WWE Backlash 2026 Preview
Today, WWE is LIVE from Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida for WWE Backlash 2026 PLE.
Announced for tonight’s big event:
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
Roman Reigns won his first championship in over two years when he beat CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Title in the WrestleMania main event. The next night on Raw, Reigns and The Usos celebrated and teased a reunion. Then Jacob Fatu showed up and challenged Reigns for the title at Backlash. Fatu’s beef is simple: he doesn’t think Reigns has ever done anything for him or his family. Solo Sikoa was the one who brought Fatu to WWE, and that was to destroy Reigns, not serve him. Now Fatu wants the World Heavyweight Championship for himself. Reigns needs to put this family threat down before it spirals, because Fatu is the most physically dangerous member of the Bloodline and the one least interested in falling in line. This has the potential to be the hardest hitting match on the card.
PREDICTION: Roman Reigns retains the title thanks to some outside interference.
Seth Rollins battles Bron Breakker
Seth Rollins brought Bron Breakker into The Vision. Breakker repaid him by leading a coup and kicking Rollins out of his own faction back in October. Both men went down with injuries, and Breakker picked his moment to come back: WrestleMania 42, where he Speared Rollins mid-match and cost him the win against Gunther. Then he charged down the full WrestleMania ramp and hit Rollins with another Spear after the match just to make sure the message was clear. He followed it up with another beatdown on Raw the next night. Rollins responded by telling Breakker to prove he’s ready to take over in a one-on-one fight at Backlash. This is a mentor vs. protege story that’s been simmering for months, and Breakker picking WrestleMania to twist the knife makes it personal in a way that’s hard to fake.
PREDICTION: Bron Breakker wins, probably the hardest match of the night to pick. Could go either way, but Breakker needs the win more.
IYO SKY takes on Asuka
IYO SKY and Asuka have been building toward this since Asuka turned on her back in September. On the Raw after WrestleMania, IYO teamed with the newly crowned WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley to beat the Kabuki Warriors in a tag match, and Asuka didn’t take the loss well. The following week, Asuka cost IYO a Women’s Intercontinental Title shot against Becky Lynch and attacked her after the match. These two know each other better than almost anyone on the roster, and that familiarity is what makes this dangerous. Asuka is a four-time Women’s Champion, a Royal Rumble winner, a Money in the Bank winner, and still holds the record for the longest NXT Women’s Title reign at over 500 days. IYO has two Women’s Championships and her own Money in the Bank cash-in on her resume. The history is there. The talent is there. This one should deliver.
PREDICTION: IYO SKY wins
United States Champion Trick Williams defends against Sami Zayn
Trick Williams won the United States Championship from Sami Zayn at WrestleMania, and Zayn hasn’t handled it well. Before Mania, Trick and Lil Yachty brought out a live-action Gingerbread Man on SmackDown to mock Zayn, which ended with Sami kicking the thing’s head off. After losing the title, Zayn disguised himself as the Gingerbread Man during Trick’s championship celebration and attacked both Williams and Yachty with a candy cane. The next week, Zayn snapped completely and destroyed the Gingerbread Man backstage. Trick rushed him to get help, but it was too late. The Gingerbread Man was pronounced “cooked.” Williams agreed to the title rematch at Backlash and announced a funeral for the Gingerbread Man, because this is professional wrestling and that’s a completely normal sentence.
PREDICTION: Trick Williams retains, and what a God awful build to a WrestleMania rematch.
The Miz and Kit Wilson battle Danhausen and a mystery partner
Danhausen spent weeks trying to get The Miz to take him under his wing, and Miz finally said yes. It was a setup. Miz and Kit Wilson jumped him the moment he let his guard down. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis made the tag match official for Backlash, but Danhausen has to find a partner first. Who he picks could make or break this one.
PREDICTION: Danhausen and partner wins. God I hope it’s not Jelly Roll.
WWE Backlash 2026 airs LIVE this evening at 5pm CT on ESPN App.
Stinger’s View: It’s a solid card. I think Roman and Fatu will be good, but obviously don’t see Fatu winning. Rollins and Breakker should be good. Most excited for IYO against Asuka, although it’s lessened due to Kairi’s release. Hopefully they changed their mind on that and bring her back. I don’t expect her to be there this evening, but I’ve got my fingers crossed. Williams and Zayn will be ok, of course Trick retains. I couldn’t care less about the tag team match.
Agree, disagree, or think I got it completely wrong? Say so in the comments or over at our Vortex Effect forums.
