This weekend’s Backlash takes place at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Md. This is the first time the WWE has done a PPV in Baltimore in over two years. The card is pretty stacked and it will be interesting to see how the show is booked after head Smackdown writer Michael Hayes was suspended for ‘inappropriate comments’.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The "Bo's Prediction" part of the review below was posted on Saturday  Night (042608). Look for Bo's review of this PPV Event later in the week.

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Undertaker(c) vs. Edge
BO'S PREDICTION:
Taker is keeping the belt here so the point behind the match is to see how much fun the two can have in the ring. We will see some interference from Ryder and Hawkins but not to the point of them being anything other than cannon fodder for Taker. We have a budding feud between CM Punk and Edge so a smart booker would have Punk cost Edge the win and start a program that could go all the way thru to SummerSlam.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

The Big Show vs. Great Khali
BO'S PREDICTION:
This match has been practiced and it has apparently stunk up the place wherever they got into the ring. I have no idea how anyone in the WWE thought that Show was capable of carrying Khali since no one else has been able to. This should be a short match and may even start the show so that we can get it out of our minds and enjoy the rest of the show.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
MVP vs. Matt Hardy
BO'S PREDICTION:
This was before Matt’s appendix burst the best feud running in the WWE. The WWE has stepped up and gotten fans back into the fight between the two. The segment on Friday’s Smackdown did a wonderful job selling the match to the point where this could be the best match on the card. The Matt & Jeff Hardy DVD comes out this week and that could push the booking staff to give the belt to Matt. MVP is set up as a possible main event talent and he could join the mix between Batista and Edge while Matt needs the belt to push through the glass ceiling that the bookers have placed him under.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

FATAL FOUR WAY ELIMINATION MATCH:
Randy Orton(c) vs. Triple H vs. JBL vs. John Cena
BO'S PREDICTION:
The theme of the night will be that no belts change hands so this match will be more of the same. If you haven’t figured it out by now Orton goes into each PPV with the belief that he is going to lose the title and somehow walks away with it. This will be the long match of the card and everyone will get their offense in. I would end the match by having JBL clothesline HHH or Cena then get taken out by a groggy but aware Orton. Neither Cena nor HHH need the belt to get over and it’s way too early to think about putting the belt on JBL (that and no one buys him as champion) so let the Age of Orton continue.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

ECW CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Kane(c) vs. Chavo Guerrero
BO'S PREDICTION:
Since Chavo isn’t much of a physical match for Kane they brought up Bam Neely (now I wonder where they came up with that name?) from developmental to back him up. I wouldn’t expect Chavo to win his title back so this match is going to likely have a liberal amount of interference from Neely before the ref disqualifies Chavo and the feud continues on. Expect a few winces during this match since Mike Adamle is going to be sitting next to Taz for the first time on the big stage.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

Batista vs. Shawn Michaels (w/Chris Jericho as the Guest Referee)
BO'S PREDICTION:
The finish to Smackdown set up a match that could be loaded with blood and offense. Batista will be ticked that HBK cost him the title as well as retiring Ric Flair. HBK will be ticked since Batista won’t let that go. Jericho will be the man in the middle who has issues with both of them. This is more or less a three way match since Jericho is going to have a problem with neither listening to him and knock one of them out if not both. There has been a subtle heel turn going on with Jericho that they could pull the trigger on here. Since he is on the same show as HBK Jericho is likely to take him out and cost him a win.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

12-DIVA TAG TEAM MATCH:
Mickie James, Maria, Ashley, Michelle McCool, Cherry & Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian Hall, Layla, Victoria & Natalya
BO'S PREDICTION:
This match was added during the week when I guess the WWE realized that the card was a match short. Everything was set up on Monday’s Raw when the faces came out to congratulate Mickie for winning the Woman’s title and the heels came out to steal the thunder. I don’t know how long this match will last but I would expect that everyone will get a shot at getting their stuff in. Friday’s Smackdown had a match between Cherry and Natalya that showed that Cherry was plucky even though Natalya seemed capable of beating the crap out of her at any moment. I would expect the faces to go over here and for this to be placed between the Raw and Smackdown title matches.

BO'S REVIEW: 
TBA

Photo © 2008 WWE/World Wrestling Entertainment
Article © 2008 Alternate Reality, Inc.