John Cena is champion once again and his first title defense for his record reign takes place at WWE Backlash in St. Louis.
And he’ll put the championship on the line against hometown hero and longtime rival Randy Orton for one last time.
After winning his historic 17th title last month at WrestleMania over Cody Rhodes, Cena’s farewell tour takes on a new dimension with championship gold around his waist.
Cena, who has fully embraced being a bad guy for the first time in his legendary career, has vowed that he wants to leave the company at the end of the year as a champion and take the title with him. Orton looks to be the first one to prevent that from happening while also adding to his own legacy.
Cena vs. Orton is one of five matches on the Backlash card. There are also three other titles on the line, including men’s and women’s Intercontinental Championship matches and a Fatal 4-Way bout for the United States Championship.
Also, WWE broadcaster and sports media personality Pat McAfee will get in the ring for the first time since 2023 to settle his score against Gunther.
Here’s how to watch WWE Backlash as well as the match card, predictions, odds and more.
What time is Backlash today? WWE Backlash 2025 date and time
Backlash, which is WWE’s first premium live event since WrestleMania, begins at 6 p.m. May 10.
How to watch WWE Backlash: TV, live stream
WWE Backlash streams live on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix internationally.
Peacock costs $7.99 a month for a premium option and $13.99 for a premium plus subscription that is commercial free.
Watch WWE Backlash on Peacock
WWE Backlash 2025 poster, logo
This year’s Backlash poster was executed to perfection.
It features Orton, the St. Louis native, with vipers slithering around his face. A menacing-looking Orton, known as The Viper, is clearly focused on the prize.
The official poster for ‘BACKLASH’ 2025. pic.twitter.com/FgDmhzXg3Y
WWE Backlash 2025 location: St. Louis
WWE comes to the Enterprise Center in St. Louis for Backlash.
This will be the 11th premium live event at the St. Louis arena. And it’s been home to many historic moments over the years. It has hosted events such as Badd Blood: In Your House in 1997, No Mercy in 2001, Elimination Chamber in 2010, the Royal Rumble in 2012, two Survivor Series in 1998 and 2014, Money in the Bank in 2017 and more.
Badd Blood: In Your House was especially notable. Hall of Famer Kane made his debut and the first Hell in a Cell match took place at that event featuring Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. The Rock won his first of 10 WWE titles at the Survivor Series event inside the arena in 1998. Chris Jericho, who now wrestles with WWE competitor AEW, captured his first of six WWE championships in the arena at No Mercy in 2001.
Sting also made his WWE debut at the arena for Survivor Series in 2014. And the Enterprise Center, then called the Kiel Center, was home to “Raw is Owen,” a tribute episode to Owen Hart on May 24, 1999, a day after the wrestler’s death inside the ring.
It’s the first Backlash held in a U.S. arena in three years. Raucous crowds made Backlash in 2024 in Lyon, France, and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2023, very memorable.
WWE Backlash 2025 card
WWE Backlash 2025 predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: John Cena (c) vs. Randy Orton Winner: John Cena
The hometown crowd will be behind Randy Orton in his attempt to win his 15th world title. And they’ll see a lot of RKOs out of nowhere. But it won’t be enough. John Cena isn’t losing his first title defense after winning his historic 17th championship at WrestleMania. Cena, who has gone full-on heel as his farewell tour continues, will do anything to retain his championship, including cheating his way to the victory. That’s what he’ll do at Backlash. The two first-ballot Hall of Famers have a lot of history and their likely final match against each other adds another chapter in their long rivalry.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Becky Lynch Winner: Becky Lynch
Just a few weeks ago, Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch were celebrating a win together as new women’s tag team champions at WrestleMania. Things sure changed quickly between these two. The next night on Raw, after they lost their titles to Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Lynch snapped and attacked Valkyria, who grew up idolizing “The Man.” In the weeks since, Valkyria hasn’t backed down from the challenge. The 28-year-old Valkyria will put up a fight against her fellow Irish woman in what is her biggest singles match to date, but Lynch will squeak out the win and adds to her Hall of Fame résumé with her first IC championship.
Unites States Championship Fatal 4-Way Match: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. LA Knight vs. Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre Winner Jacob Fatu
Jacob Fatu earned gold for the first time when he knocked off LA Knight at WrestleMania for the US title. While he could lose the title at Backlash without being pinned in a fatal 4-way against three of the hardest hitters in the business, there will be no slowing down the Samoan Werewolf. He’ll continue his reign, while the feud between Priest and McIntyre will also continue. Expect a lot of chaos in a match featuring four guys who don’t like each other.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta Winner Dominik Mysterio
This will be the year of Dominik Mysterio. Mysterio won a Fatal 4-Way match for the IC title at WrestleMania. That match also included Penta. Now, it’s just the two of them in a one-on-one match. Mysterio carries the momentum from his Mania win in what should be a high-flying and entertaining match that likely will involve Mysterio’s Judgment Day buddies.
Pat McAfee vs. Gunther Winner Pat McAfee
Pat McAfee will step out from the broadcast booth to face WWE’s Ring General Gunther, who has run roughshod over the WWE roster for the last several years. Gunther wants nothing more than to beat anyone up who gets in his way after losing his WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. That starts with McAfee, who got in the crosshairs of Gunther the day after WrestleMania, along with fellow broadcaster Michael Cole. The athletic McAfee wants to stand up to Gunther. While Gunther will dominate the match, something tells me McAfee gets a surprise victory due to a distraction. That will make Gunther even more enraged and leave a path of destruction, taking down everyone who tries to get in his way, including officials and security.
Backlash 2025 odds
John Cena (-5000) is the heavy favorite in his Universal WWE title match with Randy Orton (+1000).
Becky Lynch (-400) is the favorite to win the women’s Intercontinental Championship over Lyra Valkyria (+250).
Dominik Mysterio (-900) is a clear favorite in the Intercontinental Championship over his challenger Penta (+500).
Jacob Fatu (-5000) is the overwhelming favorite to retain his United States Championship in the Fatal 4-Way Match over Drew McIntyre (+600), LA Knight (+900) and Damian Priest (+1200).
The oddsmakers like the Ring General Gunther (-1000) over Pat McAfee (+550).
*Odds are courtesy of BetOnline*
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What time does WWE Backlash start tonight? How to watch, location, match card, odds, predictions
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
