Ringside - WWE Backlash Predictions

BACKLASH the WWE's first SmackDown pay-per-view post WrestleMania 33 is all set for Sunday, May 21 live from Chicago beginning at 8pm ET (Astro Chanel 840, WWE NETWORK 8.05am, Monday).
The match card will feature all but one SmackDown title being defended as the blue brand work to put in a strong showing after rival RAW's Payback.
The WWE Backlash Matches:
Luke Harper vs. Erick Rowan
The former Wyatt family "brothers" will seek to end their rivalry in this match. The two have gone back and forth post Wrestlemania 33 and Rowan vows to inflict more pain and punishment on Harper during their Backlash match.
PN: Harper and Rowan have shown that they don't rely solely on power to dominate their opponents. Both men are extremely fast and agile for their size. This could very well be one of the best matches of the night.
Rowan to pick up the win after a cheapshot.
AP: The match is nothing new to be honest given the fact that both of them did go against each other before. I think Luke Harper is going to win the match again as a way for him to officially cut ties with the Wyatt family.
Harper to win
AS: Well well, the former brothers have a go at each other yet again. This could potentially be the match of the night, if both men push each other to their limits.
Rowan to win with the pinfall.
Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin
The Lone Wolf Baron Corbin has been smacking the Underdog from the Underground around ever since Sami switched over to the blue brand as part of April's Superstar Shake-up.
Zayn will be looking for some retribution while Corbin pretty much sees this match as a minor speed bump on his quest for gold.
AS: Interesting match up. Could really go either way. I'd just flip a coin for this one, and go with the Underdog from the Underground.
Sami Zayn to win
AP: Corbin hold a substancial size and strength advantage over Sami but you should never count the Underdog from the Underground out. Having said that, my money is still on for The Lone Wolf to win this match and set his sights on the WWE Championship.
Baron Corbin to win
PN: I have absolutely no idea why the decision makers at the WWE insist on making poor Sami the fall guy week in and week out. He had a raw deal on RAW (pun intended) and I had hoped for a better start for him on Smackdown but no ... You might as well call him Al Snow. Baron Corbin to demolish Snow ... errr ... I mean Zayn.
Baron Corbin to win
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler finally get his hands on The Artist Known as Shinsuke Nakamura this. The WWE have been drawing out Nakamura's debut match ever since his move from NXT but it all ends at Backlash.
Will the Showoff prevail over the King of Strong Style?
At WWE Backlash, Dolph Ziggler will go head-to-head against The Artist Known as Shinsuke Nakamura when The King of Strong Style makes his highly-anticipated SmackDown LIVE debut.
Since emerging on the blue brand two nights after WrestleMania, Shinsuke Nakamura has been electrifying Tuesday nights without competing in a single match. But that will all change at WWE Backlash when the former two-time NXT Champion will make his in-ring SmackDown LIVE debut against an irate Dolph Ziggler.
PN: I have been a huge fan of Shinsuke Nakamura since his New Japan Pro-Wrestling days. His debut match against Sami Zayn on NXT was an instant classic. The WWE didn't need to delay Nakamura's ring debut on Smackdown but judging by the pop he gets even when he doesn't have a match, I cant wait to see him blow the roof off the Allstate Arena.
Nakamura hitting the Kinshasa for the win
AP: Dolph is used to having the odds stacked against him and more often than not, he comes out on top. I don't see why he would let Nakamura escape with a victory.
Dolph Ziggler to win
AS: Nakamura's first main WWE roster PPV. They couldn't possibly make him lose this one, considering (if rumours are correct) they brought him in to take Cena's place as the face of Smackdown Live.
The King of Strong Style to win

Six-Woman Tag Team Match
SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi, Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch vs. "The Welcoming Committee" Natalya, Carmella & Tamina
PN: Probably the weakest match of the night. The rivalry is boring, stale and uninteresting. Don't much are who wins this one but I'll have to go with the bad girls.
The Welcoming Committee to win
AS: Hard to see Naomi, Charlotte and Becky give this one up. Too much "flair" to lose.
AP: Team Glow will prevail in this match
United States Championship Match
Kevin Owens (c) vs. AJ Styles
AP: "The New Face of America" finally going head to head with "The Face that runs The Place" is definitely the match to watch. I'd love to see AJ taking the title from KO just to stop Owens from bragging how good a WWE superstar he is.
AJ Styles for the win
AS: I see Owens retaining the title this time. But expect their rivalry to go on at least until the next PPV.
Winner, Kevin Owens
PN: The Prize fighter vs The Phenomenal One. This is another match that I'm looking forward to. Both atheletes have the ability to put on one hellova show and I'd love for this rivalry develop into a best out of 3 series.
KO to win the first match between the two with a dirty win

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
The Usos (c) vs. Breezango
PN: Breezango as tag champs? No Way In Hell.
Usos to win

AS: Usos!
AP: No Way In Hell ....
Usos to win
WWE Championship Match
Randy Orton (c) vs. Jinder Mahal
AP: Hands down Randy is going to win this match and get some payback on Jinder for all the sneak attacks in the weeks leading up to Backlash. Enough is enough and the Viper is going to strike back hard. The Singh Brothers could be an issue but I'm sure Randy knows how to deal with them by now.
Randy Orton to win
AS: Was there ever any doubt who would take this match? Orton with an easy win over Jinder.
Randy Orton to win
PN: As much as I'd love to say Orton to win, Jinder has all the tools to be a major heel for the company. Taking that into considertation, I'm going to go with...
Jinder to win with a HUGE assist from The Bollywood Boys.
That's it for our Backlash preview ... do check back here for our review of Backlash on Tuesday, May 23.