Backlash (2017)
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The 2017 Backlash was the 13th Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown brand division. The event took place on May 21, 2017, at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. It was only the second Backlash event to be held in the Allstate Arena, after the 2001 event.
Promotional poster featuring Shinsuke Nakamura
The event was held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Shinsuke Nakamura made his televised main roster in-ring debut at the event and defeated Dolph Ziggler.
Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton in the main event to win the WWE Championship, thus becoming the first wrestler of Indian descent to win the title. WWE also recognizes Mahal as the 50th WWE Champion.
SmackDown (WWE brand)
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SmackDown is a brand of the American professional wrestling promotion WWE that was established on March 25, 2002. Brands are divisions of WWE's roster where wrestlers are assigned to perform on a weekly basis when a brand extension is in effect. Wrestlers assigned to SmackDown primarily appear on the brand's weekly television program, Friday Night SmackDown, also referred to simply as SmackDown. It is one of WWE's two main brands, along with Raw, collectively referred to as WWE's main roster. The brand extension was discontinued between August 2011 and July 2016.
Stephanie McMahon was the first SmackDown General Manager
WWE Hall of Famer Theodore Long served as SmackDown General Manager twice, lasting a combined six years
Image: Cody Rhodes with his Undisputed Championship (Birmingham UK, April 2024) (3) (cropped)
Image: Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley 2017 05 12 22 17 58 ILCE 6500 DSC05420 (34569288882) (cropped)