WWE Championship (No Disqualification) -- AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura ends in a draw

For the second straight week, WWE presented a PPV in which the WWE championship wasn't contested in the main event. Even worse, both times it ended without a clean finish. Styles and Nakamura, whose WWE feud was received as nothing short of a dream for fans who watched them compete in Japan, certainly deserved better by both the placement and unsatisfying finish. At the very least, WWE appears to be building toward what one can only hope is a strong conclusion as Styles and Nakamura bested their initial WrestleMania clash for the second straight week in a physical and intense match.
    The in-ring styles of both were properly represented in this one as an angry Styles dominated the early going by moving at a quick pace. Nakamura then showcased his "strong style" with a long and deliberate beating. Yet despite the no-DQ stipulation, the only foreign object used was a chair, which Styles used to accidentally cut open his left cheek after he threw it at Nakamura's knee to block a Kinsasha (causing it to deflect into his face). The theme of Nakamura constantly targeting low blows on Styles was once again the centerpiece. Depending upon your viewpoint, it came across as either comedic or disrespectful for the skills and standing of both. Nakamura countered a Pele kick late with a punch to the groin, but Styles gained instant retribution by landing one of his own. After a count was administered, both reached their feet. The finish came shortly after when both landed kicks to the crotch simultaneously and neither was able to beat the 10 count by getting off the canvas. Considering the double countout finish one week earlier, the ending fell flat in what had been a strong match. 

SmackDown Women's Championship -- Carmella (c) def. Charlotte Flair to retain the title

This felt like anything but a title match as the dead crowd was never given much of a reason to heat up. Carmella and Flair largely worked in front of absolute silence, trading long rest holds for far too long in the first half. The finish fell equally flat as Flair missed a moonsault from the top rope and landed on her feet, selling a left knee injury after he legs buckled. Carmella kicked her in the knee from behind and stole the pinfall. For all of the goodwill Carmella earned in recent weeks for her microphone work on SmackDown Live, this performance was a step back for the believability of her title reign. The match also did Charlotte zero favors, less than a month after she ended Asuka's vaunted unbeaten streak at WrestleMania

Daniel Bryan def. Big Cass via submission

For all of the talk delivered from Big Cass after working his way within the storyline into Bryan's first feud after WrestleMania, the way in which he succumbed to defeat was rather weak. Luckily for Cass, in terms of his longterm chances of succeeding as a viable heel, his post match response was anything but. Cass tapped out to the Yes Lock following a brief and rather pedestrian match. But after Bryan celebrated the victory on the second turnbuckle, Cass viciously attacked from behind by flipping him over the top rope and onto the floor. Cass followed by tossing Bryan around by his hair before laying him out with a big boot inside the ring. Cass, who maniacally punched himself in the face during the melee, stood over Bryan with his fist held high amid a showering of boos. While Cass hasn't yet proved he's worthy of an elite push after his tag team breakup from Enzo Amore, it's hard to disregard just how angry he makes the crowd as a pure heel. 

United States Championship -- Jeff Hardy (c) def. Randy Orton via pinfall to retain the title

The lack of a compelling storyline coming in robbed from what could've been a good piece of business between babyfaces and future Hall of Famers. Instead, the crowd never truly connected with this relatively short match until the finish. The action picked up when Orton hit his DDT from the second rope and began to set up for the RKO. But Hardy countered the finishing move with a roll up attempt and then hit his Twist of Fame. He followed with a Swanton Bomb for the pin in what felt like an abrupt finish considering Orton's reputation and the fact that Hardy went over so clean.

Raw Women's Championship -- Nia Jax (c) def. Alexa Bliss via pinfall to retain the title

Jax made the first defense of the title she won at WrestleMania in a match that continued to play up the story of Bliss' bullying against her former friend. The match was a physical affair with Bliss landing stiff head kicks and a DDT into the ring steps outside as Jax was unable to convert multiple second-rope Samoan Drops. But coming off the hot opener, the match also failed to truly connect with the crowd. The finish came when Jax caught a Twisted Bliss attempt and turned it into a Samoan Drop for the 1-2-3. During a post-match interview, Jax dedicated the victory to anyone who has ever been bullied, telling fans they are not alone and it's OK to be different. "Who wants to be ordinary?" Jax said. "Be extraordinary. Your uniqueness is what makes you special and that is beautiful." Jax closed by reminding everyone that "in the end, a bully always gets her ass kicked." While Jax's message was certainly positive, WWE used the moment to gratuitously flaunt the company's anti-bullying efforts

Intercontinental Championship -- Seth Rollins (c) def. The Miz via pinfall to retain the title

