Drew McIntyre‘s next title defense is set and he’s about to get the best version of Bobby Lashley at Backlash next month.
McIntyre will defend the WWE Championship against Bobby Lashley; WWE confirmed the match this afternoon on social media. A day after Lashley issued a warning to the champion, they got into a war of words on social media, setting the stage for WWE’s next pay-per-view event after Drew called for the “best version” of Lashley.
Oh YOU’RE putting ME on notice? Good.
This is the @fightbobby EVERYONE has wanted to see for two years now. You’re a dangerous man, but leave your marital issues at the door because if we’re going to do this, I want the very best version of Lashley. I’ll be waiting.
Did I stutter?
Careful what you wish for Champ. You want “this Lashley”…you got it. See you at #WWEBacklash. https://t.co/UVr5Lewxi6
— Bobby Lashley (@fightbobby) May 19, 2020
Lashley and McIntyre are very familiar with each other as they’ve been allies recently, but they’ve never met in singles competition in WWE. The last pay-per-view singles match between the two actually took place in IMPACT Wrestling when Lashley beat Drew (then Galloway) for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Slammiversary 2016. Lashley also retained the title in a rematch on the next episode of IMPACT that aired on June 14, 2016, exactly four years to the day of their next match at Backlash.
WWE.com issued the following preview for the match:
Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley – WWE Championship Match
Drew McIntyre has defeated Kings, Messiahs and titleholders as the WWE Champion, but now he must take down The All Mighty. Prior to McIntyre’s brand-to-brand invitational showdown with King Corbin on Raw, Bobby Lashley emerged to let the Scottish Superstar know that he was coming for the title by any means necessary.
The imposing strongman has brutally dispatched of R-Truth in his most recent bouts but craves a better test of his jaw-dropping strength. It’s been 13 long years since Lashley challenged for the WWE Title, and a consummate fighting champion now stands in his path. Since slaying Brock Lesnar for the title, McIntyre has fought off challenger after challenger, as The Big Show, Andrade, Angel Garza, Murphy, Seth Rollins and King Corbin all were left stranded in Claymore Country.
The game plan has changed for The All Mighty, who has replaced Lana with MVP in his corner. The Ravishing Russian has been livid with the recent developments, and she presents an unpredictable wild card for Lashley’s championship training.
After Lashley came calling for McIntyre on Raw, the two traded jabs on social media and made the showdown official.
Can Lashley reach a level that he has been chasing for a long time? Or will McIntyre continue his destructive title campaign through the WWE landscape?
Don’t miss WWE Backlash, streaming on the award-winning WWE Network, Sunday, June 14, at 7 ET/4 PT!
