That sound you heard in Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on Sunday night was WWE Backlash whiffing several times over.

It looked for a moment as if the co-branded pay-per-view was going to exceed its low expectations when Seth Rollins and The Miz tore it up in the opener. But much of the rest of the event was not nearly the hit the Intercontinental Championship match was.

Big Cass underwhelmed against Daniel Bryan. Carmella and Nia Jax didn't come through. The closing of AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship was a deflating head-scratcher.

And Backlash's main event, Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe, left the crowd disengaged, restless and seemingly wishing for the whole thing to just end already.

At times, Sunday's show was mediocre. Sometimes it was just flat-out boring. Both Raw and SmackDown have some work to do to churn up some electricity ahead of Money in the Bank.

Follow along for a breakdown of all the night's action.

Bayley vs. Ruby Riott (Pre-Show)

Backstage, Bayley argued with Sasha Banks. She tried to make peace with her old friend and invited her to be in her corner, but The Boss rejected the offer.

Ruby Riott didn't have any such trouble as The Riott Squad accompanied her to the ring.

After each competitor traded near-falls, Riott took over, pounding her foe into the mat. Distractions from The Riott Squad allowed the heel to maintain the advantage.

Bayley looked to fight back but couldn't overcome the outside interference. Riott blasted her with her signature kick to finish things off.

Result

Riott wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Riott reverses a clothesline attempt into a reverse STO.
• "I heard you!"—Riott after the referee admonished her.
• Riott uses her legs to jam Bayley's face into the turnbuckles.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Some of the dialogue backstage had an afterschool-special feel, but it did well to further the slow-burning feud between Bayley and Banks. WWE continues to patiently further this narrative.

This physical matchup was a better-than-average kickoff bout even if there was no build to speak of.

Riott was the star here. She has looked excellent for much of her main roster tenure. In the midst of an impressive stretch, she's making the case to be a higher priority on Raw.

Seth Rollins vs. The Miz (Intercontinental Championship)

The Miz wasn't able to recruit The Miztourage as his lackeys for the bout. Instead, he went it alone against Rollins in a match that began with the champ outwrestling The A-Lister.

A nasty, methodical offense allowed The Miz to rally back. The match slowed to a grinding pace. The Miz taunted his foe as he overwhelmed him.

A high-energy attack, though, allowed Rollins to mount a comeback.

The rivals traded blows in and out of the ring until Rollins hurt his knee on the ring post. The challenger pounced, focusing on Rollins' bad wheel. The Kingslayer gutted it out and hit his signature stomp to grab the victory.

Result

Rollins wins via pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• The Miz kicks Rollins off the top rope to prevent a springboard move.
• Rollins catches a diving Miz and hits him with a spinning slam.
• Rollins' knee slams into the ring post.
• The Architect twice kicks out of the Skull-Crushing Finale.

Grade

A

Analysis

File this under another reason to crown Rollins WWE's MVP in 2018. He and The Miz thrilled in a back-and-forth battle that felt like the main event.

The Miz thrived as the predatory heel, while Rollins continued his white-hot streak.

For much of the year, the IC title chase has been the best part of Raw. WWE has wisely leaned on the buzzing championship picture. That has to be the strategy moving forward, keeping Rollins in the spotlight and feeding him talented foes like The Miz.

Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss (Raw Women's Championship)

An aggressive Alexa Bliss looked to ground Nia Jax early on, but the champ's power proved too much for her.

Bliss soon had Jax reeling for a stretch, however, insulting her in between attacks. She choked her foe, pulled her hair and tried to keep her off her feet.

It looked as if Bliss would win back her title with Twisted Bliss, but a Samoan Drop from Jax laid her out. Following her win, Jax talked about how no one should be bullied.

Result

Jax wins via pinfall to retain the Raw Women's Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Give up!"—Bliss before she slaps Jax.
• Bliss flips Jax out of the ring and onto the floor.
• Bliss DDTs Jax into the ring steps.
• Jax catches Bliss in mid-Twisted Bliss and hits a Samoan Drop.
• "Alexa's moment of bliss is over."—Jax.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Jax wrestling from underneath for so long and the much smaller Bliss dominating is such a strange move. It served to play up how dangerous Bliss is but did little for the relatively new champ.

