Last year, Wrestlemania Backlash resulted in one of the WWE's worst pay-per-view-selling live events in recent memory. Much to the chagrin of the live audience in Providence, Rhode Island, the 17th annual affair did not feature a headlining event involving the Universal Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship. This year, the multibillion-dollar professional wrestling conglomerate took Wrestlemania Backlash to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in the process, they pulled out all the stops. Despite being one of the most prominent professional wrestling territories in the Americas, the WWE had not officially sanctioned a live wrestling card on the Caribbean island since New Year's Revolution back in 2005. Similarly to the previous year, 2023 Wrestlemania Backlash was not headlined by a title defense in the men's division. Instead, last weekend's show was headlined by a double-main event starring the second most-streamed artist in the world, Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican-born singer-turned-on-again/off-again professional wrestler did not disappoint as an in-ring performer. Bad Bunny's storyline involving the Rey Mysterio-led LWO and The Judgement Day culminated with a "Street Fight" match against a 6'5 "heel" named Damian Priest.
Bad Bunny entered the match with his classic single, "Chambea," blaring throughout Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum) in his hometown of San Juan. His theme music ignited a roar so loud it was reminiscent of watching Rob Van Dam walk the aisle before an ECW match in Philadelphia during the peak of his popularity when he was by far the promotion's most beloved wrestler. For Bad Bunny, this was more than a performance in his native country; it was a full-circle moment for a lifelong wrestling fan that brought more attention to the sport in Puerto Rico since a series of matches between the great Ric Flair and the legendary WWE Hall of Famer Carlos Colón (Carlito's father) during the early 80s. The highly anticipated main event matchup between Bad Bunny and Damian Priest lasted 25:00 minutes, making it the longest contest of the evening. Bad Bunny more than held his own as an in-ring technician and all-out brawler, taking bumps from a much larger opponent and executing a bevy of wrestling moves, such as the figure-four leg lock (Ric Flair's signature finishing move), in addition to landing some nasty chair shots, low blows and repeated strikes with bamboo sticks. Ultimately, the three-time Grammy award winner defeated Damian Priest with his signature move, "The Bunny Destroyer." The match was memorable, but the highlight of the lengthy showdown came when Puerto Rican wrestling icons Carlito and Savio Vega returned to the WWE to assist Bad Bunny in battle. Following Bad Bunny's victory, the two pro wrestling veterans joined the LWO in the ring for a post-match celebration.
Another standout moment in the "LWO vs. The Judgement Day" storyline at 2023 Wrestlemania Backlash came when Zelina Vega, a WWE diva of Puerto Rican descent, received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd upon her emotional defeat at the hands of WWE Smackdown Women's Champion, Rhea Ripley. (You can watch that moment here)
On Monday, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, and Forbes each published a report card of 2023 Wrestlmania Backlash; the main event featuring Bad Bunny and Damian Priest received an A from all three media outlets (an A+ from Forbes). Critics are already calling 2023 Wrestlemania Backlash one of the WWE's best pay-per-view events ever.
Source: Bleacher Report
