Backlash 2026
- 14 hours ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
Live coverage begins at 4 pm Eastern with the pre-show.
COUNTDOWN SHOW
Wrestlers were shown arriving. Triple H was shown, too, and he was booed by fans outside the arena watching the pre-show. Everyone else was cheered.
Michael Cole, Big E, Corey Graves and Peter Rosenberg hosted the first portion of the pre-show. I believe this would be Big E’s first live appearance since the departures of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
There was a sit-down interview with Seth Rollins. They were open about Rollins turning 40 soon, and he acknowledged he may not be doing this much longer.
Fans chanted, “New Day rocks” as Big E talked about Rollins. He ignored it.
Jacob Fatu cut a backstage promo. He said he would kick Roman Reigns’ ass. Cole demonstrated the Tongan Death Grip on Rosenberg, who passed out. Rosenberg was pretending, unfortunately.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn. He calmly stated that he didn’t appreciate people, including Kelley, disrespecting him, and it was Trick Williams who enabled them to do so. Zayn planned on winning the US title back.
Because Backlash is held in Tampa, there was an FCW video package, which included interview clips of Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Rollins, Big E, and Sheamus. They also credited Dusty Rhodes, particularly when it came to wrestlers learning promos. Triple H was credited with transforming the old FCW into the new, shiny Performance Center.
The Usos showed up to the panel to continue the FCW discussions. The fans were excited to see Jimmy and Jey. They also spoke briefly about tonight’s world title match.
The Miz and Kit Wilson told Kelley that they would get rid of Danhausen tonight. Byron Saxton interviewed Danhausen and asked for a hint about his partner. Danhausen warned him not to ask that question again, or else he’d be cursed.
They counted down the top ten Roman Reigns title defences. Not included in that list was Reigns beating both Edge and Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 37.
Sonya Bryson-Kirksey sang the American national anthem.
Main Show
Wrestlers arrived, the show intro aired, fireworks exploded in Tampa, and it’s time for the opening match. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers.
They didn’t waste time getting going, as the opening match began at 6:07 pm local time.
On the pre-show, they mentioned repeatedly that Seth Rollins was on the verge of turning 40, and he acknowledged that he wouldn’t be doing this forever. Bron Breakker, obviously, is a guy looking to take his place. Barrett said that seems to be the theme tonight (along with Jacob Fatu/Roman Reigns and Trick Williams/Sami Zayn).
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker (w/ Paul Heyman)
***1/2
Thumbs Up
They battled back and forth and fought around ringside, but Breakker cut him off in the ring with a suplex and took over. The crowd was really behind Rollins.
Breakker cut off Rollins again by hitting a running shoulder tackle and multiple German suplexes. (With Brock Lesnar gone, at least for now, I wonder if Heyman suggested that Breakker start using this move more.)
Rollins bit Breakker’s face out of desperation while on the top rope, but it wasn’t enough because Breakker hit a Frankensteiner anyway for two. With Rollins outside the ring, Breakker tried a running sneak attack, but Rollins superkicked him out of mid-air.
Rollins hit a clothesline back in the ring for two. Rollins set up for a curb stomp, but Breakker got up to his knees, so Rollins hit a knee strike instead for two. (Rollins seemed to say something to Breakker as he made the cover, so I’m not sure if this spot got screwed up, but it looked fine.)
Rollins went for the stomp, but Breakker blocked it by simply catching his foot. Breakker hit a press slam gutbuster and went for a spear, but Rollins kicked him to block it.
Rollins tried a tilt-a-whirl into a DDT or a Pedigree attempt, but he slipped and fell down by accident. It seemed like they couldn’t get on the same page on the spot, but Breakker made up for it by immediately hitting a standing moonsault for two.
Rollins responded with a buckle bomb, but Breakker popped right back with a clothesline. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.” Rollins wound up outside the ring, braced against the announce table, so Breakker hit a flying clothesline off the apron.
