Team ChampionshipThe Hurricane & Rosey (last team remaining; new champions)23:13
3 & vs. Muhammad Hassan & DaivariTag teamHogan & Michaels (Hogan pinned Daivari after a )18:41
4Kane (with Lita) vs. Viscera (with )SinglesKane (by pinfall after a )8:48Nick Patrick
5 vs. EdgeLast Man StandingEdge (Benoit unable to answer the ten-count after Edge's spear through a )10:00Jack Doan
6 (c) vs. Singles for the Benjamin (by roll-up; retained the title)14:29Brian Crowe
7 (c) vs. Singles for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipBatista (by pinfall after a Batista Bomb; retained the title)20:53

Tag team turmoil match

The Tag Team Turmoil match at Backlash 2005 was contested for the World Tag Team Championship under a gauntlet elimination format, where two teams began the bout and the surviving team faced the next entrant upon each elimination via pinfall or submission, continuing until only one team remained to claim the titles. This structure allowed for a multi-team showcase on the Raw brand roster, featuring five participating teams: (Antonio Thomas and ), the defending champions and Tajiri, Simon Dean and Maven, La Résistance (Rob and ), and . The match opened with The Heart Throbs facing the champions Regal and Tajiri, who quickly gained control and eliminated their opponents at 3:09 when Tajiri pinned Antonio following a sunset flip. Simon Dean and Maven entered next, but Regal and Tajiri continued their dominance, with Regal securing the pin on Dean via a knee strike to the head at 5:21 total time. La Résistance then made their entrance and shifted the momentum by cheating to victory, as Conway rolled up Regal for the pin while grabbing the tights at 8:17. The final entrants, The Hurricane and Rosey, entered to face the exhausted La Résistance, capitalizing on their fatigue with coordinated offense including a notable eye poke-assisted setup leading to The Hurricane's diving splash on Conway for the decisive pinfall at 23:13. This victory crowned The Hurricane and Rosey as the new World Tag Team Champions in an upset result, as the makeshift superheroes team dethroned the veteran champions after competing only in the final segment. The match underscored the depth of Raw's undercard tag division by blending established factions with emerging pairings, paving the way for refreshed storylines in the tag team landscape following the title change.

Aftermath

Immediate developments

Following Backlash, World Heavyweight Champion opened the of Raw by celebrating his successful defense against , posing with the and interacting with fans in the arena. This triumphant moment underscored Batista's dominance, while Triple H appeared visibly frustrated in the crowd, setting a tense tone for the show's developments as Raw General Manager quickly shifted focus to the future by announcing the Gold Rush Tournament. The eight-man single-elimination tournament, featuring participants including , , Christian, Edge, Kane, , , and , was designed to crown Batista's next challenger, with quarterfinal matches beginning immediately on the . Bischoff emphasized the surprise element, revealing opponents only moments before each bout to heighten unpredictability. The tournament's initiation provided immediate momentum for several wrestlers emerging from Backlash matches. Intercontinental Champion , who had retained his title against at the pay-per-view, lost his quarterfinal match to , who advanced to the semifinals but was defeated by Edge. Meanwhile, the World Tag Team Championship change, where dethroned La Résistance in the Tag Team Turmoil match, prompted a division reconfiguration, with the new champions scheduled for defenses amid ongoing rivalries involving former titleholders like and Tajiri/. , despite his loss to Benjamin, was eliminated in the tournament quarterfinals by Edge, positioning him for continued midcard contention. Backstage fallout from Backlash intensified key angles. After defeated Edge in their Last Man Standing match, Edge retaliated post-match by smashing a into the back of Benoit's head, exacerbating Benoit's injuries and fueling their ongoing feud into the tournament, where Benoit advanced past with assistance from . Separately, Muhammad Hassan's storyline escalated when he blamed manager Khosrow Daivari for their loss to and at Backlash, leading to Hassan slapping and attacking Daivari in the ring during a promo segment. This betrayal amplified Hassan's persona, portraying him as a lone agitator decrying perceived injustices from American fans and authority figures.

