WWE Backlash 2026 (aka Backlash: Tampa) emanates from the  Benchmark International Arena (or The Ice Palace from all you old heads like me) starting at 6 p.m. EST
The even will air its first hour on ESPN2, before switching solely to the ESPN Unlimited app. This is a more traditional, short WWE PLE so this should be done in time for all of you looking forward to watching the UFC PPV from The Prudential Center in Newark headlined by Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland… or AEW’s Fairway to Hell special or AAA on YouTube if you want more wrestling.
So let’s not dilly dally any further and let’s see who wins … at Backlash…hausen
Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Bron Breakker with Paul Heyman
Thoughts:Â This feels like Chapter 1 of this feud, so expect Logan Paul and Austin Theory to come in and help Breakker win this match. Or maybe we’ll have someone dressed in all black (looking at you Bronson Reed) to KO Seth. Either way, Rollins will have his shoulders to the mat, and his win in this feud will come a match later down the road.
Prediction: Bron Breakker
WWE U.S. Title Match: Trick Williams with Lil Yachty vs. Sami Zayn
Thoughts: Gingerbread rules. Just imagine the smell of warm gingerbread wafting around your home. It’s a warm smell that transports you from your current life situation to an idyllic time in most people’s lives – Christmas. You know what doesn’t rule: a feud reminiscent a 2018 Vince McMahon storyline involving someone in a gingerbread man costume. They spent whole segments on SmackDown! with a wake and funeral only for Lil’ Yachty to appear and jump Sami. This is just the absolute shits. The only thing that will save this is when Kevin Owens returns to help Sami (post-match) and they lay waste to Trick and Yachty.
Prediction: Trick Willie retains
“The Genius of the Sky” Iyo Sky vs. “The Empress of Tomorrow” Asuka
Thoughts: Some think Kairi Sane will return (she has 90 days left on her deal) to help one of the women in this match. Some may think she may be coming back full-time. Don’t let this cloud your mind as you’ll be distracted from a WrestleMania-worthy match. Iyo and Asuka will hopefully get enough time to put on an absolute banger.
Prediction: Iyo Sky
Danhausen and a Mystery Partner vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson
Thoughts: WWE loves that Danhausen, and good for him. He’s being positioned as a star, completely absolving that horrendous debut post-Royal Rumble. Now, we all know that he and his mystery partner are going to beat The Miz and Kit Wilson. The question is … who should it be? There’s a lot of people saying Jelly Roll, and quite frankly that idea sucks, but hey TKO loves celebs. There are other more viable options because so many people are not on this PLE:
- CM Punkhausen
- Oba Femihausen
- John Cenahausen (as predicted by Mike Mueller on the BCP+)
- Cody Rhodeshausen
- R-Truthausen or Ron Killingshauen (if you will)
- Damian Priesthausen
Or you can literally have any comedy wrestler affiliated with WWE like Mr. Iguanahausen, Tozawahausen, Otishausen, Santino Marellahausen, or, one of the most inspired picks of all-time, Micro Manhausen. Regardless, this should be a lot of fun, unless it’s Jelly Roll or Steven A. Smith and then that’ll be a case of diarrheahausen.
Prediction: Team Danhausen is obviously going to win.
“The OTC” Roman Reigns (C) vs. “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu
Thoughts: Much like Rollins/Breakker there’s no way on God’s green that this match goes off shenanigans-free. First off, Roman has The Usos. Second, Jacob has issues with Solo Sikoa and the MFTS (Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga). Then there’s Royce Keys who, for now, is on the side of Jacob Fatu. So, it is highly unlikely that none of these people get involved. Roman remains strong, retains the title and we get a stip match for Clash in Milan.
Prediction: “And Still” Roman Reigns
WWE Backlash 2026 airs at ESPN2 and ESPN Unlimited.
