Cena Retains WWE Title At Backlash St. Louis
John Cena successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against longtime rival Randy Orton in their advertised “one last time” match at WWE Backlash on Saturday night, with help from an unexpected ally in R-Truth.
The premium live event, held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, also featured surprising developments including Jeff Cobb’s WWE debut and an injury to Drew McIntyre.
Championship Rivalry Comes Full Circle
In the main event, billed as the final chapter of a nearly 25-year rivalry spanning 21 previous matches, Cena retained his title against Orton in what Cageside Seats described as a heavily dramatic contest with several key interferences.
The match featured call-backs to their historic rivalry, including a spot where both men hit their finishers simultaneously, reminiscent of a tables match they had years ago. The finish came when R-Truth unexpectedly intervened, allowing Cena to retain his “Last Real Champion” status.
This victory marks an important chapter in Cena’s final full year with WWE, as he continues his record-breaking 17th world championship run that began at WrestleMania 41 earlier this year.
Jeff Cobb Makes Surprise WWE Debut
The event opened with a Fatal 4-Way match for the United States Championship, where Jacob Fatu successfully defended against LA Knight, Damian Priest, and Drew McIntyre. During the match, international wrestling star Jeff Cobb made his surprising WWE debut, as reported by Cageside Seats.
Cobb’s interference helped Fatu retain his championship after a chaotic battle that saw McIntyre and Priest fight into the crowd while Cobb put “the boots to Knight.” Interestingly, Fatu appeared confused by Cobb’s assistance, suggesting potential storyline developments within The Bloodline faction.
The appearance of Cobb, a highly respected performer with experience in major promotions worldwide, signals WWE’s continued aggressive talent acquisition strategy.
McIntyre Reportedly Injured During Match
In concerning news from the event, Drew McIntyre was reportedly undergoing medical evaluation following his participation in the United States Championship match. According to eWrestlingNews, the former two-time WWE Champion may have been injured during the multi-person contest.
Details regarding the nature and severity of McIntyre’s potential injury remain unclear, though it could impact WWE’s creative plans moving forward if he requires significant recovery time.
McIntyre has been a cornerstone performer for WWE in recent years, with his involvement in major storylines making any potential absence notable for the company’s programming.
Other Championship Matches Deliver
The event featured several other title defenses that rounded out the card. Dominik Mysterio retained the Intercontinental Championship against Penta with help from El Grande Americano after The Judgment Day was ejected from ringside, according to WWE.com.
In the women’s division, Lyra Valkyria successfully defended her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch in what was described as one of the strongest performances of the night.
Additionally, Pat McAfee faced GUNTHER in a non-title match that ended with the Ring General securing victory via technical submission, though reportedly showing a measure of respect to the announcer-turned-wrestler following the contest.
