sport news WWE Backlash RESULTS: New champions crowned and a new member of The Bloodline ... trends now
WWE came to France and set a record for gate receipts for an arena show. Luckily, they put on a card and event to match.
There's no doubt that WWE will be returning to France in the coming years after one of the all-time great, raucous crowds elevated WWE Backlash to heights beyond the expected, but the stars on show delivered too.
Kevin Owens and Randy Orton delivered in the opening bout the same way Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles were bound to do in the main event.
One major title changed hands to ensure this was not just a 'B-level' pay-per-view of glorified international live event - WWE have changed the game with their international premium live events.
It's injected new life into the shows like no one would have predicted. Who thought France would rival the UK and Canada as wrestling hotbeds?
France hosted WWE Backlash on Saturday and set a record for gate receipts for arena show
There's no doubt that WWE will be returning to France after one of the all-time great crowds
Let's get to the results:
The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga) def. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens
One of the widest starts to a pay-per-view in recent memory paved the way for a thrilling opening contest as Kevin Owens and Randy Orton's tag match with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga of The Bloodline became a street fight.
After surviving an early onslaught, 'R-KO' took total control of the heels with Tonga dumped on the announce table by Orton before Owens put him through a separate table with a frog splash. This was after both members of The Bloodline ate headshots from a trash can.
Back in the ring, Sikoa managed a Samoan Drop to put Orton through another table. That helped the heels keep control until Owens reversed an Irish whip from Sikoa through a table and Orton RKO'd Tonga. Sikoa healed in time to prevent the pinfall, but took an RKO onto a table for his troubles.
Owens had done enough to win with a fisherman buster through stacked chairs, but the debut of Tama Tonga's brother, Tonga Loa, left both Owens and Orton laying and a spike from Sikoa secured the win.
Tonga Loa (Left) left both Owens and Orton laying and a spike from Sikoa secured the win
WWE Women's Championship: Bayley def. Tiffany Stratton and Naomi
All three women were over right from their entrance, setting the tone for just how invested the Lyon crowd would be. The trio were all apart of the action in the early going before Naomi was the first to take an extended spell on the outside allowing Stratton to take it to the champion.
The work-rate and the tempo on display was enough to get anybody invested and what the matchup lacked in memorable three-way spots it more than made up for with hard-hitting action, like the pair of Alabama Slams delivered by Stratton to her opponents onto announce tables (seemingly rh most robust tables ever!)
As the action
