WWE picked up the pieces from WrestleMania on Saturday night with WWE Backlash 2026 from inside the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. Roman Reigns eked out a win over Jacob Fatu to retain his World Heavyweight Championship, Asuka appeared to say goodbye to the WWE, and Bron Breakker showed he’s ready for the main event.

As we shift into the eventual build toward SummerSlam, here’s six big takeaways from Backlash.

1. When a loss becomes a win

Throughout Roman Reigns’ run across the top of WWE, he’s never looked quite as powerless as he has against Jacob Fatu.

Even during his rivalry against Brock Lesnar, there always appeared to be a healthy tension between the two. But with Fatu, there’s something different and unpredictable. 

Their match Saturday night was physical, and had layers of familial history and the Tongan Death Grip blended into their ongoing Bloodline drama. Fatu was dominant and appeared in control for pockets of the match, but Reigns used an exposed turnbuckle and a referee distraction to ultimately help him earn the pinfall victory. 

Originally, I would have preferred Fatu continue on his original route and go after Cody Rhodes. But there’s something captivating with this new family drama between Fatu, Reigns, the Usos and Solo Sikoa. It doesn’t feel like we’re even through Chapter 1 of this new Bloodline rivalry and I’m already incredibly intrigued with where WWE goes from here, especially considering the deeper involvement of the Usos that’s certainly around the corner. After a relatively disappointing year from a storyline perspective, it feels like WWE’s going right back to what worked in the past. I can’t say I blame them. 

2. Bron’s world

As messy as last year was, with The Vision’s quick build and uneven 2025, there’s still some semblance of success with what the faction has managed to pull off. Two injuries to Seth Rollins — one part of a storyline, the other legitimate — meant “The Visionary” missed chunks of a year which was intended to elevate rising stars in Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. But his absence provided space for Breakker and Reed to step into their own — and the finished product from that space is what we got Saturday night. 

Breakker has perhaps never looked as ready-made for the main-event scene as he did against Rollins. A legitimate genetic freak, Breakker was outstanding, showcasing athleticism but also great ring awareness as the duo paced their match perfectly for the show’s opener. Breakker needed a distraction from Paul Heyman and The Vision to save him from a pinfall, eventually earning his own finish with a series of spears.

Even with the loss, Rollins remains in his element as one of the best bell-to-bell guys in WWE right now, and Breakker looks ready to pull up a seat directly in WWE’s spotlight. This rivalry has the legs to carry on, with Breakker continuing his ascent. The real question is whether or not the rest of The Vision can elevate alongside them. 

3. Time to say goodbye? 

After both former champions somehow missed out on WrestleMania, Asuka and Iyo Sky felt like they were out to prove something Saturday evening.

It was brutal, technically sound, and unquestionably the match of the night. Sky’s win and subsequent emotional embrace with Asuka already felt like a turning point in the moment. But then Big E’s comments later in the night, questioning if it was the last time we saw Asuka in a WWE ring, added more intrigue to her immediate future. 

If this is it in WWE for Asuka, what a run. More than 10 years in the company, one of the most dominant women across NXT and WWE — she leaves with quite the legacy. The real question then becomes what’s next. At age 44, is there more to prove, or does she follow what appeared to be Brock Lesnar’s lead and become the latest to hang up her boots? 

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4. All roads lead between the ropes

Sami Zayn couldn’t get the job done against Trick Williams yet again, letting his focus continue to deviate over to Lil Yachty at ringside.

Zayn and Williams had a fine match, with the U.S. Champion once again stealing the spotlight as he continues his quick rise up the main roster. But the focal point of this match felt like the escalation of tensions between Zayn and Yachty. 

It was Yachty’s distraction that allowed Zayn to use the kendo stick on Williams, Zayn to pepper Yachty on the outside with a kendo stick, and eventually hit him with a Helluva Kick on the outside. That kick opened the door for Williams to land the Trick Shot and the victory. At this point, Zayn’s loss feels less important to the title picture and more like a direct connection to an eventual showdown with Yachty.

5. A legacy that doesn’t need a title

John Cena returned to the squared circle Saturday night, just one month after hosting WrestleMania, to announce the John Cena Classic — an evening where NXT talent will wrestle more established WWE talent for the chance to win a new championship.

He announced the audience will vote that night to crown the champion of what Cena hopes becomes an annual event. 

It’s an incredible gesture and fitting for what Cena’s final night actually became — a showcase for young talent to make the leap and get noticed in ways many of them likely hadn’t before. I’m curious to see what this championship means, if anything, to the current landscape of the WWE. It feels odd to introduce a new title with so many already floating around, and this one in particular feels a bit meaningless. A trophy, à la the Andre the Giant Battle Royale or the Dusty Classic, would likely be a bit more fitting. 

6. Who doesn’t love that Danhausen?

Danhausen is one of the best things going in WWE right now, and that’s not to discredit anything else that’s happening. He’s just that entertaining. I was bullish on him upon his arrival, and he’s been used to near perfection in the months that followed. I love that his “curse” has real impact in the ring, starting with Dominik Mysterio and leading to Saturday’s result. 

His ongoing feud with The Miz and Kit Wilson has been exceptionally entertaining and I’m fascinated to see how WWE navigates keeping this gimmick fresh. Miz has shown real chameleon-like abilities to make anything work, and it’s refreshing to see Wilson get a well-deserved PLE match.

I can’t quite tell if this rivalry has run its course yet, but their showdown — and Wilson’s introduction of a mirror to counter the curse — were a ton of fun for at least one more night.