WWE Backlash 2026 Match Order: What Match Will Open and Main Event Tonight?
WWE Backlash 2026 Match Order: What Match Will Open and Main Event Tonight?
Steven HarrisonSat, May 9, 2026 at 6:41 PM UTC
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With Backlash hype hotter than it has been in years, WWE's first major post-WrestleMania event arrives tonight in Tampa. Card placement matters more than fans realize—it tells you what WWE values, where the energy resets are, and what stories matter most. From the likely opener to Roman Reigns’ first World Heavyweight Championship defense, here is the predicted match order for WWE Backlash, plus winner predictions and what to expect from each bout.
Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker confront each other on WWE Raw ahead of WWE Backlash 2026.Getty ImagesWWE Backlash Match Order & Results PredictionsOpening Match: Bron Breakker vs. Seth Rollins
The opener needs energy, physicality, and immediate stakes. This checks all three boxes.
Breakker feels like the obvious call here—and he should be. A year ago, WWE looked ready to build major pieces of the future around him. Now? The rise of stars like Oba Femi and Trick Williams has crowded that lane fast.
At 28, Breakker is still ahead of schedule, but WWE cannot afford for him to feel like yesterday’s future.
Expect interference from The Vision, chaos at ringside, and possibly a Bronson Reed return because wrestling has taught us one thing: if a camera lingers near the ramp, someone is absolutely coming through it.
Prediction: Bron Breakker wins
Match 2: IYO SKY vs. Asuka
This has match-of-the-night written all over it.
Arguably the two best bell-to-bell wrestlers in WWE’s women’s division, SKY and Asuka should benefit heavily from the five-match PLE structure. More time. More space. More chances to cook.
Ironically, not making WrestleMania may have helped this match. Less pressure. More focus.
Backlash has quietly become WWE’s “workrate” show over the years, and this feels like the match most likely to continue that trend.
Prediction: IYO SKY wins
Match 3: United States Championship
Trick Williams (with Lil Yachty) vs. Sami Zayn
This feud has been weird in the best way.
WWE’s Gingerbread Man material has been absurdly effective—funny enough to get over, but not so silly that it killed the stakes.
That matters because beneath the comedy is a real story: Sami Zayn has been humiliated, displaced, and pushed further away from the world title picture he keeps chasing.
That emotional layer gives this match weight.
Prediction: Trick Williams retains
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Match 4: Danhausen and Mystery Partner vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson
This feels like the energy-reset match before the main event.
The obvious roster pick is CM Punk. The realistic pick? Jelly Roll.
Everything seems to point in that direction.
While some fans may reject it at first, Jelly Roll has earned credibility with WWE crowds through sheer effort and commitment. Paired with Danhausen’s offbeat humor, it could turn into one of the most entertaining moments of the night.
A dark-horse celebrity option is Bad Bunny, whose history with Backlash gives WWE an easy callback and an instant crowd reaction.
Prediction: Danhausen and mystery partner win
Main Event: World Heavyweight Championship
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - MAY 4: Jacob Fatu attacks Roman Reigns during Monday Night RAW at the CHI Health Center on May 4, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)Getty Images
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
No suspense here: this closes the show.
Roman’s first title defense since WrestleMania immediately comes against family. Expect The Usos to get involved.
It will be intriguing to see if The Usos lean into a heel character for this match, given the crowd's favorable reactions to Fatu.
Roman winning feels safest, but Jacob winning feels most interesting.
WWE usually chooses safe at Backlash, but Paul Heyman promised the unexpected.
Prediction: Roman Reigns retains
How to Watch WWE Backlash Tonight
WWE Backlash takes place tonight, Saturday, May 9, live from Tampa, Florida.
Start Time:6 p.m. ET5 p.m. CT3 p.m. PT
In the United States, WWE premium live events stream on ESPN Unlimited. Internationally, streaming availability varies by region, with Netflix serving as the primary platform in many markets.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Wrestling section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