Ongoing feuds

The feud between and intensified following Backlash, as Raw General Manager announced the Gold Rush Tournament to determine the number one contender for 's World Heavyweight Championship at Vengeance. Edge won the tournament by defeating Kane in the final on the episode of Raw. Following Edge's tournament victory, he challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship on the May 23 episode of Raw, where retained via pinfall. Post-match, attacked with a and challenged him to a match at Vengeance. At Vengeance on June 26, retained the championship against in a match, executing a spinebuster onto a steel chair to secure the pinfall and further solidifying his reign. Edge's victory over Chris Benoit in the Last Man Standing match at Backlash propelled his momentum as the holder of the Money in the Bank contract won at , positioning him as a rising threat in the World Heavyweight Championship picture. This success transitioned into a high-profile storyline involving his on-screen romance with Lita, which intertwined with real-life controversy and led to a bitter with , culminating in Edge defeating Hardy at on August 21. Benoit, sidelined by the arm injury sustained in their match, focused on recovery before shifting to feuds with other competitors, including on the SmackDown brand after the 2005 . Edge's elevated status from these developments set the stage for his eventual cash-in of the Money in the Bank contract on January 8, 2006, at New Year's Revolution, where he defeated to win the . In the tag team division, La Résistance's World Tag Team Championship reign, which had begun on April 18, faced immediate challenges leading into Backlash, but their title loss in the Tag Team Turmoil match to marked the end of their run and opened opportunities for other teams. The new champions defended against rematch attempts from La Résistance and emerging pairings, contributing to a revitalized division on Raw, while on SmackDown, MNM ( and Johnny Nitro) asserted dominance by capturing the WWE Tag Team Championship on April 21 and holding it through multiple defenses, influencing cross-brand dynamics in the months ahead. The and angle, formed to counter Muhammad Hassan and Daivari at Backlash, evolved briefly into a singles rivalry after Michaels superkicked Hogan on the July 4 episode of Raw, but it concluded at with Hogan's victory via , fading without further extension. Broader impacts from Backlash reverberated through controversial elements, particularly Muhammad Hassan's ongoing promos decrying perceived anti-American bias, which escalated into a SmackDown segment where he and Daivari attacked with hooded figures, airing the day after the London bombings and drawing widespread media condemnation for insensitivity. This backlash led to Hassan's immediate removal from WWE programming and his contract release on September 21, 2005, effectively ending his run and prompting WWE to drop the character entirely. Meanwhile, Chris Jericho's Intercontinental Championship pursuit against at Backlash transitioned into a main event turn, as he aligned with Christian to target , winning a #1 contender's opportunity and challenging for the at , where Cena retained via FU despite Jericho's interference attempts.

Reception

Critical response

The critical response to Backlash 2005 was generally mixed, with reviewers praising select high-energy matches while noting an overall lack of innovation and memorable moments. Wrestling media outlets assigned it an score of around 6 out of 10, reflecting a solid but unremarkable post-WrestleMania event. For instance, TJR Wrestling rated the show 6/10, highlighting three matches that reached three stars but lamenting limited standout content. Similarly, 411Mania gave it a 6.0 , describing it as competent without any truly bad bouts yet not justifying the PPV price tag. of the awarded star ratings to individual matches ranging from ½* to ****, averaging approximately 2.5 stars across the card, which aligns with perceptions of mediocrity punctuated by peaks. Specific praises centered on nostalgic elements and intense action in key bouts. Hulk Hogan's return match alongside against Muhammad Hassan and Daivari was lauded for its crowd-pleasing nostalgia, evoking strong audience enthusiasm and delivering surprising in-ring quality despite Hogan's age. The Last Man Standing match between Edge and stood out as the event's hardcore highlight, earning **** from Meltzer and ***½ from both TJR and 411Mania for its grueling physicality and Edge's credible performance as a rising star. Criticisms focused on filler content and dated booking choices that undermined the show's momentum. The Tag Team Turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship was widely dismissed as filler, rated ** or lower by multiple outlets due to the lack of compelling teams and forgettable exchanges. The Hassan angle, involving his anti-American persona in the match against and , drew backlash for feeling outdated and offensively stereotypical, lacking credibility and contributing to the bout's drag despite its placement. Additionally, midcard elements like the Kane vs. Viscera match were panned for boredom and predictability. Fan reactions emphasized positive in-arena energy, particularly during Hogan's entrance and the Edge-Benoit aftermath, where crowds chanted enthusiastically and gave standing ovations. DVD reviews echoed this, with recommending the release for its solid production values and entertainment despite a lack of surprises, though some noted the event's predictability diminished replay value.