Breakker went to the top rope, but Rollins met him there and hit a superplex. Rollins tried to transition into the Falcon Arrow, but Breakker hit the Falcon Arrow instead for a nearfall. (The crowd popped big for that.)
Breakker hit another Frankensteiner moments later. He tried another, but Rollins landed on his feet and fired up as Breakker looked on in disbelief. Rollins hit a superkick and a Pedigree.
Rollins followed with a curb stomp, but Heyman went on the apron to distract the referee. Rollins smiled and grabbed a steel chair, realizing what was coming.
Austin Theory and Logan Paul tried a sneak attack, but Rollins attacked them with the chair. He gave Theory a curb stomp and chased Paul to the back.
Rollins sprinted back into the ring but was met with a Breakker spear for a nearfall. Breakker went for another spear, but Rollins countered it into a Pedigree (which didn’t look great).
Rollins went for a stomp off the ropes, but Breakker speared him out of the air. Breakker followed with another spear for the pinfall win.
Cole called this the biggest win of Breakker’s career and stated, “Bron Breakker has arrived.”
Match result: Bron Breakker defeated Seth Rollins (21:25)
Cathy Kelley interviewed Trick Williams in Gorilla. He said he was the puppetmaster, and this was his world. The time for games was over, and Sami Zayn would find that out tonight.
United States Championship match: Trick Williams (c) (w/ Lil Yachty) vs. Sami Zayn
***1/4
THumbs Up
Williams booted Zayn in the corner to the cadence of “Whoop that Trick.” Zayn rolled to the outside to recover and chucked Williams into the steel steps when he joined him. Zayn was about to use the steel steps as a weapon, but stopped when Lil Yachty got in the way.
Zayn hammered away at Williams in the ring. Fans booed this, and Zayn smirked while looking around in confusion. A few fans chanted for Zayn, but they were drowned out by chants of “Sami sucks,” and Zayn looked around at them again.
Williams fought back with an upkick and neckbreaker. They traded counters until Williams hit a Book End for two. Zayn responded later with a sunset flip powerbomb off the ropes for two. They traded counters again, but this time Zayn got the better of it and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two.
Zayn feigned a knee injury after springboarding off the ropes. Williams waited a moment before going after him, and Zayn caught him in a small package for two. Lil Yachty argued with the referee, and the distraction allowed Zayn to hit Williams with a candy cane kendo stick for a nearfall.
Zayn aggressively booted Williams until the referee stopped him for some reason. As the ref checked on Williams, Lil Yachty hit Zayn with the kendo stick, and Williams followed with a Trick Kick for a nearfall.
They wound up outside, and Zayn decked Yachty with a right hand. Yachty went down like a man who’s never taken a bump in his life (not an insult). Zayn also hit him with a kendo stick.
Williams went after Zayn, but Zayn gave him a DDT onto the top of the steep steps. Before entering the ring, Zayn gave an unsuspecting Lil Yachty a Helluva Kick into the barricade. (I laughed, especially when Lil Yachty went down awkwardly again.)
Back in the ring, Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but Williams dodged it and hit a Trick Shot for the pinfall win.
Lil Yachty quickly recovered from Zayn’s finisher and joined Williams in the ring to celebrate. He tossed cash into the air.
Match result: Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn to retain the United States Championship (12:45)
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Danhausen & ??? vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson
*
Thumbs Down
The Miz and Kit Wilson entered first, and there was a long video package to explain why this match was happening.
Danhausen entered on his custom vehicle and walked over to the cloning machine box to reveal his partner. The box opened, and a little person dressed as Danhausen popped out. They entered the Danhausen-mobile and rode around ringside. They entered the ring, and Miz laughed at Danhausen’s partner.
The crowd seemed to play along during the entrance, but there was a smattering of boos when the bell rang and the match actually started with this man as Danhausen’s partner.
The Danhausen clone could actually wrestle and used a tilt-a-whirl leg scissors takedown to knock Miz out of the ring. This cheered up the paying crowd.
