WWF/E Backlash 2002 Predictions

Brock Lesnar v. Jeff Hardy
This will be a lovely squash. But hey, he'll be squashing a former IC Champ and multi-time Tag Champ. And of course, Matt Hardy and Lita will run in and CHEAT TO WIN~! -- though they won't. Brock is gonna dismantle Jeff and everyone knows it - plus it wouldn't be bright to make him lose his first match, right? BROCK SMASH - and Jeff's gonna die. Well... maybe not... but still - I fear for Jeff Hardy's life sometimes. He's nuts.
Winner: Brock Lesnar

WWF Tag Team Championship
AGD (c) vs. Al Snow & Maven
As much I can't stand Billy Gunn - I still don't get why the AGD aren't on both shows. Maybe tag team wrestling wouldn't be so lax. The question here is: should the WWF put the tag title on Maven? Eh - maybe not. Though I wouldn't mind it - but let's keep the tag straps where they are until you figure out how to fix this tag division. Hopefully, Al will be in the ring most of the time but I see Maven doing the JOB here regardless - thanks to Rico and those scary ass chops on his face. Yuck.
Winner: AGD retains.

WWF Cruiserweight Championship
Billy Kidman (c) v. Yoshihiro Tajiri
First things first. Get a new Cruiserweight Title please. That one still has WCW plates on the sides.
Anyhow, I think this might be the first time the Cruiser/LHW Title had a storyline around it which is pretty cool. Kidman's comment on SD about how no one knows (let alone cares) who he is sounded somewhat shootish to me. This match should be pretty good and have some cool spots. Hopefully it won't feel so contrived this time. I see Torrie costing Tajiri here again and frankly Kidman jobbing the title already is NOT the way you want him to be noticed.
I kinda wish they set up Hurricane v. Chavo for this PPV also - but hey. I could go for another Hurri-Chokeslam.
Winner: Billy Kidman retains.

Scott Hall v. Bradshaw
I guess this was supposed to be Hall/X-Pac v. Bradshaw/Kane. But Kane is out till Summerslam, which royally sucks. He was really getting over with his new "Freaks Kick Ass" demeanor and with all of his Kane-anites. Kane was starting to lighten up finally and people were digging it and then he gets injured. Dammit.
Anyway, I THINK Hall (Razor Ramon) and (Justin "Hawk") Bradshaw had a match back in '95/early '96 on Superstars or something. Can someone confirm that? Somehow I don't see this little mini-feud ending so we'll say Hall takes this one. Nothing to say about the match since it probably won't be all that good anyway.
Winner: Scott Hall

Edge vs. Kurt Angle
I think these guys have been feuding on and off since Edge beat Angle at KOTR - with that pause during the Alliance thing. Anyhow, the lack of top faces on SD is REALLY showing so they have to elevate Edge. I'm hoping we see the Scorpion Edgelock/Edge-ucator/Whatever He's Calling It This Week Submission Hold - I like it. This might be the sleeper match of the night - but Edge will need to take it up a notch. We've been getting some cool matches between these two during this feud and I don't see it ending here - and since Backlash is an IYH PPV anyway - I see Angle going over here setting up some sort of a gimmick match at Judgement Day. Though I would love to see Edge win here since he needs the win more but I'll say Kurt takes it to keep this feud going.
Winner: Kurt Angle

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero

For some reason, I think Heyman is behind booking this one. But nevertheless, this one has Best Match of the Night written all over it. I think they might have met when they were in ECW but I'm not sure if RVD was there when Eddie was. RVD, the IC Champ, is another one who I feel should be on both shows - but that's another story. Much like the Cruiserweight Title match, this match will be a lot of flippy-flop stuff and cool spots - only difference is both of these guys are way over so the crowd will likely not be dead for this one. There's no point in RVD jobbing here so he retains. This is gonna be an "ECW match" so I'd pay careful attention to this one.

Winner: RVD retains.

For the #1 Contendership to the World Title
Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker

It may be just me - but has UT been cheered even MORE since he turned heel? Anyhow, we have Ric Flair being the ref here - tells me Austin's losing this one. They've been teasing this mass tension between Austin and Flair (both faces) and UT just seems to be... well... there. Flair being the ref would have people expect he'd screw over UT - but I see the opposite happening. We've seen Austin-UT many times over so at least it'll be watchable. I see this one ending very controversially with Ric Flair giving UT the 1-2-3 and we'll get the HHH-UT match we were supposed to get in the first place. God, I miss Heel Austin.

Winner: Undertaker

WWF (Unified) World Championship
Hunter Hearst-Helmsley (c) v. Hulk Hogan
I still think that belt is way too small.
Anyhow, I'm not even gonna entertain any HHH heel turn/nWo stuff so I'm throwing that out right from the start. Here's something cool - when they announced this match - I remembered back to WM12 when the Ultimate Warrior squashed HHH in about 30 seconds. Today, HHH is pretty much the same size or bigger than the Warrior was. Anyhow, it's obvious they're gonna use Hogan's Nostalgia Wave while it's still hot so it's perfectly understandable. HHH is obviously gonna play the heel here and I'm hoping Hogan will keep up with him. We'll see the Hulking up - the Leg Drop and I certainly see a Pedigree No Sell from Hogan too. We'll definitely be seeing a Chris Jericho Run In also. Either way, I see Jericho costing Hogan this match. Wouldn't surprise me to see Hogan win the title here but I highly doubt it. The crowd certainly will not be dead for this match - that's for sure.

Winner: Hunter Hearst-Helmsley retains(-uh).

I think it was announced that Spike Dudley was gonna defend the European Title against William Regal. If it happens - I say Spike retains.

The Milk Carton - notables w/o matches:
Rock (movie), Kane (injured), Kevin Nash (injured), Booker T, Chris Jericho, Buh-Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley.
Well, I see Jericho interfering in the World Title match - but why does Booker have absolutely nothing to do? Just turn him face already. Even JR admits he's not getting booed anymore.

Anyhow, there you go. Looks pretty good in print but we'll see.