Plot: What’s it about?
In the aftermath of Wrestlemania 25, rivals both old and new clashed to settle scores at Backlash. As if the grand spectacle of Wrestlemania wasn’t enough, this event promised even more epic confrontations. John Cena would once more do battle with Edge, but this time the championship would be determined in a Last Man Standing match. The two have clashed numerous times in the past, but never in such a brutal contest. Other championships would also be on the line, as Jack Swagger defends his ECW belt against Christian and in a unique six-man tag match, Triple H, Batista, and Shane McMahon engage Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted Dibiasie with the WWE Championship up for grabs. But that’s not all, as Santina has to face Khali’s kiss-cam, CM Punk battles Kane, and Ricky Steamboat returns to the ring to take on Chris Jericho. Will the rivalries created and continued at Wrestlemania be settled here, as the superstars endure the Backlash?
1. John Cena vs. Edge (Last Man Standing for the World Heavyweight Championship)
2. Jack Swagger vs. Christian (ECW Championship)
3. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy (I Quit Match)
4. Triple H, Batista, and Shane McMahon vs. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiasie (WWE Championship)
5. Ricky Steamboat vs. Chris Jericho
6. CM Punk vs. Kane
Video: How does it look?
The event is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. As usual, this show looks quite good and even on a 65″ screen, holds up well. This is a three hour program plus bonus materials, so I wasn’t surprised to see some minor compression problems. These were minor and infrequent however, so no reason for concern. The image is clean and has solid sharpness, so detail is high in most instances. The colorful attire and pyrotechnics look vivid and pop right off the screen. I saw no issues with contrast either, as lighting is on the mark and no detail is obscured in the shadows. So while a few minor issues do surface, by and large this event looks terrific and fans should love taking in the sights here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is very impressive, with a good range and enough power to make you feel every impact. The entrance music and pyrotechnics sound great here, so the atmosphere is immersive when the superstars walk down the aisle. The crowd is loud, but varies in volume, as should be expected from a live audience, of course. As far as the action inside the squared circle, the stiff clotheslines sound crisp, the powerful slams are well handled, and you can hear all the smack talk you can handle. On commentary, everyone sounds great and not a single line is lost. This disc also includes the Spanish commentary, should you prefer that option.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes footage of the aftermath of the six-man tag match from the event.
