# Backlash (2026)
**Backlash (2026)** was a professional wrestling premium live event produced by WWE, held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in [Tampa, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-florida), and headlined by World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defeating his cousin [Jacob Fatu](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacob-fatu) to retain the title.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) It was the first premium live event of WWE's new year, following [WrestleMania 42](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania-42), and the 21st event in the Backlash series.[2](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backlash-2026-match-rankings-grades-023039110.html) • [3](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-history?show=backlash)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and place | Saturday, May 9, 2026, Tampa, Florida; announced attendance 15,215[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) • [4](https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/05/09/wwe-backlash-results-powells-live-review-of-roman-reigns-vs-jacob-fatu-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship-john-cenas-announcement-seth-rollins-vs-bron-breakker/) |
| Position on calendar | First WWE premium live event after WrestleMania 42, in the traditional post-WrestleMania May slot[2](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backlash-2026-match-rankings-grades-023039110.html) |
| Main event | Roman Reigns (c) def. Jacob Fatu to retain the World Heavyweight Championship[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) |
| Other results | Bron Breakker def. Seth Rollins; Trick Williams (c) def. Sami Zayn; IYO SKY def. Asuka; Danhausen & Minihausen def. The Miz & Kit Wilson[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) |
| Announcement | John Cena announced the John Cena Classic, a new event featuring WWE and NXT Superstars to crown a new champion[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) |
| Critical standing | Graded A- (8.8) by WrestleFile, tied with Backlash 2000 as the highest-rated Backlash event in that ranking[5](https://wrestlefile.com/rankings/backlash/) |
| Fan reception | 41 percent of Pro Wrestling Dot Net post-show poll voters gave the event a B grade[6](https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/05/15/wwe-backlash-poll-results-for-best-match-and-overall-grade-4/) |
## Context and build
Backlash 2026 followed a WrestleMania 42 that drew mixed reviews, and commentators framed the show as a chance to recover momentum after what one Yahoo Sports account called "up-and-down reviews" of WrestleMania 42.[2](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backlash-2026-match-rankings-grades-023039110.html) It was also the first premium live event since WWE made significant roster moves, with several prominent names released beforehand, including [Kairi Sane](https://www.edgepedia.org/kairi-sane), whose release left the IYO SKY versus Asuka feud without its planned payoff.[7](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wwe-backlash-2026-results-roman-054737376.html) • [8](https://www.cinemablend.com/wrestling/full-2026-backlash-predictions-roman-reigns-danhausen-seth-rollins-iyo-sky)
The match grew out of a family civil war in which Fatu, Reigns' cousin, had challenged the Tribal Chief for the World Heavyweight Championship.[9](https://tjrwrestling.net/review/tjr-wwe-backlash-2026-review/)
## Matches and results
**Opener: Breakker versus Rollins.** Bron Breakker, a former member of [Seth Rollins](https://www.edgepedia.org/seth-rollins)' Vision cohort, opened the show by defeating his former mentor after a Torpedo Spear, in what John Cantiano's TJR Wrestling review described as Breakker's best singles match on the main roster to that point.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) • [9](https://tjrwrestling.net/review/tjr-wwe-backlash-2026-review/) Rollins was hampered late in the match when he had to defend himself against World Tag Team Champions Austin Theory and [Logan Paul](https://www.edgepedia.org/logan-paul).[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results)
**United States Championship.** Trick Williams retained the United States Championship against [Sami Zayn](https://www.edgepedia.org/sami-zayn) in a WrestleMania 42 rematch. Zayn, newly turned heel, used a Kendo stick ruse and attacked the rapper [Lil Yachty](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-yachty) at ringside, but a Helluva Kick to Yachty allowed Williams to hit the match-ending Trick Shot.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results)
**Comedy tag match.** The bout featured a cloning-machine gimmick that produced an army of Minihausens, and Danhausen won with a pump kick on [The Miz](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-miz).[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results)
**IYO SKY versus Asuka.** IYO SKY defeated her former friend and mentor Asuka with an Over The Moonsault in an emotional match that reviewers ranked among the show's best; Yahoo Sports' headline singled out the bout, and Sportskeeda's star ratings gave it 4.25 stars.