Good luck to anyone trying to follow this one. This was main event quality in the opening match as Rollins continued his incredible streak of recent matches as the hottest superstar in the company. The crowd also provided an incredible soundtrack of explosive pops as Rollins and Miz showcased their strong chemistry to produce a number of dramatic near falls over the second half. The Miz was denied a ninth IC title reign, which would've put him into a tie with Chris Jericho for the most in company history. But what both superstars proved in this match is that they are worthy for runs at the top title in their respective brands.
  While Rollins was the typical workhorse with an array of suicide dives and an incredible frog splash across three quarters of the ring, Miz was no slouch when it came to psychology. Rollins perfectly sold a left knee injury over the final quarter of the match, which opened up doors in the storyline for Miz to rally. The biggest pops came when Miz twice took advantage of that knee by reversing Rollins into his Skull-Crushing Finale finisher, only for The Architect to somehow kick out. After twice missing his Stomp (including once from the second rope), Rollins finally hit it late to defend his title

Shinsuke Nakamura launches another vicious attack on AJ Styles

Shinsuke Nakamura demanded a public apology from AJ Styles for the assault during the Greatest Royal Rumble Event in Saudi Arabia last week.

       The rivalry between WWE Champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura saw a new chapter unfolding after Smackdown Live General Manager Paige announced that the two will clash for the title in a no-disqualification match at the pay-per-view Backlash. The Phenomenal One launched an assault on Nakamura at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia last week after the match between the two ended in a no-contest due to double count-out. The King of Strong Style demanded a “public apology” from the Champion for the attack.

             

    

But coming in to be interviewed by Renee Young in this week’s Smackdown Live, Styles refused to apologise to Nakamura after the barrage of low blows he has received from the No. 1 contender in the past few weeks. The two-time Champion further added that he will deliver the beating of a lifetime to Nakamura in the title match at Backlash and will retain his championship belt.

But before Styles could call out his opponent to the ring, he was interrupted by Samoa Joe, who came out to say that everyone is focusing on the wrong match at the pay-per-view. Joe said that the WWE Universe should talk about his fight against Roman Reigns, and he further said he will prove that the Big Dog is a complete failure on Sunday. He further added that after he gets rid of Reigns, he will be coming to challenge Styles for the WWE title.

   

Styles asked Joe to step up to the ring and take his shot but before anything could come to blows, Nakamura came out of nowhere to deliver yet another low blow to AJ Styles. He then went on to taunt the WWE Champion as he slithered in pain inside the ring. Before leaving the ring, the Japanese wrestler delivered a vicious Kinshasa knee strike to Styles, making a statement before the all-important clash on Sunday

          

Lynch, Asuka and Charlotte vs. IIconics and Carmella

The heels play defense early on, but they eventually take control against Becky. We head to a break after Charlotte takes out Royce and Kay with a dive over the top .

We return to see Lynch fighting out of a headlock. She fights off all three opponents before finally reaching her corner just in time to see Key and Royce pull Asuka off the apron and throw her into the steps. The Queen tags in and gets her hands on Carmella with some stiff chops. The IIconics distract her and Mella trips her on the turnbuckle. Mella and her partners start taking Charlotte apart in their corner.

Asuka gets back on the apron and tags herself in so she can start rampaging. She decimates Royce with a series of kicks before knocking Kay and Carmella off the apron with a hip strike. Everyone comes in the ring and starts kicking each other in the face. Charlotte heads to the top turnbuckle and hits a moonsault to Kay and Mella on the floor. The crowd pops huge for the spot while Asuka pulls Royce into the Asukalock for the submission win

Big Cass rants on Daniel Bryan

• The announcers revealed that Bryan was not in attendance on Tuesday with WWE doctors refusing to clear him after chest injuries sustained during his record-setting Greatest Royal Rumble performance. Taking advantage of Bryan's absence, Cass teased that Bryan would be coming out to the ring to join him, instead bringing out a tiny impersonator to poke fun at the former general manager over his size. The actor portraying Bryan would end up eating a big boot from Cass as we get set for their showdown on Sunday. 

Samoa Joe inserts himself into WWE title picture

In the ring with Renee Young, Styles refused to apologize to Nakamura and instead let everyone know that he was going to be victorious once again on Sunday, especially with the new no disqualification rules that were placed on the bout at the beginning of the show by general manager Paige. The champ was then interrupted ... but not by his challenger this Sunday. 

Samoa Joe made his way out to the entrance ramp to send a stern warning to both Styles and Nakamura. When he gets finished with Roman Reigns at Backlash, he is coming for the WWE championship, no matter who's the one holding it after Sunday. Nakamura's music hit and Joe turned to defend himself, however, he wasn't the one being attacked. Nakamura sneakily made his way through the crowd, entered the ring behind Styles and, you guessed it, hit the WWE champion right where it hurts the most. After reveling in Styles' pain for a bit, he took him out with the Kinshasa five days before they meet once again for the most prestigious title in the company. 

It really is that hard for Styles to realize he needs some protection down there, huh? Nonetheless, beginning to insert Samoa Joe into the WWE championship picture is the correct move here. Lately, both in the ring and on the microphone, there have been few better in the company than Joe and it's obvious on a weekly basis. Regardless of what takes place in both matches on Sunday, it shouldn't be all that long before the Samoan Submission Machine is carrying around the top title in the company.