Jacob Fatu is fresh off a WrestleMania victory over Drew McIntyre. (Credit: Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
WWE Backlash 2026 will do exactly what its namesake implies and spotlight all of the fallout from WrestleMania 42.
There were seismic shifts in WWE’s landscape at last month’s event in Las Vegas, where Roman Reigns, Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley cemented themselves as new world champions. After a disappointing WrestleMania Saturday, WWE followed that up with a fantastic WrestleMania Sunday. Then, during the following weeks on Raw and SmackDown, WWE’s main roster received an influx of talent from NXT, including Sol Ruca, Ricky Saints, Ethan Page and Joe Hendry.
WWE has rebounded from that disastrous first night of WrestleMania and created a compelling card for Backlash 2026, with a few WrestleMania-caliber matches setting both main roster brands on the right track thus far.
WWE Backlash 2026 Preview
At WWE Backlash 2026 in Atlanta, a pair of championships will be on the line while Bron Breakker will return to the ring for the first time since February.
Below is the full card for Backlash 2026:
- World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
- Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
- United States Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn
- Asuka vs. Iyo Sky
- Danhausen and a Mystery Partner vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson
Here are some key stats and information for WWE’s first post-WrestleMania PLE:
- At the post-WrestleMania press conference, Reigns said that he is done with a part-time schedule, which suggested that he will continue to appear more regularly on Raw moving forward. He has since, however, been removed from all Raw dates in June due to a reported “clerical error,” though his quick removal has caused widespread speculation that he may drop the title to Fatu.
- Breakker underwent hernia surgery in February, which caused significant changes in WWE’s WrestleMania plans for many of its top stars. Paul Heyman recently revealed that Reigns vs. Rollins and Breakker vs. CM Punk were originally set to headline the show.
- Asuka vs. Sky was initially set for WrestleMania 42 but was ultimately delayed to Backlash. Notably absent from this feud is Kairi Sane, Asuka’s former tag team partner who was released from WWE in the post-Mania cuts despite playing a key role in this storyline for the better part of a year. Sane’s firing has been with widespread backlash from those in and out of WWE, and there’s reportedly a belief within WWE that she could return for one night at Backlash to wrap up her story with Asuka and Sky.
- Rapper Lil Yachty, who will accompany Williams, for his Backlash match, reportedly wants to wrestle, so it’s a safe bet that he’s the next celebrity to step into the ring.
WWE Backlash 2026 Streaming Info
Date: Saturday, May 9th
Location: Benchmark International Arena (Tampa)
Start Time: 6 pm EST/5 pm EST (3 pm PST)
Streaming Info: ESPN Unlimited (US), Netflix (internationally)
WWE Backlash 2026 Predictions
World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Jacob Fatu
Although Fatu is one of WWE’s fastest-rising stars, his sudden feud with Reigns appears to be more about the latest developments in The Bloodline saga than pushing “The Samoan Werewolf” to the promised land.
This unexpected rivalry has been quite compelling so far, but Reigns is highly unlikely to drop the World Heavyweight Championship he just won a few weeks ago. The more pertinent question is exactly how Reigns retains his beloved title.
During his previous run as The Bloodline’s “Tribal Chief,” Reigns would often win thanks to help from the Usos. Now with Reigns as a babyface, that could still hold true, only with Reigns getting assistance he doesn’t really need or want. Expect the Usos to help Reigns beat Fatu, though the “OTC” may not necessarily be thrilled about it.
Prediction: Reigns (with help from the Usos)
Seth Rollins Vs. Bron Breakker
WWE has taken lots of twists and turns to get to Breakker vs. Rollins, mainly because both stars suffered untimely injuries that forced the creative team to change course.
Now, it’s finally here: Rollins vs. Breakker in a highly anticipated singles match. After Breakker returned at WrestleMania 42 to cost Rollins his match against Gunther, it would make sense for Rollins to get his revenge by beating Breakker at Backlash. But the timing isn’t right for Breakker to lose.
Widely considered to be a future world champion, Breakker shouldn’t lose his first match after a lengthy layoff. Likewise, Rollins should be protected as well. That means that, much like Fatu vs. Reigns, WWE fans can probably expect a controversial finish with lots of outside interference from The Vision.
Prediction: Breakker (The Vision interferes)
United States Championship: Trick Williams (c) Vs. Sami Zayn
WWE is moving full steam ahead with the double turn for Williams and Zayn, who is clearly transitioning to a heel role.
That’s the right move given Williams’ soaring popularity, and there’s really no reason to pull the rug from underneath him by having him drop the Intercontinental Championship back to Zayn. Of course, Williams just won the title at WrestleMania last month, and WWE shouldn’t play a game of hot potato with SmackDown’s midcard title.
Williams is the hot hand right now, and he should hold the US Championship for the foreseeable future.
Prediction: Williams
Asuka vs. Iyo Sky
WWE really dropped the ball with the Sky vs. Asuka program, first delaying it to Backlash and then releasing Saine, a key figure in the feud, mid-storyline.
The silver lining in the creative mess here, however, is that on a non-WrestleMania PLE, Sky and Asuka should have more time and, thus, a bigger spotlight. Once upon a time, Asuka was invincible and essentially impossible to beat, but those days are long gone.
Sky, despite inexplicably being left off WrestleMania 42, is arguably WWE’s best in-ring performer, and at WWE Backlash 2026, she should win unless WWE really wants to drag out this rivalry even more.
Prediction: Sky
Danhausen And A Mystery Partner Vs. The Miz And Kit Wilson
WWE hasn’t confirmed who Danhausen’s mystery partner will be, but regardless of who it is, it’s a safe bet that his team will win.
After a rocky start with a strange debut, Danhausen has been a massive hit in WWE, and though he’s not known for his in-ring prowess, he’s so beloved that he’s likely not going to lose to The Miz and Wilson. Some potential surprise partners for Danhausen would include Royce Keys, Ricky Saints or even CM Punk, who are all former AEW stars as well.
This will be a comedic palate cleanser of a match that should be filled with pure ridiculousness. That’s fine and dandy, though it won’t go over well with some of WWE’s most diehard fans.
Prediction: Danhausen and his mystery partner