The crowds have made their way to Tampa Bay, the card is set, and the wrestling world is ready for WWE Backlash 2026. It’s a PLE that has followed WrestleMania for years, and has contained some fantastic return matches while establishing new feuds for WWE. Backlash 2026 features a stacked card with a couple of great title matches, compounded with an undercard that will entertain anyone who tunes in.
WWE has promoted 5 matches for WWE Backlash 2026: two huge championship contests, two grudge matches, and a tag team match that will no doubt be a must-see. WWE has only had a few weeks to commit to the build for these contests, but that hasn’t stopped them from creating a lot of excitement around Backlash.
As we head into the show, a lot needs to be decided. Will Backlash 2026 continue a legacy of greatness? Or will it fall to the wayside? The show is about to begin, so let’s sit back and enjoy.
Bron Breakker v Seth Rollins (4/5)
It’s never a bad idea to have Seth Rollins start WWE Backlash 2026. His entrance is always a crowd favorite, and it starts the night by warming up the audience. Both men have their supporters, and we could see this with the crowd reaction throughout the match. WWE has the beginnings of a great program, and this match will be the start.
This match made Bron Breakker look like a star. He had the clear advantage for the majority of the contest, and Rollins was only given a few short comebacks. Dominating a pro like Rollins will increase Bron Breakker’s credibility with the audience.
Breakker and Rollins kept things interesting while they transitioned to the later stages of the match. Seth Rollins’ comeback was great and led to a stiff flurry of moves from both men. The Backlash 2026 opener just kept rising. When we thought the action was going to turn the corner, these two men just continued to turn up the heat.
The finish involving Paul Heyman was the natural progression for this feud. Having Seth Rollins eat a couple of spears keeps the door open for this to continue. A huge win for Bron Breakker, and a great opening match for WWE Backlash 2026.
Winner: Bron Breakker
United States Championship Match: Trick Williams v Sami Zayn (4/5)
There are always going to be a few WrestleMania rematches on a WWE Backlash 2026 card, and this is going to be 2026’s inclusion into the show. Sami Zayn and Trick Williams WrestleMania match was a passable contest. We can also safely say that the whole Gingerbread angle in this build has been groan-inducing.
This was a marked improvement over their WrestleMania match. Sami Zayn’s character has progressed in his heel persona and has played it off so well with the crowd. Trick Williams was able to use this, and his natural charisma, to keep the crowd in his corner. Williams can wrestle with the best of them, but it’s this character-driven advantage that is going to keep him at the top of the company for a long time.
Williams and Zayn turned in a fantastic showing of their wrestling talents. The back and forth helped sell the ambiguity of the match’s outcome. It’s also shocking to see that Lil Yachty being involved in the match didn’t take anything away from the overall product. The finish of Sami Zayn taking his eye off the ball will lead to a full-blown heel turn from Zayn, and should lead to at least one more match down the road.
Winner: Trick Williams
The Miz & Kit Wilson v Danhausen & Mini-Hausen (3/5)
Everything that these men have done has been comedy gold. They aren’t taking themselves seriously, leaning into the supernatural gimmick. It’s tongue-in-cheek, and the perfect way for WWE to inject some comedy into their programming.
This match was better than it had any business being. When we first saw Danhausen’s partner, there was a collective eye roll, but Mini-Hausen can flat-out wrestle. He showed a maturity that only comes with experience and did most of the heavy lifting, with Danhausen only making his presence known later on. Both of the babyfaces were exactly what they needed to be. Silly, yes, but able to bring it in the ring when the situation calls for it.
Hats off to The Miz and Kit Wilson for putting their egos aside and turning in a believable performance. For most wrestlers, this could be a death sentence, but Miz and Wilson made it hilarious and goaded the audience perfectly when they got the advantage. This was nothing but a fun night at WWE Backlash 2026.
Winner: Danhausen & Mini-Hausen