Commercial performance

Backlash (2005) generated 320,000 pay-per-view buys, marking a solid performance for a post-WrestleMania event. The event drew a paid attendance of 14,000 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, representing a strong draw in the Northeast U.S. region following WrestleMania 21. The event contributed to WWE's first quarter fiscal 2006 pay-per-view revenue of $21.6 million across five events, an increase from $16.9 million in the prior year's corresponding quarter. With an average ticket price of approximately $48, the gate grossed over $700,000, underscoring its financial viability as a mid-year pay-per-view bridging WrestleMania momentum to summer spectacles. The event was released on DVD by on May 31, 2005, with a three-hour runtime that included the full card plus extras such as backstage footage.

References

  1. https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2005
  2. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/wwe-backlash-2005
  3. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/backlash/
  4. https://tjrwrestling.net/review/wwe-backlash-2005-review/
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ZjjJMZFs8
  6. https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/7zyqiz/the_triple_hbatista_storyline_in_late_20042005_is/
  7. https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/muhammad-hassan/
  8. https://411mania.com/wrestling/muhammad-hassan-why-given-anti-american-character-not-turning-down/
  9. https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/01/04/wwe-backlash-2005-512005/
  10. https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-backlash-2005-breakdown-5-01-05/
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Id7qq9IHM
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWD-wooqUUw
  13. https://slamwrestling.net/report/hulkamania-rules-backlash/
  14. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=2730
  15. https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&show=5927
  16. https://www.amazon.co.uk/WWE-Backlash-2005/dp/B000E8N9OC
  17. https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2012/07/26/backlash-2005-hogans-one-more-match/
  18. https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2005/mainevent
  19. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=2730&page=2
  20. https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2005/results
  21. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/wwe/raw-2005
  22. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/wweppv/backlash/backlash05/
  23. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/muhammad-hassan/
  24. https://thehistoryofwwe.com/wwe-gold-rush-tournament-2005/
  25. https://www.wwe.com/videos/batista-vs-triple-h-vengeance-2005-hell-in-a-cell-match
  26. https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/22006303/wwe-day-2006-edge-became-first-ever-wwe-superstar-cash-money-bank-changed-course-history
  27. https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-shawn-michaels-oversold-hulk-hogan-summerslam-2005-explained/
  28. https://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/mediahassan
  29. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1624202/muhammad-hassan-gets-candid-wwe-release/
  30. https://www.wwe.com/videos/john-cena-vs-chris-jericho-wwe-championship-match-summerslam-2005-full-match-wwe-network-exclusive
  31. https://411mania.com/wrestling/tremendous-tirades-throwback-wwe-backlash-2005/
  32. http://www.profightdb.com/cards/wwe/backlash-3905-177.html
  33. https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/16505
  34. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/533471-mohamed-hassan-a-man-who-was-screwed-by-a-choice-not-his-own
  35. https://wrestletalk.com/stats/every-wwe-pay-per-view-buyrate/
  36. https://insidepulse.com/2005/09/07/42522/
  37. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/w/NYSE_WWE_2005.PDF
  38. https://www.wrestlingdvdnetwork.com/full-list-of-2005-wwe-dvds/353/
  39. https://www.amazon.com/WWE-Backlash-2005-Hulk-Hogan/dp/B0009PW3SI
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