section_path: Production/Storylines
section_name: Storylines
paragraph_text: Storylines
  
  The event includes matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
  
  In the main event of Night 2 of WrestleMania 41, John Cena won the Undisputed WWE Championship to become a record 17-time WWE world champion. On the following Raw, Cena gloated about his win only for his long-time rival Randy Orton to attack Cena with an RKO. On SmackDown that Friday, as Cena was about to cut another promo, he was interrupted by Orton, who tried to reason with the now villainous Cena, who had turned heel at Elimination Chamber: Toronto back in March. After an exchange of words, Orton challenged Cena to a match for his championship that night; however, Cena declined, stating that the match should happen in Orton's hometown of St. Louis at Backlash. The match was subsequently made official, and was billed as "One Last Time".
  
  Prior to Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, Bayley, who was supposed to team up with Lyra Valkyria for a WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match on Night 2 of the event, was found attacked backstage by an unknown assailant, requiring Valkyria to find a new partner. On Night 2, Becky Lynch made a surprise return as Valkyria's mystery partner and they won the Women's Tag Team Championship. However, in a rematch the next night on Raw, they lost the title with Valkyria taking the pin. Following the match, Lynch attacked Valkyria, turning heel for the first time since 2022. The following week, Lynch revealed that she was the one who attacked Bayley, and she also stated that she attacked Valkyria because of Valkyria's friendship with Bayley, whom Lynch had numerous problems with in recent years. Valkyria interrupted and challenged Lynch to fight her that night, however, Lynch declined. Valkyria then decided to defend her Women's Intercontinental Championship against Lynch at Backlash, who subsequently accepted.
  
  On the Raw the night after WrestleMania 41, Gunther came out and argued with commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee as Gunther felt disrespected by them following his loss at WrestleMania. Gunther then attacked Cole which led to McAfee attacking Gunther in Cole's defense, however, Gunther managed to overpower McAfee and choked him out. Gunther was subsequently fined and suspended by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. The following week, McAfee wanted to fight Gunther and asked SmackDown's General Manager Nick Aldis, who was subbing for Pearce that night, to lift Gunther's suspension. Aldis declined and instead proposed a match between them at Backlash, which McAfee accepted.
  
  At Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, Jacob Fatu defeated LA Knight to win the United States Championship, and a day later at Night 2, Drew McIntyre defeated Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight. On the next episode of SmackDown, during The Bloodline 's (Fatu and Solo Sikoa) celebration, Knight interrupted stating that he wanted his rematch. McIntyre also interrupted, and after taunting Priest, he stated that he also wanted a championship match, with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis scheduling a match between Knight and McIntyre later that night to determine the number one contender for Fatu's United States Championship. During the match, Priest attacked McIntyre, while Sikoa attacked Knight, however, the referee only noticed Priest's attack, awarding McIntyre a disqualification victory. Afterwards, Fatu stood tall over Knight and Priest. On the next episode, Knight and Priest faced each other in a no-contest due to interference from Sikoa. Following the match, Priest and Knight brawled with Fatu and Sikoa. Aldis would then schedule a triple threat match between Fatu, Priest, and Knight for the United States Championship at Backlash, however, after Sikoa stated that McIntyre should receive a championship match because of his disqualification win, Aldis scheduled a fatal four-way match for the championship also involving McIntyre at Backlash.
  
  At Night 2 of WrestleMania 41, Judgment Day 's Dominik Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship in a fatal four-way match also involving Penta and Mysterio's stablemate Finn Bálor, the latter of whom he pinned. On the next episode of Raw, Mysterio successfully defended his championship against Penta after interference from a returning JD McDonagh. On the next episode, Penta interfered in Bálor and McDonagh's tag team match, which costed them the match. A week later, Penta defeated McDonagh despite interference from Bálor and Carlito. Later that night, it was announced that Mysterio would defend his Intercontinental Championship against Penta at Backlash.
  
  The event includes matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
  
  In the main event of Night 2 of WrestleMania 41, John Cena won the Undisputed WWE Championship to become a record 17-time WWE world champion. On the following Raw, Cena gloated about his win only for his long-time rival Randy Orton to attack Cena with an RKO. On SmackDown that Friday, as Cena was about to cut another promo, he was interrupted by Orton, who tried to reason with the now villainous Cena, who had turned heel at Elimination Chamber: Toronto back in March. After an exchange of words, Orton challenged Cena to a match for his championship that night; however, Cena declined, stating that the match should happen in Orton's hometown of St. Louis at Backlash. The match was subsequently made official, and was billed as "One Last Time".
  
  Prior to Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, Bayley, who was supposed to team up with Lyra Valkyria for a WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match on Night 2 of the event, was found attacked backstage by an unknown assailant, requiring Valkyria to find a new partner. On Night 2, Becky Lynch made a surprise return as Valkyria's mystery partner and they won the Women's Tag Team Championship. However, in a rematch the next night on Raw, they lost the title with Valkyria taking the pin. Following the match, Lynch attacked Valkyria, turning heel for the first time since 2022. The following week, Lynch revealed that she was the one who attacked Bayley, and she also stated that she attacked Valkyria because of Valkyria's friendship with Bayley, whom Lynch had numerous problems with in recent years. Valkyria interrupted and challenged Lynch to fight her that night, however, Lynch declined. Valkyria then decided to defend her Women's Intercontinental Championship against Lynch at Backlash, who subsequently accepted.
  
  On the Raw the night after WrestleMania 41, Gunther came out and argued with commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee as Gunther felt disrespected by them following his loss at WrestleMania. Gunther then attacked Cole which led to McAfee attacking Gunther in Cole's defense, however, Gunther managed to overpower McAfee and choked him out. Gunther was subsequently fined and suspended by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. The following week, McAfee wanted to fight Gunther and asked SmackDown's General Manager Nick Aldis, who was subbing for Pearce that night, to lift Gunther's suspension. Aldis declined and instead proposed a match between them at Backlash, which McAfee accepted.
  
  At Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, Jacob Fatu defeated LA Knight to win the United States Championship, and a day later at Night 2, Drew McIntyre defeated Damian Priest in a Sin City Street Fight. On the next episode of SmackDown, during The Bloodline 's (Fatu and Solo Sikoa) celebration, Knight interrupted stating that he wanted his rematch. McIntyre also interrupted, and after taunting Priest, he stated that he also wanted a championship match, with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis scheduling a match between Knight and McIntyre later that night to determine the number one contender for Fatu's United States Championship. During the match, Priest attacked McIntyre, while Sikoa attacked Knight, however, the referee only noticed Priest's attack, awarding McIntyre a disqualification victory. Afterwards, Fatu stood tall over Knight and Priest. On the next episode, Knight and Priest faced each other in a no-contest due to interference from Sikoa. Following the match, Priest and Knight brawled with Fatu and Sikoa. Aldis would then schedule a triple threat match between Fatu, Priest, and Knight for the United States Championship at Backlash, however, after Sikoa stated that McIntyre should receive a championship match because of his disqualification win, Aldis scheduled a fatal four-way match for the championship also involving McIntyre at Backlash.
  
  At Night 2 of WrestleMania 41, Judgment Day 's Dominik Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship in a fatal four-way match also involving Penta and Mysterio's stablemate Finn Bálor, the latter of whom he pinned. On the next episode of Raw, Mysterio successfully defended his championship against Penta after interference from a returning JD McDonagh. On the next episode, Penta interfered in Bálor and McDonagh's tag team match, which costed them the match. A week later, Penta defeated McDonagh despite interference from Bálor and Carlito. Later that night, it was announced that Mysterio would defend his Intercontinental Championship against Penta at Backlash.