411’s WWE Backlash 2026 Preview

Hello folx, we are at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, for the 21st WWE Backlash! Backlash has a pretty solid history of being a great show. Even when coming off the heels of a bad WrestleMania, it tends to be one of the best shows of the year.

This year looks to be a bit of a mixed bag, but overall, I’m looking forward to most of the matches. Though I do find it odd that, coming off his huge win at WrestleMania, Oba Femi is not on the card. But he has plenty of time to build his legacy. The fact that no women’s titles are being defended tonight is a bigger omission.

Rhea Ripley is one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, and she isn’t here. Liv Morgan is not here. Paige and Brie Bella are not here. Tiffany Stratton and Becky Lynch are not here. Even if they didn’t have time to build a title match, there could be a number one contender match or something.

We have Miz and Kit Wilson trying to exact revenge on Danhausen and a mystery partner. Sami Zayn looks to get the United States Championship back from Trick Williams (in the only real backlash from WrestleMania).

IYO SKY is finally going to get a match with Asuka (even though a major part of the feud was removed recently). Seth Rollins will finally get his hands on his former protege, Bron Breakker. And in our main event, Jacob Fatu looks to win his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship as he takes on Roman Reigns!

Danhausen & TBA vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson

Image Credit: WWE

With no word yet on who the mystery partner is (I’m writing this before SmackDown, and will try to update if it’s announced before publishing). I’m left to guess, and since this is a prediction column, guessing is kind of what I do.

Looking over the roster and who could fill the spot, I’m trying to decide if they keep it comedy and go Joe Hendry, or have Danhausen find a serious partner like Royce Keys. And what the hell, let’s go with Keys. It gets him a spot on the card, and it’s not going to hurt his standing any.

This match will be short, have some fun/funny spots, and see Miz and Wilson bump like crazy for Keys and sell for Danhausen’s shtick. Clearly, Danhausen and Keys will continue their winning streaks here as well.

Winner: Danhausen and Royce Keys

WWE United States Championship
Sami Zayn vs. Trick Williams

Image Credit: WWE

Zayn’s booking over the past two years has been frustrating. I am a huge fan, and felt he could have easily won the big one at least once. Why not have him win in Saudi Arabia? He could have had a one-month reign and dropped it to Cody at Elimination Chamber.

We could have also had a Five-Way match at WrestleMania with Zayn, Jacob Fatu, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Cody Rhodes. It would have been better than that Pat McAfee crap. But no, he has once again settled into secondary championship territory.

Williams is on his way up; like Femi, he is a big part of the WWE’s future. And Zayn is a good hand to help him put the finishing touches on his in-ring work. This match is really Williams’s to lose, as Zayn can easily recover from a loss and Williams needs to continue building momentum.

I also hope that with a win, we can get Ilja Dragonuv and Carmelo Hayes back in the mix. Add in Keys, Fenix, and Saints, and the United States scene can be on fire going into the summer.

Winner and still WWE United States Champion: Trick Williams

IYO SKY vs. Asuka

Image Credit: WWE

This feud has been going on for a year now. And unfortunately, we never got the emotional payoff of Kari Sane finally breaking free from Asuka’s control. Or maybe we did, maybe her leaving can head-canon that she finally had enough of Asuka.

That aside, we have two of the best wrestlers in the world, with a year of build behind them. This match is going to kick so much ass. It’s more than just two women who hate each other. It’s master vs student, and it’s a woman finally showing that she is more than just a best friend to the champion.

With so much emotion and history mixed into this match, we will not only have a technically amazing match, but an amazing story as well. It could have been a better story with Sane still there, but I trust SKY and Asuka to rise above the dark cloud of Sane’s release and give us something magical tonight.

In the end, we will be the real winners, but as for who will win the match? I think Sky takes it. She is already set up as a challenger to Becky Lynch, so a win here keeps her strong. If they want to keep Asuka strong she can do a post match beat down, or get involved with SKY, Lynch, and Ruca.

Winner: IYO SKY

Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker

Image Credit: WWE

Another feud that has been building for the past year. Breakker was always going to be the breakout star of the Vision, and Rollins getting hurt only moved the timeline up. Of course, Breakker’s own injury took this match off WrestleMania, but we are finally getting it here. Rollins can have good matches in his sleep, and Breakker has been able to step in the big matches he had laat year with Punk.

I’m expect to see Logan Paul, Austin Theory, Street Profits, and Joe Hendry to make appearances.

I think Rollins is also going to end up putting Breakker over strong in this feud. Breakker is the future, and while Rollins is the present, he is going to be on the decline sooner rather than later. With all that in mind, I think Breakker takes the match tonight. There will be interference leading to a distraction to the ref or Rollins. Then a big Spear and 1, 2, 3, and then we can move towards a gimmick match blow-off at SummerSlam.

Winner: Bron Breakker

WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns

Image Credit: WWE

I’ve loved Fatu’s build in this match. He has very clear motivations. He wants to take everything from Roman, because his kids deserve a good life. It’s pure babyface wrapped in Fatu’s rough package. And he is fully justified. Reigns spent years hogging the spotlight, and now he is primed to do it again. Going so far as to bring his cousins back under his control.

I was set to call this for Reigns, as this felt more like a test to see if Fatu could hang at the top. But with rumors that Reigns isn’t going to be around in June and isn’t planned for Night of Champions, it opens up a more interesting path. Give Fatu more than just a match to see if he can hang. Let him win. If Reigns isn’t going to be around for a month, then let Fatu run with the belt.

He can spend the summer establishing himself as a top name, and then face off with Reigns again at SummerSlam. Going into the Fall, we are going to see the rise of Breakker and Femi in the World Championship scene. And having Fatu in the mix will only make it better. He can hang his hat on being the current or former World Champion, and Reigns can either be in the mix as a looming threat to whoever is holding the title.

Winner and new WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Jacob Fatu