BackLash 2025 - Matches of Interest...
How’s It Going Enthusiasts!
Happy Mothers’ Day Weekend. Since I’ll be traveling on the actual day, I’m making the most of my daughterly duties today. Started a little yesterday to be honest.
So, here we are at BackLash and the slim card lets us know that this isn’t the biggest event but a relevant one. I take these as times for the less popular talent to get a chance. The popular ones are cool, of course, but too much of the same gets boring. It’s good to mix it up. See what everyone’s got.
This could be a fun one but I’m curious about 2 of these matches on offer. The first one being the only Lady option as Lady Becky Lynch takes on her protegée in Lyra Valkyria. This is Valkyria’s match to lose or win, regardless of the actual outcome.
What has to happen here is that Valkyria has to get us to care about her to some degree or she risks being just another wrestler. This is the tricky part ‘cause it can be argued that this is the bit of it that can’t be taught. You either got it or you don’t.
A good example may be Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad fame. What’s engrossing about this character is that he has a knack for pulling off confidence games. He knows how to read people and get them to trust him. You can say that it requires a certain innate finesse. We will see if Valkyria understands the nuance of the job. We’ve seen good wrestlers fall by the wayside due to a lack of charisma or inability to connect with the Crowd.
I find Valkyria endearing in a way. She seems young and I appreciate her brass tacks approach but she does read like Lady Lynch’s little sister or young cousin and I’m not sure if there’s much that she can do about that so, I’d suggest leaning into it but in an innocent “with all her might” sort of way, like a young lady would. I don’t know what Valkyria has in her personal arsenal but from what I’ve seen, she should be the aspirational “little sister”. Perhaps a bit disappointed in her former “idol” and more so in herself for not seeing the obvious. This match could be a chance to make amends for all that and be a catalyst for her “adulthood”. We’ll see what she does with it.
The other match I’m curious about is Pat McAfee vs. GUNTHER. McAfee has become great at what he does but he hasn’t been in the ring that much, at least not publicly wrestling. I wonder if his greatest hurdle here is ring rust.
Given that, I don’t need him to win and am not even remotely upset at a predictable Gunther victory but I think if he just keeps pace and stays competitive, McAfee will have won. I don’t expect much here but I know McAfee performs well and Gunther knows what he needs to do.
I wouldn’t call it a Match of the Night but the potential is there. If McAfee keeps it fun and Gunther tries to kill him, I think it should all be fine.
The short card makes me wary of surprises, though. Not sure who would have stakes here unless they decide to pull the trigger on the Corey Graves feud. They could do him the solid with Carmella pregnant again and presumably unemployed. That could make Money in the Bank interesting and color the future in ways many weren’t thinking of but not in a bad way. And Graves can breathe easy for maybe a couple years? Just thinking out loud.
And so, I’ll leave it at that. I’m not really worried about the show. It’s solid on paper and content has been respectable ever since Triple H took over so, I’m glad I don’t have nothing but a ton of shit to say. Never thought the potentials would actually start to be achieved. Things are so much more hopeful now. I know that may seem delusional in the face of the recent releases but those will always come. Let’s just hope they get their metrics down so they can validate it more than, “We’re just not feeling it.” Show me low merchandise numbers or low views on social media or a high level of negative commentary or no commentary. Quantify things and there’s more of an argument. Just saying.
As for the unofficial watch party, I’ll officially start watching at 4pm PDT but I may start early with the Kick-Off Show. If you’re thinking of doing the same, you know where to find me.
See You in a Bit,
-Nicole Alexis (^_~)
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