Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 5:22 PM EST

A few things to think about heading in to Backlash. First, it's nice to see championships being defended on pay per views. We have the US title, the World title, the WWE title, the World Tag Team Title, the women's title, and the ECW title being defended. Personally, I think that's tremendous. It makes the consumer want to buy the PPV to potentially witness a title change. Six match card, and six titles on the line. When was the last time you saw that, ladies and gentlemen?

Second, who else believes that Randy Orton is literally hanging by a thread within the confines of WWE? It's been pretty much documented from the word go that Carlito is in the jobber doghouse from hell, as witnessed by his exclusion from Wrestlemania, his pairing as a puppy dog lover babyface with Torrie Wilson, and his lack of title matches in the recent past. Now, with Orton continually messing up as he has been, I would have to believe that the McMahon powers that be are losing their patience with this snot nosed punk kid, and unless his old man gives him a quick dose of reality, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Orton get canned and end up alongside Kurt Angle in a TNA six sided ring.

Third, and I'll discuss this more in the picks, but major props need to go to MVP for his pure guts in the showing he had against Benoit on Smackdown. He played the consummate heel to the core, and managed to push Benoit to the limit and then some in a match that could be the turning point in the storyline leading in to tomorrow night's title contest.

As I was pulling up the card to run down the picks, I just read the story on Van Dam turning down the latest contract renewal offer, and his expected departure from ECW and WWE come the end of August. The breaking point in the negotiations is ridiculous as far as what I can see. I won't mention it because I don't want people to think I know a damn thing that's going on in these deals. Van Dam wants what he wants, and if he wants to try and get the Kurt Angle treatment from TNA, well, then, let him go. Who knows what's going to happen, but personally, I am kind of bothered by this whole thing. Not because of Van Dam leaving WWE, because frankly, we all knew it was going to go down, one way or another, but just the brash attitude that he has shown and the lack of remorse he has shown since the major screw up and black eye that he and Sabu put on WWE when they got busted while RVD held both brands titles.

Just one man's opinion. Ok, let's get to it. Backlash, tomorrow night.

WWE Women's Championship
MELINA vs. MICKIE JAMES
Personally, I think it's stupid that there was some "communication" foul up that forced the title change in Paris, and WWE had to "correct" the error to keep the storyline going. Errors happen, I know, and I can accept that, but if something like that were to occur, and in this case, it did, why not LET IT STAY THE COURSE, and allow a touch of unpredictability for this match? I mean, how intense would Melina come out for this contest if she wasn't the champion losing the title in a match where she didn't even get pinned? Now, in this set up, I would say it's a virtual lock that Melina will retain, because I don't think that WWE is prepared to put the title back on Mickie James for an extended period, because outside of Victoria and Melina, there's nobody really out there in the women's division that can challenge James in a good feud for the title. In the meantime, Melina can have candy cane matches with Torrie, Candice, and Maria, while waiting for Ashley to recover and rekindle that feud that was ongoing leading in to Wrestlemania 23. Man, way too much analytical attempted thought on the women's division. Next.

WINNER: Melina

World Tag Team Championship
THE HARDYS vs. LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH
All things considered, I'd like to see this feud continue for some time. This is Raw's version of Deuce & Domino vs. London & Kendrick. The high flying Hardy Boys versus the ground and pound of the rednecks in Cade & Murdoch. The quintessential contrast in styles. One difference, in this case, rather than the Smackdown situation, is the champs have the experience edge, and then some. Matt & Jeff have been here before on countless occasions, and that experience will be more than enough to put the challenge down of Cade & Murdoch. Personally, however, I think there's legs in this one, and I would like to see it go on for a series of matches, and see what blossoms.

WINNERS: The Hardys

One thing, before I continue, I would not be shocked if there is a tag title rematch signed for Backlash between now and tomorrow night between London & Kendrick and Deuce & Domino. Personally, I would pay to see that match alone. Deuce & Domino have quickly transformed in to one of my new favorite teams. The gimmick isn't obnoxious, the chick is cute, and damn, these two guys beat people up. And then some.

Moving on with the picks....

