Backlash (2001)

At [[WrestleMania X-Seven]], [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] fought [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] for the [[WWF Championship]]. During the match, [[Vince McMahon]] interfered, which eventually led to Austin attacking The Rock with a steel chair to win the WWF Championship and in the process align himself with his long-time enemy. The next night on ''Raw is War'', a rematch between the pair took place in a [[Steel Cage match]]. [[Triple H]] interfered in the match, attacking The Rock and partnering up with Austin and McMahon. Briefly known as The McMahon Alliance, the pair began being referred to as "The Two Man Power Trip" (or "[[The Power Trip]]" for short). On the episode of ''SmackDown!'' following WrestleMania, Austin assaulted his long-time friend [[Jim Ross]] after Ross criticized his alliance with Triple H and McMahon. Triple H then defeated [[Chris Jericho]] to win the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] for a third time in the main event, bringing both of the major singles titles in the company to the new alliance.

At [[WrestleMania X-Seven]], [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] fought [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] for the [[WWF Championship]]. During the match, [[Vince McMahon]] interfered, which eventually led to Austin attacking The Rock with a steel chair to win the WWF Championship and in the process align himself with his long-time enemy. The next night on ''Raw is War'', a rematch between the pair took place in a [[Steel Cage match]]. [[Triple H]] interfered in the match, attacking The Rock and partnering up with Austin and McMahon. Briefly known as The McMahon Alliance, the pair began being referred to as "The Two Man Power Trip" (or "[[The Power Trip]]" for short). On the episode of ''SmackDown!'' following WrestleMania, Austin assaulted his long-time friend [[Jim Ross]] after Ross criticized his alliance with Triple H and McMahon. Triple H then defeated [[Chris Jericho]] to win the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] for a third time in the main event, bringing both of the major singles titles in the company to the new alliance.

Shortly after this happened, [[The Brothers of Destruction]] ([[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] and [[The Undertaker]]) began feuding with Austin and Triple H (in between, Triple H traded the Intercontinental Championship back and forth with [[Jeff Hardy]] for a brief period). A match between the two teams was signed for Backlash. Undertaker and Kane were not simply satisfied with that, and they demanded and were given a title shot at the reigning [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Champions]], [[Edge and Christian]], on the April 19, 2001 edition of ''SmackDown!''. The brothers won the match, but were attacked by the Power Trip afterwards.

Shortly after this happened, [[The Brothers of Destruction]] ([[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] and [[The Undertaker]]) began feuding with Austin and Triple H (in between, Triple H traded the Intercontinental Championship back and forth with [[Jeff Hardy]] for a brief period). A match between the two teams was signed for Backlash. The Undertaker and Kane were not simply satisfied with that, and they demanded and were given a title shot at the reigning [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Champions]], [[Edge and Christian]], on the April 19, 2001 edition of ''SmackDown!''. The brothers won the match, but were attacked by the Power Trip afterwards.

On the next ''Raw is War'', McMahon told Austin and Triple H that the match at Backlash, which was now to be contested for the Tag Team Championship, had an additional stipulation added to it. At the time, he and his wife [[Linda McMahon|Linda]] were going through (kayfabe) problems in their marriage and Linda, who McMahon had demanded a divorce from in December 2000, was seeking a divorce that he refused to give her. Since Linda was still the (on-screen) CEO of the company, this gave her power to veto her husband's decisions and force compromises.

On the next ''Raw is War'', McMahon told Austin and Triple H that the match at Backlash, which was now to be contested for the Tag Team Championship, had an additional stipulation added to it. At the time, he and his wife [[Linda McMahon|Linda]] were going through (kayfabe) problems in their marriage and Linda, who McMahon had demanded a divorce from in December 2000, was seeking a divorce that he refused to give her. Since Linda was still the (on-screen) CEO of the company, this gave her power to veto her husband's decisions and force compromises.

McMahon told the Power Trip that Linda had forced him to include one other caveat in the match. Austin and Triple H would indeed get their championship opportunity at Backlash, but in order to do so they would be required to place their singles titles at stake as well. The winning team would receive control of all three championships. If Austin and Triple H were to win, they would become Tag Team Champions in addition to their status as the WWF and Intercontinental Champions. If Undertaker and Kane were to win, they would receive both singles titles. Whoever scored the fall would receive the title of the wrestler they defeated, with the other receiving the other title; this meant if Austin took the fall, he would lose his WWF Championship to whoever pinned him or made him submit and Triple H would have to forfeit his Intercontinental Championship to whoever did not score the victory for the Brothers of Destruction.

McMahon told the Power Trip that Linda had forced him to include one other caveat in the match. Austin and Triple H would indeed get their championship opportunity at Backlash, but in order to do so they would be required to place their singles titles at stake as well. The winning team would receive control of all three championships. If Austin and Triple H were to win, they would become Tag Team Champions in addition to their status as the WWF and Intercontinental Champions. If The Undertaker and Kane were to win, they would receive both singles titles. Whoever scored the fall would receive the title of the wrestler they defeated, with the other receiving the other title; this meant if Austin took the fall, he would lose his WWF Championship to whoever pinned him or made him submit and Triple H would have to forfeit his Intercontinental Championship to whoever did not score the victory for the Brothers of Destruction.

==Event==

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