The anti-bullying narrative felt forced and unearned during Jax's promo.

This story really should have ended at WrestleMania, which featured a natural climax. The overrun had little juice, and despite a strong performance from Bliss, there was little that resonated here.

Jax needs a new rival and angle in a hurry.

Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (United States Championship)

Randy Orton weathered Jeff Hardy's early offense and fired back with a barrage of strikes.

The fight moved outside the ring, where each man hit the other with big moves. Orton slowed the bout down as he looked to squeeze the air out of his opponent.

Orton had Hardy in his sights but couldn't put away the titleholder. A Senton Bomb from Hardy, however, left The Viper unable to get up.

Result

Hardy wins via pinfall to retain the United States Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Hardy leaps off the ring apron to clothesline Orton.
• Orton dropkicks Hardy off the ring apron.

Grade

D

Analysis

The big spots couldn't balance out the low-voltage chemistry between these two. The crowd wasn't into this in the least, and you can't blame it. This feud had zero momentum going in and did little to add to it here.

Hardy's title reign is going to remain in neutral if WWE isn't going to find better-suited foes for him.

The New Day, Rusev Day and Others Cross Paths with Elias

Elias claimed to be one of Bruce Springsteen's best friends.

Before he could break into song, The New Day emerged with an invitation for Elias to jam with the group. Aiden English interrupted soon after, celebrating Rusev in song.

Elias thought he would actually start his song when No Way Jose and his conga line (which included Breezango and Titus Worldwide) burst out of the curtains and danced on the entrance ramp.

Bobby Roode showed up next and hit Elias with a Glorious DDT.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "He calls me 'The Boss'"—Elias on Springsteen.
• "Great job, young squire."—Xavier Woods to Elias.
• Rusev calls Elias "bootleg Bob Dylan" and The New Day "The Booty Boys."

Grade

C

Analysis

These worlds colliding was a bit of fun but ultimately a thrown-in segment with little meaning.

Some of the acts garnered good pops. Elias' frustration was moderately entertaining. But this would have been a better fit for Backlash's go-home Raw rather than as a means to fill out a PPV.

Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass

Bryan went right after Big Cass' surgically repaired knee. He evaded the bigger man and used his speed advantage to stay in control.

Once the match slowed, though, Big Cass took over, laying into his foe's chest with hammering chops.

A cocky Big Cass toyed with Bryan. He would regret it soon after, however, as Bryan took him to the mat and forced him to tap out with the Yes! Lock.

Big Cass thrashed Bryan after the bell, leaving him writhing in pain.

Result

Bryan wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fans chant "We want Enzo!"
• Big Cass hits Bryan with three straight short-arm clotheslines.
• Bryan repeatedly smashes Cass in the back of the head with his forearm.

Grade

C

Analysis

The beatdown angle was the right way to go. Bryan got a win to remind us of his ability, and Cass got to shine in the end as the merciless villain.

The match itself, though, was a letdown. Cass didn't click with Bryan. His timing was off and his presence didn't pop onscreen.

The Big Bambino had a shot to look like a main eventer with a world-class foe across the ring from him. That's not how things worked out.

Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women's Championship)

Charlotte Flair's opening salvo left Carmella wanting to retreat. The Queen caught up with the champ and punished her in the ring.

A Carmella superkick transformed the dynamic, allowing the heel to ground her foe. She spent a long time applying submission holds and taunting Flair.

The challenger survived a ton of punishment, including the Code of Silence. Flair, though, couldn't kick out of a roll-up following her knee buckling and was forced to watch Carmella celebrate.

Result

Carmella wins via pinfall to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Flair drags Carmella into the ring as the champion holds onto the ring apron.
• Carmella mocks Flair's "Woo!"
• Carmella yanks down Flair by her hair onto the ring apron.
• Flair powers out of the Code of Silence.