ECW Championship
BOBBY LASHLEY vs. UMAGA, VINCE MCMAHON, & SHANE MCMAHON
This is the one title match I am not looking forward to, by any stretch. I think Vince & Shane need to stay out of the ring, in any way, shape, or form. Lashley vs. Umaga is a good match for the ECW title, with extreme rules or without them. Adding Vince and Shane to the match just puts unnecessary gimmicks in to a feud that doesn't need it. There's enough gimmicks here already. It's almost a lead pipe cinch that Umaga will figure out a way to win the title with the help of the McMahons, as there needs to be some form of repercussion for Lashley for his assistance last month at Wrestlemania. What concerns me, is what happens next for ECW? Who'd be next to challenge for the title? Or are we going to be forced to suffer with Lashley vs. Umaga in reverse? Don't get me wrong, I like both combatants, but this feud needs to be moving on in its storyline, fast, or its going to get sour, real quick.

WINNER: Umaga, New ECW Champion

WWE United States Championship
CHRIS BENOIT vs. MVP
I am thrilled by how this feud has transpired. MVP has played the consummate heel, but has also been tough as nails. Benoit has taken his game to the absolute best I have seen him in a long, long time. WWE did the right thing by letting Benoit retain at the big stage in Detroit. This is MVP's time to shine. As much as it hurts me to say, and I am a HUGE Benoit fan, Benoit gets beat tomorrow night and we have a new US Champion. It's time for the highest paid free agent in Smackdown history to put the bling behind the bucks. And this kid can do it, ten fold. We've seen it from Armageddon last year vs. Kane when he got burned to this feud with Benoit. MVP can deliver, and I expect no less in this contest. This will steal the show, bar none.

WINNER: MVP, New US Champion

World Heavyweight Championship - Last Man Standing Match
THE UNDERTAKER vs. BATISTA
1. CAN WE PLEASE STOP HAVING THESE TWO GUYS BE TAG TEAM PARTNERS? I can't tell if they are feuding or are partners? Kane is still on Smackdown, right? Bring the B.o.D. back together, and let these two guys have a feud, for all that's holy. Now, 2. SOMEONE PLEASE GET THAT SMUG SMIRK off of Batista's face. I am getting more and more annoyed with Batista with every report I read. Attitude, attitude, attitude. All the time I find a report about some sort of bad experience that has been transpired, and Batista is in the forefront of the experience. Personally, it makes me sick. Also, having Batista, as I read, come back after Wrestlemania, and try to put himself over with the crew and talent backstage because he's upset about not being the main event? Look, guy, if you spent half the time actually caring about the people you perform in front of, and less time being a jackass, maybe you'd make a main event.

Undertaker is due for a long title run. I read a report that WWE is telling Undertaker to take a full time schedule for this title run. I would be STUNNED if it ended tomorrow night. I would also be enraged. Batista does NOT need a third run as a world champion, for the love of all that's holy. There's two guys on Smackdown that don't deserve the belt right now, and I'm gonna take heat for this, but I don't care. Those two guys are

Batista
and
Mark Henry.

WINNER: The Undertaker

WWE Championship
JOHN CENA vs. SHAWN MICHAELS vs. EDGE vs. RANDY ORTON
Take Orton out of this picture already. I wouldn't be surprised if Orton doesn't make it with some sort of injury angle, similar to what they did to Sabu back at December to Dismember. Edge is not beating John Cena for the WWE title any time soon, and we all know this. If you don't know this, you're fooling yourself, as far as I can believe. Edge had the chance, ad nauseum to take the title from Cena in one on one matches, and did not do it. I doubt this would be the forum for the Rated R superstar to take another run with the gamut.

It leaves HBK and Cena. I am saddened by the fact that the reports from Raw last week have the match being a "must see". I am also concerned, as a Cena mark that the line WWE.com pulled of saying, "Has Cena walked the aisle for the last time" as WWE champion may have tipped the outcome a little too early. Had dot com shut up and not said anything, this match would be a virtual pick em, I would believe, and it would be absolutely no surprise if either man won. With that story in the back of my head, I would have to believe Cena finds a way to get through the match and keep the title. DX is two months away from reuniting, Edge will probably feud with Orton to save Orton's job, and Cena will just go forward and lead in to another feud with someone else. Who, I don't know, but hey, I'm not that good a prognosticator. I do have one thought about a possible next opponent for the WWE Champion.

Mr. Money in the Bank.

Take me back to NYR 2005, where Cena goes through the chamber, gets his ass kicked, but wins the match. Out comes Vinnie Mac, and ten minutes later, Edge wins the belt. Can we see this again? Cena goes through a hellacious fatal four way, and after barely surviving, out comes Teddy Long, and boom, here comes Mr. Kennedy, and we have a title change? Is it possible? Is it? I doubt that the MitB contract will last much past One Night Stand next month, soooooo, the thought is worthwhile to stick in to the craw, don't you think?

WINNER: John Cena

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Take care. I am going to cause major mischief now.