WWE Backlash 2023 News: Bad Bunny on Wrestling in Puerto Rico Being a “Dream”, Zelina Vega, More News

Bad Bunny Comments on Performing at WWE Backlash 2023 Being a “Dream”

This past Saturday’s Backlash 2023 event in San Juan, Puerto Rico featured a San Juan Street Fight match of Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest, which was won by Priest.

Bad Bunny recently reflected on Instagram about getting to perform in the ring for WWE in front of his home nation being a “dream.”

“I’m still processing this. There are no words to describe what I felt that day… wow! it was a dream

Thank you PUERTO RICO!!! You were the stars these two nights! There is no energy like the one you provided!! people now know who the best wrestling fans in the world are!!

P FKN R!!!

Bad bunny “I’m still processing this
words can’t describe what I felt that day
it was a dream”
“Thank you Puerto Rico, you were the real stars both nights
There’s no energy like what you brought. Now the world knows where the best wrestling fans in the world are: P FKN R”🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/RlfH250Scq

— Diva Incarnate (@NYCDemonD1va) May 8, 2023

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Zelina Vega Comments on Ovation from Crowd at Backlash 2023 & Support from Triple H

This past Saturday’s Backlash 2023 event in San Juan also featured a SmackDown Women’s Championship match between Zelina Vega and Rhea Ripley, which was won by Ripley.

Vega recently reflected on Instagram about the overwhelming ovation she received from the crowd at the event and WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque telling her backstage that he was proud of her.

“Yo soy Boricua…pa’que tu lo sepas!!! —- —

I woke up this morning with happy tears rolling down my face and PRAAAAYING that it wasn’t a dream like it always was.

I wish I could hug every. single. one of you in the audience and everyone sending their love from home. You have NO IDEA how much this meant to me. This weekend.. my life changed forever. I’m so honored.. so grateful and feel incredibly blessed to have had the support I had last night.. from the fans, my beautiful family, my hero’s, to my coworkers.. to finally hearing HHH say “I’m so proud of you.” …and he was talking to me this time — I’m crying even typing this. To represent my people IN Puerto Rico.. man, I’ll never ever forget this.. neither will my family.. and I promise, you’ll get all of me EVERY TIME. This is not over, this is just the beginning.. someday I will become @wwe Women’s Champion.

“A hero is not one who never falls, it’s the one who gets up again and again.. never losing sight of their dreams.” – Rock Lee

MASSIVE THANK YOU to the village that created the masterpiece I wore yesterday. @herhandstyles stayed with me every step of the way making sure my hair was on point! #teamNOsleep @usamaishtay worked so hard on the whole outfit AND BEAUTIFUL FLAG.. I felt like a super hero, a princess and rockstar all at once! #LaReina @bfabulous1 slayed my make up and made sure that no matter how hard I cried, I’d still glitter like gold! @mache275 them crystals bruh!!! — insanely iconic kicks! @tansby_lp for getting my tan just right and accentuating my abs —
I’m SO LUCKY to have you all —-

Puerto Rico.. I love you!!
#LWO mi familia.. I’m honored to stand alongside all of you. Thank you for having my back and inspiring me to keep fighting. @619iamlucha @escobarwwe @joaquinwilde_ @deltoro_wwe @badbunnypr @iambeckyg

And now, I get to be the arms of my 7 fur babies & my incredibly supportive and loving husband @malakaiblxck .. I wouldn’t be where I am personally or professionally without him. Have to say, hitting the 619 for Rey, shimmying for Eddie Guerrero and then dropping Rhea with a meteora for my husband was the coolest thing ever.

Daddy, I love you

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A post shared by Thea Trinidad Büdgen (@zelinavegawwe)

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WWE Backlash 2023 News & Notes

This past Saturday’s Backlash 2023 event featured the main event match of Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar. This match was notable for Lesnar getting busted open following a spot where he hit his head on the exposed turnbuckle. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that Lesnar did not get busted open the hard way and instead had bladed to draw out some blood for his match. Meltzer reported that while WWE officials currently forbid their talent from balding during their matches, Lesnar has been the exception to that rule. Fightful Select reported that their sources also stated that WWE officials had planned for blood to be featured in the match and things went the way they were supposed to.

WWE’s Backlash 2023 event this past Saturday reportedly generated around 200,000 searches on Google for that day, according to the Wrestling Observer.

Following his San Juan Street Fight match against Damian Priest, Bad Bunny posted a photo on Instagram showing off the welts and bruises he received on his back from his match.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that PWInsider’s report of Brian Kendrick being a co-producer for the San Juan Street Fight match is not true. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Kendrick’s name was not listed internally as the producers for the event nor did he help out Jamie Noble in putting the match together. Kendrick reportedly did help out Damian Priest train Bad Bunny for their match at the show.

IYO SKY and Bianca Belair reportedly received a great ovation backstage following their RAW Women’s Championship match at Backlash 2023, according to Fightful Select.

WWE officials reportedly were very happy over the reaction of Carlito’s surprise return at this past Saturday’s event, according to Fightful Select. Those spoken to reportedly praised Carlito for how much he has matured since the last time he worked for the company and also stated that the crowd reaction for his return was “even better than expected.” Those spoken to reportedly also stated that Carlito’s return was only as a one-night type deal but that could always change in the future.

Former WWE talent Lana, Rick Bassman, and boxer Amanda Serrano reportedly were in attendance at this past Saturday’s event, according to Fightful Select.