Grade

D

Analysis

The booking looked designed to hide Carmella's in-ring weaknesses. And while she didn't swing and miss on moves, the result was a low-octane match with little variety.

Carmella didn't impress here. Neither her trash talk nor her ring work was on a championship level.

At least it will be fun to watch as she brags about her cheap victory on SmackDown in the weeks ahead.

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (No Disqualification; WWE Championship)

From the opening bell, Styles charged at Nakamura and hurled him around the outside of the ring. The Phenomenal One kept up his level of aggression for a good stretch.

An errant running splash left Styles vulnerable, however.

Nakamura used creative, destructive offense to hurt the champ. With a smirk on his face, he laid into Styles again and again.

The King of Strong Style withstood Styles' flurries and remained focus, in control and relentless.

He introduced a steel chair into the mix, a move that left Styles bloody. The Phenomenal One fought through the injury and traded low blows with his rival.

When neither man could stand, the referee stopped the bout.

Result

The referee rules the match a no-contest. Styles retains the WWE Championship as a result.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fans chant "Main event!"
• Nakamura flings Styles into and over the ring steps.
• "'The King of Strong Style' wasn't just something Nakamura thought of to put on T-shirts."—Corey Graves.
• Nakamura leaps from the second rope and nails Styles in the chest with a knee.
• Nakamura hits a reverse exploder suplex onto a chair.
• A flying steel chair cuts open Styles' cheek.
• Both kick each other in the crotch at the same time.

Grade

B

Analysis

A transformed Nakamura flourished in a grinding clash that was hurt by a non-conclusive ending that followed a non-conclusive ending at the Greatest Royal Rumble.

This was vicious and the two rivals clicked. The finish, though, let out much of the air. A WWE title match that leaves the arena buzzing with boos is never a good thing.

It's bizarre, too, to put Reigns in the headline spot rather than the WWE Championship contest. That will only further antagonize his detractors.

Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Bobby Lashley manhandled Sami Zayn before moving onto Kevin Owens.

The heels eventually double-teamed their way to an advantage over Lashley. They beat up on the former Impact Wrestling champion in their corner as Braun Strowman watched on from the ring apron.

The Monster Among Men tagged in and wrecked shop.

Owens and Zayn's alliance fell apart afterward. They argued and fought until Strowman and Lashley swooped in and took out KO to close things out.

Strowman powerslammed Owens after the bell to add an exclamation point to the victory.

Result

Lashley and Strowman win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Strowman chases Zayn around the ring and bowls over Owens in the process.
• Zayn and Owens take turns throwing each other into the ring.

Grade

D+

Analysis

The tension between Owens and Zayn was the most noteworthy thing here. The action was brief, and it turned out to be more of a comedy match than one would expect with Lashley involved.

WWE doesn't seem to know what to do with Strowman and Lashley at the moment, and that showed with this contest.

Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe

Not waiting until the match officially began, Joe blasted Reigns outside the ring.

The same scene played out once the bell rang. The Samoan Submission Machine dominated his foe. Reigns' comeback attempts sputtered out as Joe smothered him.

Eventually, The Big Dog was able to fire back, slugging it out with Joe.

The powerhouse seemed to have the match won soon after thanks to the Coquina Clutch. Reigns escaped but could barely stand. Even so, he was able to strike with the spear and get the three-count.

Result

Reigns wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Joe slams Reigns through the announce table with a uranage.
• "This is the pain I was talking about."—Joe to Reigns.
• Joe smashes Reigns against the security barricade with a suicide dive.
• Fans chant "This is boring!" "Rusev Day!" and "CM Punk!"
• Joe catches a diving Reigns and slips his arm around his throat.

Grade

D+

Analysis

Joe vs. Reigns began with a burst of adrenaline. It couldn't maintain that early momentum, though. A lot of rest holds and a slow pace that mirrored much of the rest of the card hurt the bout.

This was a C-level main event for a C-level PPV.

WWE did Reigns no favors by scripting the same old comeback story. The juxtaposition between the "hero of the people" babyface the company portrays him as and the unliked figure he actually is remains jarring.