The heels took control after posting Danhausen. They beat up little Danhausen for a while until he hit a springboard moonsault to knock down Wilson. Danhausen made a hot tag and ran wild on both guys, and his offence included a German suplex on Wilsson and a tornado DDT on Miz.
Danhausen hit a running boot on Wilson, but he wasn’t the legal man. Miz booted Danhausen into the corner, so little Danhausen tagged himself and wiped out both heels with a suicide dive. Mini-hausen chased Wilson up the ramp, but Wilson kicked him in the head and shoved him back into the box.
The box percolated and reopened, and about five or six more little Danhausens entered. The original clone gave Wilson an airplane spin. He tried to curse Wilson, but Wilson held up a mirror, so Mini-hausen wound up cursing himself. Miz gave him a Skull Crushing Finale, but Danhausen broke up the cover.
Danhausen tagged in and gave Miz a Thesz press (at least he tried to). Miz tried to use a fire extinguisher, but he was cursed, I guess, and it went off in his face and in his partner’s.
Mini-hausen wiped out Wilson with a dive, and Danhausen hit Miz with a pump kick for the pinfall.
Cole said, “This is wrestling!” and Barrett vehemently disagreed, asking, “What happened ot the business I love?”
Match result: Danhausen & Mini-hausen defeated The Miz & Kit Wilson (11:38)
This nonsense match was longer than every women’s match on both nights of WrestleMania 42.
They announced a two-night AAA Triplemanía in September (over two non-consecutive nights).
There was a commercial for Riyadh season.
IYO SKY vs. Asuka
***1/2
Thumbs Up
Kairi Sane did not appear. The post-match will leave people speculating on Asuka’s future.
The match started with chants of, “We want Kairi.” It wasn’t super loud at first, but it got much louder as Asuka controlled the opening moments of the match.
Sky fired up with some offence, which got the crowd to focus on the match instead. Asuka took control after driving Sky’s head into the ring post. The crowd chanted for Sky to get back into the match before once again chanting for Kairi Sane.
Asuka hit kicks to the chest until Sky blocked one and hit a double foot stomp. Sky followed with a back elbow, an uppercut, a missile dropkick, and a running meteora in the corner for two. Asuka responded with strikes of her own and a knee for two.
Sky hit a German suplex into a cover for two. Asuka tried an armbar, but Sky quickly escaped. They traded kicks, and both women went down. Asuka tried an armbar again, but Sky slipped out and applied her own version of the Asuka Lock until Asuka got a rope break.
Asuka went to the top, but Sky hit an uppercut and hurricanrana. However, Asuka rolled through into a cradle for a nearfall. Sky avoided a running hip attack and dropkicked Asuka out of the ring. Asuka blocked a dive and placed Sky on the announce table.
While standing on the announce table, Asuka tried to mist Sky, but Sky held up Barrett’s laptop to block it. Sky tripped Asuka and hit a flying crossbody off the table. The crowd chanted for Sky as she hit an Asai moonsault.
Asuka dodged a moonsault and locked in the armbar. Sky countered it, but Asuka caught her in the Asuka Lock. It looked like Sky was about to pass out, but she just barely caught Asuka in a cradle for two.
Asuka blocked a kick and hit a German suplex. However, Sky blocked a kick m
Moments later and hit a German suplex of her own. Sky followed with a running corner meteroa and a moonsault for the pinfall win.
Sky bowed to Asuka after the match. Asuka broke down in tears and gave Sky a big hug. They embraced and Asuka held up Sky’s hand.
That’s interesting.
A really good match that built as it went.
Match result: IYO SKY defeated Asuka (18:06)
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Steve Keirn and Dan Spivey were in the crowd, along with members of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have some extra time on their hands.
John Cena’s announcement
Cena entered. He said he had to consider what the next stage of his career would be. The crowd chanted, “One more match,” and Cena said he knew that was coming. He thought a lot about his final match and how it went.
