The first PLE after WrestleMania brought chaos, surprises, and four championship matches! WWE Backlash 2025 returned with a bang on May 10 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the 20th edition of this exciting premium live event. Coming off the heels of WWE WrestleMania 41, WWE tried to match the high energy, and it certainly did, with five thrilling matches including four title bouts and a main event clash between John Cena and Randy Orton.
Let’s take a look at everything that happened at WWE Backlash 2025, including match results, key moments, and surprises.
Chaos Begins: Fatal Four-Way for the U.S. Title
Jacob Fatu vs LA Knight vs Damian Priest vs Drew McIntyre – WWE United States Championship
The opening match of WWE Backlash 2025 saw Jacob Fatu defend his U.S. title in a wild fatal four-way match. The animosity from WrestleMania still lingered as Fatu and Knight clashed, while Priest and McIntyre took the fight to the crowd. The turning point came when Solo Sikoa interfered, saving Fatu from a devastating elbow from Knight. But the biggest surprise was Jeff Cobb’s debut! Cobb attacked Knight, allowing Fatu to land a buckle bomb and moonsault to retain his title.
Women’s IC Title: Valkyria vs Lynch Turns Personal
Lyra Valkyria (c) vs Becky Lynch – WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship
In a highly anticipated match, Lyra Valkyria defended her title against wrestling icon Becky Lynch. Despite Becky’s dominant performance, Lyra capitalized on a brief distraction and reversed a roll-up pin to keep her title. After the match, Becky snapped. She brutally attacked Lyra, locking in the Dis-Arm-Her until officials and GM Adam Pearce intervened. This shocking moment left fans wondering what’s next for both women.
Dirty Dom Retains Amid Lucha Drama
Dominik Mysterio (c) vs Penta – WWE Intercontinental Championship
Dominik Mysterio faced Penta in a heated rematch from Raw. Judgment Day tried to help Dom, but their interference backfired when the referee caught them and ejected them. However, just when Penta gained momentum, a mystery man—El Grande Americano—attacked him with a headbutt. Dom took advantage with a top-rope frog splash to get the win and retain the IC title.
Gunther Silences Pat McAfee and Michael Cole
Gunther vs Pat McAfee
WWE Backlash 2025: This wasn’t just a match—it was personal. Pat McAfee tried everything to defeat Gunther, with Michael Cole even getting involved on commentary. Gunther, however, proved too strong. He pulled Cole from ringside to break McAfee’s focus, locked in a sleeper hold, and put the former NFL star to sleep. After the match, Gunther showed respect to McAfee, adding a classy end to a brutal contest.
Cena vs Orton: The Final Battle Ends in Controversy
John Cena (c) vs Randy Orton – Undisputed WWE Championship
The main event of WWE Backlash 2025 featured two legends—John Cena and Randy Orton—in what was called their “final battle.” Orton had the home crowd advantage in St. Louis, but Cena showed he was willing to do anything to keep the title. The match was intense with multiple RKOs and Attitude Adjustments. At one point, Cena even tried to walk away with a count-out win. As chaos unfolded—including two referees getting knocked out and Orton taking out GM Nick Aldis—R-Truth tried to calm things down, only to eat an RKO.
Cena took advantage with a low blow and a title shot to the face, pinning Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. After the match, Cena declared himself the last real champion, soaking in the crowd’s boos.
WWE Backlash 2025: Full Match Results
- Jacob Fatu (c) defeated LA Knight, Damian Priest & Drew McIntyre – WWE United States Championship Fatal Four-Way match
- Lyra Valkyria (c) pinned Becky Lynch – WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship match
- Dominik Mysterio (c) defeated Penta – WWE Intercontinental Championship match
- Gunther defeated Pat McAfee
- John Cena (c) pinned Randy Orton – Undisputed WWE Championship match
WWE Backlash 2025 delivered on all fronts—surprises, rivalries, and new chapters. With rising stars like Jacob Fatu and shocking debuts like Jeff Cobb, WWE has once again proven why these post-WrestleMania PLEs matter.