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) • [2](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backlash-2026-match-rankings-grades-023039110.html) • [10](https://hindi3.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wwe-backlash-2026-star-ratings-every-match) Afterward, Asuka embraced SKY and thanked the fans, in what Yahoo described as a possible farewell for Asuka.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) • [7](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wwe-backlash-2026-results-roman-054737376.html)
**Main event.** In the main event, Reigns survived an early Tongan Death Grip, kicked out of Fatu's Moonsault, and won with a Spear after sending Fatu into an exposed turnbuckle.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) After the match, a furious Fatu attacked Reigns with the Tongan Death Grip and dropped the referee with a Pop-up Samoan Drop, then held the title over the downed champion; moments later, an injured Reigns declared that Fatu did not belong in WWE and that the night was Fatu's last in the company.[1](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results) [Bleacher Report](https://www.edgepedia.org/bleacher-report) noted that despite the loss, Fatu ended the show standing tall after the post-match attack.[11](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25426431-best-and-worst-booking-decisions-wwe-backlash-2026-results)
## Reception
Reception was broadly positive. In Pro Wrestling Dot Net's post-show poll, 41 percent of voters gave the event a B grade, with results similar to those for Backlash 2025.[6](https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/05/15/wwe-backlash-poll-results-for-best-match-and-overall-grade-4/) The IMDb user rating for the broadcast, listed as "WWE Backlash Tampa," was 6.5 out of 10.[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39537475/ratings/) In the WrestleFile retrospective ranking of all Backlash events, the 2026 edition received an A- (8.8), placing it second overall and tied with Backlash 2000, behind only Backlash 2000's shared top grade.[5](https://wrestlefile.com/rankings/backlash/) Wrestling Bros rated the show 5.5 out of 10 and judged it solid but below the 2024 and 2025 editions.[13](https://www.wrestlingbros.com/post/every-match-at-backlash-2026-ranked-and-reviewed)
## Aftermath
WWE also announced during the event that Lucha Libre AAA's Triplemanía 34 would run across two nights, September 11 and 13, 2026, sponsored by [Gears of War: E-Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/gears-of-war-e-day).[14](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/gears-of-war-e-days-release-date-hinted-wwe-triplemania-ple)
## References
1. [Complete WWE Backlash results, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2026/results)
2. [Backlash 2026 match rankings, grades: Iyo Sky-Asuka delivers, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backlash-2026-match-rankings-grades-023039110.html)
3. [WWE Backlash PPV List: Dates, Venues & Logo History, The SmackDown Hotel](https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-history?show=backlash)
4. [WWE Backlash results: Powell's live review, Pro Wrestling Dot Net](https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/05/09/wwe-backlash-results-powells-live-review-of-roman-reigns-vs-jacob-fatu-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship-john-cenas-announcement-seth-rollins-vs-bron-breakker/)
5. [Every Backlash Ranked, WrestleFile](https://wrestlefile.com/rankings/backlash/)
6. [WWE Backlash poll results for best match and overall grade, Pro Wrestling Dot Net](https://prowrestling.net/site/2026/05/15/wwe-backlash-poll-results-for-best-match-and-overall-grade-4/)
7. [WWE Backlash 2026 results: Roman Reigns retains, Asuka's farewell?, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wwe-backlash-2026-results-roman-054737376.html)
8. [Full 2026 Backlash Predictions Including Thoughts On Roman Reigns' Schedule Change, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/wrestling/full-2026-backlash-predictions-roman-reigns-danhausen-seth-rollins-iyo-sky)
9. [The John Report: WWE Backlash 2026 Review, TJR Wrestling](https://tjrwrestling.net/review/tjr-wwe-backlash-2026-review/)
10. [WWE Backlash 2026 - Star Ratings for Every Match, Sportskeeda](https://hindi3.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wwe-backlash-2026-star-ratings-every-match)
11. [Best and Worst Booking Decisions of WWE Backlash 2026 Results, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25426431-best-and-worst-booking-decisions-wwe-backlash-2026-results)
12. [WWE Backlash Tampa (TV Special 2026) - Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39537475/ratings/)
13. [Every Match at Backlash 2026, Ranked and Reviewed, Wrestling Bros](https://www.wrestlingbros.com/post/every-match-at-backlash-2026-ranked-and-reviewed)
14. [Gears of War: E-Day's release date potential hints from WWE's Triplemania PLE, Windows Central](https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/gears-of-war-e-days-release-date-hinted-wwe-triplemania-ple)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling promotions and championships › WWE promotion and brands › WWE livestreaming events, 2016–present*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license