Cena was happy with it and happy with the event being a showcase of the future. He wanted his final opponent to earn the spot, and that’s what happened.
That night gave a spotlight to some of the new NXT stars like Sol Ruca, Je’Von Evans, and Oba Femi. (Femi got a big reaction.) Cena was impressed with Femi and his win over Brock Lesnar.
Cena was so happy with how that night went that it led to his announcement tonight: the John Cena Classic.
Over one evening, the best of today would face the best of tomorrow. Members of WWE and NXT would battle for the chance to win a new championship. The championship would have Cena’s name on it. Cena would strive to make the event a memorable one.
Cena also announced that fans would vote to determine the champion. During this showcase event, even if a wrestler didn’t win their match, they could win over the fans with their performance, and that wrestler could still be voted by the fans to become the new champion.
Cena was excited and wanted to make this an annual event. He thanked the company for making this happen and thanked the fans for their support.
World Heavyweight Championship match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
***1/4
Thumbs Up
Reigns knocked down Fatu with a shoulder tackle and posed to the crowd, but Fatu immediately got to his feet and stared down Reigns. Fatu no-sold a clothesline and knocked Reigns out of the ring. Fatu went for a dive, but when it seemed like Reigns blocked it, Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip instead.
Fatu let go of the hold because they were outside the ring. When Fatu went after him again, Reigns wrenched him against the ropes. Reigns drove Fatu’s hand into the ring post to prevent him from doing the move again. There were loud duelling crowd chants.
Reigns hit clotheslines in the corner, but Fatu stopped it by simply grabbing Reigns’ arm. Fatu hit a clothesline and drove Reigns shoulder-first into the ring post. Fatu missed a corner splash, and Reigns came back with more clotheslines and a big boot.
Reigns hit a Superman punch, but Fatu kicked out at one and popped right to his feet. Fans chanted for Fatu, who no-sold Reigns’ offence before hitting a clothesline and a senton. Fatu headbutted Reigns ten times in the corner and hit a running hip attack.
Fatu set up for another hip attack, but Reigns exploded out of the corner with a Superman punch for two. They went to the outside, where Fatu powerbombed Reigns through the announce table. Fatu rolled Reigns back into the ring, but Reigns speared him for a nearfall.
Reigns went for another spear, but Fatu countered into a pop-up Samoan drop. The crowd went crazy as Fatu followed with the Mighty Moonsault, but Reigns kicked out.
Fatu went for a senton bomb, but Reigns got his knees up to block it. They slowly got to their feet and traded right hands. Fatu got the better of the exchange as Reigns fell into the corner. Fatu immediately hit consecutive running hip attacks.
Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip. Reigns appeared to be going out, but he fired up and put his fingers in Fatu’s eyes. Reigns shoved Fatu into the corner as he did, and the referee was knocked down (he was only dazed, not knocked out).
Fatu tried a pop-up Samoan Drop, but Reigns countered with a Samoan Drop, and he followed with a spear for a close nearfall. (This was one of those nearfalls that was probably a three, but it wasn’t the finish, so the ref held up the count.)
Fatu applied the Death Grip, and Reigns held onto the top turnbuckle for leverage. The buckle cover came off in the process. Fatu still held the Death Grip, but Reigns shoved his head into the exposed buckle and followed with a spear for the pinfall win. Reigns retains.
Fatu attacked Reigns after the match and put him in the Death Grip. The ref tried to stop him, so Fatu gave him a Samoan drop.
Officials ran out to stop Fatu, but he superkicked Shane Helms and shoved Adam Pearce out of the ring. Fatu put Reigns in the hold again as five officials desperately tried to stop him, and he eventually let go.
Fatu left the ring, but he returned to put Reigns in the hold again. Fatu let go of the hold and held the title belt up high as the show ended.
Match result: Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (18:03)
This was a really good match. On some level, we’ve probably seen a few too many Reigns main events, but Fatu comes across as totally different than everyone else on this show, so this felt different, and he should really win the title at some point.
Overall: Thumbs Up
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