Cesaro challenged “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship on Sunday.
At WWE WrestleMania Backlash, Cesaro tried to win his first world title with the company, but he faced a daunting task in trying to dethrone Reigns.
The Head of the Table. A league of his own.#WMBacklash #UniversalTitle @WWERomanReigns @WWECesaro @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/K6bs56BL2y
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2021
Throughout the bout, the two stars exchanged heavy-hitting offense and stiff strikes.
???#WMBacklash #UniversalTitle @WWECesaro @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/3opwC4kOc9
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2021
Cesaro kept his foot on the gas, doing everything he could to hurt the champion. From nasty uppercuts to dives over the top, Cesaro refused to relent, and his ambition was evident in every move.
.@WWECesaro takes to the sky!!!#WMBacklash #UniversalTitle @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/RB9S75ixz1
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2021
Eventually, Reigns gained the advantage by viciously attacking Cesaro’s arm for several minutes. Still, Cesaro persevered, and he dropped Reigns with a clothesline.
.@WWECesaro WILL. NOT. QUIT!#WMBacklash #UniversalTitle @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/moPklXp82i
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2021
But Cesaro’s arm gave out during a Neutralizer attempt, and Reigns capitalized by locking in an arm-bar. He then floored Cesaro with a Superman Punch for a two count. “The Swiss Cyborg” fought out of the Guillotine choke and locked in the Sharpshooter. The challenger transitioned into a Crossface and nearly made Reigns submit, but Reigns escaped.
BACK AND FORTH we go as @WWECesaro and @WWERomanReigns duke it out for the #UniversalTitle at #WMBacklash!
Stream on @PeacockTV ▶️ https://t.co/RsfCdPBh3U pic.twitter.com/N2sDuXU0fy
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2021
Still, Reigns locked the Guillotine in again, and while Cesaro tried to power out of it, the challenger passed out. As a result, Reigns retained the title.
After the bell, Jey Uso attacked Cesaro, and the assault prompted Seth Rollins to come to the ring. He confronted Reigns, but then he burst into laughter. He turned to Cesaro and beat him up at ringside.
What is @WWERollins doing?!?! ?#WMBacklash @WWECesaro pic.twitter.com/G8KUnOCKQk
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2021
Rollins focused on Cesaro’s bad arm and slammed it into the ring post. To put an exclamation point on the attack, he planted Cesaro with a Curb Stomp at ringside.
