Predictions: Randy Orton retains WWE title at Backlash as Shinsuke Nakamura enjoys winning debut

Kevin Owens backed to leave with the United States title around his waist, while Naomi, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch also expected to be victorious in Sunday's action.

Randy Orton with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that he won at WrestleMania 33. He will leave Backlash on Sunday still holding it according to The National's predictions. Image courtesy of WWE

The WWE’s latest Network special, Backlash, takes place on Sunday at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. Ahead of the event here are some predictions from sports editor Graham Caygill and online editor Stephen Nelmes on what to expect from the night’s action.

Randy Orton v Jinder Mahal for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Graham

It has been a rather lacklustre start to Orton’s 13th title reign thus far, the lowlight being losing the non-title House of Horrors match to Bray Wyatt at Payback earlier this month.

That was due to Mahal’s interference and the WWE have certainly done their best to attempt to get some heat into this feud.

A Mahal title reign would be certainly different. Whether he has the in-ring talent or microphone skills to justify is something else entirely.

He will come close to winning, but ultimately the WWE have a lot of future opponents for Orton in Rusev, Baron Corbin, Kevin Owens and AJ Styles so it his run as champion is not ending here.

Prediction: Orton retains

Stephen

They will not put the belt on Jinder Mahal, but it would be foolish to end his push now with a dominant Randy Orton win.

Let us hope Mahal has a good showing and the pair will meet again at Money in the Bank — under the stipulation of a gauntlet or handicapped match with Mahal and the Singh Brothers. Sorry Rusev, wait your turn.

Prediction: Orton wins

Shinsuke Nakamura v Dolph Ziggler

Graham

Nakamura’s debut on the SmackDown roster is a chance for him and the WWE to showcase just why he was so loved in NXT and had such a great reputation in Japan.

Ziggler will be a good foil for him. His character is tired, but he can still go in the ring when motivated, and this has the potential to be a great match.

Nakamura will win, the only question here is just how good a match he and Ziggler can put on.

Prediction: Nakamura wins

Stephen

I have not enjoyed their promos on SmackDown, but this will be an entertaining bout. It is a no-brainer. Nakamura to win on debut and Ziggler will make him look a million dollars. Ziggler will be “humbled” after a Nakamura clinic and then deliver a coward’s punch after the contest.

Prediction: Nakamura off to a winning start

Kevin Owens v AJ Styles for the United States Championship

Graham

It feels weird to have two men who begun the year as respectively the WWE Universal Champion and the WWE World Heavyweight Champion feuding for a secondary title, but that is where we are at.

It is a way of keeping both men occupied as WWE tries to create other stars against Orton, and plus it promotes the importance of the US belt, which is never bad thing in this writer’s opinion.

This feels like the start of a rivalry, so a decisive finish is not necessary. Owens has only just won the belt back from Chris Jericho, and Styles needs a win after losing, via interference, to Mahal on SmackDown this week.

Owens getting himself disqualified or counted out would achieve the goals of keeping the title on him, while not giving Styles a loss, so that is where the WWE will be heading booking wise.

Prediction: Styles wins after Owens disqualified

Stephen

Kevin Owens is the best heel on SmackDown and the Canadian should be working with Randy Orton. Here he is, though, one notch down with an enjoyable New Face of America run. Ideally, he needs to hold on to the belt for the gimmick to work. After losing the title to Chris Jericho at Payback and regaining at the next SmackDown, logically, Owens will retain it here — with some dark tactics.

Prediction: Owens retains

Naomi, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch v Natalya, Carmella and Tamina in a six-woman tag match

Graham

Hard one to call this. If they are serious about making the Welcoming Committee trio of Natalya, Carmella and Tamina a force they need a win here.

But, the main focus remains the rivalry between SmackDown Women’s champion Naomi and Charlotte, and ultimately that will take centre stage.

Charlotte to save Naomi during the match and get the decisive pinfall to highlight her dominance, and emphasise her push for a re-match for the title with Naomi in the coming weeks.

Prediction: Naomi, Charlotte and Becky to prevail

Stephen

Charlotte is being miscast as a baby face / inbetweener. There is not enough women in the division for a three-member stable to be sustainable. So expect a shake-up of sorts. The babyfaces have been portrayed as incohesive, so they will likely win. Lets hope for some dramatics afterwards with Charlotte turning on Naomi and Becky. The best outcome would be for Charlotte to join the heel stable and dispense with each member accordingly in the coming weeks.

Prediction: Naomi, Charlotte and Becky to win, but Charlotte to turn heel post-match

The Usos v Breezango for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship

Graham

This has been a fun build-up with the Usos showing a lot of fire on the microphone, while Breezango have brought the humour.

It should be a good match, but as entertaining as they have been, it feels too sudden for Breezango to be champions, and so the Usos will stand tall here.

Prediction: The Usos retain

Stephen

Like Mahal, Breezango has been parachuted into the title picture a little early. Unlike Mahal, Tyler Breeze and Fandango stand a very good chance of being completely over with the crowd.

The Fashion Files segment has legs and they deserve the momentum of a title programme because it will all go out the window when The New Day return. Lets enjoy them while it lasts.

Prediction: Breezango become champions

Baron Corbin v Sami Zayn

Graham

Corbin looks set for a strong push from the WWE, despite a middling start to the year which saw his forgettable feud with Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental title relegated to the pre-show at WrestleMania 33.

Corbin’s character still needs some polish, but he is good in the ring, and this should be a strong encounter with Zayn.

Ideally, given he became forgotten on Raw, Zayn needed to start on SmackDown with a win, but WWE clearly have big plans for Corbin and for that reason Zayn’s immediate role is to put him over and make him look good.

Prediction: Corbin to triumph

Stephen

The heart wants Sami Zayn to score another upset against the bigger opponent, but instead I’m going to go with my head.

Baron Corbin needs the momentum as he is will be moved into a lead heel role further down the line. Zayn may be a factor later in the year.

Prediction: Corbin the victor

Luke Harper v Erick Rowan

Graham

A thrown together match between two of the former members of the Wyatt family.

Rowan won when the pair met on SmackDown two weeks ago, and for that reason, and because he is the better in-ring performer, Harper should get a victory back on Sunday.

Prediction: Harper to win

Stephen

50-50 booking comes into play and Luke Harper will exact some revenge from his defeat to former Wyatt Family stablemate on SmackDown two weeks ago. Harper’s next assignment will be a programme with Kevin Owens heading into Money in the Bank.

Prediction: Harper is victorious

Tye Dillinger v Aiden English

Graham

This is scheduled for the pre-show and should be a chance for NXT-graduate Dillinger to demonstrate what he can do.

English is also starting out on his own as a singles competitor following the demise of the Vaudevillains, but his gimmick of crying after losing is not going to get him, or anyone else for that matter, over and he deserves a better idea than that to show what he can do.

Prediction: Triumph for Dillinger

Stephen

It will end in tears for Aiden English. As it’s the pre-show slot, it won’t be a squash this time. All I hope for is that English’s over-the-top breakdown gets him over eventually.

Nobody wants to see a grown man crying all the time.

Prediction: Dillinger wins

How to watch it

Backlash is available on the WWE Network, which is available through OSN, on Monday morning in the UAE from 3am.