With WrestleMania 42 in the books, WWE is now on the road to their next premium live event, Backlash, which takes place on May 9 in Tampa, Florida. This will be the 21st edition of Backlash and is the second consecutive year it is on WWE’s schedule. Backlash is the first of three major WWE events in May, with Saturday Night’s Main Event and Clash in Italy also on the schedule.
Check out my predictions for the 2026 Backlash card below.
Potential WWE Backlash Card
World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
Roman Reigns beat CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship in the Main Event of Sunday’s WrestleMania 42 card. At the end of the Raw after WrestleMania, Jacob Fatu confronted his cousin, Roman Reigns, and challenged him to a match at Backlash. After beating Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania, it seemed like big things would be on the horizon for Fatu, but stepping up to a member of his family was surprising. Reigns and Fatu have gone against each other in multiple tag team matches, but have yet to go one-on-one.
World Tag Team Championship Match: The Vision (c) vs. The Street Profits
The Street Profits made a shocking return on Monday Night Raw and helped Seth Rollins even the odds against The Vision. Logan Paul and Austin Theory recently won the tag team titles and now have a big challenge in front of them with former champions, The Street Profits.
United States Championship Match: Trick Williams (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
After Trick Williams beat Sami Zayn, it would be great to see a rivalry renewed for Williams with Carmelo Hayes. In NXT, Williams and Hayes had two singles matches, the last of which took place in April 2024. Hayes lost the United States title a few weeks ago and deserves another opportunity.
Singles Match: Asuka vs. Iyo Sky
Asuka and Iyo Sky were once best friends, but they have been feuding for the past few months. Since this match didn’t happen at WrestleMania, it makes the most sense to be on the Backlash card. Sky and Asuka have faced each other in tag team competition, but haven’t had a singles match since September 2023.
Singles Match: Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Finn Balor beat Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42, but it was with his Demon persona. Mysterio attacked Balor on Raw, and it appears their rivalry isn’t over yet. At Backlash, another match between the two would be great with Balor not as the Demon.
2026 WWE Backlash: FAQ
Where will WWE Backlash take place?
The event is taking place in Tampa, Florida, at the Benchmark International Arena.
What time does WWE Backlash start?
WWE Backlash is set to start at 6:00 p.m. ET.
How can I watch WWE Backlash?
Fans in the U.S. can view this event live on ESPN Unlimited.
