WWE Backlash 2025 went down in the Enterprise Arena in Saint Louis tonight, and it was quite a show in front of a sold-out crowd. There were only five matches on the card, but each one of them held importance, especially the main event.
John Cena shocked the pro wrestling world during WrestleMania 41 when he won the Undisputed World Title from Cody Rhodes. Then Randy Orton stepped up to stake his claim as next in line to face Cena, which set up their Backlash confrontation.
This match went down as the main event of the night, right after Pat McAfee suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of GUNTHER. This was expected, as Saint Louis fans showed up in droves to see the Apex Predator take on the 17-time WWE World Champion.
Ortons entrance registered a max of 115 bBA on the xfinity live & loud meter. Fans sang along with every word of his song as well. The match also received a big fight feel thanks to the ring introductions by Alicia Taylor.
After fans died down a bit and the match got started, you cant wrestle/yes he can chants started in the crowd. Eventually, John Cena started to lose, so he went to walk off. Orton chased him up the entrance ramp and beat him back to the ring.
This match continued, and John Cena was able to take control after a sleeper hold. Fans chanted for Randy as he turned things around to get his own chinlock applied. Then Cena traded it for a lock of his own, which Orton got on, and then Cena got one on before Orton suplex Cena to separate them.
Cena nailed a 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but then Orton took control. John Cena stepped out of a draping DDT, and then he got an STFU locked in. Then Orton got his draping DDT as Cena sold in the ring. The match continued as they drew fans in.
Randy Orton kicked out after an AA from John Cena, and fans chanted lets go Cena/Cena sucks. Randy grabbed the ropes to get out of an AA, and then Orton hit an RKO outta nowhere, but Cena rolled under the ropes.
John Cena avoided a punt from Randy Orton and he nailed another AA for a two count. Cena missed a punt of his own, and then Orton tried for an RKO, but the official took a bump. Cena nailed a third Attitude Adjustment, but there was no referee to make the pin. That is when John Cena motioned for fans to shhhh as he went to retrieve his title. He got in the ring with his title in tow, but he ate an RKO outta nowhere. Orton pinned Cena, but he kicked out at two.
Randy Orton started clearing off the announce table after that. The referee tried to talk Orton out of it, but then Cena shoved Orton into the referee, who nailed his head off the steps. Then Cena tried to get Orton on the table, but Orton nailed an AA on Cena onto the table instead, and then it broke. You could read Ortons lips to see him say, stupid f*cking table.
Randy Orton got a table from under the ring, and fans were very happy to see this. Then Orton put Cena through that table with an AA and it broke. Orton took a drink of Prime from the cart at ringside after that. Still, there was no referee to make any pinfall. That didnt stop Orton from hitting another RKO in the middle of the ring and make a pin just as another referee ran down to make a two count.
John Cena still had the title in his hand and he ran to hit Orton, but Randy ducked as the 17-time champion nailed the second referee. Orton nailed another RKO and pinned Cena as Nick Aldis ran down to check on the second referee. Then Orton nailed Aldis and every other WWE official with RKOs. This was a literal RKO party as bodies laid all over the ring thanks to Randy Orton. That didnt help Orton win, but then he geared up to nail Cena with a punt to the head.
Suddenly, R-Truth came in to stop Orton, but he ate an RKO instead. Cena hit a low blow on Orton after that and then Cena grabbed his title once again and geared up to nail him, which he did. Then Cena pinned Orton as the first referee crawled in the ring for the pinfall.
John Cena retained in Saint Louis, and nobody was happy about that. Still, the main event of Backlash was absolute chaos. After the match was over, Cena told them to cut off the music. He said he doesnt need music, he needs competition, and he sure doesnt need the fans. He told Saint Louis to drink it in, because this is what the last real champion looks like. This is how WWE Backlash ended in The Lou as fans booed the end result of the main event.
Whats your take on how WWE has booked John Cena during his run as World Champion this time around? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
